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Do you have some trade offers you are consider, but need to bounce them off of someone? Are you pondering a roster move and want a second opinion? Feel free to post your questions in the Fantasy Baseball Questions thread.
Fake Teams Podcast; Episode 10: Let's Make a Deal
Zack and Andrew hosted episode 10 of the Fake Teams podcast on Sunday night, where they discussed the Wil Myers promotion, Rick Porcello, Corey Kluber, Carlos Beltran and also discussed how to make a trade in keeper and redraft leagues. Make sure you listen to the podcast
Zack Wheeler shuts down Braves in major league debut
The hype surrounding the promotion of Mets top pitching prospect was fairly thick, but he did not disappoint in his big league debut last night. Wheeler did struggle with his command, but kept the Braves off the score board in six innings of work, giving up just four hits, walking five and striking out seven. He needed 102 pitches, 55 for strikes, to get through the six innings, but he worked around the walks to get out of trouble.
It was reported that the Mets will send Wheeler back down to AAA after the game, but he will make his scheduled start next Tuesday vs the White Sox. Since the Mets were playing a double header yesterday, Wheeler was called up as the Mets 26th man, so he can be called back up next week.
Matt Harvey dominates the Braves
Mets ace Matt Harvey had his way with the Braves on Tuesday afternoon, throwing six no hit innings, before tiring and giving up 3 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and striking out 13 Braves in the Mets 4-3 win. I imagine he could have struck out more Braves had the Upton brothers played in the first game of the double header yesterday.
Harvey is now 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and a 115-23 strikeout to walk rate in 104 innings pitched. He has given up three runs or less in 13 of his 15 starts this season, and has gone seven or more innings in 11 of his 15 starts. The Mets will probably have him on an innings limit, and it would not surprise me to see the team remove him from their rotation by the end of August or early September. Just something to consider should you own him and are competing this season.
Can you imagine the Mets rotation next year with a healthy Harvey and Wheeler at the top? Sick.
For more on Wheeler's debut, and Harvey's dominating performance, check out Amazin Avenue, SB Nation's Mets fan site.
Chase Headley: Will the Padres deal him this season?
With Jedd Gyorko hitting well in his first big league season, and Logan Forsythe hitting well since his return from a foot injury, will the Padres once again entertain offers for third baseman Chase Headley this season, or in the offseason? Or has that window of opportunity closed due to Headley's inability to duplicate his terrific 2012 season?
Headley has struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .224-.331-.352 with 6 HRs, 23 runs, 22 RBI and 4 stolen bases in 56 games. His BABIP has dropped (.273 vs .337) along with his HR/FB rate (11.8% vs 21.4%). Headley turned 29 years of age in early May, and will become a free agent at the end of the 2014 season, so I could see the Padres listening to offers.
For more on Headley, and the streaking Padres, check out Gaslamp Ball, SB Nation's Padres fan site.
Round'em Up
Rays outfielder Wil Myers made his major league debut on Tuesday as well, going 0-4 with a strikeout in the first game of the double header vs the Red Sox. In the nightcap, he went 1-3 with a single. Manager Joe Maddon batted him in the sixth spot in the Rays lineup. For my thoughts on how he will perform this season, check out this piece written last week.
You all know how well Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion hit last season, right? He had a career year, hitting .280-.384-.557 with 42 HRs and 110 RBI. Well, after going 2-4 with a home run and 3 RBI last night, would you believe he is currently on pace for a better season this year? He is currently on pace for 44 home runs and 134 RBI and is getting very little hype thus far. That should change if he goes on a power surge.
Royals starter Ervin Santana was a sleeper choice of some fantasy writers this offseason, and that is looking prescient at this point in the season. Santana held the Indians to just one run on three hits, two walks and six strikeouts in a no decision last night. He was in line for a win before Kelvin Herrera gave up three runs in the eighth. Santana is having a spectacular season in Kansas City, going 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a 77-15 strikeout to walk rate in 99 innings this season.
Astros starter Jordan Lyles turned in another excellent start last night, limiting the Brewers to just one run on seven hits, no walks and five strikeouts in the Astros win. Lyles is now 4-1 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 46-16 strikeout to walk rate in 58.2 innings this season. He has given up two runs or less in eight of his ten starts this season, including his last seven starts. I profiled Lyles last Friday in this piece. He induced 12 ground ball outs last night, and now owns a 53% ground ball rate, to go along with his 7+ K/9.
Astros third baseman Matt Dominquez was probably not drafted in many leagues this season, but he has been productive despite his low triple slash line. Dominguez went 2-3 with a grand slam and five RBI last night in the Astros 10-1 win over the Brewers. Dominguez is hitting .236-.259-.407 with 10 HRs and 40 RBI, and now has more RBI than David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman, and Adrian Beltre,
Closer Roundup
Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey has struggled of late, and it continued last night, as he gave up a game tying home run to Kelly Johnson in the ninth inning to blow his third save of the season, and second in his last four chances. He has given up five runs over his last four save opportunities, but manager John Farrell gave him a vote of confidence after the game last night.
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