Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Prince's Power
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Follow @RyanPBoyer and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.
A big question fantasy owners had coming into the season was how Prince Fielder was going to respond at the plate following an injury-shortened 2014 that ended with a complicated neck surgery. The .333/.385/.429 batting line in April was certainly great to see, but with just one home run, where was Prince’s power?
It’s safe to say that question no longer lingers.
The scorching-hot Fielder launched another home run on Monday as part of a three-hit, three-RBI and three-run day in the Rangers’ win over the Indians. The big man has now belted eight over the boards this month and seven in his last 14 contests. Fielder sports a sensational .365/.417/.575 slash line for the season, as he leads the American League with his average and is just two back of the league lead in RBI. He’s also on pace for 32 home runs with his recent power surge.
Heath was really the only question mark with Fielder coming into the season. If the neck wasn’t an issue, he was going to hit. The 31-year-old has yet to miss a start this season and had a well-earned reputation as an iron man prior to last year’s injury. Fielder fell to the fifth round in some fantasy drafts this spring, so his owners are well on their way to receiving quite the return on investment.
Editor’s Note: Think you have what it takes to beat Rotoworld expert Matthew Pouliot in one-day fantasy baseball? Compete against him for real cash tonight! Enter now for $3
Haaaaahn!
Before Monday, Jesse Hahn had never thrown a complete game. Not in college, not in the minors and not in the majors. Now, the right-hander not only has the first complete game of his career under his belt but also the first shutout.
Hahn had to pitch around three errors behind him but was able to do so with the help of three double plays in a 4-0 victory over the Tigers. He yielded just four hits – all singles – while walking only one and striking out five, needing 112 pitches to complete the gem.
“It’s a great feeling,” Hahn told MLB.com. “The ninth inning’s been foreign to me … I had so much adrenalin pumping through my veins in the ninth.”
It’s been an up-and-down season so far for Hahn in his first year with the A’s. He held a 2.12 ERA through his first three starts, but that came along with just a 5/3 K/BB ratio across 17 innings. The right-hander has since put up a 4.42 mark, but with that has been a 31/9 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 frames.
Another number to note with Hahn is 92.2 mph, which was his average fastball velocity this season going into Monday’s game, according to Fangraphs.com. That’s a jump of nearly 1.5 mph from last year. The tick up in velocity is encouraging, as are the groundball tendencies and strikeout rate track record. The best could be yet to come with Hahn.
Mesoraco Placed on DL
Devin Mesoraco finally landed on the disabled list Monday due to an injury he suffered 43 days ago.
In what has surely been a nightmare situation for many fantasy owners, Mesoraco has felt good enough to hit but not to catch for over a month due to a left hip impingement. The Reds had kept him active and off the DL since he could still pinch-hit and occasionally serve as a designated hitter. The result was six hits over just 24 at-bats across a 43-day period.
Mesoraco had a setback last Friday when trying catching drills, though, and the club finally decided enough was enough. The only question now is whether the 26-year-old will have season-ending surgery. That decision is expected to come at some point during the Reds’ homestand this week.
At least fantasy owners who have held on to Mesoraco so far can now stash him on the disabled list. However, even if he decides against surgery for now, it’s just hard to see him making it back as a regular this season.
National League Quick Hits: Jonathan Lucroy (toe) is on pace to be activated from the disabled list on June 1 … Mets manager Terry Collins suggested Sunday that Matt Harvey may be going through a “dead arm” period … Yasmani Grandal is in line to be activated Saturday after passing concussion tests … Travis d’Arnaud (finger) could be activated from the disabled list as soon as June 1 … Wily Peralta is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks with a strained oblique … Francisco Cervelli went 2-for-2 with a walk and a three-run home run in Monday’s win over the Marlins … Andre Ethier went 2-for-3 with a go-ahead, solo homer in Monday’s comeback win over the Braves … Charlie Morton allowed two runs in seven innings of work on Monday in his season debut … Carlos Martinez whiffed eight over seven shutout inning versus the Diamondbacks Monday … Jhonny Peralta singled and ripped a walk-off, solo home run in the 10th inning against Arizona … Khris Davis went 3-for-3 with a pair of solo homers and three runs scored in a loss to the Giants on Monday … Nori Aoki went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base Monday … Tanner Roark fired five innings of one-run ball in his first start of the season Monday … Wilmer Flores cranked his seventh home run of the season Monday … Nolan Arenado finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Rockies’ win over the Reds on Monday … Jon Jay (wrist) is expected back Friday after a short rehab assignment … The Braves are trying to trade Alberto Callaspo …
American League Quick Hits: Drew Hutchison pitched a four-hit shutout against the White Sox Monday, punching out eight batters in the process … The Royals placed Danny Duffy on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis … Jason Vargas (elbow) will return from the DL on Tuesday … Avisail Garcia is considered day-to-day after leaving Monday’s game with more inflammation in his right knee … James Loney is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken left middle finger … The Mariners activated Austin Jackson from the disabled list after Monday’s game … Miguel Cabrera sat out Monday in part due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to play Tuesday … Roenis Elias allowed a lone run in six innings of work against the Royals Monday … Josh Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run, and three runs scored in a win over the White Sox Monday … Elvis Andrus had a rare big day at the plate Monday, doubling in two runs and smacking a solo home run in a win over the Indians … Ricky Nolasco held the Red Sox to two runs over 7 2/3 innings on Monday … Chase Headley went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI as the Yankees torched the Royals on Monday … Nathan Eovaldi delivered seven innings of one-run ball Monday in the Yankees’ rout of the Royals … Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been scratched from Tuesday’s start at Double-A Bowie due to a sore right shoulder … Steven Souza was not in the Rays’ lineup on Monday due to a wrist injury suffered Sunday … Sean Doolittle (shoulder) is expected to return from the disabled list on Tuesday …
Follow @RyanPBoyer and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.
A big question fantasy owners had coming into the season was how Prince Fielder was going to respond at the plate following an injury-shortened 2014 that ended with a complicated neck surgery. The .333/.385/.429 batting line in April was certainly great to see, but with just one home run, where was Prince’s power?
It’s safe to say that question no longer lingers.
The scorching-hot Fielder launched another home run on Monday as part of a three-hit, three-RBI and three-run day in the Rangers’ win over the Indians. The big man has now belted eight over the boards this month and seven in his last 14 contests. Fielder sports a sensational .365/.417/.575 slash line for the season, as he leads the American League with his average and is just two back of the league lead in RBI. He’s also on pace for 32 home runs with his recent power surge.
Heath was really the only question mark with Fielder coming into the season. If the neck wasn’t an issue, he was going to hit. The 31-year-old has yet to miss a start this season and had a well-earned reputation as an iron man prior to last year’s injury. Fielder fell to the fifth round in some fantasy drafts this spring, so his owners are well on their way to receiving quite the return on investment.
Editor’s Note: Think you have what it takes to beat Rotoworld expert Matthew Pouliot in one-day fantasy baseball? Compete against him for real cash tonight! Enter now for $3
Haaaaahn!
Before Monday, Jesse Hahn had never thrown a complete game. Not in college, not in the minors and not in the majors. Now, the right-hander not only has the first complete game of his career under his belt but also the first shutout.
Hahn had to pitch around three errors behind him but was able to do so with the help of three double plays in a 4-0 victory over the Tigers. He yielded just four hits – all singles – while walking only one and striking out five, needing 112 pitches to complete the gem.
“It’s a great feeling,” Hahn told MLB.com. “The ninth inning’s been foreign to me … I had so much adrenalin pumping through my veins in the ninth.”
It’s been an up-and-down season so far for Hahn in his first year with the A’s. He held a 2.12 ERA through his first three starts, but that came along with just a 5/3 K/BB ratio across 17 innings. The right-hander has since put up a 4.42 mark, but with that has been a 31/9 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 frames.
Another number to note with Hahn is 92.2 mph, which was his average fastball velocity this season going into Monday’s game, according to Fangraphs.com. That’s a jump of nearly 1.5 mph from last year. The tick up in velocity is encouraging, as are the groundball tendencies and strikeout rate track record. The best could be yet to come with Hahn.
Mesoraco Placed on DL
Devin Mesoraco finally landed on the disabled list Monday due to an injury he suffered 43 days ago.
In what has surely been a nightmare situation for many fantasy owners, Mesoraco has felt good enough to hit but not to catch for over a month due to a left hip impingement. The Reds had kept him active and off the DL since he could still pinch-hit and occasionally serve as a designated hitter. The result was six hits over just 24 at-bats across a 43-day period.
Mesoraco had a setback last Friday when trying catching drills, though, and the club finally decided enough was enough. The only question now is whether the 26-year-old will have season-ending surgery. That decision is expected to come at some point during the Reds’ homestand this week.
At least fantasy owners who have held on to Mesoraco so far can now stash him on the disabled list. However, even if he decides against surgery for now, it’s just hard to see him making it back as a regular this season.
National League Quick Hits: Jonathan Lucroy (toe) is on pace to be activated from the disabled list on June 1 … Mets manager Terry Collins suggested Sunday that Matt Harvey may be going through a “dead arm” period … Yasmani Grandal is in line to be activated Saturday after passing concussion tests … Travis d’Arnaud (finger) could be activated from the disabled list as soon as June 1 … Wily Peralta is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks with a strained oblique … Francisco Cervelli went 2-for-2 with a walk and a three-run home run in Monday’s win over the Marlins … Andre Ethier went 2-for-3 with a go-ahead, solo homer in Monday’s comeback win over the Braves … Charlie Morton allowed two runs in seven innings of work on Monday in his season debut … Carlos Martinez whiffed eight over seven shutout inning versus the Diamondbacks Monday … Jhonny Peralta singled and ripped a walk-off, solo home run in the 10th inning against Arizona … Khris Davis went 3-for-3 with a pair of solo homers and three runs scored in a loss to the Giants on Monday … Nori Aoki went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base Monday … Tanner Roark fired five innings of one-run ball in his first start of the season Monday … Wilmer Flores cranked his seventh home run of the season Monday … Nolan Arenado finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Rockies’ win over the Reds on Monday … Jon Jay (wrist) is expected back Friday after a short rehab assignment … The Braves are trying to trade Alberto Callaspo …
American League Quick Hits: Drew Hutchison pitched a four-hit shutout against the White Sox Monday, punching out eight batters in the process … The Royals placed Danny Duffy on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis … Jason Vargas (elbow) will return from the DL on Tuesday … Avisail Garcia is considered day-to-day after leaving Monday’s game with more inflammation in his right knee … James Loney is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken left middle finger … The Mariners activated Austin Jackson from the disabled list after Monday’s game … Miguel Cabrera sat out Monday in part due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to play Tuesday … Roenis Elias allowed a lone run in six innings of work against the Royals Monday … Josh Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run, and three runs scored in a win over the White Sox Monday … Elvis Andrus had a rare big day at the plate Monday, doubling in two runs and smacking a solo home run in a win over the Indians … Ricky Nolasco held the Red Sox to two runs over 7 2/3 innings on Monday … Chase Headley went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI as the Yankees torched the Royals on Monday … Nathan Eovaldi delivered seven innings of one-run ball Monday in the Yankees’ rout of the Royals … Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been scratched from Tuesday’s start at Double-A Bowie due to a sore right shoulder … Steven Souza was not in the Rays’ lineup on Monday due to a wrist injury suffered Sunday … Sean Doolittle (shoulder) is expected to return from the disabled list on Tuesday …
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