Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Max Effort
It wasn’t quite perfect, but Max Scherzer might never pitch a better game than he did on Sunday afternoon.
Armed with a seven-year, $210 contract signed in the offseason, Scherzer carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, when Carlos Gomez blooped a broken bat single. Scherzer walked Scooter Gennett later in the game, but finished allowing only those two baserunners and fanning 16 Brewers.
Surprisingly, the complete game is only the second of Scherzer’s career. The brilliant start lowers his ERA below 2.00 again after two mediocre outings, allowing four earned runs in consecutive starts.
Scherzer remains in the all-too-early discussion for NL Cy Young, currently placing third in ERA, first in WHIP, and first in strikeouts among starters in the league. The move to the new league has aided Scherzer in posting 10.9 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 rates, making it look realistic that he can keep up his Cy Young pace.
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Odor Returning to Texas
Despite struggles in his rookie campaign last season, numerous fantasy owners had high hopes for Rougned Odor after a hot spring. Unfortunately, he face planted in 29 games with a .144 batting average before getting demoted to Triple-A.
The 21-year-old second baseman will return on Monday after hitting .355-5-19 in 29 games at Triple-A Round Rock, and should reclaim the starting second base job immediately. Odor has certainly earned the opportunity, but it will be interesting to see how he fares in his second go-around this season.
Odor seemed overly aggressive early this season, fanning 25 times in 29 games. His eye seemed far better in the minors, with a 12/10 BB/K ratio in the same number of games. The 21-year-old has shown five-tool ability in the minors, and has the upside to be deserving in all fantasy leagues once again.
The move also likely means the end of regular playing time for Hanser Alberto, at least for now. Alberto isn’t a highly touted prospect, but has hit .294 in his major league debut after hitting .303 at Triple-A Round Rock. His success should make Odor’s margin for error slimmer as the Rangers remain in contention in the AL West.
Prado Banged Up
Martin Prado suffered a shoulder injury that could keep him out for a while. The Marlins third baseman sprained his right shoulder while running out a play at first base, and said after the game that he’s experiencing a lot of pain and unlikely to return before next weekend.
Given the timetable coming from Prado, a DL stint could certainly be in order. While he hasn’t been a difference maker for fantasy owners this season, Prado has been a solid piece again hitting .272-4-24 and 24 runs scored.
The loss is one the Marlins could ill-afford, already with the third fewest runs scored in the NL. The Marlins have little in the way of viable replacements on their major league roster. Defensive specialist Donovan Solano replaced Prado during Sunday’s game, and major league veteran Reid Brignac would seem like the most likely replacement from the minors.
Prado has also hit in the No. 2 hole for the Marlins since mid-April, so the injury will force the team to re-calibrate their lineup ahead of NL RBI leader Giancarlo Stanton. The impact should be negligible for Stanton of Prado only misses a week or two, but it could be a bigger issue for Stanton and the Marlins if he misses more time.
American League Quick Hits: Ricky Nolasco (ankle) cut short a throwing session on Sunday with renewed soreness … Victor Martinez (knee) went 1-for-4 in his first minor league rehab game on Sunday. He could return next weekend … Adrian Beltre had stiches removed from his thumb on Sunday, but he’s still unable to grip a bat. Joey Gallo continues to hold down the fort at third base, and will likely find a home elsewhere on the diamond when Beltre returns … Jacoby Ellsbury (knee) is hoping to return before the end of June … Lance McCullers threw five no-hit innings for the Astros but walked four batters … Devon Travis (shoulder) will begin a minor league rehab assignment at Double-A New Hampshire on Monday … Aaron Sanchez was officially placed on the DL with a lat strain, and will be replaced by Scott Copeland … Delino DeShields was removed from Sunday’s game with a left hamstring injury … Derek Holland (shoulder) is hoping to return in late July … Ike Davis (quad) is set to be activated from the DL on Wednesday … Mark Trumbo was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to back spasms … Aaron Hicks was placed on the 15-day DL with a right forearm strain, making room for top prospect Byron Buxton on the roster … John Jaso (wrist) took batting practice on Saturday, is hoping to return before the All-Star break … Eduardo Rodriguez was finally knocked around by major league hitters on Sunday, allowing nine runs in 4.2 innings … Mookie Betts (back) remains day-to-day, but did take batting practice on Sunday … Kyle Lobstein (shoulder) had a cortisone shot on Sunday. There’s no timetable for his return.
National League Quick Hits: Triple-A Louisville manager Delino DeShields told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Devin Mesoraco (hip) didn’t look healthy during his rehab assignment. Mesoraco subsequently had a setback and has been shutdown. It seems unlikely that he return this season … Bryce Harper sat out Sunday’s game and will be reevaluated on Monday … FOX Sports reports the Yankees and Tiger had scouts watching Johnny Cueto’s last start. The Giants are also scouting Mike Leake … Mets manager Terry Collins said Daniel Murphy will move to third base when he returns from the DL, with Dilson Herrera sticking as the team’s second baseman … Jorge Soler (ankle) began throwing on Sunday. He will certainly miss more time than the minimum, but could return in late June … Dillon Gee seems likely to shift back to the bullpen after allowing eight runs in 3.2 innings on Sunday … Gregor Blanco (concussion) is still experiencing dizziness … Chad Billingsley (lat) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday … Enrique Burgos (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment early this week.
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