Players toughness gets questioned often, but one should not doubt Max Scherzer . One day after suffering a broken nose during a bunting drill, Scherzer took the mound in the night cap of a doubleheader versus the Phillies leading Washington to a sweep and within striking distance of the Wild Card race:

Per Elias Sports, Scherzer becomes the eighth pitcher since 1893 with 20 starts allowing zero runs with at least 10 strikeouts. Scherzer fired seven shutout innings giving up four hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts last night. He generated 24 swinging strikes with 12 called for a 30.8 CSW (Called plus swinging strikes) percentage. Most importantly, Scherzer fuels a potential run to the postseason for this team anchoring the rotation. Patrick Corbin also worked seven innings in Game 1 of the doubleheader getting his sixth win allowing four hits, one earned run and three walks with eighth strikeouts.

Building on yesterday’s reference of Scherzer’s black eye representing how fantasy owners feel about pitching in this year’s environment, Blake Snell and Lucas Giolito incurred rough outings on Wednesday. Snell failed to complete an inning for the first time in 89 starts giving up two hits, six earned runs and four walks in one-third of an inning in New York. He can get a mulligan for this outing, but Snell’s issued four walks in consecutive starts. Giolito entered riding an eight game win streak and did rack up nine strikeouts over his 4.1 innings with an impressive 21 swinging strikes, but also yielded three home runs leading to six earned runs in 4.1 innings. He will bounceback.

Here’s other notable performances by starting pitchers last night:

  • Gerrit Cole , Houston: 94 pitches, 13 swinging strikes, 18 called, 33 CSW%. Cole did not factor in the decision due to Roberto Osuna ’s blown save, but gave up six hits, one earned run and three walks with eight strikeouts in six innings.

  • Tyler Mahle , Cincinnati: 95 pitches, nine swinging strikes, 22 called, 32.6 CSW%. Matching Cole, Mahle fired seven innings allowing four hits, two earned runs and walked one with seven strikeouts.

  • C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees: 94 pitches, 12 swinging strikes, 16 called, 29.8 CSW%. Not only did Sabathia turn in a rebound outing, but he’s the 14th pitcher in history with at least 3,000 strikeouts and 250 wins. Congrats seem in order.

  • Marco Gonzales , Seattle: 96 pitches, six swinging strikes, 15 called, 21.9 CSW%. Wins come in many forms and Gonzales did get five strikeouts against one walk over 6.2 innings limiting the Royals to two earned runs for his eighth win.

  • Max Fried , Atlanta: 101 pitches, 12 swinging strikes, 16 called, 27.7 CSW%. Fried garnered his eighth win working six innings giving up eight hits, two earned runs and walking one with six strikeouts.

  • Eduardo Rodríguez , Boston: 111 pitches, 16 swinging strikes, 15 called, 27.9 CSW%. For the second straight start, Rodriguez tossed at least 110 pitches giving much needed rest to the Red Sox bullpen. He struggled early allowing four earned runs then bounced back to retire 11 of the last 12 batters he faced en route to his eighth win with nine strikeouts.

  • Daniel Ponce de Leon , St. Louis: 90 pitches, 11 swinging strikes, 13 called, 26.7 CSW%. Although he did not get a win, Ponce de Leon fired six shutout innings yielding two hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

Hitter Highlights: Trout leads the way in a double dong day

Sometimes it feels like the fantasy community takes Mike Trout for granted. Trout set a career high with seven RBI on Wednesday hitting two home runs for his 16th career multi-homer game. He’s homered four times over his last four games and 11 times in his last 19. Plus:

In an effort to streamline all the multi-home run instances from yesterday, each will be listed below:

  • Domingo Santana , Seattle: Santana finished 3-for-4 with his third multi-homer game this year upping his season total to 15 and he drove in five runs during the Mariners win. Over his last 15 games, Santana’s hitting .338 and on pace for 31 home runs with 10 stolen bases.

  • Rowdy Tellez , Toronto: Hidden beneath the rubble of the Blue Jays loss to the Angels, Tellez launched his 12th and 13th home runs this season. Through 85 games with Toronto, Tellez has 17 home runs, now a team record.

  • Jason Kipnis , Cleveland: Kipnis went 2-for-2 with his fourth and fifth home runs driving in four along with drawing two walks. He’s produced three home runs his last four games with 10 RBI.

  • Willson Contreras , Chicago Cubs: Contreras hit a grand slam, and a solo shot off of Gioliito moving his home run total to 15 this year driving in five last night.

  • Chris Taylor , Los Angeles Dodgers: Taylor went 3-for-4 with a double, his sixth and seventh home runs with four RBI.

Yasiel Puig and Jesse Winker fueled the Reds win over Houston on Wednesday. Puig went 2-for-4 with a double and his 14th home run. He’s hit safely in nine of his last 12 games going 15-for-47 (.319) with four doubles, four home runs and six RBI. Winker racked up three hits including the game winner off of Osuna.

Washington’s Brian Dozier homered in each game of the doubleheader finishing the games three-for-seven and four RBI. Juan Soto went 3-for-5 in the two games with a stolen base in each one raising his total to five this season.

With Aaron Judge reportedly on his way back to the Yankees, his teammates celebrated in a rout over the Rays. Gary Sánchez cracked his 21st home run and drove in four. He’s recorded nine RBI his last four starts and 28 of his 54 hits this year have been for extra-bases (six doubles, one triple, 21 home runs). Gleyber Torres hit his 16th home run, a grand slam and 12 of his 16 this year have occurred versus American League East opponents.

Franmil Reyes hit a go ahead three-run homer, his 20th this year. This represents the first time in Padres history two players have reached 20 home runs prior to the All-Star break with Reyes joining Hunter Renfroe (23). Eric Hosmer added his 11th home run driving in two among his three hits.

Stay hot Bryan Reynolds . He finished with three hits and his sixth home run driving in three during a Pirates win. Over his last six games, Reynolds owns a .500 average in 24 at-bats with three doubles, one home run and five RBI. Starling Marte added his 11th home run and has five over his last 17 games.

Fueling a Braves surge in the standings, Josh Donaldson hit his 14th home run on Wednesday and in the midst of a nine-game hit streak during which he’s hitting .385 with six home runs in it. Freddie Freeman crushed his 21st home run. Over his last 31 games, Freeman’s slashing a robust .315/.392/.693 with 27 runs, 13 home runs, 30 RBI, a .378 isolated power and 61 percent hard hit rate. Mercy.

Bullpen Notes: Another dirty save for Davis

Although not on watch to be replaced in Colorado, Wade Davis owners will bank his ninth save of the year. However, he did cough up a solo home run to Kevin Cron . Since returning from the injured list, Davis has appeared in six games giving up at least a run in four straight with a 13.50 ERA and 2.63 WHIP in 5.1 innings. Tread lightly.

In a relatively quiet night in high leverage, Roberto Osuna suffered his first loss and third blown save in Cincinnati giving up three hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out two. Sean Doolittle secured his 15th save in the night cap with a clean ninth inning. Craig Stammen held on for his third save working around a hit and two walks in 1.1 innings. Felipe Vázquez locked down his 17th save striking out one and John Gant gets his seventh win due to a walk-off home run by Paul Goldschmidt in the 11th inning.

What To Watch For

It would not be a Round Up without injury updates. Rich Hill left his start after an inning feeling soreness in his left forearm. He will undergo an MRI but this could improve the stock of Julio Urías and Ross Stripling if they enter the Dodgers rotation. Urias will operate as the opener this evening against the Giants. Trevor Story left last night’s game with a thumb injury. He also will undergo an MRI with his owners hoping for the best case scenario.

Minnesota placed Marwin Gonzalez on the injured list prior to last night’s game and recalled Willians Astudillo . At Triple-A, Astudillo hit .526 with a 1.288 on-base plus slugging percentage with three home runs in nine games. He returned to the lineup going 3-for-4 and hit his third home run of the season. Those needing help at catcher should take note.

Miami’s Zac Gallen will make his major league debut against the Cardinals in a much anticipated start. Gallen’s elite strikeout to walk rates align with Chris Paddack . By the way, San Diego announced Paddack will start on Saturday against the Pirates. This should upset his owners in leagues which lock weekly. Prospect Adbert Alzolay will join the Cubs to provide bulk innings with Tyler Chatwood starting tonight.

Fresh off a sweep in New York, the Rays will head cross country with Charlie Morton on the mound facing Frankie Montas in Oakland in a match-up of two hot pitchers.

Be sure to stay with Fantasy Alarm to remain ahead of the competition.

 

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

BaseballSavant.com

MLB.com - Game Notes