On the day where Shohei Ohtani was named MLB’s American League Player of the Month, he continued to amaze the baseball world with another incredible performance. He did it all on Friday against the Orioles. Ohtani led off the third inning with his 29th home run of the season, breaking the team record held by Mike Trout for most homers before the All-Star break. He wasn’t done there. The 26-year-old star crushed an opposite-field homer in the fourth inning to become the first player in baseball to reach 30 home runs. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani drew a walk and stole second for his 12th steal of the season before Jared Walsh hit a walk-off single to score Ohtani and win the game.
Through 308 plate appearances, Ohtani is slashing .280/.364/.705 with 30 homers, 58 runs scored, 66 RBI, and 12 stolen bases over the team’s first 81 games. That puts him on pace for 60 home runs, 116 runs scored, 132 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. Oh, and not to mention, he’s pitched to a 3-1 record, 3.60 ERA, and 1.27 WHIP with 83 strikeouts over 60 innings. What Ohtani is doing is incredible for the game. He’ll be making his first All-Star game start as the designated hitter and participating in the Home Run Derby. If he comes close to matching the pace he’s set over the next 81 games, the MVP award will be waiting.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Zack Wheeler vs Padres
7 2/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K
Wheeler continued his career year with another stellar start on Friday against the Padres. He struck out nine batters over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, throwing 78-of-114 pitches for strikes and generating nine whiffs. Wheeler induced 11 groundouts to just one fly-out. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.05 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 139 strikeouts over 114 innings. He’ll take on the Cubs in Chicago his next time out.
Alek Manoah vs Rays
7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K
Manoah was impressive on Friday against the Rays, holding them scoreless over seven innings. The 23-year-old right-hander was the swing-and-miss leader on the day with 23 whiffs -- 11 on the slider -- to strike out ten batters. Manoah has been one of the better rookies this season, with a 2.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings. He’s in line for a matchup against the Orioles in Baltimore next week.
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Hitters with an EDGE
Thairo Estrada vs Diamondbacks
3-for-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBI
Estrada made his first start for the Giants after he was recalled on June 29. He made a pretty good first impression, knocking three hits and driving in five runs. After a base hit in the second inning, he drove in a run with a double in the fifth. With the bases loaded in the ninth inning, he broke the game open with a grand slam. The 25-year-old hit .385 with seven homers and five stolen bases over 174 plate appearances in Triple-A this season. There’s a good chance Friday’s performance earned him some more at-bats.
Jake Fraley vs Rangers
2-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB
Fraley did it all for the Mariners on Friday against the Rangers. After drawing a walk to lead off the third inning, he stole second for his sixth of the year. Fraley then led off the fifth with a solo homer off of Kyle Gibson. After Luis Torrens tied the game in the eighth, Fraley got on base with a walk and recorded his second steal of the game. J.P. Crawford followed with a go-ahead base hit that scored Fraley. The 26-year-old outfielder played the hero in the tenth, knocking a base hit off of Taylor Hearn to score Jake Bauers for the walk-off. He’s slashing .270/.454/.528 with seven homers and seven stolen bases over just 114 plate appearances.
Priority Pickup
Brendan Rodgers -- SS, Colorado Rockies (Available in 84 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Fantasy managers have waited a long time for Rodgers to arrive in Colorado. He’s getting a chance to be a regular starter, and the breakout might just be happening. Rodgers was having an excellent Spring Training before a hamstring injury kept him out until May. The 24-year-old infielder really got going in June, hitting .308 with nine extra-base hits, including four homers. One more home run to start July gave him five on the year with a .294/.376/.486 triple-slash line over 125 plate appearances. He’s struck out just 18.4 percent of the time with an 8.8 percent walk rate, showing good contact and plate discipline skills so far this season to back up the surface stats.
Closing Time
Adam Ottavino recorded his sixth save of the season in extra innings against the A’s on Friday. After Oakland tied the game in the ninth, Ottavino was summoned to lock things down in the tenth. He gave up a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Sean Murphy flew out to center-field, and Seth Brown was thrown out at home by Enrique Hernandez as he attempted to tag up from third.
Scott Barlow earned the save for the Royals on Friday against the Twins. Called on to protect a three-run lead, he induced two groundouts and got Trevor Larnach to strike out and secure the win for Kansas City. It was the third save of the season for Barlow, who could be taking over the closing duties for the Royals.
Will Smith walked two batters and allowed a base hit to load the bases, but was able to get out of the jam record his 17th save of the season for the Braves on Friday against the Marlins.
Ryan Pressly entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead against Cleveland and struck out two batters to lock down his 13th save of the season. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 1.59 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 34 innings.
Heath Hembree pitched the ninth inning for the Reds on Friday against the Cubs for his second save on the year. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
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Matchup of the Day
Sandy Alcantara (4-7, 3.12) vs Kyle Muller (1-1, 2.70)
Saturday brings game two of a three-game series between the Marlins and Braves. Miami will send right-hander Sandy Alcantara to the mound. Alcantara has grown into a phenomenal pitcher, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts over 106 2/3 innings. He’s gone eight innings while allowing one run or less in three of his last five starts. On the other side, Atlanta will have 23-year-old left-hander Kyle Muller on the bump. He’s made three appearances this season with two starts. After giving up two runs in one inning of relief work, he’s allowed just one run in nine innings over his last two starts with 12 strikeouts.
American League Quick Hits: Yordan Alvarez was placed on the paternity leave list on Friday and will be away from the club for a couple days... Salvador Perez will compete in the Home Run Derby... Kyle Tucker was scratched from the lineup on Friday due to back spasms... Yasmani Grandal was removed from Friday’s game with right calf tightness... Cleveland activated Franmil Reyes on Friday... Zach Plesac is scheduled to make his second rehab start on Saturday with Double-A Akron... Adam Eaton was activated from the injured list ... Yermin Mercedes was optioned to Triple-A ... The Yankees placed Clint Frazier on the 10-day injured list with vertigo... Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain... Luis Patino was recalled by Tampa Bay and started on Friday ...The White Sox recalled Jake Burger from Triple-A ... Zack Burdi was optioned to Triple-A ... The Tigers activated Erasmo Ramirez from the 10-day injured list ... Miguel Del Pozo was optioned to Triple-A ... Cleveland optioned Yu Chang to Triple-A... The Astros recalled Taylor Jones... Patrick Murphy was optioned to Triple-A... Anthony Castro was recalled by the Blue Jays...
National League Quick Hits: Trea Turner remained out of the lineup on Friday with a jammed finger... Trevor Bauer was placed on seven-day administrative leave by MLB on Friday ... Sonny Gray was activated from the injured list by the Reds... Sandy Alcantara will move up a day and start Saturday against the Braves... The Mets activated Marcus Stroman from the bereavement list... David Peterson was placed on the 10-day injured list... Jonathan Villar could return before the end of the weekend... Brandon Nimmo was activated from the injured list... Kolten Wong was placed on the 10-day injured list with calf tightness... Didi Gregorius was activated from the 10-day injured list by the Phillies... Nick Maton was optioned to Triple-A ... Austin Nola caught a bullpen session on Friday... The Dodgers recalled Brusdar Graterol from Triple-A...The Mets have engaged in “very preliminary talks” with the Twins about Josh Donaldson... Erik Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain... The Giants acquired Will Toffey from the Mets for Anthony Banda... Jose Devers will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday... The Nationals placed Jordy Mercer on the 10-day injured list... Steven Fuentes was placed on the 60-day injured list... The Pirated purchased the contract of Wilmer Difo... Trevor Cahill was transferred to the 60-day injured list...
