Thrice is Nice for J.D. Martinez
So far, it looks as though being able to review in-game video once again has really helped Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez.
The 33-year-old had a miserable 2020 season, slashing just .213/.291/.389 with seven homers and 27 RBI over 237 plate appearances in his 54 games -- and he bemoaned the lack of in-game video as a major reason for his struggles.
Many fantasy managers didn’t seem to buy what Martinez was selling, as he fell to around pick 100 on average in NFBC Main Event drafts in March. It looks as though those owners that did take the plunge may wind up with a significant profit.
Entering play on Sunday, Martinez had been red-hot at the dish -- slashing a ridiculous .433/.469/.867 with two homers, seven doubles and 12 RBI through his first seven games. He missed Saturday’s game after feeling under the weather after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. He looked to be feeling much better on Sunday.[[ad:athena]]
Martinez’s spectacular Sunday didn’t get off to a fast start though, as he went down swinging against Jorge Lopez in the opening inning. He would get his revenge in the third inning, as Martinez smacked a knuckle curve from Lopez over the wall in right field for a solo home run.
He was only getting started. In the fifth inning he jumped on the first pitch that he saw from the Orioles’ right-hander, punching an RBI single into left field with an exit velocity of 110.8 mph. Not bad.
In the sixth inning, Martinez was back to doing what he does best -- driving the ball with authority to the opposite field. This time, the victim for a 382 foot solo blast was right-hander Mac Sceroler.
Martinez clobbered another breaking ball in the eighth inning -- this time off of right-hander Tyler Wells -- that traveled an estimated 430 feet over the wall in straight away center field.
It was the third time in his career that Martinez has hit three or more home runs in a ballgame -- each of them coming with a different ballclub. He did so for the first time with the Tigers in 2015. He then had a monstrous four-homer game with the Diamondbacks in 2017 -- which is the last time any player in the league has accomplished that feat.
On Sunday, Martinez had a chance to match that mark as he strode to the plate against Paul Fry in the ninth inning. Unfortunately this time around, Martinez went down swinging on a 3-2 pitch. He did so while chasing a breaking ball out of the strike zone, doing everything that he possibly could to try to put the ball in play for a chance at that fourth home run, as the Red Sox had an eight run lead at the time.
With Sunday’s four-hit effort, his blistering season slash line is now up to .472/.500/1.083 with five homers and 16 RBI. The five long balls tie him with Byron Buxton, Ryan McMahon and Tyler Naquin for the major league lead, while the RBI total is tops in all of baseball. He has also notched 12 extra-base hits through his first eight games, which matches Dante Bichette (1994) for the most extra-base hits through eight games to begin a season since 1900.
We’ll see if the Twins can do anything to slow him down, as Martinez and the 6-3 Red Sox begin a four-game set in Minnesota on Monday.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Anthony DeSclafani - 6 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 8 K, 1 BB
After allowing just one run in his first start of the 2021 season, DeSclafani was even better in Sunday’s victory over the Rockies, striking out eight over six shutout innings. The right-hander generated a whopping 16 whiffs in the game -- six of them on his fastball. He also gets a juicy matchup his next time out as he’ll take on the Marlins in Miami on Saturday.
Luke Weaver - 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 8 K, 1 BB
The 27-year-old right-hander was magnificent on Sunday, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning against what had been a scorching-hot Reds offense. He would lose the perfect game in the sixth after hitting Tyler Blandino, and lost his no-hit bid in the seventh on a one-out single by Eugenio Suarez. Weaver generated 17 whiffs during the game, with nine of them coming on his changeup alone. He’s living on the edges, working his fastball up in the zone and his changeup down, which seems like a sustainable recipe for success.
Clayton Kershaw - 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 6 K, 0 BB
In the battle of former National League Cy Young Award winners, it was Kershaw who out-dueled Max Scherzer on Sunday. The Dodgers’ southpaw generated 12 whiffs in the game -- eight of them on his slider -- and posted a stellar 33% CSW rate. Through three starts, Kershaw looks like the same guy that he’s always been, compiling a 2.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16/1 K/BB ratio across 18 2/3 innings.
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Hitters with an EDGE
Rafael Devers - 2-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI
While teammate J.D. Martinez took center stage with his three-homer barrage in Sunday’s victory, Devers had a monstrous day of his own with a pair of long balls and five RBI. After a slow start, he’s now hitting .250/.351/.625 with four homers and 10 RBI.
Kyle Seager - 4-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Kyle Seager got the Mariners on the board in the sixth inning on Sunday with a solo shot off of Matt Shoemaker. He then played the role of hero in the ninth, crushing a go-ahead three-run homer off of Alex Colome to complete a wild comeback victory over the Twins. He’s off to a terrific start, slashing .314/.385/.543 with a pair of homers and eight RBI.
Byron Buxton - 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI
Man, a healthy Byron Buxton sure is fun. He had a two-run double off of Chris Flexen in the third inning, then ambushed the first pitch he saw from Flexen in the fifth for a two-run homer -- his fifth of the season which ties him for the MLB lead. If the 27-year-old can avoid the injured list this season, he has the potential to deliver fantasy managers many league titles.
Priority Pickup
Eduardo Escobar, 2B/3B, Arizona Diamondbacks -- 41% rostered in Yahoo fantasy leagues.
Escobar had an unbelievable 2019 season where he slashed .269/.320/.511 with 35 homers, 118 RBI and five stolen bases. He -- like many other players -- struggled through the truncated 2020 season, hitting a dismal .212/.270/.335 with just four homers and 20 RBI. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel here though. After starting the season just 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts, Escobar has turned things around, homering in each of his last four games and going 7-for-16 (.438) with eight RBI in that stretch. There’s plenty of upside here if he comes anywhere close to the player that he was in 2019.
Closing Time
It’s official, Emmanuel Clase is the closer in Cleveland. The flame-throwing right-hander worked a scoreless ninth inning to protect a three-run lead against the Tigers on Sunday -- though he did allow a hit and a walk. Clase threw 18 pitches in the contest -- 15 of those were cutters and were thrown at an average velocity of 99.9 mph. If he’s somehow still available on waivers, make sure to scoop him up immediately.
Rafael Montero held down the fort for the Mariners after a massive late-inning comeback effort, retiring all three hitters that he faced to earn his second save of the season. It was much worse on the other side of the diamond, as Alex Colome allowed three runs on four hits while recording only one out.
Mark Melancon continued to build up his job security in the ninth inning, converting his fifth save in five chances for the Padres. He has yet to allow a run in six innings on the season.
Kenley Jansen put an end to all of the rumors and speculation that Corey Knebel was about to steal his job away, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals. He did so while averaging 93.7 mph -- hitting as high as 95 mph. His job appears to be safe -- for now.
Hector Neris mowed down the Braves in order in the ninth inning to pick up his second save. He appears to have a stranglehold on the ninth inning in Philadelphia.
Monday’s Matchup of the Day
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs. Robbie Ray (TOR)
There are plenty of exciting pitching matchups to take in on Monday, but my attention will be focused on Cole against Ray in Dunedin. Cole has been spectacular through his first two starts, with a 1.46 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 21/2 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings. It’s Ray that I’m most interested in though. The left-hander exhibited improved command during Grapefruit League play, posting a 1.98 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 18/5 K/BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings. His season is getting off to a late start though after suffering an elbow injury while falling down the stairs. If he’s able to replicate what he did during the spring, he could be an extremely productive fantasy commodity given his ability to miss bats.
American League Quick Hits: Dexter Fowler was diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2021 season… Miguel Cabrera (biceps) unexpectedly landed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Renato Nunez was recalled from the Tigers alternate site to take his place and makes for an interesting addition in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues… The Tigers also moved Julio Teheran (shoulder) to the 60-day IL… Clarke Schmidt will receive a second opinion on his injured elbow after feeling continued discomfort… Anthony Rendon was held out of the Angels lineup on Sunday with a minor groin injury… Tanner Roark was demoted to the Blue Jays bullpen with the impending return of Robbie Ray… Josh Donaldson (hamstring) took six at-bats in a simulated game on Sunday and could rejoin the Twins as early as Monday… George Springer has fully recovered from his oblique injury, but is now day-to-day with a strained quad… Hunter Dozier left Sunday’s game early as his thumb injury is “still bothering him a little bit”... Brent Honeywell was electric in his MLB debut, striking out two over two perfect innings against the Yankees… Logan Allen struck out five over five innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Tigers… Nick Pivetta struck out seven against the Orioles to pick up his second straight win… Gio Urshela went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in a victory over the Rays… Randy Arozarena homered for the second consecutive game in a losing effort there… Dylan Cease struck out six over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Royals… Mike Foltynewicz allowed just one run on two hits over seven strong innings in a tough-luck loss against the Padres.
National League Quick Hits: Adrian Morejon was pulled from Sunday’s start after throwing only 16 pitches due to a left forearm/elbow strain… Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison are expected to be cleared to rejoin the Nationals on Monday… Christian Yelich was pulled from Sunday’s game due to a sore back -- he’s considered day-to-day… Travis Shaw left Sunday’s game after fouling a ball off of his shin. He’s expected to return to the lineup on Monday… Tony Gonsolin did not throw his scheduled bullpen on Sunday after experiencing continued shoulder soreness… Tyler O’Neill was placed on the 10-day IL with a right groin injury… Jorge Alfaro (hamstring) missed his fourth straight game on Sunday and could be heading to the injured list if he’s not ready by Monday… The Giants acquired Thairo Estrada from the Yankees for cash considerations… Reyes Moronta landed on the 10-day IL with a right flexor strain… The Phillies placed Archie Bradley on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain… Bryan Reynolds had four hits as the Pirates beat the Cubs… Trent Grisham homered for the second straight game in a victory over the Rangers… Max Scherzer fanned five over six innings of one-run ball in a tough-luck loss against the Dodgers… Zach McKinstry homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead the Dodgers past the Nationals… Trea Turner collected three hits and stole a base in the loss… Brandon Belt homered, stole a base, walked twice and scored two runs in a victory over the Rockies… Didi Gregorius homered and drove in four runs as the Phillies topped the Braves… Ronald Acuna went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in a losing effort there.
