Shohei Ohtani blasts 17th home run in win Monday

Hancock was hit in the hand with a 107 mph comebacker on the first pitch of the game. He initially stayed in the game, but had to leave in the second and finished with 1 2/3 scoreless innings before his removal. Hancock told reporters after the game it was just a bruise, and he expects to be ready after the All-Star break. It’s likely that he’ll experience some significant swelling, however, so fantasy managers should be ready if the 27-year-old needs to miss time.

Taveras got the Orioles on the board in the second inning, tagging right-hander Seth Lugo for a 448-foot (107.8-mph EV) two-run shot that gave the O’s a 2-1 advantage. He then put his squad on top to stay with an RBI single in the sixth inning before coming around to score on a balk. With his two-hit afternoon, the dynamic 27-year-old outfielder finishes the first half hitting .237/.314/.364 with four homers, 34 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 290 plate appearances.

The 21-year-old backstop did his damage off of Lucas Erceg in the seventh inning, crushing a 1-1 changeup for a 404-foot (105.0-mph EV) solo shot that increased the Orioles’ lead to 8-2. Basallo has been a very valuable contributor for the O’s and for fantasy managers in the first half, slashing a healthy .249/.310/.465 with 16 homers and 46 RBI in 300 plate appearances.

Henderson led off the game with a single but was ultimately stranded at second base. He then contributed an RBI single and scored on an RBI knock by Pete Alonso during the Orioles’ five-run rally in the sixth inning. He also singled to open the eighth inning. The 25-year-old infielder finishes the first half hitting .224/.294/.403 with 17 long balls, 43 RBI and seven stolen bases through his first 439 plate appearances.

Baz allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in the ballgame and did not allow a base on balls. The Royals scratched out single runs against him in the second and third innings, but Baz was able to evade any further damage. He couldn’t get the final out in the fifth inning though, and was ultimately pulled at 104 pitches after allowing a two-out double to Lane Thomas. He got a whopping 19 swings and misses on the afternoon — seven on his fastball and six on his knuckle curve — while posting a CSW of 28 percent. The 27-year-old righty wraps up his first half with a 4-9 record, 4.11 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 99/42 K/BB ratio over 111 2/3 innings in his 19 starts.

Thomas smacked an RBI single off of Shane Baz in the third inning that briefly tied the game at two runs apiece, that would wind up being the extent of the Royals’ offense though. The 30-year-old outfielder has seen his bat heat up over the past few weeks, but he still heads to the break slashing an underwhelming .234/.335/.390 to go along with seven homers, 31 RBI and four stolen bases across 269 plate appearances.