VETS LONGORIA, BRUCE TURN BACK CLOCK
Two red-hot veterans are hitting like it’s 2011, while a sophomore pitcher’s stock is rising. Meanwhile, an early-season flame is flickering.
SIZZLERS
3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays: The veteran’s two home runs Sunday gave him a five-game homer streak, and Longoria finished the first week in June with 33 runs, 14 home runs and 34 RBI for the season. He’s well on his way to his first 30home run showing since 2013.
OF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds: Scorching hot and stuffing the stat line, Bruce registered nine extra-base hits through 29 at-bats last week, including four home runs and nine RBI. He was up to 13 homers and 40 RBI for the season and on pace for a career year.
SP Lance McCullers, Houston Astros: Over his latest four outings, McCullers had 33 strikeouts in 23 innings and allowed Jay Bruce’s .279 batting average is his best since 2010. eight runs. McCullers is showing the potential to be a high-end hurler for your rotation going forward.
C Evan Gattis, Houston Astros: Now with catcher eligibility in the majority of leagues, Gattis should be viewed as a toptier backstop. His home run Sunday gave him four in June, and he is a staple in the heart of clicking lineup.
FIZZLERS
SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners: It appears Hernandez will miss more time than expected with his calf injury. His 2.86 ERA hides a career-low 7.6 strikeout/nine-inning rate. Thankfully, the injury isn’t arm-related, because Hernandez’s fastball velocity can’t sustain another blow, as it sits at an average of 90.1 mph.
SP Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox: While it hasn’t been a disastrous run, Quintana had lost five consecutive starts and seen his ERA jump from 1.38 to 2.58. The strikeouts have remained consistent (29 through 31 innings during the stretch), but past Quintana owners are all too familiar with him in the role of a tough-luck loser.
OF Randal Grichuk, St. Louis Cardinals: Full-time at-bats are far from guaranteed going forward, and Grichuk entered the week with an underwhelming .219 batting average and .282 on-base percentage.Worse for his owners, Grichuk is batting lower in the lineup of late, which hurts his upside in the counting stats.
OF Colby Rasmus, Houston Astros: After his 0-for-5 showing Sunday, Rasmus owned a .198 batting average since May 1, and he had one home run in his last 33 games. With the rest of the Houston lineup heating up around him, it is concerning for his owners that the free-swinging veteran is reeling in the cleanup spot.
Neil Parker