The Baltimore Orioles made a huge stride in bolstering their starting pitching staff Friday trading for Rays starter Zach Eflin. About Eflin time! Eflin has struggled with consistency all season long with an unsightly 4.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and underwhelming 87/13 K/BB, but there have been flashes of the pitcher we saw in 2023 (3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP 186/24 K/BB) that made many of us so hype to draft him in 2024. Coming off a a decent start versus Toronto last Wednesday, where he went 5.2 innings, allowed six base runners and two earned runs while striking out four. Again, super meh, but he’s about to be thrust into the middle of a pennant race so he needs to turn that meh into meh-smerizing sooner than later and something tells me he could! As far as landing spots go, outside of the Dodgers, there are few places better than Baltimore for a pitcher to be right now: stacked line up, friendly manager, great pitcher’s park, oh, and the team’s in first place. That’s gotta be pretty cool, the whole worst to first thing. So to recap, Eflin’s been closer to bad than good but a winning environment can light a fire under some guys and Eflin could be mighty valuable down the stretch for the O’s and fantasy managers. Going the other way, Rays acquired Matthew Etzel, Jackson Baumister and Mac Horvath. I’m not going to pretend to know anything about these guys, I’ll leave that to The Itch, not the pretending but the knowing, but Mac Horvath appears to be the premiere piece in the return for the Rays. He’s slashing an .232/.328/.745 in high A right now with 9 homers and 26 steals, but he’s about two years away. If you are a Rays fan, well, first of all, nice to finally meet you, and second you’ve got to be used to this by now, right? This is the Rays cycle, and when Baz and Springs and Taj Bradley are dominating in 2025, you’ll probably forget all about this Eflin guy. It’s what they do! Eflin-A!
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Kodai Senga – 5.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 ER, BB, 9 K, 1st win. For those who don’t recall last year’s Senga Genesis, Friday night was a good refresher of how dominant he can be, so of course he left the game with a calf strain. Mets gonna Met. Even when they’re Grimacing. And Kodai was grimacing holding his leg. Ugh. He’s set for an MRI, it didn’t look great but he did walk off the field himself. Honestly, if I held Kodai for four months just for that start it was still probably worth it. He got the win!
Charlie Morton – 2.2 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER, BB, 2 K. Do not mess with Grimace! He will whip you like a McFlurry.
J.D. Martinez – 3-for-4, Grand Slam HR (11), 4 RBI. Mark Vientos also homered (14). Just Dong because everyone else is doing it now. His first homer since July 1st, but he does have nine hits since the All Start break. He’s coming around!
Francisco Alvarez – 1-for-4, HR (5). With how hot his June was I would have guessed he had twice this many homers, but July has not been kind to Francisco, just his first time going deep all month but that just means he’s going to end with a bang, right?
Marcell Ozuna – 2-for-3, HR (29). The best part of the game was Senga drilling him.
Adam Duvall – 2-for-4, 2 HR (10), 3 RBI. He’s been so bad his OPS went up 30 points with this game.
Cristopher Sanchez – 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 6th L. Cris is typically our QS King but the Phillies offense has not been kind to him in the run support department lately so the wins have been fewer
Ben Lively – 6.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 9th win, ERA at 3.44. I saw B. Lively in the box score and immediately thought could he be Lady Deadpool!? No spoilers!! He gets a scary match up with the O’s next week and I could see considering the prospect of maybe thinking about mulling over the possibility of contemplating whether or not I should review the option of potentially picking him up. I still don’t know for sure though!
Bryson Stott – 3-for-4, HR (7). It’s been a while for Bryson Stott Dechambieu but he mashed this one into the upper deck, his second home run of the month. The power has been few and far between since the start of June, but Stott has maintained value with his speed. Still, nice to see the power again, especially on his surfing bobblehead night. Hang ten!
Byron Buxton – 2-for-5, HR (12). I don’t know what surprised me more the .280/.332/.515 or the 78 games played. Both fairly respectable. He’s on track to easily play his most games in five years–oh no, don’t tell me I just jinxed him. Did Castellanos homer?
Christian Vazquez – 3-for-4, HR (5), SB (3). Vazquez has been known to get hot for stretches but I take one look at that .207/.236/.319 slash and say no thank you. But maybe this is the beginning of a streak? The slam & legs in Detroit is served with mom’s spaghetti, prepared in a giant ziploc bag featuring what you hope are meatballs but it’s hard to say.
Javier Baez – 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI. Speaking of no thank you, that’s now back to back games with bombs for Baez. Are we in 2018? I’m not sure what’s worse the .179/.212/.265 slash or the .474 OPS. In the past, I’d say this could be the start of one of Baez’s patented “Javy Time” streaks, but now even that thought just makes me sad.
Pablo Lopez – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, BB, 7 K, 9th win. Pab-Lo’s ERA is not pretty (4.73), but the K/BB certainly is 135/25 K/BB ratio. The inconsistency has been tough to swallow but he’s been more good than bad lately, although he gets a tougher match up in Queens next week. Yep, that’s right, I’ve scared of the Mets now.
Nick Lodolo – 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, BB, 5 K. Yolo Lodolo went six cause that’s the motto, baby, 6+ innings and we bout it every day, or we shouldn’t even play.
Alexis Diaz – 1.0 IP, K, SV (20). This was like his first save in a month. I know because I own all the worst closers in baseball.
Shane Baz – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, 2 BB, 7 K. When I gush about Baz this is why. This is Lurhmann in his prime. Rome + Juliet. Moulin Rouge. Best of Baz. Fastball almost touching 100 mph consistently, with a 38% whiff rate on his curveball, this is Ace stuff, folks. I feel like I said the same things about Bradley last week. The Rays look to be in selling mode but their staff should be scary good next year.
Craig Kimbrel – 1.0 IP, 2 hits, 2 ER, K, HR, 3rd L. Seranthony Dominguez – 1.0 IP 2 hits, K. No one ever accused Kimbrel of being mid. He either looks like one of the most dominant closers in baseball history (which he is), or the watch-with-one-eye-open reliever that he’s looking like right now. After converting seven straight save chances, he’s now given up six runs in his past four outings (3.2 IP). One thinks Manager Hyde might give Kimbrel another break from high leverage situations as it worked so well earlier in the year, in which case newly acquired Dominguez could see some chances, but CK should steady himself again sooner than later.
Anthony Santander – 1-for-5, HR (29). Jordan Westburg also homered (17). Straight to Santander bank in a contract year! Dude could hit 40 home runs. Some team is going to pay him way too much money next year. You go, Antman. No Deadpool spoilers!!
Jurickson Profar – 2-for-5, 2 HR (18), 4 RBI, slashing .301/.387/.493. After tying the game with a 2-run ding dong, JP then won the game with 430 footer off Kimbrel in the ninth. Who needs FTJ? I Profar this version of Jurickson, after a rough stretch that looked like he was regressing back to the player we’ve seen over the past few years, he’s now got four homers in his last four games hitting .296 in the past week. Yes! Don’t leave when I need you most!
Yusei Kikuchi – 4.2 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Yusei you want to trade me? He’s certainly not helping his value going into the deadline giving up 16 runs in his past 3 starts (14.1 IP) since his 7.1 IP, 13 K gem in SF. Kikuchi is still likely to be moved, just hopefully not to my team.
Adolis Garcia – 2-for-4, HR (18), 3 RBI. Just his second homer in July! What happened to Adolis? Regardless, I feel like I’m going to own him everywhere next year. The price will be just right!
Ceddanne Rafaela – 1-for-4, HR (12), SB (14). The pundits keep saying the Red Sox need to trade for a right handed bat while I continue to watch right-handed Ceddanne mash from the nine hole. I get that we’re easing him in but the answer is right in front of you, it’s time to move this kid up in the order!
Rob Refsnyder – 3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI. Not Refsnyder batting close to .400 over the past week while Boston scrambles to find a right-handed hitter. Am I taking crazy pills? Is it wrong to hope my team doesn’t make any major moves at the deadline, I’ve started to like rooting for the scrubs.
Aaron Judge – 1-for-4, HR (36), 3 RBI. Whata blast! We should All Rise after that one. I’ve seen a lot of baseball at Fenway park and you do not see baseballs hit there often.
Anthony Volpe – 2-for-5, HR (8), SB (18). Of course, the slam and legs in Boston is served in a piping hot bowl of clam chowder. What’s better on a steamy July evening than a cup of hot fish soup? Nothing is the answer!
Clay Holmes – 0.2 IP, 2 hits, ER, K, BS. His third blown save in July, but Luke Weaver (1.1 IP, 2 hits, 3 ER, BB, K) did not make it easy on him, as Holmes entered in the eighth with men on the corners and just one out, but he immediately gave up a game-tying double and things escalated from there. Help is likely on the way for this bullpen but one would think Clay’s job is mostly safe. Just don’t do it again!
Brady Singer – 7.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 7th win. With moves like these I would have pegged him as more of a dancer. Outside of a tough start at Fenway, Singer has looked mostly dominant over the past few weeks with a 1.76 ERA over his last seven starts. Just ignore that those starts have come off baseball’s worst offenses because most of the offenses in baseball are the worst this year.
Salvador Perez – 1-for-4, HR (19), 3 RBI. Seeing Sal at the All-Star break reminds me how much I love him. I know paying for catchers can be stupid, but dammit if having Perez’s consistency EVERY DAY isn’t worth it. It absolutely is. He plays basically every day and barely slumps. You never have to worry about your catcher. I don’t care how old he is, remind me to draft him everywhere next year.
Framber Valdez – 6.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 9th win. Against the Freddie Freeman-less Dodgers no less! Just look at him groove. Now you have my attention Framber! The Stros have won Valdez’s past six starts and they seem to be gelling at just the right time.
Shohei Ohtani – 2-for-3, SB (25). The wheels on this kid! If you were as shocked as me that Shohei has 25 stolen bases I ask you the same thing I asked myself, “Self, are we really questioning Ohtani’s ability again. Maybe stop?” If Ohtani wanted to steal 70 bases he could, he just doesn’t want to.
Jake Burger – 2-for-5, HR (13). Josh Bell 2-for-5, HR (13), and Bryan De La Cruz (2-for-5, HR (18)) also homered. Burger’s sixth bomb of the month. Yes, he would like cheese with that. Burger and Bell were both BUYs, especially if they get moved. The Marlins hitters are all playing their butts off hoping to get traded so bad.
Jazz Chisholm, Jr. – 1-for-3, SB (22). He’s going to look great in a Yankee uniform. Play great? Ehh. But he’ll look good.
Freddy Peralta – 5.1 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 6th L. If you want consistency from Freddy you’ve come to the wrong place, the 142/43 K/BB however, that he does have, and it’s marvelous.
George Kirby – 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, BB, 7 K, 8th win, ERA at 3.03. Take me to Dreamland, George! That’s nine straight quality starters for Kirbs and he’s been just mid enough that I could probably draft him everywhere as my Ace next year.
Victor Robles – 1-for-3, HR (2). Another BUY! This one in bold, cause you really probably should. To the Victor add-er go the spoils. Robles has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters since the break, which is a sentence I’ve had saved in my drafts for five years. He’s slashing .389/.476/.639 in July with two home runs and seven steals, and he’s owned in just 2% of ESPN leagues. I know he’s burned you but it’s time to move past that and add him.
Jorge Polanco – 1-for-4, HR (7). Josh Rojas (5) and Dylan Moore (9) also homered. I fear the Julio Rodriguez news is not going to be good, but I dig that they’re adding Randy Arozarena, who attended the game Friday, and not immediately going into fire sale mode. M’s still in this thing, y’all! At least I’m happy they think so.
CJ Abrams – 1-for-4, 2 runs, 3 SB (19). Yes, please and more! Just five or six more games like this and you’ll have 30+ steals and I won’t be so upset I burned my second pick on you!
Juan Yepez – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI. BUY. I told you to grab him last week! He’s mostly boring but he’s also very hot. You would have killed to date the boring hot girl in high school!
Masyn Winn – 2-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI. I want to like him, the .285/.332/.410 slash is nice and he’s leading off but without the speed or power he’s just another Cardinal.
Paul Goldschmidt – 2-for-5, HR (15), 2 RBI. Nolan Arenado also hit his eleventh (ELEVEN). Au Shizz! As bad as they’ve been, would not surprise me at all if the Cards made a huge run in August. They’re one of the few teams with the pitching staff and mix of youth and veterans in the line up to make this happen.
Sonny Gray – 5.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. For a guy named Sonny, you’d think he’s like July a lot more but the 6.75 ERA for the month suggests otherwise.
MacKenzie Gore – 5.0 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Well, he went from must-start to streamer to unownable real quick.
Brent Rooker – 1-for-4, HR (25), 2 RBI. Dime store Rooker could be one of the best bats available at the deadline, and if he doesn’t get moved try not to salivate thinking of this stroke in a minor league park next year. *swoons*
Lucas Erceg – 1.0 IP 1 hit, K, SV (3). Tyler Ferguson got the save on Thursday, with Erceg getting his chance Friday night. My guess is they go back to Ferguson first again this weekend. Are we really recommending A’s interim closing options? These aren’t your May-daddy’s A’s. It really is a long season!
Taylor Ward – 1-for-4, HR (15). By the way he’s been producing I honest to god thought he’d been on the IL. Maybe he ought to be.
Zac Gallen – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 8th win. I’m going to say it, yup, I am. You can’t stop me and I’m not jinxing anything it’s really happening and they pulled this same exact thing last year, the DBags are wagon, ya’ll!
Jorge Soler – 3-for-3, 4 runs, HR (12), 3 RBI. Now that the weather is fully heated up and miserably oppressive, that’s when Soler power hits his stride. He’s hitting .318 over the past with two homers and a steal and don’t be shocked if he’s one of the most valuable hitters the rest of the way.
Kyle Harrison – 6.2 IP, 1 hit, ER, 2 BB, 11 K, 6th win. First to give Kyle his flowers because he flat-out dominated these pathetic losers. He’s been mostly underwhelming this month and year, but there have been flashes. Flashes, I tells ya! But also, must be nice playing the Rockies 18 times a year. Really must do wonders for your stats!
Heliot Ramos – 2-for-5, HR (15), 3 RBI, slashing .296/.356/.619. Bat out of Heliot! I told you to grab him way back in June! That was pretty okay advice I gave that one time!
Tyler Fitzgerald – 3-for-5, 3 runs, 2 HR (8), 4 RBI. If the shoe Fitz! First in the fourth. Then Tyler sent this one to the moon! We call that the Fitz check. I’m pretty sure he sent those balls to the exact same spot. The spot being the moon, I guess. That can’t be easy! That’s six homers in seven games to go along with a seven game hitting streak and a 1.800 SLG%! Sweet sassy molassy! Where do the Giants even get these guys? He became the first SF Giant since Barry Bonds to hit 7 home runs in an eight game stretch, and being mentioned in the same breath as Bonds means you’re doing something right. Grey told you to BUY and he’s got three games left versus Colorado this weekend to mash dingers, and methinks he will. If anyone is left still reading and hasn’t moved on to fantasy football, first, thanks for your loyalty, and second, add Tyler Fitzgerald while he is in Barry Bonds mode. Tyler is Fitz for a king right now! You’re not NOT a king, right? So do your thing and add him, king!
Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!
