- AL Hitter: Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers (.370, 7 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI) - I was shocked to find out that Hamilton is today the 12th-ranked player in Yahoo's fantasy baseball. After a slow April, he ramped up his production in May, and so far in June has just been pulverizing the ball. His lefty-righty splits are still problematic, but he's playing too well right now to even consider benching him, regardless of opponent.
- NL Hitter: Chris B. Young, OF, Diamondbacks (.333, 6 R, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB) - While Adam Dunn's four home run week deserved consideration, Young's 3/3 week offered more fantasy value. Young is quietly having a resurgence of sorts, hitting .277 with double-digit home runs and stolen bases. He still strikes out too much, but that's not a fantasy category. And he's doing fine in all of those.
- AL Pitcher: Colby Lewis, SP, Rangers (2-0, 15 Ks, 1.80/0.73) - It looks like it's time for the doubters to step up and admit that Lewis might just be a pretty good pitcher. He was abysmal for Oakland in 2007, and it took him two years to get back to the majors. I watched some of his game against the Brewers yesterday, and he's just pitching his ass off.
- NL Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals (2-0, 22 Ks, 2.19/0.89) - Ted Lilly had two great starts, including a near no-hitter last night against the White Sox, but Strasburg is my pick. He had double the strikeouts that Lilly did, and double the wins as well. It's a pretty exciting time in Nats Town, whatever the hell that is.
We all know about Zack Greinke (2-8, 3.94/1.22) and his inability to buy a win. He's given up zero or one run in three different games, and he's 0-2 in those games. But he's not the only guy who's had a good season but has trouble catching W's.
- Doug Fister, Mariners (3-3, 2.45/0.96) - Fister has given up three or fewer runs in all but one of his ten starts this season. He's currently on the DL with shoulder fatigue, but I think "broken heart" might be the real explanation. And it's not just David Aardsma's vendetta; the offense has averaged only 3.6 runs per game in support of Fister. That's what a "defense first" mentality gets you, Seattle.
- Ted Lilly, Cubs (2-5, 2.90/1.00) - Lilly was three outs away from a no-hitter last night, and the Cubs still almost lost the game due to anemic offense (and Carlos Marmol's love-hate relationship with the strike zone). He was fantastic last year, and has actually been better this season. Outside of the wins, of course.
- Jonathan Sanchez, Giants (4-5, 2.82/1.15) - Sanchez's trouble grabbing wins is actually a little more predictable when you know more about him as a pitcher. He tends to walk a lot of hitters, and strike out a lot of hitters, and that gets his pitch count up in a hurry. But here's a number for you: ten. That's the total number of runs given up by Sanchez in his five losses, including a pair of 1-0 losses.
There's nothing else here. They're just terrible.
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