James Shields (SP - TB) - Shields was victimized by BABIP against the White Sox, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in six innings despite striking out eight, walking one and not surrendering a home run. His ERA and FIP are up this year, but that is a result of an incredibly high 20.5 HR/FB% entering the night, as his groundball rate has actually spiked due to considerably increasing the use of his cutter while his strikeout and swinging strike rates have remained stable. He's still an elite option going forward and would be Sunday at home against the Orioles, although he could be held back until Tuesday in New York in a much less appealing matchup.
Daniel Bard (SP - BOS) - Bard's command rebounded to an extent against the Tigers, as he walked two in 5 2/3 innings after issuing 17 free passes in his previous four starts spanning 23 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs in the outing, both solo home runs and struck out four. He had a strong first three starts to the season, but had struggled mightily in the five prior to tonight as he struggled to find a consistent release point. He belongs on the end of fantasy rosters and should only be used in plus matchups until he rights the ship. He has a decent matchup on paper Sunday with the Blue Jays who lack left-handed punch, but it is at the Rogers Centre and he needs to put more than one decent start together before being inserted into lineups.
David Ortiz (DH - BOS) - Ortiz's amazing renaissance continued, as he went 3-4 with two doubles and a home run against the Tigers and he is now hitting an outstanding .319/.392/.595. He used the Green Monster to his advantage in his first at bat against Justin Verlander, then drilled a curveball into the left-center field gap in his next time up. In his final at-bat, he again went the other way, powering one over the left-field wall against southpaw Duane Below. The slugger has managed to cut his strikeout rate and raise his line drive rate following last season's complete transformation and remains an elite option going forward.
Dayan Viciedo (OF - CWS) - Viciedo continued his hot streak, going 3-4 with a home run to raise his season line to .280/.301/.503. He has now homered in four of his last six games and has hit safely in all of them with multiple hits in five. His horrendous plate discipline appeared to take a big step forward last year, albeit in just 113 PA, but he has reverted back this year as he walked in just 2.5% of his plate appearances entering the night. He is a solid source of power, but his chase rates will make it very hard for him to be a plus hitter for average and he has no way of getting on base if balls aren't falling in.
Brett Lawrie (3B - TOR) - Lawrie went 3-4 with a double against Toronto, but that only raised his line to .283/.323/.378 after setting the world on fire down the stretch last season. His walk rate has plummeted this season as he's chasing more pitches outside the zone, and that has not allowed him to get into any hitter's counts where he can put the ball in the air, as his groundball rate has skyrocketed. The talent is there for him to turn it around, but he needs to make a fundamental change in his approach to make it possible.
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