Buster Posey (C - SF) - Posey had three hits including two doubles in five at bats to raise his line to .302/.354/.479. After having his season cut short in May last year due to a brutal leg injury, the backstop has shown no ill effects as his season has been very similar to his stellar rookie campaign in 2010. The combination of a solid walk rate and line drive rate to go with very good power for a catcher make him a strong option, especially against left-handed pitching where he's one of the league's best hitters.
Jair Jurrjens (SP - ATL) - Jurrjens had his first rough outing since returning from the minor leagues, as the Giants smoked him for eight runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate has never been stellar, but it has dropped to just 3.8 per nine innings this year and wasn't much better in the minors at 4.7. Pitchers can make up for a poor strikeout rate with excellent control and the ability to keep the ball in the yard, but Jurrjens possesses neither of those. He's waiver wire material and is only worth using in the best of matchups.
Travis Wood (SP - CHC) - Wood's run of good starts came to a crashing halt, as the Marlins crushed him for eight runs on eight hits (two home runs) in 4 2/3 innings, although he did strike out six. This was somewhat overdue, as his ERA coming into the game was 1.64 runs below his FIP thanks to a .218 BABIP despite a 22.3 LD%. The combination of his very mediocre peripherals and Wrigley Field make for an ugly outlook going forward, and he should be sold high if possible ASAP. He's not an option in the near future as his next two starts are against the Cardinals.
Francisco Rodriguez (RP - MIL) - Rodriguez got the save as Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has anointed him the new ninth-inning man. K-Rod walked the tightrope as he put runners on second and third with nobody out, but was able to get out of it without allowing a run to tie the game. Expectations should be tempered though, as his strikeout rate is in a two-year decline while his walk rate has risen and he's given up a line drive on over a quarter of his balls in play, an incredibly high rate. He could also be moved at the deadline to a team that already has an established closer.
Trevor Bauer (SP - ARZ) - Bauer had one of the more odd lines you'll see (although not in a good way), as he allowed four runs (three earned) on just one hit (a three-run bomb by Ryan Ludwick) with five walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. The outing increased the rookie's ERA to 6.06 in four starts. Although Bauer was a top prospect and still remains one, this was not entirely unpredictable as he walked 48 over 93 innings in AA and AAA this year and big league hitters are much more apt to take advantage of free baserunners than minor leaguers. He's just a spot-start option in top-quality matchups, and Sunday at home against the Astros presents an opportunity.
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