Andrew Cashner (SP, SD): Cashner returned from the disabled list and had an effective start against the Yankees, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks in six innings, striking out six. He still took the loss since Yankees starter Chad Green had a strong outing, but it was one of the few times Cashner didn't get crushed this season so his owners have to be encouraged. He three only three curveballs and seven changeups, instead relying heavily on his four-seam fastball and slider, the latter of which drew eight whiffs. He'd gone away from the slider this season and started using the curve more, but this pitch usage indicates a bit of a return to his roots. Considering his swinging strike rate was at an all-time low of 5.7% this season, this appears to be a very welcome change and could very well lead to more success moving forward if he continues to deploy the slider more frequently. He's worth grabbing in most leagues for his next start against the Dodgers.
Jake Lamb (3B, Ari): Jake continued to rake on Sunday against the Giants, with Mr. Lamb smashing his 19th home run of the season in his only hit of the day, finishing 1-5 with two RBI and three K's. He narrowly missed a second homer, and he's been one of the biggest profits of the first half of the season, with the aforementioned 19 homers, 58 RBI and a fancy .290/.367/.607 slash line. He's really upped his pull percentage this season from 38.7% last season to 50.3% this year, and that's fed into the power increase. He's got a crazy 27.7% HR/FB rate and all but four of his home runs have been to the pull side. It would be hard to project him to continue his power pace, but he should continue to be a solid source of homers and RBI for the remainder of the season while being an even bigger plus in OBP leagues.
Brandon McCarthy (SP, LAD): McCarthy returned to the mound triumphantly after working his way back from Tommy John surgery, throwing five shutout innings against the Rockies. He gave up only two hits and a walk and struck out a whopping eight Rockies batters, and needed only 72 pitches to do so. He's instantly a must-own player, though his rest of season production isn't likely to be anywhere near this good. He averaged 93.5 on his fastball which was right where he was in 2015, so that's a very positive sign. He might even gain a tick of velocity as the season moves forward and his body re-acclimates itself to the grind of pitching. It's not uncommon to see a little extra velocity from pitchers returning from Tommy John. The Dodgers will continue to ease him back in and his pitch count per start will rise as the season wears on. His next start will come at home against the Padres.
Francisco Liriano (SP, Pit): Liriano nabbed his fifth win of the year against the A's despite not being very effective, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk in five innings with two strikeouts. He made some waves this week as it was leaked that he and pitching coach Ray Searage weren't seeing eye to eye on where Liriano should be standing on the rubber. Given Liriano's 5.34 ERA and 5.65 BB/9, you'd think it would behoove him to listen to the man that is widely regarded as the best pitching coach in all of baseball. It's hard to say things are trending in the right direction for Liriano either since coming into this start he'd allowed at least four (unearned) runs in every start since May 24th against the Diamondbacks. He still needs to be owned in deep mixed leagues just because he gets so many strikeouts and there's always the chance he unplugs his ears for his coaches and improves in the second half of the season. Shallow mixed leaguers can find better options though. Liriano's next start will be a home matchup with the Cubs.
Vincent Velasquez (SP, Phi): Velasquez had good results in his second start off the disabled list, shutting down the Royals for two runs in six innings. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven. His lines have looked very good since his return to action, but his velocity is down a bit, and that's a little concerning. He topped out at 96 with his four-seam, but averaged only 92.8 which is a full tick below where he's been for the rest of the season. Clearly he's been making it work though, and you've got to keep rolling him out there while he's posting nice box scores like this one. He'll take his 10.78 K/9 and 3.34 ERA to Colorado for his next start against the Rockies. That will be a true test of his talents.
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