Ryan Braun (OF, MIL) - Ryan Braun had a monster game, going 3-4 with a homer, double, steal, walk, three runs scored, and four RBI. He's missed a fair bit of time this season while stuck on the DL, as he is known to do, but he's been very productive while on the field. His season line sits at .271/.353/.560 with 12 home runs and six steals. His current 11.2% walk rate is also the highest of his career, although his swing rate isn't far from his typical approach so the walk rate might be a bit inflated. He should continue to hit for a lot of power though, with a 35% fly ball rate 10% above what he posted last year, 42% pull rate that is 6% higher, and a 44% hard contact rate that is 10% higher. If he can stay healthy down the stretch, he can be a real fantasy force for a surprisingly competitive Brewers club.
Anthony Banda (SP, ARZ) - Anthony Banda is the top rated prospect in the Diamondbacks system and had a tough draw for his MLB debut, facing the Diamondbacks. He didn't notch a quality start but managed to limit the Nationals to four runs over 5.2 innings, striking out five without walking a batter. It is likely just a spot start for Banda as he fills in while Taijuan Walker is away on paternity leave, but his name is one to file away in dynasty formats. He features a low-to-mid-90's fastball that he can run up to 98, complemented by a good curveball and average changeup. He's struggled with control throughout the minors (3.83 BB/9 at Triple-A this season), although you wouldn't know it from this start. He gets consistent ground balls, which will be key to his success in Arizona, and has limited home runs throughout his career. He's not yet 24 and has a 5.08 ERA at Triple-A this year so he probably isn't ready to be a real fantasy asset yet, but in the right matchups he can be a spot starter if we see him again over the second half.
Brent Suter (SP, MIL) - Brent Suter posted his third quality start in four tries since sliding into the Brewers rotation, giving up just one run over six innings with no walks and five K's. He has a sparkling 2.84 ERA on the year, although that also contains his relief outings. His 7.58 K/9 isn't overly impressive, but his 2.37 BB/9 makes for a good whip, and he has been quite adept at limiting homers with a 0.47 HR/9. He was mostly fastball/changeup in this one, with his 24% changeup usage sitting well above his 8.5% usage on the season. He got just four whiffs on his 31 offspeed pitches (he threw 85 total), which encapsulates his lack of strikeout upside pretty well. His 3.97 xFIP preaches doom and gloom, but aside from his stint in Colorado Springs this year (an absolute launching pad) and 21.2 innings with the Brewers last year, he's been able to keep the ball in the park. That tells me he could pitch somewhere between that xFIP and his 3.02 FIP, which puts him on the deep league radar even if he has a mediocre strikeout rate.
Robert Stephenson (SP/RP, CIN) - Robert Stephenson came back up to the Reds for a start against the Marlins, but his results were every bit as bad as they were earlier in the season as he allowed five runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked only two, but his ERA is still at a whopping 8.10 over 30 innings with Cincinnati. He at least seems to have patched his walk issues in the minors, where his 2.90 BB/9 over 40.1 Triple-A innings are his best numbers since he was flying through the low minors years ago. He was also asked to work on his cutter/slider in the minors, which he deployed nine times in this start, double the rate from earlier in the season - and got whiffs on five of them. That's pretty exciting when combined with potentially improved control, so despite the overall poor results, he's worth a look in deeper mixed leagues if the Reds keep him around.
Sean Doolittle (RP, WAS) - Sean Doolittle notched his second save in as many tries since being traded to the Nationals, and everything usage-wise points to Doolittle being the favorite for saves moving forward for the Nats. Ryan Madson secured his 16th hold with a clean inning protecting 2-run lead in the 8th inning, and again it was Doolittle that came in for the 9th. It's been of consideration that Dusty Baker might work both relievers into the ninth inning depending on matchups, and indeed if it had been a 1-2-3 inning for Doolittle he would have faced Lamb/Iannetta/Descalso, two of which are lefties. Paul Goldschmidt pinch hit for Descalso though, and his sac fly combined with an earlier error to lead to an unearned run for Doolittle. It seems at this point like Doolittle is a pretty clear frontrunner for saves the rest of the way, although with his injury history Madson still makes for a strong handcuff.
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