Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and four RBI against the Indians on Monday, pacing Chicago's 9-1 victory from the two-hole. He kicked off the scoring with a 2-run homer off Trevor Bauer in the first inning for his seventh homer of the year before clubbing his eighth double and notching a sac fly. His .293 average represents a major improvement over his ..235 mark from last year, when he led the majors with 217 strikeouts and struck out in 1/3 of his plate appearances. He's striking out in fewer than a quarter of his plate appearances this year, which should help him keep his average up. He's also hitting for more power after managing just 17 homers and 61 RBI last year, suggesting that the 23-year-old is in the midst of a breakout. He needs to be owned in all leagues.
Jonathan Villar went 1-for-4 with a grand slam Monday vs. the Red Sox. Villar accounted for all of Baltimore's runs with one swing of the bat in the second inning, clearing the bases with his fourth home run of the year. Despite not having much offensive firepower behind him, Baltimore's leadoff man is putting up strong fantasy numbers with 22 runs, 16 RBI, 14 extra-base hits, seven steals and a .273 average. If the rebuilding Orioles opt to trade him this summer, his numbers could surge in a more potent lineup.
Luke Voit went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Monday vs. the Mariners, giving him 10 homers and 29 RBI alongside his respectable .260 average. With New York's lineup decimated by injuries, Voit has carried the offense with his strong start after finishing 2018 on fire with the Yanks. In 73 games with New York he already has 24 homers and 62 RBI with some help from the homer-friendly Yankee Stadium. The 28-year-old appears to have blossomed into a legitimate slugger and should be started in all formats.
Giancarlo Stanton, who originally landed on the 10-day injured list with a left biceps strain on March 31, Stanton is now working on healing his left shoulder injury. The Yankees slugger saw a specialist in California and received a cortisone shot on April 25. His next step in his recovery will be hitting off a tee on Tuesday, but other than that he was unable to offer a more specific timetable for his return.
Brett Gardner went 2-for-3 with a triple, a solo homer, and two runs scored Monday, helping lead the Yankees to a 7-3 win over the Mariners. Gardner's sixth home run of the year came off Felix Hernandez as part of a four-run second inning that put New York ahead 6-0. Although he's batting just .223 -- which would be a career low for him -- Gardner has remained fantasy-relevant in his age-35 season with 21 runs, 13 extra-base hits and three steals. He also has more walks (16) than strikeouts (15), which suggests he still has a strong batting eye as well. Gardner may not be a flashy fantasy option, but he's still a rock-solid one.
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