Chris Sale- P- BOS- Hot- Sale had a favorable matchup in his first MLB appearance in 2 years + 1 day. He didn't waste it, holding the Orioles to 2 runs on 6 hits and no walks while striking out 8 in 5 IP. The runs came on a pair of solo homers. As would be expected from the K/BB ratio, Sale had good control, throwing 60 of 89 pitches for strikes. He had an outstanding rehab stint, allowing 3 ERS on 17 hits and 5 walks while striking out 35 in 20 IP. Sale had thrown a maximum of 5 IP in the rehab stint and matched that for Boston yesterday. He is looking like a late season asset for fantasy teams. If you've held on to him hoping for a good return the early signs are positive.
Albert Abreu- RP- NYY- Rise Value- Wearing #84, Abreu had no problems dealing with the lumber of the White Sox to record his first major league save. Coming into the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th and a 2-run lead, Abreu got a line out and ground ball force out to nail down the win. He threw 7 of his 10 pitches for strikes. Abreu has had a few stints with the Yankees this season but seems to have settled down. Only 2 of his 11 walks this season have come in his last 6 appearances, covering 8 IP. Abreu has struck out 10 in that stretch. He has been moved from starting in the minors 2019 and before to a relief role. Abreu had a 5.94 BB/9 to go with a 16.74 K/9 in 18.2 IP across 10 games at AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre, so the improvement in control of late is significant. With the closer role up for grabs and his performance last night, he is in the mix to hold things down until Aroldis Chapman comes back.
James Kaprielan- P- OAK- Stats- Kaprielan has been up and down this season and even when he is up he can have stamina issues. Yesterday he had given up 1 run through 5 IP before running out of gas in the 6th. Kaprielan gave up singles to the first 3 hitters and was removed after getting a force out. He ended up being charged with 2 more runs in the inning. Kaprielan ended up allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, and neither walking nor striking out anyone in 5.1 IP. He tossed 45 of his 69 pitches for strikes, so the absence of Ks was odd for someone who has a K/9 of 8.93. Kaprielan has only allowed more than 3 ERs twice in his 15 starts, but has also only lasted 6 IP or more 7 times. He has quality starts in all of those. With a 3.33 ERA outperforming his 4.02 FIP there is a chance he will regress some, but his K totals are decent and he can turn in a very solid start. When he's off, it's not by enough to hurt badly.
Yohel Pozo- C- TEX- Rookie-Pozo continued his hot MLB start, going 2-for-4 in yesterday's game. That maintained his career .500 average after 2 games. Pozo was signed as a 16-year-old by the Rangers in 2013 and was signed by San Diego as a minor league free agent this past offseason. Texas wasted no time in reacquiring Pozo, taking him in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft. At AAA Round Rock this season, his first professional campaign above Class A, Pozo broke out. He slashed .337/.350/.608 with 19 homers in 280 PAs. He has been the DH in his first 2 games but the Rangers will likely give him a good look there and at C. Although Pozo only had a 2.1% BB% at Round Rock, he was not a free swinger, with a K% of only 11.8%. Pozo only turned 24 in June. He wasn't on the radar before the season but he could be a case of a player who caught up in development despite missing the 2020 minor league season.
Liam Hendriks- RP- CWS- Cold- Hendriks was rescued at the Field of Dreams by Tim Anderson's dramatic homer. There was no miracle last night. Hendriks entered a tied game, not an unfamiliar situation of late for him, but imploded again. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, of which one was a homer. In his last 6 appearances, Hendriks is 3-1 but has converted 1 of his 3 save opportunities. He has given up 4 homers in that span and has an ERA of 11.11. Hendriks has allowed a hit in all but one of those outings and been scored on in half of them. The last two games have stood out but there has been a decline for the past few weeks.
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