The Round Up — May 16th
Daily Recap of MLB News, Fantasy news, and Gambling picks.
Power Rankings
The best day of the week. Power Rankings. Major League Baseball comes out with an official list of the best teams in baseball multiplied by the hottest teams in baseball, and this is this weeks.
Major League Baseball always gets slammed for looking like they are pro-Yankees, but I think this weeks is pretty fair. In my opinion, not in this specific order, these are the 5 best teams in baseball. They are complete from top to bottom, with great offenses and great pitching staffs. If you ask me, one of these teams will be on top come October (Go Nats).
The Braves Are The Best
If I told you at the beginning of the year that the Atlanta Braves was going to be the best team in the National League, you would have looked at me like I was crazy. Well, it’s time to reevaluate everything you know about baseball because Atlanta has the best record in the National League (25–15) and are two games up on the favorite to win the division, the Washington Nationals. The Braves are doing all this without there star shortstop Dansby Swanson, who is returning today from a wrist injury. The Braves rank 3rd in hitting, batting .269 as a team with a whopping 52 home runs. You may be thinking that they hit a hot streak and are just mashing the ball at the moment, but that would be a mistake. The entire team is just on another level. Their run differential for the year is +57!! That’s up with great teams like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Don’t count these guys out, because this streak is far from over.
Almost Perfect
Just when you thought we were finally going to get a perfect game, Trevor Story hits a cue shot to break it up 5 outs away. Usually perfect games come from absolute nobody’s (Cough Dallas Braden cough) or absolute studs (Randy Johnson/King Felix). Yesterday when Padres starter Jordan Lyles had a perfect game going, it had all the makings of history. However, this time the only history that happened was an upholding of a pretty unfortunate stat. The San Diego Padres are STILL the only team to never throw a no hitter. For reference, the San Diego Padres have been a team since 1969. I guess you can take that however you’d like. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Oh No, Robby Cano!
Robinson Cano was suspended yesterday after he tested positive for furosemide, commonly referred to as Lasix, which is used to cover up for the use of banned substances in urine tests. The suspension comes as a massive surprise because Cano is a player who has demonstrated immense class throughout his career. He will miss the next 80 games and will lose postseason eligibility as a result of the suspension. Interestingly, the suspension was dolled out a day after Cano broke his hand being hit by a pitch. Coinciding with his suspension, look for Dee Gordon to pick up the slack at the keystone position in Cano’s stead.
Pollock Injury
The Diamondbacks star center fielder will be out the next month or two with a fractured left thumb. He sustained the injury diving for a line drive in center against the Brewers. The loss of Pollock could not have come at a more inopportune time for the D-Backs, as they have lost 6 games in a row after not losing a series to open the year. They also have lost Jake Lamb, Robbie Ray, and Taijuan Walker to injury this year. Walker will not return this season. The injury riddled team from Arizona will have to rely heavily on All-Stars Zack Greinke and Paul Goldschmidt while Pollock is out.
Votto Losing Patience
Joey Votto has been one of the more animated players in the league for the past couple years. He’s been vivid and lively and more importantly, he’s been one of the best players in the world for some time. However, Votto is aging, and his time is running out for a playoff run. A lifetime Reds member, Votto has apparently been very frustrated about the Reds production this year, calling it “The worst start to the year he’s ever seen.” There were even rumors that he wanted out before this season started, and even though Votto shut them down, it may start to become a real possibility. This story is young, but this story could develop into something astronomical. Caught Looking will keep a close eye on the Joey Votto happiness meter, and the Joey Votto trade talks if they begin. The aging superstar would be a prime candidate to be traded with the Reds years away from contending and looking for prospects, yet not one is talking about it yet. The happiness meter right now seems to be on yellow, and if it hits red, Joey Votto may just be too sick of that color.
Fantasy News
Clint Frazier
Hopefully you jumped on this story right as it came out, but Clint Frazier is coming up to the big leagues. The young stud has been suffering from a concussion all year but the symptoms have finally subsided and he’s back on the squad. If you’re league hasn’t noticed his call up yet, pick him up now. This guy is a stud and there is no denying it. We will see if he stays up for awhile, but it is a clear sign that he will be brought up as soon as they need him.
Whit Merrifield
Whit Merrifield has quickly become a household name and fan favorite in Kansas City. The Royals second baseman lead the AL in stolen bases last year while batting .290 and is doing the exact same thing this year. Already over 100 points on the year, Whitt could be worth acquiring through trade or waivers, as he is still very young. He could be a keeper down the line as well.
Gambling
Scaf’s Picks
Washington got rained out last night, and we went 1–1 in the other two games. Today’s picks:
- Washington Nationals (+110)
- Philadelphia Phillies (+115)
- Toronto Blue Jays (-115)
Balzy’s Beat The Streak Pick
We improved our streak yesterday, and we are looking to improve it today. Today’s picks are Nick Castallanos & Manny Machado. #RoadTo56
Streak Counter — 1
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