Max Kranick (SP-PIT)
Kranick made his major league debut for the Pirates, firing 5 perfect innings, striking out 3. The Rookie wasn't afforded a shot at perfection as a lengthy rain delay forced the Pirates to go to the bullpen. Kranick threw 36 of his 50 pitches for strikes, generating 9 swinging strikes. The 23-year-old wasn't overly impressive over 7 minor league starts between AA and AAA posting a 4.37 ERA but did have a 9.3 K/9 and a 2.3 BB/9 but it is worth noting he had never pitched above High A Ball. With the Pirates getting less than desirable results from the rotation he should see a few more turns in the rotation.
Keston Hiura (1B/2B- MIL)
Hiura went 2-4 with a double and his 3rd HR of the season Sunday. Hiura has been one of the bigger offensive disappointments in the league and has just a .149/.230/.239 line and has been shuttled between the bigs and AAA to try to get his bat right. Hiura has picked up 4 hits in 4 games including a pair of HR since his most recent recall - so perhaps this is him busting out. Since 2019, Rookie season where he .329 is looking like a bit of an outlier, especially when it was fueled by a .402 babip. He posted a .274 babip last year, and a .219 clip this year but even worse he has seen his K rate climb each season - from 30.7% as a Rookie to a whooping 39.1%.
Zack Wheeler (SP-PHI)
Wheeler dominated the Mets Sunday striking out 8 over 7 shutout innings to pick up the win. Wheeler was coming off his shortest outing of the season after he allowed 3 ER on 6 hits over just 3 innings to the Nationals last time out so this was a great rebound outing in a 2-start fantasy week as he induced 14 swinging strikes. Overall he has delivered big results for the Phillies in 2021 covering 99 innings over 15 starts with a 11.05 K/9 and a 2.42 fip to back up the ERA. He has also stranded 81% of the runners that have reached base vs him and has really worked his secondary pitches well this season limiting opposing batters to a .163 batting average vs his slider and a .118 clip against his curveball and a 47% whiff rate vs the curve. His strong pitching will be key for the Phillies in the second half and he should finish as a top 15 if not better starting pitcher for fantasy purposes.
Bryan Reynolds (OF-PIT)
Reynolds went 2-5 with a stolen base Sunday. He continues to shrug off a dreadful 2020 where he slashed .189/.275/.357 and has continued to excel as the best Pirates hitter and one of the better overall hitting outfielders in the NL. Reynolds struggled last year due to a dreadful .231 babip - the first time at any level of professional baseball he has had a babip under .350. He is back to his normal ways with a .364 mark this year which has led to an impressive .312/.399/.532 line. His 12% walk and 20% K rates are in line with his Rookie season and minor league years, Reynolds sits 5th in batting average, 3rd in OBP and 6th in SLG% in the NL and has also clubbed 20 doubles, 13 home runs and 43 RBIs while posting a 1.091 OPS in the month of June.
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