Dylan Cease, SP (CHW)
Cease completed six innings for the first time in his past three starts, allowing one run (a solo home run by Joey Wendle) in six innings, striking out seven batters. Cease's slider has been a little volatile this season and he is starting to use it less, decreasing its usage to 33% on Friday. That gives more of a share to his 4-seam fastball and curveball, both of which were fairly effective against the Marlins. It also means he gets more ground balls, which helps by limiting home runs. Cease's LOB rate still sags below 70%, but that isn't the only explanation for his subpar statistics. He is not striking out as many batters as last year, not fooling as many hitters. The prospect of using his knuckle curve more seems to be a logical answer to his struggles. It's worked the past couple games. Let's see if it continues.
Jordan Walker, OF (STL)
Remember that power that got everyone so excited about Jordan Walker in the preseason? Yeah, it didn't go away. He hit three balls over 104 miles per hour on Friday, including a 431-foot home run, his second since returning to the Cardinals from an early season demotion. Friday was Walker's first three-hit game of his career. He scored two runs and drove in a pair as the No. 8 hitter, which is where the Cardinals have been batting him. His numbers aren't bad. He has a 114 wRC+ and is now hitting .278 with a .433 slugging percentage. Eventually his ground ball rate will decline and he will turn more of those 105-mph hits into home runs. Stay patient The 21-year-old is still developing.
Leody Taveras, OF (TEX)
Still buried at the bottom of the Rangers lineup, Taveras was two-thirds of their offense on Friday, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with two solo home runs and a walk. Taveras' first home run was a moon shot hit with a 33-degree launch angle. His second was a 108-mph liner that cruised 427 feet. He is still primarily a ground ball hitter, and that works with his elite speed, but Friday was an example of the power he contains when he adjusts his swing upward. He has five home runs and five stolen bases in 168 at-bats, one of the most underrated five-category options emerging in the game. Taveras is only 24 years old and is demonstrating an ability to hit lefties and righties. Eventually he will force Rangers management to move him up in the lineup, which will really help him accumulate stats in a loaded lineup.
Michael Lorenzen, SP (DET)
Lorenzen allowed two runs in six innings before the wheels came off in the 7th. He ended up allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk in 6.2 innings. The line looks a lot worse than he actually pitched. In fact, he posted a 33% CSW rate and held the Diamondbacks to a 85.7-mph average exit velocity. It was only the second game he's allowed a home run in his last seven starts. All in all, Lorenzen has been very good since the start of May, going deep into games and limiting damage. The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal with Detroit after an injury-riddled 2022 campaign, but if he remains healthy, he is setting himself up for a decent payday in the offseason. He will likely be on the move at the trade deadline as well.
Ranger Suarez, SP (PHI)
Suarez was solid on Friday, holding the Dodgers to one run on four hits and two walks with a season-high eight strikeouts. After three ugly outings to begin the season, Suarez has posted three straight quality starts since. The main difference has been a commitment to his curveball, which was good again on Friday, allowing only one weakly-hit ball on 24 pitches. He barely used his curveball before this season, but it has emerged as a difference-maker, complementing his suddenly decent-velocity sinker and giving him a legit fourth option. Whether he can maintain command of the pitch is important, but this change is worthy of attention.
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