Pablo Lopez, SP (MIN)
Lopez took advantage of a weakened Royals lineup to deliver the best start of his career. He polished off a 100-pitch complete game shutout, allowing only four hits and striking out a career-high 12 batters. It was only the second game this season he did not allow a walk. A slight decline in velocity with his offspeed pitches benefited Lopez as the greater delta from his mid-90's fastball handcuffed the Kansas City bats. He got five whiffs on his changeup and four on his curveball. Meanwhile, he was hammering the zone, a proper strategy against the passive Royals offense. The shutout lowered his ERA to under 4.00. Meanwhile, he is striking out more batters than at any point in his career. He won't get the Royals every time out, but the 27-year-old has taken another step in his development and is shining in his first season with the Twins.
Colton Cowser, OF (BAL)
The Orioles turned to their youth movement again on Wednesday, calling up former first-round pick Colton Cowser, who was tearing the cover off the ball at AAA-Norfolk. He showed his capability in his first at-bat, hitting a 107.7 liner that shortstop Anthony Volpe caught for an out. He would eventually single in his third at-bat, driving in his first career run and eventually scoring on a triple by fellow rookie Jordan Westburg. Cowser hits the ball hard and he drives it. He's one of those non-home run hitters who will hit a lot of home runs, meaning he doesn't reach for home runs but his hard contact and line drive approach will drive enough balls out of the park. He has good speed, but he's more likely to max out around 20-25 stolen bases. The upside is there in this budding young lineup to provide stats in all five categories. He should be picked up in all leagues where he is still available.
Matthew Liberatore, SP (STL)
Liberatore started on three days' rest Wednesday, and the results were not very good. The young left-hander only lasted one-third of an inning, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk. Fortunately for his sake he did not factor into the decision. As I've written before, it's just so difficult to trust a pitcher whose only chance of success rides on an unreliable curveball. On Wednesday, he threw his curveball four times, getting only one swing, which was a 95-mph single by Bryan De La Cruz. When his curveball isn't effective, he just doesn't have much else. His fastball/sinker combination is giving up a batting average near .350. Yet he doesn't trust his slider or changeup enough yet. So you ride or die with him. Every start you're asking, "Will his curveball be on today or not?" It was not on Wednesday. Who knows next?
Eduardo Rodriguez, SP (DET)
Rodriguez likely needed at least another rehab start, but when the Tigers realized they could line him up against the A's, they saw it as equal competition (sorry, A's fans). But guess who got the last laugh? A's hitters, who tagged Rodriguez for five runs on six hits in four innings. The veteran left-hander gave up a pair of home runs, although he did finish with seven strikeouts. Rodriguez missed more than a month with a finger injury and pitched well in a rehab start last week. Don't read too much into Wednesday's poor start. He had some bad luck. His velocity was fine and he generated weak contact and a decent CSW rate. He should be safe to get back into rotations for his next start.
Alex Cobb, SP (SF)
Cobb was excellent on Wednesday as he kept the Mariners scoreless in six innings while striking out seven. The veteran right-hander didn't allow a walk for the second straight game as he continues his late-career renaissance. He continues to be a ground ball machine. He generated eight groundouts on Wednesday as he threw his sinker half the time. Although he tends to give up hard contact, it's just so difficult for hitters to get under his pitches so the worst case scenario ends up being very unthreatening. Meanwhile, he has cut his walks so much that opposing teams need to work so hard to create big innings. It's a promising recipe for success, and success is exactly what Cobb and Cobb fantasy owners are experiencing this season.
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