Michael Lorenzen, SP (PHI)
The Phillies have to be feeling pretty good about their midseason trade. Lorenzen outdid his Phillies debut where he threw eight two-run innings. In his second start with the Phils Lorenzen tossed a 124-pitch no-hitter, blanking the Nationals to pick up his second straight win. It wasn't the shiniest no-no as he only struck out five batters while walking four, but got Nats hitters to hit it where the fielders were. Velocity was down and Washington's average exit velocity was actually quite high, but a no-hitter is a no-hitter. They can't take that away. Unless you're Armando Galarraga. Anyways, the concern moving forward is Lorenzen's workload. The oft-injured former reliever has already set a career high in innings. As the Phillies look ahead to what they hope is a deep playoff run, there may be limits to what Lorenzen does the rest of the season.
Emerson Hancock, SP (SEA)
Emerson Hancock made his major league debut on Wednesday, holding the Padres to one run on two hits and three walks in five innings. He had three strikeouts. The former No. 6 overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft relied mostly on three pitches, particularly showcasing his low-90's sinker 59% of the time. He also used a cutter and changeup with the cutter being his most effective pitch in his first career start. Hancock was called up directly from AA, but he was in his third season at the level and he's 24 years old so it's not that he isn't MLB ready. Through 20 minor league games this season Hancock has had really good ones and really bad ones. He has allowed 8+ runs three different times but held opponents scoreless on five occasions. Walks were a big issue earlier in the season, but he had improved recently so the three walks in Wednesday's game are discouraging. The big righthander doesn't offer as much upside as some of the other Mariners starters that have already appeared, but if he keeps the walks down he has the potential to post solid ratios with the occasional blowup. Tread carefully.
Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B (PIT)
Back in the leadoff spot for the first time since coming off the injured list in a week ago, Hayes stuffed the stat sheet. He hit his second home run in as many days, part of a three-hit effort to go along with three RBI's. After only recording one hit in his first four games off the IL Hayes has five hits, two homers and six RBI's in his last two. Injuries continually interrupt what looks like it should be a pending breakout for the young third baseman. The projected breakout is based on elite quality of contact and plate discipline. He has added more lift to the swing, which should result in more home runs, and yet he still only has a HR/FB rate around seven percent. One would have to think that will change if he continues to display a near-50% hard-hit rate. I'm still buying a breakout. Perhaps it began on Tuesday.
Spencer Torkelson, 1B (DET)
Torkelson had a big day at the plate on Wednesday. He hit his 16th home run off Bailey Ober, only his second opposite-field homer of the season. He followed that up with a traditional home run to left field on his next at-bat. He has 17 home runs and 61 RBI's, but his batting average continues to drag as his two-hit effort only lifted his average to .225. There's so much to like about Torkelson's game, including solid plate discipline and hard contact, but his constant inability to make consistent contact against non-fastballs is holding him back from taking that next step. There is just so little reason for opposing pitchers to throw heaters, but when they do he takes advantage. Unfortunately he is showing no improvement against offspeed or breaking pitches. More at-bats will help, but he's not there yet. The makings are present, however, for a future power mainstay.
Willy Adames, SS (MIL)
Adames hit his 18th home run on Wednesday, only his second long ball in the last month. Adames had the last couple games off as the Brewers try to guide him out of a prolonged slump. The 27-year-old shortstop is slashing a paltry .202/.287/.383. His on-base numbers weren't much better last season, but he carried some preseason hype due tol a career-high 31 home runs in his first full season in Milwaukee. However, his quality of contact has declined this year. Adames is posting a subpar 35% hard-hit rate, and yet he is still cheating for home runs 44% flyball rate, 49% pull rate). Without much strength behind those pull-side flyballs, it's just going to lead to a bunch of flyouts. Hence, the .202 batting average. Perhaps the two-game reset will ignite more power as Adames hit two hard-hit balls in play Wednesday, including his 107-mph, 414-foot homer. Without the long balls, Adames' fantasy value is zilch.
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