Travis Bazzana (2B-CLE) set the table for the Cleveland offense against the Phillies on Sunday afternoon, going 3-4 with a solo blast out of the leadoff spot. The 23 year-old rookie has enjoyed a nice start to his MLB career, hitting .294 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11 R, and 7 SB (in 9 attempts) across 100 PA. He's controlled the plate well, logging a 17% strikeout rate against a 13% walk rate while his overall (80%) and in-zone (87%) contact rates are solid. If anything is lacking, it's loud contact, as Statcast showed a 31.5% hard-hit rate, 3% barrel rate, and average exit velo just below 89 mph entering Saturday's action. But he flashed a bit more pop on Sunday.
Carson Benge (OF-NYM) went 0-5 with a BB, 2 K, and a SB at the Marlins on Sunday. The 23 year-old rookie's season stat line isn't great (.246, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 25 R, and 9 steals (in 10 attempts) across 190 PA, but he has stepped things up over the last month, hitting .324 with 2 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, and 2 SB across his last 112 PA entering Saturday's action. During that span, his strikeout rate is down to 18% since April 23 (24.5% before) while he's making more loud contact (48% hard-hit, 10.5% barrel, and average exit velo of 90.5 mph) during that span (39.5% hard-hit, 4% barrel, and average exit velo of 90 mph before).
Esmerlyn Valdez (OF-PIT) went 1-3 with a 2-run homer - his first career dinger - and 2 K at Toronto on Sunday afternoon. The 22 year-old got the call to the majors after a nice start to the campaign in Triple-A, where he batted .253 with 10 HR, 29 RBI, and 25 R over 194 PA while drawing 17% walks against a 21% strikeout rate. That largely reflects his minor-league track record as Valdez is a selective hitter who possesses nice pop. There's below-average power here while the hit tool is suspect, but will walk and hit dingers. Before his call to the majors, Valdez posted a 44.5% hard-hit rate and average exit velo of 90 mph while an average launch angle of 12.6 generated a combined liner-flyball rate of 54%.
Andrew Painter (SP-PHI) took the loss in putting together a quality start against Cleveland on Saturday, tossing 6.1 IP in which he allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 on 82 pitches (52 strikes) in which he kept the ball in the yard. It's been a challenging first season in the majors for the 23 year-old RHP as he now owns a 5.40 ERA, 7.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 4.35 xFIP across 9 starts (50 IP). The gap between his ERA and xFIP does indicate that a .327 BABIP and 69% strand rate are inflating his ERA a bit, but he hasn't missed many bats (9.5% swinging-strike rate) as the opposition makes plenty of contact against him (81% overall and 89.5% in zone). The good news is that he hasn't allowed a ton of loud contact, with Statcast showing a 37% hard-hit rate, 9% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph. He'll face a test in LA against the Dodgers next weekend.
Parker Messick (SP-CLE) was sharp in picking up a win at Philadelphia on Sunday, firing 5.2 shutout IP in which he scattered 5 hits and 2 walks while recording 6 punchouts on 91 pitches (56 strikes). The 25 year-old southpaw now owns a strong 2.24 ERA, 9.8 K/9, and 2.7 BB/9 through 11 starts (64.1 IP) on the year, although a 3.08 xFIP indicates that he's benefited from some good luck in the form of a .273 BABIP and 85.5% strand rate. In addition to missing some bats (11.5% swinging-strike rate) and limiting contact overall (76%) and in the zone (84%), Messick yields little loud contact as Statcast shows a well below-average 33.5% hard-hit rate, 5.5% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 87 mph. He lines up for a favorable start against Boston next weekend.
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