by Todd Lammi
Adrian Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with two RBI and blasted his 23rd home run of the season. The home run was Gonzalez’s first since June 2nd as teams have continued to pitch around him more. Gonzalez already has 21 walks in June after walking 17 times in May. In other fantasy baseball news around the diamond on Thursday…
Hitters:
Nate McLouth went 2-for-5 and drove in four runs, including his 11th home run of the season. It remains to be seen whether there is any drag on McLouth’s batting average after hitting .315 at PNC Park before is trade.
Adam Lind went 3-for-4 with two RBI and blasted his 14th home run of the season. Lind has homered five times in his last nine games with nine RBI during that stretch.
Derek Lee smacked a three-run home run and drove in four runs, boosting his RBI total to 31 for the season. Lee has driven in 10 runs in his last nine games and extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
Alexei Ramirez homered for the second consecutive game, giving him seven bombs on the season. His batting average however still remains locked in the .250 range. Until he improves his batting average against right-handed pitching, he is going to be in that range for awhile. After hitting .281 against right-handed pitching in 2008, Ramirez has struggled this season, batting only .203.
Clint Barmes has found a home in the number two spot in the batting order. Barmes has had six multi-hit games in his last 10 starts, while knocking in eight runs. Barmes is hitting .351 in 94 at bats while hitting seconds this season.
Chris Young is starting to show some signs of life for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Young went 4-for-4 with his 11th stolen base of the year and now has five hits in his last six at bats. He has also walked four times with zero strikeouts in his last three games.
Franklin Gutierrez swatted two home runs, giving him three home runs in his last four games. He has a nice little trend line going, homering once in April, twice in May and currently has three home runs in June.
Chris Davis broke a long home drought, homering for the first time since May 26th. The strikeouts continue to pile up for Davis who has only one game in June that he did not strike out in.
John Mayberry Jr. returned from Triple-A with Raul Ibanez being placed on the disabled list, and homered for the second time this season on Thursday.
Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-4 and delivered his 10th home run of the season. The home run was Cuddyer’s first since May 29th.
Pitchers:
Tommy Hanson was a little better in his third start for the Atlanta Braves, tossing six shutout innings to pick up his second win of the year. After dominating the minor leagues and striking out a ton of hitters, it is disappointing if he is on your fantasy baseball team that his walk strikeout ratio sits at 10 / 12 in 17 2/3 innings.
Dan Haren allowed two runs in seven innings and struck out six to up his mark to 6-4 on the year. Haren has allowed two runs or less in his last five starts.
Nick Blackburn allowed one run in a complete game effort and struck out two to improve his record to 6-2 on the year. Blackburn has run off six straight starts allowing three runs or less, while shaving more than a run off of his ERA.
Gavin Floyd allowed one run in seven innings with two strikeouts in a no decision. Floyd has run off three straight starts with only one run allowed in each outing.
Ubaldo Jimenez won his third straight start, allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings while fanning seven. Jimenez will have his next start at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ricky Nolasco picked up a rain-shortened win, allowing one run in five innings with five strikeouts. Nolasco now has a 2.50 ERA in his last three starts.
Craig Stammen was rewarded with his first major league win after tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts.
Closers:
Mike MacDougal picked up his second save in as many days, working a scoreless ninth inning.
