Monday, September 4, 2017

Mitch Haniger goes yard

Mitch Haniger hit a solo shot into the left-center field seats in Seattle's 10-2 victory over the Athletics on Sunday.  He also doubled and finished the day going 4-for-5 with two RBIs.

Fantasy Implications: After an 0-for-15 slide, Haniger has regrouped going 11-for-21 with two home runs and seven RBIs in his last five games. The 26-year-old right fielder is now batting .262 with 10 HRs, 36 RBIs and 43 R for the year.

Robinson Cano blasts two-run homer

Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 Sunday blasting a two-run homer and hitting two run-scoring singles in Seattle's 10-2 win over the Athletics. He also scored twice.

Fantasy Implications: After not hitting a homer in 35 straight games, Cano has now gone yard in his last two. In addition, his six RBIs Saturday and Sunday also surpass the five RBIs he collected in his previous 27 games. Despite the power outage, the veteran second baseman still has 21 home runs and 68 RBIs on the year. And perhaps Cano's weekend performance will augur a slugging binge that will extend to the end of the season.

Yonder Alonso not in lineup

Yonder Alonso in not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Fantasy Implications: Alonso will head to the bench with southpaw Dallas Keuchel on the mound for Houston. Danny Valencia will take his place at first base, and bat sixth.

Ben Gamel not in lineup

Ben Gamel is not in the lineup Monday for Seattle's game against the Astros.

Fantasy Implications: Gamel will retreat to the bench as the Mariners will deploy a heavy right-sided lineup against southpaw Dallas Keuchel. Gamel's woes at the plate may have also factored into the benching. In his last 10 games, the 25-year-old outfielder went only 4-for-36 (.111AVG), and seen his batting average plummet from .323 to .279 since the All-Star break. Taylor Motter will take his place in left field and bat ninth.

Jean Segura wraps trio of hits

Jean Segura went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, and eventually came around to score on all three hits in Seattle's win against Oakland on Sunday. He also had a stolen base.

Fantasy Implications: Segura piggybacked on his first two September appearances, playing the role of table-setter with aplomb. He is 7-for-13 with two stolen bases to start the month, and has scored on six of his seven hits. The 27-year-old shortstop is batting .306 for the year with 37 RBIs, 68 R and 20 SB. The Mariners will need Segura to continue his fine play to have any realistic chance of a wild-card birth.

Carlos Ruiz homers and doubles

Carlos Ruiz went 2-for 3, hitting a solo-shot and a double in Seattle's 10-2 drubbing of Oakland on Sunday.

Fantasy Implications: After an 0-for-13 slump over six games, Ruiz has now gone 4-for-7 in his last two games with two home runs and two RBIs. Manager Scott Servais gave the veteran backstop a breather in the ninth inning, allowing catcher Mike Marjama to make his Major League debut behind the plate. Ruiz playing time is limited (he has appeared in only 46 games this year) and thus he offers little fantasy value other than a cheap play in daily formats.

Nelson Cruz drives in run

Nelson Cruz went 1-for-3 Sunday with an RBI single in the eighth-inning in Seattle's 10-2 route of    Oakland. He also walked twice and struck out once.

Fantasy Implications: After a torrid pace in the first-two thirds of August, Cruz has cooled off lately. In the ten games prior to Sunday's contest, the veteran slugger was only 4-for-33 (.121 AVG) with no homers and three RBIs. His RBI single yesterday plated Yonder Alonzo, and was Cruz' American League leading 104th RBI. Look for Cruz to heat up again, as the Mariners attempt to qualify for a wild-card spot in the post-season.



Shae Simmons makes 2017 debut

Shae Simmons worked around one hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning in Seattle's 10-2 win over Oakland. He also struck out two in the non-save situation.

Fantasy Implications: Simmons, who had been battling a forearm injury since pitching in a March 11 spring-training game, finally made his Mariners' debut. The 27-year-old right-hander was forced to miss the entire 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery while a member of the Braves' organization. He pitched well in the seven appearances with Atlanta in 2016, posting a 1.35 ERA and 0.90 WHIP, albeit over only 6 2/3 innings of work. Simmons was the 40th pitcher used by Seattle this year, tying a Major-League record held by the Rangers in 2014.

Nick Vincent notches a hold

Nick Vincent pitched a perfect eighth inning to collect another hold in Seattle's 10-2 win over Oakland on Sunday.  He walked none and struck out none.

Fantasy Implications: Vincent has been a remarkable bridge to closer Edwin Diaz. The 31-year-old right-hander now has 26 holds on the season and only one blown save. He boasts an impeccable 1.87 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 60 appearances and 57 2/3 innings of work, yielding only two homers over the season. Needless to say, Vincent is a major asset to fantasy formats that count saves.

Andrew Albers picks up win

Andrew Albers (3-1) surrendered only one run and one hit over six innings to pick up his third win of the season in Seattle's 10-2 victory over Oakland on Sunday. He struck out five and walked one.

Fantasy Implications: Albers had allowed no hits through the first five innings, but then relinquished his only hit of the game, a Matt Olson solo shot to lead off the sixth. The quality start was his best performance since being acquired by Seattle from Atlanta on August 11. The 31-year-old southpaw has been steady, pitching at least five innings in each of his four starts. He now sports a 3.43 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. With an average fastball of 87.9 mph and an unremarkable 6.86 K/9, Albers should be viewed as no better than a backend of the rotation starter.