Week 5: Saturday roundup

Last year, Luke Weaver had an ERA of 4.95 for the Cardinals and got bumped to the bullpen. This year, he's 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA for the Diamondbacks. How come no one has pointed out that Yadier Molina clearly was the problem? 

STUDS: Tanner Roark (LCL) allowed 2 runs and struck out 7 in a 6.2-inning win. Luke Weaver (PM) allowed 1 run and struck out 8 in a 7-inning win at Coors Field. Ryan Braun (M) had a whopping 6 hits, including 2 doubles, and drove in 2. Former Dodgers legend Manny Machado (AL) homered twice off Rich Hill and tacked on an RBI walk. Ozzie Albies (R) hit a grand slam and had an RBI single. Mike Soroka (YA) struck out 6 and didn't allow a run in a 7-inning win.

DUDS: It was a rough day for the left side of Ray's infield. Josh Donaldson went 0-fer with an error. Civil War scapegoat Dansby Swanson singled, walked and scored twice — but he committed 2 errors. We're calling that the "Amed Rosario." Starlin Castro (WLB) walked and committed 2 errors. Maybe that's the "Amed Rosario." For the second consecutive day, Kirby Yates (AL) blew a save and posted a zero. We're guessing he won't be listed in FBLG's top 5 pitchers after this week.

Week 5: Friday roundup

Kyle Hendricks can't believe how good he was on Friday against ... LOOK OUT! Doc Ock is right behind you!

STUDS: Ketel Marte (PM) homered from each side of the plate — for the third time this season! He also singled, scored 3 runs and drove in 4. Josh Hader (LCL) struck out 5 in a 2-inning save. Kyle Hendricks (PM) needed only 81 pitches to throw a shutout against the Cardinals; 63 of those pitches were strikes. Hendricks struck out 3. Adam Jones (M) was a triple short of a cycle and scored 3 runs. Ryan Braun (M) hit a 2-run homer, singled twice and stole a base. Jesse Winker (R) doubled twice, singled, scored twice and drove in a run. Robbie Ray (R) struck out 7 and allowed 5 runs — but only 1 was earned — in a 5.2-inning win at Colorado.

DUDS: Corey Seager (LCL) walked, drove in a run and erred. Jesus Aguilar (WLB) went 0-fer with a big, fat error.

Week 5: Thursday roundup

We usually bristle at people who say pitchers aren't athletes, but this photo of Noah Syndergaard awkwardly rounding third base isn't exactly helping our cause.

STUDS: Noah Syndergaard (M) did everything for the Mets in their 1-0 win against the Reds. Thor homered and struck out 10; he also went the distance, keeping the Mets' bullpen from doing what it usually does to Jacob deGrom. Stephen Strasburg (CB) had one of those good Strasburg games, striking out 9 and allowing 1 run in a 6.2-inning win against the Cardinals — who got dominated The Right Way. David Dahl (AL) was a triple short of a cycle, scored twice and drove in 3. Nolan Arenado (R) — the poor man's David Dahl — hit a 2-run homer, singled twice and scored twice. Jon Gray (M) struck out 9 in a 5.2-inning win against Milwaukee, earning honorable mention here because he did allow 5 runs.

DUD: Travis Shaw (HG) walked and erred, which is more than he's done in a week.

Week 5: Wednesday Roundup

Caleb Smith has one-third of Miami's wins this year.
Anyone who can name all five other Marlins with wins this season needs to get a hobby.

STUDS: Marcell Ozuna (FF) doubled twice, singled, scored twice, walked and drove in a run. Caleb Smith (WLB) struck out 8 and allowed 1 run in a 7-inning win. Javy Baez (AL) homered, doubled twice, scored twice and drove in 2. Nolan Arenado (R) homered twice, singled and drove in 4.

DUDS: Brandon Nimmo (LCL) made an error, as did Adam Jones (M). Edwin Diaz (M) struck out 1 and allowed the game's only run to take the loss.

When you find that special someone, never let them go.

Week 5: Tuesday Roundup

Congratulations to everyone's favorite chunky lefty on reaching 3,000 strikeouts.

STUDS: Franmil Reyes (PM bench, oops) homered twice, doubled and drove in 3. Zack Greinke (YA) struck out 7 Yankees and allowed 1 run in a 7.2-inning win.

DUDS: Wilson Ramos (HG) made an error, as did Bryce Harper (LCL) and Javier Baez (AL). Raisel Iglesias (R) allowed a run in 0.1 innings and took the loss.

Week 5: Monday Roundup

Mike Soroka makes us think of Ziggy Sobotka of The Wire fame. And, look: the Braves have a (Chad) Sobotka too!

STUDS: Raisel Iglesias (R) struck out 4 in 2 shutout innings for the vulture win. Mike Soroka (YA) struck out 8 in 6 innings, allowing 1 run to earn the win.

DUDS: Eric Hosmer (CB) rewarded his new owner with a single and an error. Edwin Diaz (M) allowed a run in an inning to take the loss.

Week 4: The Check Swing

Commissioner Deka's excuse for not feeling great this week.

This will be an abbreviated Check Swing this week as the commissioners hit the sauce a little hard and aren't 100%. Back to Mets jokes next week.

Henry's huge week propelled his team from 7th to the top of the leaderboard last week... and earned him his first weekly win. Somehow Ray is in third place without a win and Rick is 3-1 and sitting in 9th. It's all about timing!

1. The Rookies (906.7 points, 1-3, last week 7)

2. When the Ledee Breaks (897.2, 3-1, last week 1)

3. Clemente's Bucs (823.5, 0-4, last week 5)

4. Lumber Co Lumber (818.7, 3-1, last week 2)

5. Hassey's Girl (805.3, 2-2, last week 4)

6. Project Mayhem (800.8, 3-1, last week 3)

7. Yari's Autonomics (748.8, 1-3, last week 8)

8. Arbitration Losers (775.5, 3-1, last week 6)

9. Fresh Fish (752, 3-1, last week 10)

10. The Misfits (732, 1-3, last week 9)

Batting leaders after Week 4

1. Cody Bellinger (R) 144
2. Christian Yelich (HG) 130
3. Marcell Ozuna (FF) 102.5
4. Paul DeJong (PM) 101.5

5. David Peralta (PM) 99.5

Pitching leaders after Week 4

1. Luis Castillo (FF) 83.7
2. Zack Greinke (YA) 77.3
3. German Marquez (HG) 77
4. Stephen Strasburg (CB) 76.7
5. Kirby Yates (AL) 76

Week 4: Sunday roundup

Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler thanks Zach Eflin for allowing Kapler to avoid using his Dumpster fire of a bullpen. 

STUDS: Ozzie Albies (R) homered twice, singled and scored 3 runs. Eduardo Escobar (R) homered twice, drove in 3 and walked. Jack Flaherty (M) got the win and struck out 4 in 7 shutout innings. Jean Segura (YA) went 3 for 4 with a triple, 2 runs and an RBI. Juan Soto (WLB) homered, singled, drove in 3 and stole a base. Zach Eflin (CB) did the unthinkable — by 2019 standards, anyway. Eflin went the distance to beat the Marlins; he struck out 3 and allowed 1 run. Eric Hosmer (CB) was a triple short of a cycle, scored twice and drove in 3. Josh Donaldson (CB) hit a 3-run homer, walked twice and scored twice.

DUDS: Dereck Rodriguez (AL) allowed 4 runs and fanned 3 in a 3-inning loss. Will Smith (PM) allowed 3 runs and struck out 1 in 1 innings. Alex Verdugo (FF) went 0-fer with an error.

Week 4: Saturday roundup

Anthony Rizzo asks an umpire what he has to do to finally make the Studs list. Unfortunately, the umpire was Angel Hernandez, so the answer was overturned after a quick booth review. 

STUDS: Anthony Rizzo (FF) homered, doubled twice, scored 3 runs and drove in 2. Marcell Ozuna (FF) homered, doubled and drove in 5. Clayton Kershaw (FF) struck out 8 and allowed 1 run in a 7-inning win. Josh Hader (LCL) struck out 5 in a 2-inning save. Hunter Renfroe (R) homered, doubled and drove in 3. Adorable elf Christian Yelich (HG) went 3 for 4 with a homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, a walk and a steal.

DUDS: Michael Conforto (WLB) walked and erred. Victor Robles (CB) walked, scored and erred. Joey Votto (AL) singled and erred.

Week 4: Friday roundup

We're going to use a photo of Austin Barnes for the blog because ... oh, um ... WHATEVER YOU SAY, YASIEL!

STUDS: Austin Barnes (R) homered, doubled and drove in 3. Nolan Arenado (R) homered, doubled, scored twice and drove in 2. Hyun-Jin Ryu (HG) struck out 10 and allowed 2 runs in a 7-inning win. Adam Jones (M) went 3 for 5 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Lorenzo Cain (PM) singled, doubled, scored twice and drove in 3. Yasiel Puig (YA) homered, singled, scored twice and drove in 3. Max Scherzer (YA) allowed 2 runs and struck out 10 in a 7-inning no-decision.

DUDS: Gregory Polanco (HG) singled and erred. Chris Archer (PM) gave up 6 runs and struck out 3 in a 4-inning loss. Kyle Hendricks (PM) fared no better, allowing 7 runs and striking out 3 in a 5-inning loss. Sean Doolittle (YA) struck out 1 in 1 inning, but he allowed a run and took the loss.