Smada (MLB) and Alex Jensen (Complex) are back with you to cover the short slate of Monday games.

Major League Baseball

Covered by Smada

‼️ Zack Wheeler, RHP PHI (MLB)

8 IP, 6 H, 10 K

Wheeler put up a masterclass outing against the Padres lowering his ERA to 2.27. Somehow at the age of 35 he’s hit his peak. His 2.32 ERA over his last 30 starts is the lowest of any such span in his career. I’ll continue to happily roster old starters on dynasty teams.

Spencer Horwitz, 1B PIT (MLB)

2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI 

After returning from the IL in mid-May he struggled over his first month as a Pirate to the tune of a 68 wRC+ and just 1 HR over 93 PA. The second half of June has been a lot better tho, with a 144 wRC+ over 49 PA. This was just Horwitz’s 2nd HR on the season and while that was never really his game, some out there began expecting more of a 20+ HR full season guy than the 13-17 HR guy he actually is. The play with Horwitz is +BA/OBP and counting stats. Unfortunately it’s the Pirates counting stats. He’s going to be fine in deep leagues, just don’t go expecting too much.

‼️ Andrew Heaney, LHP PIT (MLB)

6.2 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K

After a horrendous pair of games where Heaney quickly gave back all his overachieving ERA margin he gets back to hurling quality starts like we had become somewhat accustomed to him doing. He’s a hold your breath, cross your toes SP who ends up in your lineup because of the mountain of pitching injuries. Maybe he’s our next Kyle Gibson? Maybe I’m giving him too much credit.

Max Scherzer, RHP TOR (MLB)

5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 7 K

Despite the thumb, Scherzer tossed a decent game against the Yanks. Seems like the thumb is questionable every time he touches a baseball and yet… I still want to toss him in the lineup where a 4 ERA decent K starter is useful.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B NYY (MLB)

1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, K

After nearly missing the entire month of May, Jazz is back to demolishing baseballs with 7 HR over his last 99 PA in June and 4 HR over his last 5 games. 

💣💣 Wilyer Abreu, RF BOS (MLB)

2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI

My favorite tweet I’ve ever made goes something along the lines of: “I can’t wait until May where all the current good players suck and the current bad players are good then we switch it up again the next month.” Abreu was among the hottest of hot players in April then followed it up with a lackluster May and first half of June before ending up on the IL. Now since returning on June 20th he’s been hot with 171 wRC+ and 3 HR over his last 3 games. Abreu still sits against some LHP and remains quite streaky, but at the end of the year he’ll be a well above average power bat and that still holds a lot of value.

Chase Burns, RHP CIN (MLB)

.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R (5 ER), 2 BB

Well… not what anyone was hoping for except the Red Sox and their fans. Saw the chatter about pitch tipping and long term that doesn’t matter, the stuff is legit and it’ll play. 

Junior Caminero, 3B TB (ML

1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, K