Will Dan Haren ever pitch like a fantasy ace?  Will Pedro Alvarez or Mike Stanton get things going any time soon?  How good has Jose Reyes been of late?

Let’s look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

For an in-depth look at the Colorado Rockies-Minnesota Twins game, click here for our Spotlight Game of the Night.


Hitters:

Magglio Ordonez (3-5, 1 RBI, 1 R) –  In the three games since returning to the lineup, Ordonez has gone 8-13 with 2 RBI and 4 R.  It’s like he didn’t miss any time, isn’t it? 

He’s making 2009 look like a distant memory, or if nothing else a complete aberration.  He is currently hitting .330 with 8 HR and 43 RBI, making his 2008 line (21 HR, 103 RBI) a very realistic possibility.  He clearly has returned to being a must-use in all formats.

Jose Reyes (3-5, 1 RBI, 2 R) –  When he scores, the Mets win.  It’s a very simple formula.  It’s no wonder the Mets are playing well, as Reyes has scored in seven of his last nine games. 

During his current nine-game hitting streak he’s gone 17-39 with 2 HR, 3 RBI, 9 R, and 3 SB.  Is anyone still concerned about his health and questioning his status as one of the elite shortstops in the game?


Rajai Davis (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 SB) –
While he missed a few days during it, Davis now has a nine-game hitting streak, the last three all being multi-hit games.  Over the streak he’s gone 13-40 with 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, and 2 SB. 

Obviously, hitting atop the order, you’d like to see more runs scored while he’s hot.  Still, he’s up to 25 SB on the season, giving him plenty of value despite hitting leadoff for the A’s, which suppresses his potential for runs scored.

Pedro Alvarez (0-4) – He struck out 3 times, just making things even worse.  He’s now 0-6 since his recall, striking out four times.  That was the major concern and in two games, he’s done nothing to ease them.

Mike Stanton (0-4) –  He’s 0-12 in his last three games and is now hitting .226 without a home run.  You need to give him time to settle into the major leagues at 20 years old, so don’t press the panic button.

Carlos Quentin (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R) –  Is he starting to turn things around?  Obviously, it’s a bit premature, but he’s 4-8 with 3 RBI and 1 R over his last two games.  This may be your last chance to buy low on him, so strike while you can.

Adam Dunn (2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) –  He’s now homered in back-to-back games and in six of his last nine games.  With 16 HR on the year, he has a chance to return to the 40-HR plateau after taking a year off last season (with 38).

Troy Glaus (1-3, 2 RBI) –  Seriously, who saw this one coming?  Once he started hitting, he just hasn’t really stopped.  He has 7 RBI over his last four games and is up to 53 on the season.

Cody Ross (3-4, 1 RBI, 1 R) –
 Having drafted Ross as a sleeper source of power, you certainly aren’t enamored with his 6 HR on the year.

Still, he’s been able to continue to be useful in five-outfielder formats thanks to a .289 average with 37 RBI, 32 R, and 5 SB.  Sooner or later the power is going to come, so don’t lose hope.

Shane Victorino (2-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) –
 We haven’t spoken about him much, but he certainly has been fantastic on the year, now hitting .255 with 11 HR, 41 RBI, and 39 R.  The average isn’t great, but he’s struggled with some poor luck (entered the day with a .255 BABIP). 

He doesn’t strike out much (13.7 percent), so sooner or later you have to think it’s going to improve.  Couple that with the production he’s already shown, and you have a great year, huh?

Scott Podsednik (1-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R) –
 We all know he’s not a power hitter, so don’t get to used to this.  Still, Podsednik has had a surprisingly strong season, now hitting .287 with 3 HR, 26 RBI, 33 R, and 19 SB. 

He’s usable in all formats if you are in need of some speed, but more likely, he’s better left for those in five-outfielder formats.  In shallower formats, you should be able to find speed with a little more upside across the board.


Pitchers:

John Ely (4.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K) –  He gave up three home runs, including a three-run home run to Bronson Arroyo.  Things clearly have gone south, now having allowed 15 ER over his last 14.2 innings.

The long ball has suddenly started to plague him, having allowed 6 HR over his last three starts (he hadn’t allowed one in his first seven). 

With a rematch against the Angels next on the schedule (he allowed 4 ER over 5 innings against them on 6/12), you would be best served to get him out of your lineup.

Dan Haren (5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K) –  It had looked like Haren had finally gotten things straightened out having allowed 5 ER over his last three starts, but he took a big step back in this one. 

The long ball got him again, with David Ortiz (2-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R) this time being the culprit.

Aaron Heilman (1.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K) – 
They put him into the game in the eighth inning, down by a run.  Maybe he’s not going to be the closer after all?  Newly acquired Sam Demel certainly could get an opportunity at some point down the line.

R.A. Dickey (6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 K, W) – 
The knuckleballer just continues to succeed, improving to 5-0 with a 2.82 ERA.  Does anyone really expect this to continue for too long?  I wouldn’t grow too dependent on him, that’s for sure.

What are your thoughts from yesterday’s games?  Which ones caught your eye? And which ones did I miss?

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