Mike Trout hit his major-league-leading 16th home run of the season Saturday, a 456-foot blast that's his longest this season. His nine home runs in May are his third-most ever in a month, and he had never hit more than 12 home runs before the end of May.
Nationals all-star Stephen Strasburg wasn't the only pitcher to impress with his Saturday start. The Red Sox's Brian Johnson, the Brewers' Chase Anderson and the Tigers' Buck Farmer also baffled hitters to pick up wins. Anderson took a no-hitter into the eighth inning vs. the Diamondbacks.
The Tigers' Buck Farmer was among the pitchers who turned in a surprising performance Saturday -- surprising based on their body of work entering the day. Farmer had a career 6.84 ERA before Saturday's game against the White Sox, and he held them scoreless in his 6? innings, allowing three hits and two walks. He struck out 11 -- four more than his career high and the most by a Tigers pitcher this season.
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All three home runs of at least 420 feet hit this season by Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen have come this month. There was a 426-footer on May 14 vs. the Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray and one of 425 off the Reds' Cody Reed on May 3. Then, Saturday night's off the Mets' Zack Wheeler.
The Brewers' Chase Anderson had a career 4.26 ERA entering Saturday's game. He allowed one hit in seven innings, walking three and striking out a career-high 11. He's the first Brewers pitcher to strike out 10 or more and allow one or zero hits since CC Sabathia in 2008.
Giants C Buster Posey (rest), 3 for his last 23, isn't in Saturday night's starting lineup vs. the Braves. Nick Hundley will catch and bat seventh.
With Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg having mowed down the Padres on Friday and Saturday, the Nationals will turn in Sunday's series finale to Joe Ross (season high of seven strikeouts in his first start of the year, April 19 vs. the Braves).
Brian Johnson joined Pedro MartÃnez as the only Red Sox pitchers in the divisional era (since 1969) to throw a nine-inning shutout in their Fenway Park debut (source: Elias Sports Bureau).
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Moving forward, Kyle Schwarber is likely to start against right-handed pitchers only, according to Joe Maddon. es.pn/2s8H0lw
Since Max Scherzer joined the Nationals in 2015, they've had five 15-strikeout performances from their starters, including Stephen Strasburg's outing Saturday. The other major league teams have combined for nine in that span, and the only other team with more than one is the Indians (Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco have one each).
Chase Anderson has notched a career high 11 K's while no-hitting the D-backs, his former team. He's gotten six with fastballs at up to 96 mph, four more with curveballs, another with a change. The spread of stuff is as impressive as the velo.
Orioles CF Adam Jones (left ankle, hip) isn't in the lineup on Saturday night vs. the Astros. Joey Rickard will play center and lead off.
Stephen Strasburg sets a career high with his 15th strikeout. He has made 108 pitches today. His career high is 119 pitches, done twice (most recently May 5 at the Phillies). He made 118 pitches in his last start, Sunday at the Braves.
The White Sox have signed cuban prospect Luis Robert to a minor league contract that includes a $26M signing bonus. es.pn/2qnAQl1
White Sox 3B Todd Frazier (rest) isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader vs. the Tigers. Matt Davidson will play third and bat fifth.
Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter (rest) will miss his first start this month on Saturday night vs. the Rockies. Jedd Gyorko will move over to first with Johnny Peralta starting in Gyorko's place at third.
Stephen Strasburg has struck out 14 through six innings, tying his career high for a game (done twice before, including in his major league debut June 8, 2010, against the Pirates). The 14 strikeouts are tied for the most by a pitcher in a game this season with the Marlins' Dan Straily, who did it April 22 at the Padres.
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The Nationals' Stephen Strasburg has 11 strikeouts through five innings, matching his career high through five innings. The 11 strikeouts are tied for the second-most by a pitcher through the first five innings of a start this season, matching the Royals' Nathan Karns, against the Orioles on May 13.
Ben Zobrist has a sore wrist but Joe Maddon says he's available off the bench. Ian Happ is starting at 2nd.
Watch Ian Happ discuss his first ML start at second base which happens to be his natural position.
The starters in the Cubs-Dodgers game have had success against their respective opponent. The Cubs' John Lackey is 6-4 with a 1.73 ERA in his career against the Dodgers, his lowest ERA against any opponent. The Dodgers' Brandon McCarthy is 1-1 with a 1.47 ERA in his career against the Cubs, his second-lowest ERA against any opponent.
