AUGUST 2, 2020 • NEWSDAY.COM
Mets' Betances: 'I'm still not there right now' Dellin Betances, the Mets’ most expensive offseason addition and key component of their question-mark bullpen, isn’t his usual, perennial-Al...
Tyler Flowers has detractors, but here's why the Braves brought him back A revealing conversation with Braves catcher Tyler Flowers.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Flashing wheels early Swanson went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Mets.
Impact The shortstop's career high for steals in a season is only 10, but Swanson has already swiped three bags through nine games in 2020 -- all of them in the last four contests. Seeing a steady diet of Mets pitchers and catchers has certainly helped, as Atlanta's NL East rivals have been notoriously poor at shutting down the opposition's running game in recent years, but Swanson has the athleticism to make an impact in that category if he stays aggressive on the basepaths. He's been just as hot at the plate as well, hitting .382 (13-for-34) with two homers, nine runs and 11 RBI.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Breaks out in win Acuna went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Mets.
Impact The 22-year-old star came into the game with a miserable .455 OPS and 17 strikeouts through eight games, but it was only a matter of time before Acuna's bat woke up in a big way. His sixth-inning solo shot off Franklyn Kilome was his first homer of the season, but there should be many more coming as he shakes off his slump.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Blasts third homer Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Mets.
Impact He took his former Cards teammate Michael Wacha deep in the first inning, setting the tone for a big Atlanta victory. Ozuna has hit safely in eight of nine games to begin the year, batting .367 (11-for-30) with three homers and six RBI.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Gets win in relief Tomlin (1-0) struck out three over 2.1 perfect innings of relief Saturday to record the win in a 7-1 victory over the Mets.
Impact Touki Toussaint got the start but only lasted four innings, allowing Tomlin to get credit for the win with a dominant performance out of the bullpen. The veteran right-hander has yet to give up a run this season over three appearances and 5.2 innings, posting an 8:0 K:BB, and with Atlanta now featuring an incredibly young and inexperienced rotation to go with an explosive offense, Tomlin could end up as one of the most valuable long men in baseball from a fantasy perspective.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Fans five in MLB debut Kilome gave up two runs on two hits while striking out five over four innings of relief in Saturday's 7-1 loss to Atlanta.
Impact In his big-league debut, Kilome gave the rest of the Mets bullpen the night off with a strong performance that was only blemished by a Ronald Acuna homer. The 25-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all last year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, so this display of control -- zero walks, and 39 strikes among his 63 pitches -- was something of a surprise. Kilome won't work his way into a prominent role on the staff right away, but if he continues to pound the strike zone with his mid-90s sinker, slow curve and splitter, he could make a case for a spot in the rotation before the season is over.
AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
