Players of the Night
Pitching
Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
vs. Chicago White Sox
7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB, W
You can't win games without run support and Cliff Lee is a perfect example of that. Last year's American League Cy Young Award winner is sporting a disappointing 2-5 record in 2009, validating some of those who claimed he was simply a flash in the pan.
But looking closer at the numbers reveals something more. Namely that Cliff Lee isn't Superman and can't do it on his own. After two rough outings to begin the season in which he gave up a combined 11 earned runs, Lee has been outstanding over the last six giving up a total of 6 earned runs.
In the four losses that he accrued in that time span, Lee got a grand total of two runs in support from his teammates on the Tribe. That's Johan Santana-esque run support and can drive a pitcher insane.
As long as Lee keeps doing what he's doing, the Indians should come around in time to drive that win total up.
Batting
Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies
vs. Houston Astros
3-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 1 BB
After a sluggish start to his 2009 campaign, Iannetta is slowly but surely working his way back to being one of the more productive fantasy catchers in the game. But what worries me is seeing that Iannetta only has 16 RBI to go along with his respectable 7 HR this season.
That's not entirely Iannetta's fault because it's the responsibility of those in front of him to get on base. If that doesn't happen, Iannetta may become the king of the solo shot and fall short of matching last year's 65 RBI.
Hitting in Coors Field can help anyone's numbers improve dramatically and Iannetta is no different. I feel like a broken record in saying that catchers can make or break seasons and Iannetta is of the championship caliber you are looking for.
More to come after the jump...
Last Night's Top Performers
Hitting
Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
vs. Chicago Cubs
2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Ryan Theriot, Chicago Cubs
vs. San Diego Padres
2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Pitching
Matt Palmer, Los Angeles Angels
vs. Boston Red Sox
CG, 8 K, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, W
Shairon Martis, Washington Nationals
vs. San Francisco Giants
7 IP, 2 K, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, W
Bust of the Night
Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins
vs. Milwaukee Brewers
3.2 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 8 ER, 2 BB
Nolasco got shelled early and often by the Brew Crew, giving up at least one run in each of the first five innings and exiting when he got touched up for five in the fifth.
He's struggled to regain the form that made him such a surprise fantasy stud in 2008, but we're not too concerned just yet. The Marlins as a whole seem to have fell into a slump and with a team that young it's no surprise. Patience is a virtue not everyone can stand the fantasy world of what have you done for me lately.
But in this regard, you'll be just fine when Nolasco takes the bump against the D-Backs on Monday.
Daily Leaders
RBI
8 - Iannetta, Rockies
5 - Geoff Blum, Astros
4 - Fernando Tatis, Mets
4 - James Loney, Dodgers
4 - Joe Crede, Twins
4 - Brandon Phillips, Reds
4 - Jack Cust, A's
Pitching - K's
9 - Lee, Indians
8 - Palmer, Angels
8 - Randy Wolf, Dodgers
7 - Brandon McCarthy, Rangers
7 - Ted Lilly, Cubs
6 - Mark Buehrle, White Sox
6 - Braden Looper, Brewers
Matt Wood is a web editor for 
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