MLB Week 10 Hot or Not: Cleveland and San Francisco’s pitching carries, Atlanta’s offense is abysmal

Several teams have needed elite pitching to compensate for weak hitting

Hello, June! Entering the 10th week of the season, MLB has fully ramped up and is approaching its most exciting period of the summer. This week’s recap covers games from June 1-7.

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AL West
Hot: Houston’s relievers need to be recognized
The Astros have reclaimed the top spot in the division, and the bullpen has played a special part in their recent hot streak. The bullpen put together a 1.33 ERA, accomplishing eight holds and four saves last week. While the strong starts by Hunter Brown, Lance McCullers Jr. and Framber Valdez lighten the load, Houston’s relievers have become pivotal in their surprisingly strong early half of the season.

Not: Corey Seager does nothing
Seager’s average season was halted by an abysmal week of hitting. He failed to get a single hit or run while drawing three walks and striking out eight times in 21 at-bats. Rough patches should be expected for every MLB player, but going hitless for a week is worse than just rough. Perhaps his right hamstring strain, which he sustained from late April, is still bothering him. Regardless, Seager’s lack of production is problematic.

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AL Central
Hot: Cleveland’s starters get the job done
Guardians starters were superb last week. While the rotation only took two of Cleveland’s three wins, keeping the Yankees and scorching-hot Angels to seven hits and five runs is impressive. Gavin Williams (6 ⅔ IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K) and Luis Ortiz (5 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K) deserve call-outs for their handiwork in the Guardians’ 4-2 and 4-0 wins as Cleveland works to gain ground on Detroit in the division.

Not: David Festa’s return falls flat
Back from Triple-A, Festa had the worst start of his career. In fewer than four innings, he allowed six hits, eight runs, three home runs, and two walks to the Athletics. Festa took Pablo López’s place after López was scratched with a strained lat, and failed to complete Minnesota’s sweep of the A’s. As more Twins fall on the IL, the rotation’s strength and ability to contend continues to be questioned.

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AL East
Hot: Eric Lauer notches two quality relief appearances
Toronto’s versatile lefty knows how to dish out of the bullpen. Lauer was phenomenal in his 6 ⅓ innings against the Phillies and Twins. He totaled one hit, two walks, four strikeouts, and a win within 87 pitches. The non-roster invitee has been having the best campaign of his career and is helping keep Toronto’s bullpen in the top-five in the league.

Not: Ryan Yarbrough has a fluke start
After a strong start against the reigning World Series champions, Yarbrough fell behind fast to the Red Sox. Although he managed to eat four innings, Yarbrough’s five runs allowed in the third inning knocked the Yankees down 6-3. He exited the game the next inning after giving up two more runs, ending the night with nine hits, eight runs, and a home run, and three walks conceded.

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NL West
Hot: Arizona makes up a six-run deficit
The Diamondbacks stormed back in a thrilling ninth inning to come back from a 10-4 deficit in the ninth, starting with one out and no one on base. Two home runs from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas quickly cut the lead to 10-7. Ketel Marte and Ildemaro Vargas each added a run with RBI singles, and Arizona eventually scored the tying and go-ahead runs from Eugenio Suárez’s double. Arizona’s wild afternoon win was truly remarkable.

Not: Half of San Francisco’s lineup doesn’t do much
San Francisco’s strong starters got little help from the lineup: Willy Adames, Patrick Bailey, and Tyler Fitzgerald struggled significantly, resulting in a cumulative .206 batting average and 59 strikeouts from the offense. While Matt Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee, and Heliot Ramos all did their part, and Giants pitching carried the team through five wins, missing production from nearly half of the lineup will become San Francisco’s downfall at some point.

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NL Central
Hot: Michael Busch is a menace
Busch has been a pitcher’s nightmare at the plate. He slashed .471/.591/1.012 with four runs and six RBIs. He had a field day against the Washington pitchers Trevor Williams and Zach Brzykcy, tallying three hits, three RBIs, two runs, and a home run. Busch has been hot for a couple of weeks and is getting an especially sizzling start to June.

Not: Matthew Liberatore gets worn out
Liberatore got banged up in his start against the Royals during the Cardinals’ doubleheader nightcap: eight hits, seven runs, and two home runs in one of his only poor outings this year. Unlike Liberatore’s usual five- or six-inning outings, he only lasted four before leaving early, which he later reported was due to feeling out of sync. St. Louis fans shouldn’t be worried just yet, but he’s a pitcher to watch closely.

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NL East
Hot: Mackenzie Gore remains the MLB strikeout leader
Gore is having the best season of his career, and last week is proof that he’s finally embracing his full potential. Gore made his 10th quality start of the season, tying up the Cubs in a seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven while only allowing three hits and one walk against an NL Central team that has been chomping at the bit to run away with the division since Opening Day. Gore’s the best pitcher on the Nationals and remains the league’s strikeout leader.

Not: Atlanta’s lineup is concerning
The Braves have been just plain messy all year, but the lineup has begun to hit new lows. Outside of their 11-10 loss to Arizona, Atlanta’s lineup generated only 11 runs through five games. Its .193 batting average and .332 slugging percentage is extremely problematic. Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, and Sean Murphy are all hitting worse than .250. Although Ronald Acuña Jr. is back and making up for lost time, the rest of the Braves lineup has been in a season-long slump.