Daily Dose: Gallo Goes Off

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Joey Gallo’s major league debut Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas was dream-like. He smacked a bases-loaded single through the glove of White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs, and then launched a second-deck two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning that yielded a curtain call from the fans at Globe Life Park and proud tears from his father’s eyes. It also gave Gallo four RBI, which set a new Rangers franchise record for most runs driven in by a rookie in his first MLB game. And he still had three more plate appearances to go.

Gallo doubled off the right-center field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning, struck out swinging in the bottom of the sixth, and then drew a walk and scored in the bottom of the eighth, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored in his introduction to Major League Baseball -- a 15-2 rout over the visiting White Sox. It’s not supposed to be this easy.

Gallo is sure to hit some road bumps over the next couple of weeks -- his swing-and-miss rates in the minors were at times appalling -- but he’s a special, powerful talent in an age of baseball where power numbers are way down across the board. The 21-year-old third base prospect had two 40-homer seasons in the minors and he was slashing .314/.425/.636 in 34 games this season at Double-A Frisco at the time of his promotion to the majors.

If the Las Vegas native keeps mashing, the Rangers will have to find a spot for him when Adrian Beltre returns from a dislocated thumb. Gallo had been playing some left field and first base this year at Double-A, and he could always get some action at DH. Texas can get creative if his production calls for it.

You can read more takes on the Gallo situation in Tuesday’s Rotoworld Baseball Fantasy Roundtable.

Everything Clicking Now For Clay

Clay Buchholz appeared to be in for another frustrating season this time last month, when he held a 6.03 ERA and .303/.356/.424 opponent batting line through 31 1/3 innings. But the 30-year-old right-hander has flipped the narrative.

Buchholz allowed just three hits and two walks over eight innings Tuesday to a first-place Twins team, throwing 64 of his 92 pitches for strikes and fanning eight Minnesota hitters in a much-needed 1-0 win for the Red Sox. Buchholz was efficient and effective, like he’s been for most of the season outside of a few hiccups. He has now pitched into the eighth inning in each of his last four outings.

Throw out that ugly nine-run thrashing by the Yankees on April 12 and Buchholz has a 2.77 ERA on the season. His impressive K/BB ratio -- now 70/18 in 68 1/3 innings -- had already been functioning as a strong indication that he was pitching better than his standard rate stats would indicate. Buchholz is suddenly looking like a fantasy ace, and he probably could have been bought for pennies on the dollar just a few weeks ago. His next start will be this weekend at home against a mostly-punchless Athletics lineup.

M's Need To Move Away From Rodney

Nothing had been decided at the time of this column’s posting, but it’s looking like the Mariners are going to have to remove Fernando Rodney from their ninth-inning role. The 38-year-old right-hander blew his third save of the season on Tuesday night against the Yankees, allowing a leadoff walk to Chase Headley, a single to Brian McCann, and a game-tying RBI double to Stephen Drew to waste a one-run Seattle lead in the top of the ninth.

Rodney now has a 6.85 ERA and 1.79 WHIP on the season. He’s allowed 12 walks and 28 hits in 22 1/3 innings.

Carson Smith is an obvious choice to take over at closer for the Mariners. He is 13 years younger than Rodney and boasts a 1.17 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 28/5 K/BB ratio over 23 innings this season. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed a hitless eighth inning Tuesday night versus New York, striking out two.

National League Quick Hits: Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd suffered a fracture in his right wrist Tuesday when he was hit by a Sean O’Sullivan pitch … Jordan Zimmermann spun eight scoreless innings as the Nationals topped the Blue Jays in the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader … Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit his 16th home run in Tuesday's win over the Cubs … Jorge Soler is getting an MRI on his ankle and could be headed for the 15-day disabled list … Lance Lynn contributed 7 2/3 scoreless innings to the Cardinals’ shutout of the Brewers on Tuesday … Further testing has confirmed that Stephen Strasburg is dealing with a left trapezius strain … Joc Pederson homered twice and tripled Tuesday in the Dodgers’ doubleheader against the Rockies, lifting his OPS from .931 to .971 … Chase Utley went 3-for-4 with a homer Tuesday in the Phillies’ defeat of the Reds … David Wright (back) said Tuesday that there remains no timetable for his return … Denard Span missed both halves of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Blue Jays with discomfort in his right knee … Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal tallied his 16th save of the season Tuesday night against the Brewers … Scott Van Slyke was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with mid-back inflammation … Brewers outfielder Khris Davis underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks … Matt Holliday's 45-game on-base streak ended Tuesday on an ejection by home plate umpire Joe West … Padres catcher Derek Norris went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Mets … Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb (foot) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on Wednesday … Randal Grichuk started in right field over Jason Heyward on Tuesday night in St. Louis … Alex Guerrero launched a pinch-hit, two-out, go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to help the Dodgers split a doubleheader with the Rockies on Tuesday … Brad Ziegler notched his fourth save Tuesday as the Diamondbacks beat the Braves.

American League Quick Hits: White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu remains day-to-day with irritation in his right index finger … Ben Zobrist walked and hit a grand slam in five plate appearances Tuesday as the A’s topped the Tigers … Josh Hamilton was held out of the Rangers’ lineup Tuesday due to mild tightness in his left hamstring … Evan Gattis went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Astros’ win over the Orioles on Tuesday night in Houston … Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion revealed late Tuesday that the leg ailment he's dealing with concerns his left hamstring … Scott Kazmir (shoulder) has been cleared to return to the A's rotation Friday in Boston … Albert Pujols has launched six home runs in his last six games … Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco allowed just one run over seven innings, striking out eight, in Tuesday's win over the Royals … Tigers outfielder Rajai Davis will be on the bereavement list until Friday … Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Tuesday that Jacoby Ellsbury (knee) is tentatively 3-4 weeks away from a return … Adam Eaton hit a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers … Justin Verlander (triceps) will make another rehab start at Triple-A Toledo on Saturday … Athletics manager Bob Melvin confirmed that Drew Pomeranz (shoulder) will be sent to the bullpen when he’s activated from the disabled list on Wednesday … Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remains day-to-day with discomfort on his left side … Chris Archer whiffed 15 batters and allowed just one run over eight innings in a dominant victory over the Angels … Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon (biceps) could be activated from the disabled list on Friday … Tyler Clippard struck out two en route to his eighth save Tuesday as the A’s beat the Tigers … Salvador Perez was removed from Tuesday night’s game after taking a foul tip off his mask but passed a concussion test.