MLB Hot Sheet: Giants, Braves, top performers, and the weekend’s best matchups

Sure, the Cincinnati Reds have won 11 games in a row, but they aren’t the only inspiring story in the league right now (even if they are the best). Let’s take a look around MLB at some of the other top performances from the past couple of weeks.

MLB: Who’s hot heading into the weekend?

Out in the NL West, the San Fransisco Giants have thrown together a nice 10-game winning streak of their own, slipped ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for second place and sit just 2.5 games behind Arizona. The Giants have outscored their opponents 67-31 during these 10 games, and seemingly everyone on this roster is raking right now. Mike Yastrzemski has led the way with four homers and 11 RBI, with Joc Pederson chipping in three homers as well. In all, their lineup features six regulars who are all hitting over .300 during this stretch and rookie outfielder Luis Matos has looked especially comfortable, batting .304, while scoring 10 times over these 10 games.

Logan Webb and Anthony DeScalfani have thrown some incredibly effective innings, while the Giants also have the luxury of leaning on one of the league’s top bullpens to eat innings and close out save situations. With the Diamondbacks set to visit San Francisco this weekend, the top of the NL West could look a little different come Monday morning.

Leading Arizona’s charge into San Francisco will be first baseman Christian Walker. The Snakes are just hovering at .500 over their last 10 games, going 5-5, and are trending in a different direction than San Francisco, but it’s not because Walker isn’t trying. Firmly planted into the team’s cleanup spot, he’s hitting .429 with a 1.316 OPS over that 10-game span and has cranked three homers and five doubles while knocking in 11 runs and walking more than he strikes out.

Sitting atop the NL East, winners of their last seven games, and 8 of their last 10, are the hot-hitting Atlanta Braves. Eddie Rosario has been pacing the offense, batting .387 with five homers and 11 RBI across his last nine games, but Matt Olson has also contributed four homers, while Michael Harris has posted a .429 batting average with three homers and nine RBI of his own. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been batting .333 during this stretch, with three home runs and nine RBI as well, and the whole team will look to keep things going when they visit Cincinnati for three games this weekend. Two of the hottest teams in the league, the Reds are riding their longest winning streak since 1957, and this should be a really fun series to watch.

In South Florida, Marlins 20-year-old rookie pitcher Eury Perez is showing us exactly why he belongs in the big leagues. Perez has had a really nice season since being called up in mid-May, sporting a 4-1 record in eight starts while posting a 1.54 ERA, but has shined especially bright over his last four starts. Allowing just one earned run across his last 22 innings pitched, he’s struck out 26 batters, while holding opponents to a .177 batting average.

San Diego Padres southpaw Blake Snell has been pitching well of late also, surrendering just one earned run in his last 25 frames and striking out 39 batters, all while the Padres are struggling to keep up in the NL West (35-39, 9.5 games back), Snell is a free agent at year’s end, and could potentially be playing himself into a nice situation elsewhere.

Lastly, Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has been impressive all season, but has had a particularly nice June so far. Batting .405 in 88 plate appearances, he has reached base safely in 18 of 19 games, clobbered five homers, 11 doubles, plated 22 runs, and has really lead the Rangers offense to a league-best +153 run differential. Texas has a firm 5.5 game lead over Houston for first in the AL West, and heads to New York to take on the Yankees in what should be another fun series this weekend.