MLB Team of the Week: Max Scherzer, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Ryan Braun Star
First, let's get this out of the way: Bartolo Colon didn't make the MLB Team of the Week.
Despite launching his first career home run—a moment the Internet was created to celebrate—the 42-year-old New York Mets right-hander was edged out by a certain Washington Nationals hurler who fanned 20 batters in a game.
We did find room for a Boston Red Sox designated hitter who may want to rethink retirement, a Milwaukee Brewers outfielder who upped his trade stock and more guys—one per position—who enjoyed stat-stuffing seven-day runs.
As ever, players needed at least two starts at the position in question to qualify, and we awarded bonus points if strong individual performances led to notches in the win column.
Sorry, Colon. Crack another one next week and we promise we'll squeeze you in.
Catcher: Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals
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Extra credit to Wilson Ramos for catching that 20-strikeout performance we teased a moment ago and which we'll delve into later.
He's here, however, because of what he did with the lumber.
Ramos collected eight hits in 18 at-bats for the Nationals, including a home run and a double, good for an impressive 1.232 OPS.
And the Nats rebounded from a humbling four-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs to take two of three from the Detroit Tigers and retain a share of first place in the National League East.
Honorable Mention: Yadier Molina (STL): 9-for-23, 3 2B, 3 RBI
First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
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On May 7, Chris Davis broke an 0-for-16 slump with a home run against the Oakland A's.
"I felt like the last couple games, my at-bats have been getting a lot better, my swing just didn’t feel like it was right the last couple of weeks," Davis said after the slump-busting homer, per Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. "The last few days, it's starting to get there."
He got there.
By week's end, Davis had amassed 10 hits in 24 at-bats, including four doubles and two home runs to go along with eight RBI.
The Orioles, not coincidentally, went 5-1 and are tied with the Red Sox for the top spot in the American League East.
Honorable Mention: Freddie Freeman (ATL): 9-for-23, 3 HR, 3 RBI
Second Base: Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
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With all the hype the Cubs have generated early on, it's easy to forget about Ben Zobrist.
This week, the versatile veteran reminded us why that's unwise.
Zobrist went 10-for-18 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI while posting an absurd 1.569 OPS. And he neatly summed up the secret to his and the Cubs' hotness, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
"We just need to stay in the moment," the 34-year-old switch-hitter said, per Wittenmyer. "The best things happen when you're not over-thinking it."
Honorable Mention: Daniel Murphy (WSH): 13-for-25, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI
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Third Base: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
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The Cubs may be the class of the NL Central—and baseball in general—but the defending-division-champion St. Louis Cardinals aren't fading without a fight.
Matt Carpenter exemplified that spirit this week, going 9-for-24 with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored.
He helped the Cards go 4-2 and remain atop the NL in runs scored and OPS. Whether it'll be enough to hang with Chicago remains to be seen.
Honorable Mention: Todd Frazier (CWS): 8-for-25, 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
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The Red Sox have been raking, so prepare to see a few Boston players on this list.
We'll begin with Xander Bogaerts, who had 13 hits in 32 at-bats, including two doubles and two homers, while driving in five runs.
"It's been unbelievable," Bogaerts said of his and the Sox's current roll, per ESPN.com's Scott Lauber. "It's probably the best start I've been off to in my career as a team."
Honorable Mention: Corey Seager (LAD): 9-for-26, 3 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Left Field: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
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It's a bittersweet reality for Ryan Braun and the Brewers: With each strong week the former NL MVP enjoys, the closer he gets to the trading block.
Milwaukee is the only MLB franchise Braun has ever known, but it's also in the midst of a rebuild. If the 32-year-old slugger can net a hefty return in prospects, the Brewers should pounce.
This week, Braun nudged his value northward by going 12-for-30 with two doubles, two home runs, five runs scored and five RBI.
Now, we wait and see if he's doing those things in a different uniform by the end of July.
Honorable Mention: Alex Gordon (KC): 8-for-23, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Center Field: Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox
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Jackie Bradley Jr. has always been able to track down baseballs in the outfield. Now, the slick-fielding 26-year-old is starting to crush them, too.
This week, Bradley led the Red Sox's offensive barrage, going 14-for-28 with two doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI, good for a .500 average and 1.500 OPS.
What's the secret? A combination of factors, as Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe outlined:
"Reclamation stories demand a turning point, but there is not necessarily one here. Over time, Bradley learned to be more aggressive early in counts and focus on simply making good contact with the barrel of the bat.
He also has gotten stronger as he has gotten older, which has helped turn singles into doubles and fly balls into home runs.
"
"A lot of people doubted him," fellow outfielder Mookie Betts said, per Abraham. "I enjoy watching him prove people wrong."
Honorable Mention: Lorenzo Cain (KC): 12-for-28, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Right Field: Josh Reddick, Oakland A's
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Speaking of power-hitting outfielders who could be on the trading block, Josh Reddick—like Braun—padded his value this week.
The 29-year-old, who's set to become a free agent after the season, went 13-for-22 with a double and five RBI.
Oakland doesn't have to move Reddick. Executive Billy Beane mentioned him as a possible extension candidate in the fall, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. And, as Slusser pointed out, the A's could could extend him a qualifying offer. In that case, they would recoup a draft pick if they lose him.
Either way, he's swinging it, which keeps all options on the table.
Honorable Mention: Mark Trumbo (BAL): 7-for-25, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
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David Ortiz is the third Boston player on the list and the most predictable inclusion.
Big Papi has been a Team of the Week fixture all year, as he continues to put together a fairytale farewell season.
This week, six of his eight hits went for extra bases, including three homers and three doubles, to go along with seven RBI.
The rumbles about whether he should reconsider retirement are sure to get louder if he keeps this up. For now, he, his three rings and the Red Sox seem destined for one more run together.
Honorable Mention: Carlos Beltran (NYY): 7-for-25, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI
Pitcher: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
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Any time you join a club that counts Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson as its only other members, you're doing something special.
Facing his former team, the Detroit Tigers, for the first time since signing with the Washington Nationals in January 2015, Max Scherzer racked up an incredible 20 strikeouts in nine innings and etched his name in the history books.
He's already in there, of course, after twirling a pair of no-hitters for the Nats last season. Now, he crashes the exclusive, bat-missing party atop Mount K.
Perhaps most impressively, just 23 of Scherzer's 119 pitches were balls, fewer than any of the other pitchers in the 20-whiff fraternity, per ESPN Stats & Info.
"Strikeouts are sexy," Scherzer said, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com. "To punch out 20 is sexy."
Honorable Mention: Bartolo Colon (NYM): Hey, chicks dig the long ball, too.
All statistics current as of May 12 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
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