Risers:
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: Trout was excellent last week, going 11-for-24 with five home runs and 10 RBI, including a pair of two homer games. In addition, Trout received the most votes among all All-Star outfielders. His home run surge jumped him to being tied for second place in most home runs in the MLB, just behind Giancarlo Stanton and tied with teammate Albert Pujols.
Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals: Martinez was elected to the National League All-Star team via the Final Vote. This is the first selection of his two-year career, and he has certainly proven his worthiness of it over the course of this season. Martinez defeated Johnny Cueto, Troy Tulowitzki, Jeurys Famila, and Clayton Kershaw in the Final Vote.
Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals: Moustakas was elected to the American League All-Star team via the Final Vote as well, defeating Xander Bogaerts, Yoenis Cespedes, and Brian Dozier. Moustakas is the seventh Royal named to the American League All-Star team, and the sixth on the roster (Alex Gordon will miss the event with a strained groin).
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, New York Mets: Nieuwenhuis was called up by the Mets last week and went 4-for-10 with three home runs and four RBI. His three home runs were the first three of the season, and they all came in the same game. He became the first Met in franchise history to have a three-homer game at home. Nieuwenhuis now has 16 career home runs in his four seasons spent in the majors.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates went 6-1 last week, sweeping the San Diego Padres and taking three out of the four games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Four of their six wins were decided by one run, and two of the games were on walk-offs. On Saturday, Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run walk-off home run in the 14th inning to defeat the Cardinals, 6-5. On Sunday, Gregory Polanco hit a walk-off single to cap off a three-run 10th inning to secure a 6-5 win.
Fallers:
Grady Sizemore, Tampa Bay Rays: Sizemore cooled off last week, going 0-for-16 while sitting three games. Sizemore did collect two RBI, but he went a combined 0-for-8 on Tuesday. Sizemore is now batting .237 on the season between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Rays.
Chris Carter, Houston Astros: Carter also went hitless last week, going 0-for-15 while being benched for two of the games. Carter is batting a dismal .185 on the season, but he does have 15 home runs going into the All-Star break. If he can’t step up his game, Carter will yield more time to Jon Singleton at first base.
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies: Hamels made just one start last week, lasting just 3.1 innings. Hamels allowed nine runs off 12 hits and two walks while striking out four San Francisco Giants. Hamels has now allowed at least five runs in three of his last six starts, owning a 3.63 ERA on the season.
Gordons: Dee Gordon was the starting second baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game, but that position was given to DJ LeMahieu after Dee dislocated his thumb on a head-first slide into first base. Meanwhile, The American League’s starting left fielder Alex Gordon suffered a strained groin after crashing into the left field wall, and he will be out for eight weeks. Adam Jones will get the start in left field in replacement.
Houston Astros: The Astros are on a six-game losing streak as they went 1-6 last week. Houston scored nine runs on Monday, but went on to score just seven runs in their next six games, being shut out twice and held to one run twice. The Astros also ceded first place in the AL West to the Los Angeles Angels.