Oneil Cruz

Pallante surrendered a run-scoring single to Oneil Cruz in the third inning, which accounted for all of the damage against him over six solid frames. The 25-year-old righty has done an admirable job this season for the Cardinals in a variety of role, posting a solid 3.92 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44/21 K/BB ratio across 57 1/3 innings (18 appearances, nine starts) as a versatile swingman. He's in line to face the Rangers on Monday in his next outing.

Cruz' home run was his 15th of the season as he continues to stay hot at the plate. He had an RBI double in the sixth inning to give the Pirates a two-run lead. In the eighth inning, he hit a Cruz missile off Matt Strahm for a two-run home run. In his last 11 games, he's 16-for-43 (.372) with three home runs, four doubles and 14 RBI. Cruz is hitting .255 with a .766 OPS and 50 RBI on the season.

Cruz was everywhere in this one. He started the party with a jaw-dropping 120.5 MPH double in the first inning. It wasn't even a bad pitch, Cruz just used his long arms to go down and turn around a changeup right over the center fielders head. Cruz has the only other batted ball this season hit harder than 120 MPH.Fast forward to the ninth inning where he smoked a chopper 103.0 MPH that forced a bad throw from Bryson Stott and allowed the tying run to score. Regular players don't hit choppers that hard and Cruz's otherworldly power forced an awkward play that put the Pirates in position to win this game. There isn't another player in baseball like him.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

Cruz had been held out of the lineup for the last two games while battling a hamstring injury, but he'll make his return in time to face Aaron Civale on Thursday. He should be put back in all fantasy lineups given how hot his bat was before the two-game absence.