Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. We saw three teams get shut out (one in 10 innings), while another scored 13 runs in a single frame.

Here's a quick look at those who impressed on Thursday, and those who want to pretend the day never happened.

Editor’s Note: To read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple Store.

Fantasy Baseball Studs

Jaime Garcia (SP, STL): Naturally, the same day I go in on Garcia, he throws a beauty. Granted, the Phillies aren't quite an offensive juggernaut, but Garcia was fantastic. He struck out five, allowed just a pair of singles, and needed only 82 pitches to cruise through seven innings. Still bearish long-term, but tip of the cap for a job well done.

Edwin Encarnacion (1B, TOR): E5 got off to a slow start this year, but homered for the second consecutive game last night. He also doubled twice, scored twice, and drove in six runs as the Blue Jays ran roughshod over the Rangers.

Jose Altuve (2B, HOU):  Altuve makes his second consecutive appearance on this list after going 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI. What a beast this dude is. Comparing him to Jeff Keppinger back in the day remains one of my more egregious misses as a fantasy writer.

Robinson Cano (2B, SEA): The only other player at the keystone within shouting distance of Altuve in the early going. Cano went 3-for-5 and knocked in four runs, helping the Mariners defeat Altuve and the Astros. (Side note: "Altuve and the Astros" would probably be a great prog-rock band.)

Ben Zobrist (2B/OF, CHC): Zobrist extended his RBI streak to four games, driving in four of the Cubs' five runs in a win against the Nationals. He also homered for the second straight game. This team looks every bit as good as expected, even with Kyle Schwarber injured and Jason Heyward struggling.

Trevor Story (SS, COL): It was a good night for middle infielders, folks. Story hit his first homer of the month and added a couple of singles, scoring twice and driving in three. Remember when people were concerned about Jose Reyes taking his job? Truly a more innocent time in America.

Nick Castellanos (3B, DET): Castellanos just keeps racking up hits. He's taken the collar only once since April 12 and six of his last seven games have been the multi-hit variety. Last night he homered and doubled, scoring two runs and knocking in three more, to raise his OPS to 1.018. When you're hitting this well, you don't need walks.

Michael Brantley (OF, CLE): Brantley had been pretty underwhelming since returning from offseason shoulder surgery, but was in vintage form last night. He singled in four of his five trips to the plate, driving in three runs and coming around to score one himself.

Fantasy Baseball Duds

Nelson Cruz (OF, SEA): The M's pounded out a dozen hits in their win over the Astros. Cruz didn't get any of them, finishing 0-for-5 with a strikeout and three runners stranded. He'd gone 3-for-4 the previous night with a two-run bomb. Can't win 'em all. Well, his team won, but you know what I mean.

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, ARI): Goldschmidt took the collar for the second straight night, going 0-f0r-4 with two whiffs. That lowered his average to a very un-Goldy .232. Have to figure that turns around soon enough, but the consensus top first baseman has been a disappointment through the first month of action.

Chris Davis (1B/OF, BAL): Davis also struck out twice in the process of going hitless in four trips to the plate. It's a lot less surprising to see his batting average in the low .200s than it is Goldschmidt's, but still not something his owners wanted to see. He's at least doing what he's expected to in the other cats, with seven homers and 37 R+RBI so far.

Derek Holland (SP, TEX): Oof. Most owners probably sat him given the matchup, but those who didn't suffered for their folly. Holland was lit up for 11 runs and 11 hits in just 2.2 innings by the Blue Jays. He also walked three and didn't strike out anyone. And yet he wasn't even the worst pitcher on Thursday night.

That dishonor is reserved for Vin Mazzaro, who despite his complete lack of fantasy relevance deserves a mention in this space. Matt Cain was yanked in the fifth inning of the Giants-Rockies game after allowing a Gerardo Parra single that made it 6-3 in favor of Colorado. Mazzaro came in and dropped an atom bomb on the fire. He allowed both inherited runners to score, plus nine more before Bruce Bochy put him out of his misery. His final line: Seven earned, six hits, one walk...and one out. Back in 2011, he allowed 14 (!) runs in 2.1 innings. He had to figure that would be the worst day of his professional life, but last night's disaster was arguably even more awful. Poor bastard.

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