Stephen Strasburg’s start was the marquee event in the AFL this week. All of his outings will likely have added buildup, but for today we will grant him the lead position in the weekly wrap.

Strasburg was on a 50-pitch limit and recorded ten outs, eight by ground ball with two strikeouts. He was aided by two double plays. Three batters reached base, two with hits and one by a walk. He threw 32 strikes and 18 balls. A scout present read his fastball at 98 mph in the first two innings, then down a couple of ticks later in the game. It was also observed that Strasburg’s fastball was more effective at generating outs when he kept it down in the zone. Hitters were fighting off the higher fastballs and extending at bats.

The AFL is a hitter’s league, but we will start with some more notable pitching performances:

Tanner Scheppers (TEX) pitched two innings Friday (aka Strasburg Day), allowed no runs and struck out two. His 95-98 mph fastball received rave reviews.

Ian Kennedy (NYY) started Opening Night and put up a very nice line: 4 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 4 K

Jenrry Mejia (NYM) can throw hard, but he walked three in one inning and they all scored

James Simmons (OAK) was solid in his first start: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Sergio Santos (CHX) and Chia-Jen Lo (HOU) have each made two 2 IP relief appearances and are unscored upon. Lo has allowed just one hit, walked nobody, and struck out six

Hitting Highlights:

Chris Heisey (CIN – OF) has two hits in each of his first four games and his average sits at .533

Casper Wells (DET – OF) is making a return trip to the AFL. He batted .321 in 2008 and is off to a .538 start this year

Brandon Laird (NYY – 3B) is the early leader in hits and batting average, currently hitting .625

Mike Moustakas (KC – 3B) and Ike Davis (NYM – 1B) share the RBI lead with eight apiece. Both totaled most of them in one game. Davis hit a grand slam off fellow lefty Andrew Oliver (DET) and plated six on Opening Night. Moustakas drove in seven on the 15th.

Scott Sizemore (DET – 2B) is an unlikely home run leader with three. The trio of bombs are his only hits in 12 at bats.

Grant Desme (OAK – OF) and Russell Mitchell (LAD – 1B) are the only other hitters with multiple home runs. Mitchell is the early OPS leader.

Mike Stanton (FLA – OF) is hitting .533, has homered, and has stolen three bases

Dustin Ackley (SEA – OF) is 5-10 without striking out

Starlin Castro (CHC – SS) is 7-14

Brandon Allen (ARI – 1B) is not getting hits (he is 2-17) but he has walked seven times

Baltimore’s Josh Bell (3B) and Brandon Snyder (1B) are both over 1.000 OPS

Matt Dominguez (FLA – 3B) is not hitting yet either, but on twitter Keith Law raved about his defense