Nolan Arenado had four hits, two homers, and six RBI on Sunday. It’s the second time this season that he’s had four hits and six runs batted in in a game. Only five other National League players have every gone 4/6 in two games in a single season: Jim Bottomley (1929), Chick Hafey (1931), Smoky Burgess (1955), Mike Piazza (1995) and Jeff Cirillo (2000). I’ve been wrong about Arenado by the way. He’s on pace for 42 homers and 135 RBI a season after going 42-130. #Impressive
Tucker Barnhart, whom I never get questions about, has been pretty productive of late. Don’t know how many folks have noticed that he’s hit .304 with a .407 OBP the last three weeks.
Brian Dozier has nine homers, six doubles and two triples his last 20 games. Folks, that’s 17 extra base hits in 20 games. He’s also drive in 20 runs while scoring 17 times. He’s been a counting category monster for months now.
Adam Duvall has three homers, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored his last 15 games. Alas, he’s hit .211 with a .292 OBP and .404 SLG as his bat starts to become even more hit or miss.
Freddie Freeman update, you know, the guy who was gonna stink this season because of his crap-ass talent around him in the Braves lineup. Freeman is batting .287 with 24 homers to go along with a .922 OPS. Do you know how many first basemen in baseball can match all three of those numbers this season? The answer is one – Anthony Rizzo (.295, 25 and .957). Freeman is dealing with a finger issue at the moment but he should be back in the lineup in a couple of days.
Alex Gordon remembered that he was… Alex Gordon. The last two weeks he’s hit .385 with a .471 OBP and .795 SLG the last 12 games. That slugging percentage rate is buoyed by the five big flies he’s hit. Gordon’s overall numbers suck wind, but he’s beating the ball around the yard aggressively of late, and given his track record it would be unwise for him to be sitting on waivers in virtually any league at the moment. Finally healthy, he’s finally producing.
My man, Brad Miller, has been on fire of late. The last two weeks he’s hit five homers with 14 RBI and a .487 wOBA over 12 games. Miller has pushed his homer total up to 25, trailing only Manny Machado (28) and Trevor Story (27) at the position. Miller is also hitting a superb .325 with a 1.100 OPS since the All-Star Game as he’s hit 11 big flies with 28 RBI and 24 runs scored in 33 games. Miller’s homer total in the second half leads the position while his RBI total is second to that of Carlos Correa (31). Miller’s .455 wOBA is also the best at the position by a longshot (Corey Seager .412). Speaking of shortstops, not many seem to be aware that Addison Russell has 17 homers and 78 RBI. The only other shortstop in the game who can match both those numbers is Carlos Correa (18-86).
Paulo Orlando has hit .316 the last three weeks. Paulo Orlando has hit .316 this season. He has only four homers, 27 RBI and 34 runs scored, but he’s been effective in his 95 games with the Royals. Rather thin in terms of fantasy value is Orlando, but he’s been a strong depth option in AL-only leagues without question.
Dustin Pedroia has hit .392 with nine RBI and nine runs scored over his last 13 games. The guy is a hell of a hitter when healthy. Too bad he hasn’t run like he said he would this preseason as he’s swiped five bases in seven tries.
Gary Sanchez has been a monster for the Yankees batting .405 with a .548 wOBA the last two weeks. In his 11 games Sanchez has hit six home runs in an astounding display of power. He finally appeared in his 10th game at catcher over the weekend and should pretty much qualify in all leagues there now. Be wary of the 46.2 percent HR/FB ratio that is at least double, likely triple if we’re being honest, of a reasonable expectation for the backstop.
George Springer has scored 17 times his last 13 games as he’s hit .380 with a, get this, .500 OBP. On the year Springer has pushed his OBP up to .365, just two points off his mark last season. He’s also within distance of his first 30-homer season with 25, and he’s driven in 72 runners with 93 runs scored, the fifth most in baseball. The only thing he hasn’t brought this season is the steal as he’s swiped just seven bases.
Josh Reddick stinks. Told ya so many times. With the Dodgers he’s “hit” .152/.211/.167 without an RBI in 71 plate appearances. That slump has dropped his OPS to .724. As always, he’s just a guy. Don’t know why anyone thought two hot months changed all that (he’s now missing time with a finger issue).
Joey Votto was terrible early in the year. People panicked. I suggested everyone keep the faith. Did you listen? Look at his slash line now and you will see Votto with a .306/.432/.515 slash line. Compare that effort to his career marks of .310/.424/.532. Same guy as always folks. Did you keep the faith or panic like a six year old who sees a spider running across the ceiling? By the way, Votto is batting .455 with a 1.265 OPS over his last 33 games. Simply stupendous work from the star first baseman.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 11 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).