Major League Baseball

Covered by Will Thompson

Luke Keaschall, 2B MIN (MLB)

3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, K

How much better would the Twins be looking if Luke Keaschall had stayed healthy the whole season? Realistically, they would still probably be in a similar position, but they’re a heck of a lot more fun with him. The 22-year-old rookie has picked up right where he left off and his walk-off home run against the Royals in the 11th yesterday lifted Minnesota to a thrilling win. Keaschall has now been on base every game of his MLB career so far and perhaps most impressively, he’s only struck out three times in his first 48 PA. 

Luis Morales, RHP ATH (MLB)

2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

I got to see Morales start in-person in Triple-A about a month ago and well, this line is about right. He’s a clear reliever for me in the future because of his fringy command and the velocity does not hold for the full length of his starts. Long-term Mason Miller replacement? A man can dream. 

Miguel Andujar, DH CIN (MLB)

2-for-3, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, K

When Andujar has been on the field over the last three seasons, he’s produced quite well. Since being traded to the Reds, Andujar is 6-for-16 with two doubles and a homer. His batting average will make him look a little better than he is because he doesn’t walk at all, but this is a sneaky good pickup for the Reds at the deadline who needed all the offense they could get. 

Noelvi Marte, RF CIN (MLB)

3-for-5, HR, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, K

Despite every metric signaling Noelvi Marte is going to regress, he keeps having days like this at the plate. The biggest change has been that he’s putting the ball in play a lot more, cutting his K rate down from 30% last year to just 18% in 2025. His 35% chase rate is scary, but hey ride the wave while it’s here.  

Jose Altuve, DH HOU (MLB)

2-for-3, HR, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, K

I have to admit that I thought Altuve was getting close to done after the first two months of the season. The red flags were all over the place with his contact rates, but he has turned it around in a big way. I’m convinced he’s going to hit like this until he’s 40 and somehow keep 2B eligibility to remain an elite fantasy option there despite being a brutal defender there. You know what else Altuve is going to do until he’s 40? Dominate the Yankees when he plays them. 

‼️Jason Alexander, RHP HOU (MLB)

6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

As someone who has watched a ton of Jason Alexander in Sugar Land this year, this result actually isn’t that shocking? Alexander has excellent command and while the stuff isn’t anywhere close to overpowering, he changes speeds well and the changeup is a legit plus pitch, which generated six whiffs in the outing. If you’re wondering how the Astros have stayed atop the AL West with more than half their roster on the IL, it’s because of the depth starting pitching they have who continue to overperform. 

Max Fried, LHP NYY (MLB)

5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR allowed

After being basically unhittable to start the season, Fried has fallen on hard times of late and this was just the latest example. He’s now allowed at least three runs in each of his last seven starts and has seen his ERA balloon by a full run in that stretch. There’s definitely a middle ground for Fried, but the Yankees need him to pitch like an ace to have a chance. 

Kerry Carpenter, RF DET (MLB)

2-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, K

When I saw that the Angels were starting Jack Kochanowicz against Detroit, my mind legitimately went to Kerry Carpenter inevitably feasting against him. He sure did feast and hit his 21st homer of the season. The best platoon player in the league. 

💣💣Kyle Manzardo, 1B CLE (MLB)

2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

A double dong day for Kyle Manzardo, who has absolutely destroyed the White Sox in this series. He’s been awesome for Cleveland in his first full big league season and has established himself as a cornerstone piece for the Guardians to build their offense around that isn’t Jose Ramirez. CJ Kayfus’ long term home is probably the outfield with Manzardo holding down 1B. 

Colson Montgomery, SS CHW (MLB)

1-for-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB

I don’t think even the most optimistic White Sox fans could have seen this coming from Colson Montgomery, who literally had to go back to the complex to fix his swing and is now hitting 452 foot bombs at the big league level. Sure there’s swing and miss and always will be, but a solid defensive SS who has power like this is super valuable. Nine home runs in 31 games is shocking with the start to the year he had. Such a fun story to follow. 

💣💣William Contreras, DH MIL (MLB)

3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

It took Contreras a while to get going, but just like the rest of his Brewers team, he is rolling now. The 27-year-old has six home runs over his last 12 games, supplying the power that the Brewers suddenly have plenty of. Milwaukee is 23-4 since calling up Andrew Vaughn now which doesn’t have anything to do with William Contreras, but is an insane stat. 

‼️MacKenzie Gore, LHP WAS (MLB)

6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

Hey we found MacKenzie Gore! That’s more like it for the Nats lefty, who generated 21 whiffs over six dominant innings. Before this start, he had imploded in three of the last four outings that derailed a great season, but maybe this will get him back on track. 

Cal Raleigh, DH SEA (MLB)

1-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Cal Raleigh had three hits in the Rays series. All three of them went over the fence. 

Addison Barger, 3B TOR (MLB)

1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 K

Another day, another clutch home run for Addison Barger, who tied the game in the eighth at Dodger Stadium, a game the Jays eventually won. He’s got a 53.5% hard-hit rate for the season which would rank in the top 12 in baseball if he qualified. 

🍔🍟Shohei Ohtani, DH LAD (MLB)

2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB

That’s three home runs in the last four games for Ohtani, who is cruising on his way to another NL MVP. An October of a two-way Ohtani for the first time is so exciting to think about as we head down the stretch of the season. 

Triple-A

Covered by Matt Thompson

Kahlil Watson, OF CLE (Triple-A)

1-for-3, HR, BB

Watson has been scuffling since his promotion to Triple-A, but man, he’s done wonders to his prospect stock this year with playable power and an all-around usefulness. The fantasy numbers won’t wow you, I think he lands somewhere between 12-15 homers and 8-10 steals, but this is a guy that is likely to get added to the 40-man this winter which puts him in the outfield mix for Cleveland.

Ryan Webb, LHP CLE (Triple-A)

6 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 7 K

Webb has been hot of late, pitching to a sub 3.00 ERA over his last five starts, 2.81 with 32 strikeouts in just over 25 innings. He’s a backend starter or a swing-man though, which doens’t get me all excited in fantasy for the Georgia Bulldog.