Kyle Schwarber (BOS): 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, BB.
After last night’s 12-5 win over the Mets, the Red Sox have won seven games in a row and lead the Yankees by two games in the AL Wild Card race. Prior to yesterday’s game, Schwarber had already homered off of Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker three times. After his work was done last night, that number was five. Schwarber hit two long home runs off of Walker in the first and second innings. His first was a 434-foot solo bomb to center field, and the second was a three-run shot to right that traveled 405 feet. That is 839 feet of home runs on the night. He would add a double and a walk as well, and scored a run following four of his five plate appearances in the game.
Schwarber has been a spark plug for the Red Sox since he returned from the IL. In 32 games with the Red Sox, Schwarber is hitting .297 with 15 extra-base hits and 17 RBI. It took no time at all for Schwarber to feel at home in Fenway Park, and his home splits show it. In 17 games at Fenway, Schwarber is batting .368 with 12 extra-base hits and 18 walks to just 11 strikeouts. Schwarber will look to keep the good times rolling at home, as the Red Sox will host the Yankees in a season-defining series at Fenway Park this weekend.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Wednesday
Kyle Seager (SEA): 3-5, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
Kyle Seager’s fourth-inning home run gave him his 100th RBI on the season, marking the first time in his career he has reached that milestone. That wasn’t all for him on the night, as Seager would later add a single and a double to his tally, falling just a triple short of the cycle.
Freddie Freeman (ATL): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Last night was another exceptional performance for Freddie Freeman. He had three extra-base hits, including a home run. Freeman is having another outstanding season, as he looks to finish the season with a batting average above .300 for the sixth time in his career. Atlanta currently leads Philadelphia by three games in the NL East and will host the Phillies for three games in Atlanta next week.
Buster Posey (SF): 4-5, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI.
It was another incredible night for Buster Posey, who is having a career revival that would make Keanu Reeves proud. The veteran catcher has led the Giants to 99 wins and first place in the NL West as we head into the final week of the season. Posey’s xwOBA of .384 is in the top seven percent of the league and is Posey’s best since Statcast began tracking the statistic in 2015.
Yordan Alvarez (HOU): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Alvarez had a big game for Houston last night but was pulled from the game in the eighth inning due to soreness. Alvarez hit a 456-foot bomb in the second inning, and added a single and double before being removed from the game. He was the second player last night to fall just short of the cycle. The Astros lead the AL West by eight games heading into the final week of the season.
Juan Soto (WSH): 3-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB.
It was a perfect night for Juan Soto, as he picked up three hits and reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Last night was the perfect example of all the different ways Soto can hurt you. He is a true 5-tool star that is the type of player you can build around, and Washington will need to. The Nationals are in last place in their division after their deadline fire sale, a game behind the Marlins.
Paul Goldschmidt (STL): 3-4, 2B, HR, 4 R, 2 RBI.
Goldschmidt was the third player that nearly cycled last night, also falling a triple short. The vet has dominated Milwaukee in his career, hitting .341 with 15 home runs in 47 career games played in Milwaukee. The Cardinals have a 4.5 game lead on the Reds for the second Wild Card spot in the National League.
Max Kepler (MIN): 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Max Kepler was the only player in the league yesterday to hit two home runs, and he did so in each of his first two at-bats. The long balls were Kepler’s 18th and 19th of the season, but just his second and third since August 17. It has been a disappointing season for Kepler and the Twins, who sit in last place in the AL Central.