Murphy’s the Law

Sean Murphy (ATL): 4-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI.

Isn’t this what we like to see? The Atlanta Braves‘ offense actually doing things after the start they had. I know some fans don’t love the Braves, I get that, but fantasy baseball fans have to like the Braves because of that offense. Sean Murphy finally had that game that perks a team up and makes you smile. Much needed.

I have to bring up the trade that brought him to Atlanta because I think about the Sean Murphy deal more than I think about my children, who do not exist, or possibly the Dansby Swanson trade (insane at the time). Let’s recap real quick.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Wednesday

 

Josh Naylor (CLE): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Why was Naylor not the write-up you ask? Well, I flipped a coin, so yeah, Murphy won.

It’s great to see Naylor thrive in Cleveland. When he was a prospect for the Padres he produced a certain power behind his swing that, at least from the eye test, looked like it would work at the major league level. It’s working and Naylor is a massive piece for the first-place Guardians. The only question now is, will they sign him long-term? I lurk on a few Guardian forums and there are a lot of opinions on this. I for one, think they should lock him up.

Bryce Harper (PHI): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

I’m against Harper in fantasy so I don’t really want to talk about him, at all. He’s consistently one of the best players in the game and now that he is fully healthy, he’s doing his thang. Bryce, please stop doing your thang while I’m against you.

Michael Toglia (COL): 2-3, 3B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

I’m sorry, my eyes don’t see so good. Does that say Michael Toglia?? Huh. Never thought I’d see the day.

Well, I have a lot of opinions on Toglia, so I’ll keep it brief. When the Rockies drafted him, there wasn’t a sky-high ceiling, but a safeish floor felt possible. So far, the Rockies have gotten neither. I’ve always been firm in my comp for him being Justin Smoak. Since he’s been back from Triple-A, he’s actually been pretty decent. I don’t think you have to keep an eye on him, but if you’re a sicko, like me, see if he can take a step. Smoak did not suck for the Blue Jays for a bit there.

Giancarlo Stanton (NYY): 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.

It’s been nice to see Stanton be at least serviceable these days for the Yankees. He’s still a shell of his MVP self, (an MVP that should’ve gone to Nolan Arenado, fight me), but he is at least producing at the plate, except in the OBP area. He’s always going to hit home runs and since the Yankees have so much invested in him, he better continue to hit home runs.

Enmanuel Valdez (BOS): 2-3, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB.

I think this is the second time I’ve had to look up Enmanuel Valdez, which I would mark as a good thing. I don’t think there is much here with Valdez, especially considering his minor-league numbers. I’m actually going to keep it at that. Great game from the young man but we will need to see more before we consider him fantasy-relevant.

Jarren Duran (BOS): 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB.

Duran is slowly turning into a favorite of mine. Mainly because I got him for super cheap in my dynasty draft at the start of the year. He isn’t going to wow with power, but he also isn’t going to hit zero home runs. His tool is speed and he has it to spare. Outfield, as stated always, is a bit rough these days, but he has been a godsend for my team and I hope some of yours.

Steven Kwan (CLE): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

I know average isn’t everything, but Steven Kwan is batting .397 right now with an OBP of .456. That’s okay I guess, that’ll do. It’s pretty wild, he just doesn’t make an out. I don’t see Kwan batting .390 at the end of the year, but hey, maybe he can. He has the contact skills to do so and that’s been apparent since he was called up. I regret trading him every day in my dynasty league.

Dansby Swanson (CHC): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.

He’s heating up. Swanson hasn’t quite been himself as a Cub, but he makes up for it by being stellar in the field. Over his last 15 games, his slash line is .250/.328/.500 which is more than respectable. I feel like I see people saying Swanson is regressing but honestly, this is kind of what he’s always been; he just used to be around a stacked Braves lineup. Catch him on a heater and he can be a difference-maker in roto or category leagues.

Royce Lewis (MIN): 3-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.

I feel like Lewis’s 162-game pace for home runs is like 90 or something. When he’s on the field he is special, plain and simple. It will always and forever be if he can stay healthy. I see everyone is still holding hands from the Murphy prayer circle, just keep going here.

Ramón Urías (BAL): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Urías is a funny part of the Orioles. It seems like they want to cut bait with him, but from time to time, he does step up for them in a solid way. And he truly is a solid baseball player, just not for fantasy. He is going to be replaced by Coby Mayo or Connor Norby next year. I don’t think the Orioles cut him, he will just fall into a full-time UTIL role.

Ian Happ (CHC): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.

Happ has caught fire and it only took until almost the end of June. Even in his downstate, he wasn’t that bad in points leagues because of the walks. I’m actually not sold on Happy and never really have been. He’s definitely on a heater so start him where you can, but he could fall off fast.

Isaac Paredes (TBR): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.

Everyone has seen Paredes’ spray chart, right?

2024

2023

2022

My favorite thing about this, and it’s hard to pinpoint one thing, is the two doubles to dead central that ALMOST ruined the pull-heavy beauty of the chart in 2023 and 2024.

Paredes is such a strange baseball player offensively. He does not hit the ball hard, but he does not chase. He also ranks at the bottom in bat speed, which is wild because he pulls everything.

Just keep on keeping on you enigma you, I love your game.

Anthony Volpe (NYY): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, BB.

Volpe has been one of the more pleasant surprises this year. I’ll fully admit, I was not a believer heading into the year so I’m eating a decent amount of crow. He’s an important part of the Yankees success this year and I think it’s safe to say he is only going to get better.

Gunnar Henderson (BAL): 1-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, 2 SB.

Not a ton to say, Gunnar is quickly becoming one of the best players in the game. I wanted to highlight tonight’s game because of those stolen bases. If he can steal 20+ bases this year, man.