A Day at the Kayfus
CJ Kayfus (CLE): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
The hype was certainly high for Kayfus when he was called up on August 2nd. After all, he’s the Guardians’ No. 4 prospect and the 66th overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. Furthermore, Cleveland is still in the thick of the Wild Card race, as they have 31.3% odds to make the postseason, via Fangraphs.
The hope with Kayfus’ promotion is that the rookie could offer a power punch to an organization that has struggled in that category this season. While they rank 19th in home runs this season, they rank 27th in OPS, 26th in OBP and runs scored, and 30th in batting average. The 23-year-old University of Miami product slashed .283/.367/.526 in Triple-A Columbus and also hit 13 home runs in 289 plate appearances.
Thus, the potential was there for Kayfus to make an impact on this club.
Things started slowly for Kayfus, as he only had one hit in his first three games of his career. However, he has six hits in his last four games, which included his first home run of his MLB career against the White Sox. It was his only hit of the game, and it was a solo shot. Nonetheless, it counted big time in a 3-1 Cleveland win on the South Side of Chicago.
The Guardians have been on a heater, as they have won their last five games and nine of their last ten. Since Kayfus joined the MLB squad, they are 6-1, their lone loss a 5-4 defeat that prevented Cleveland from sweeping the rival Twins at Progressive Field.
If Kayfus can keep building on this hot stretch in his MLB career, then it’s likely that the Guardians will cement their place in the postseason race. He seems like the missing piece they’ve needed in the lineup all season long.
And if the Guardians make the postseason? That shouldn’t be discounted, especially with how bleak things looked for the club not too long ago with the Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase scandal and rumors of them shopping Steven Kwan at the Trade Deadline.
How things can change in an instant, especially in baseball.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday
Marcell Ozuna (ATL): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Ozuna stayed put in Atlanta at the Trade Deadline, but that hasn’t stopped his torrid pace at the plate. After sitting out game one of the doubleheader against Miami, the 34-year-old had a big day in game two with two home runs and four RBI. Ozuna now has 18 home runs this season, including five after the All-Star break. He also has a .972 OPS since the All-Star Game, showing that his best baseball may be yet to come in the next couple of months.
Shea Langeliers (ATH): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Since being activated on June 30th off the IL, Langeliers has been on fire. He had seven home runs and a .952 OPS in July and now has five home runs and a 1.459 OPS in August (and it’s not even August 10th). With 23 home runs and an .869 OPS, Langeliers is the most valuable catcher in the American League not named Cal Raleigh.
Taylor Ward (LAA): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Angels’ playoff hopes look bleak (0.6%, according to Fangraphs), but they kept them alive somewhat after a 7-4 win over the Tigers (who have been slumping hard since the All-Star break). Orange County’s team kept Ward at the Deadline, and he’s responded with a .276 average and .881 OPS in August. He also hit his 27th home run of the year on Saturday, which is two more than he had in 2024.
Matt Shaw (CHC): 2-3, 3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
Shaw hasn’t been the most consistent rookie hitter. He’s only hitting .227 with a .675 OPS. However, he has a penchant for big home runs, and hitting a home run against the rival Cardinals is always memorable. There’s been some growing pains for the 23-year-old Maryland product, but he’s on his way to being a mainstay at the hot corner for the Cubs for years to come.
Xander Bogaerts (SDP): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.
Things have turned around for Bogaerts after an April and May that had Padres fans ready to move on from him in San Diego. He’s hit .290 or above over the past three months, which includes a .296 average and .866 OPS so far in August. On Saturday, Bogaerts hit his 10th home run of the season and stole his 18th base of the season. Yes, Padres fans, he’s still got it.
Rafael Devers (SFG): 2-2, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB.
Devers hasn’t given the Giants the jolt in the winning column as hoped (they are 8.5 games behind the Dodgers now), but Devers has had his moments. He hit his 22nd home run of the year on Saturday in San Francisco’s 4-2 loss, and he is hitting .276 with a .915 OPS after the All-Star break. The Giants have plenty of problems right now, but Devers isn’t one of them.
Josh Bell (WSN): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Is Bell a “dude”? On Saturday, he had two hits and launched his 14th home run of the season. He is hitting .229 with a .718 OPS, which is “okay” for a first baseman (and that’s putting it nicely). It seemed odd that more teams weren’t in on Bell at the Trade Deadline, but he’s likely in the twilight of his career, especially at 32 years old.
Corbin Carroll (ARI): 1-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
The Diamondbacks walked off the Rockies 6-5 thanks to a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit to score Geraldo Perdomo in the bottom of the ninth. That said, Carroll stood out early with his 25th home run of the season. The Diamondbacks are looking to 2026, especially after an active trade deadline. That said, Carroll has had a fine season with 25 home runs and an .880 OPS, both better marks than what he produced in 2024.
Brenton Doyle (COL): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
The first half was a disaster for Doyle as he hit .202 with a .576 OPS in 331 plate appearances before the All-Star break. That is close to his brutal season of 2023 (.203 average; .593 OPS; 10 home runs). After the All-Star Game? He’s hitting .404 with a .982 OPS in 50 plate appearances. That is more akin to what Rockies fans saw in 2024 (.260 average; .763 OPS; 23 home runs). It’s a lost season in Colorado, but a second-half correction for Doyle would be massive for this club in 2026.
