Colson Salutation

Colson Montgomery (CHW): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.

One of the bright spots on a Chicago White Sox team sorely in need of reasons for optimism has been Colson Montgomery’s rookie campaign. Montgomery picked up his 18th home run of the season last night to give the White Sox the win over the Detroit Tigers. Last night’s homer was Montgomery’s third already in September after hitting 10 home runs in August, so Montgomery is red hot right now and worth a look despite the obvious strikeout issues. In fact, the 23-year-old’s 18 home runs are tied with Junior Caminero for second in the league since the start of the second half.

Think of Colson Montgomery as the hitter’s version of a Dusty Donut; you’ll get counting stats, but not rate stats. That can be a boon for managers in need of some extra power going into the fantasy playoffs.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday:

Ozzie Albies (ATL): 3-4, 3B, R, RBI, 2 SB.

Much like many of his Atlanta teammates, Ozzie Albies has struggled to regain form since a torrid 2023 campaign, but has looked sharp in the second half of 2025 so far. Last night’s two-steal performance has Albies eclipsing his first-half stats in less than half as many games with eight homers, nine steals, and a .294/.354/.492/.845 slashline since the All-Star break. The power we saw in 2023 is unlikely to return with Albies putting up an 87.6 mph average exit velocity, 4.4% barrel rate, 31.3% hard hit rate, and 68.9 mph bat speed. However, the 28-year-old second baseman is proving that he can still be a valuable contributor even if he averages closer to 20 home runs per season.

 

Dansby Swanson (CHC): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB, SB.

Buried amidst a lethal Chicago Cubs lineup, Dansby Swanson has put up another quietly good season. Yesterday’s “Combo Meal” marked his 22nd home run and 12th stolen base, putting him in reach of career highs in both categories, all while hitting in the bottom third of the order. Swanson’s defense should give him a chance to break one or both marks as the Cubs attempt to chase down a division title over the final month of the season.

 

Bryson Stott (PHI): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.

Sticking with today’s inadvertent theme of overlooked middle infielders, Bryson Stott absolutely scorched his 10th home run of the season yesterday, clocking in at 108.8 mph. Not bad for a speedster. The Phillies’ second baseman has picked up the pace in the second half with five homers, nine steals, and a .294/.375/.496/.871 line. Stott’s BABIP has risen from .269 to .326, and his Pitch Runs value from 88 to 112, suggesting this hot streak is likely the result of some much-anticipated positive regression. His approach has actually improved over the 2025 campaign with a 22.6% chase rate, 108 DV+ and 113 Contact+, so it’s possible Stott is finally hitting his stride.

 

Steven Kwan (CLE): 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB.

Steven Kwan picked up his 15th and 16th stolen bases of the year last night as he attempts to chase down a new career high. After a rough summer saw Kwan record three consecutive months of a sub-100 wRC+, sub-.250 BABIP, and only six combined stolen bases, he appears to be course correcting in September. Since the calendar flipped, Kwan has gone 8-for-23, with four runs, three RBI, and two steals in five games. It’s fair to be wary of the small sample size, but this is much closer to the Kwan that we’ve become accustomed to in the majors, so it isn’t a reach to suggest that he could be in for a big finish to 2025.

 

Mark Vientos (NYM): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

After what seemed like a breakout campaign in 2024 with 27 home runs, a .266/.322/.516 triple slash, a 132 wRC+, and an everyday role as a corner infielder, Mark Vientos has struggled to replicate that level of production this season. Vientos hit his 17th homer of the season yesterday, bringing his wRC+ up to 106. It isn’t unreasonable to attribute some of this to bad luck, as Vientos has battled a .282 BABIP and a 95 Pitch Runs value, while setting new bests with a 91.4 mph average exit velocity, 50.5% hard hit rate, and 40.4% groundball rate.

His plate discipline has also improved, as his strikeout rate has dropped to a career low 23.2%. We’ve seen this before as young power hitters attempt to decrease their strikeout totals, so I’m willing to chalk this season up to growing pains for Vientos.

 

Daulton Varsho (TOR): 2-5, 2B, R, RBI, SB.

I try not to fixate on my hometown Toronto Blue Jays in these articles, but sometimes a player just forces my hand. Last night was Daulton Varsho’s turn as he notched only his second stolen base of the year. While Varsho has battled a number of injuries since recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, including a two-month layoff with a hamstring injury, his 28.3 mph Sprint Speed is still in line with his career numbers. The Jays have been conservative with the Gold Glove centrefielder, as yesterday was also Varsho’s second stolen base attempt of the season.

Unfortunately, the lack of stolen base opportunities will limit Varsho to a ‘hollow power’ profile moving forward, but Varsho seems intent on staying relevant as he’s already matched last year’s 18 home runs despite playing in only 52 games this season.

 

Max Kepler (PHI): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Max Kepler has bounced back nicely in 2025 with the move to Philadelphia, notching his 15th home run last night in the middle of the hottest stretch of his season. Since August 1st, Kepler has five homers, one steal, a .277/.324/.523/.847 slashline, and a 129 wRC+, all with a modest .259 BABIP. Anything remotely close to those rates would be a career high for Kepler, so take advantage of his recent performance while you can.

 

Luisangel Acuña (NYM): 1-4, SB.

The New York Mets recalled Luisangel Acuna when rosters expanded on Monday. In his three games since, the younger Acuña has gone 2-for-6 with a pair of runs and a pair of stolen bases. The lack of power means that his ceiling won’t be nearly as high as his brother’s, but if he’s worked out his contact issues, a 29.6 mph Sprint Speed (97th percentile) will allow him to become a valuable contributor similar to the aforementioned Bryson Stott. Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty have been splitting reps at second base and will likely limit Acuña’s playing time, but the 23-year-old is only an injury or a cold streak away from displacing one of the two. At the minimum, he’s a fun stash candidate for teams looking for speed at this point in the season.

 

Jake Bauers (MIL): 2-5, R, 2 RBI, SB.

Jake Bauers has struggled to get into the Brewers’ lineup since coming off the IL on August 23rd, but has put together a strong showing since rosters expanded on September 1st, going 3-for-11 with two runs, two RBI, and two stolen bases. However, Bauers lacks the speed or contact skills of someone like Acuña and has traditionally served as more of a deep league power hitter in fantasy circles. Between the lack of consistent playing time and his last home run coming on June 10th, the 29-year-old journeyman is likely more valuable in games of Immaculate Grid than on fantasy rosters.