Mike’d Up
Michael Harris II (ATL): 5-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
It’s been a rocky start for Michael Harris II, as the second-year outfielder struggled out of the gate with a combined .171 batting average through 105 at-bats in April and May. But Harris has turned it around in June, and after his pops tossed out the first pitch before Atlanta’s Father’s Day victory, he had a perfect day from the plate to lead the Braves to a win.
Michael Harris II (ATL): 5-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Harris began the day with a single in the second inning and added a double in the fourth. In the fifth, Harris took a 2-1 sinker deep to right field, smashing it 453 feet into the Chop House for a three-run shot. Harris added an infield single in the sixth and another single in the eighth to complete a 5-for-5 day. Since the beginning of June, Harris is batting .383 (23-for-60) with four home runs and 12 RBI, rewarding the fantasy managers that held him through the season-opening slump.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday
Eddie Rosario (ATL): 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, BB.
Not to be outdone by his teammate, Rosario went yard twice and drove in six RBI as the Braves dismantled the Rockies, 14-6. Rosario hammered a 1-2 changeup to the left field seats for a 420-foot three-run home run in the second inning and added another 415-foot bomb in the sixth off an 86-mph fastball. Rosario also knocked an RBI single to raise his total runs driven in to a season-high six as the Braves rolled on Sunday.
Ryan McMahon (COL): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
McMahon did all he could to keep the Rockies in the game, but his offensive efforts were overshadowed by a high-octane Braves offense. McMahon smashed a Charlie Morton curveball out 417 feet for a two-run home run in the first inning. He followed that up with a 418-foot shot off a first-pitch fastball in the seventh inning, but by then the game was out of reach. McMahon recorded his first multi-home run game of the season to take his season total to 12 long balls.
Leody Taveras (TEX): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Taveras launched his eighth home run of the season, one of three hits on the day, as the Rangers took down the Blue Jays, 11-7. After singles in the fourth and fifth innings, Taveras won a tough battle at the plate with Adam Cimber, tagging the eighth pitch of the at-bat for a two-run home run. Now with eight home runs to just seven stolen bases, Taveras is on pace to finish the season with more long balls than swipes.
Jake Fraley (CIN): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
Fraley launched a solo shot in the second inning, homering in his first game back from a 10-day absence. Fraley took an 0-1 fastball deep to right for a 395-foot blast, his eighth of the year. He added an RBI single in the sixth and a productive RBI groundout in extra innings to lead Cincinnati to a win in Houston.
Kerry Carpenter (DET): 3-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Carpenter finished with three hits on the day to lead the Tigers past the division rival Twins, 6-4, on Sunday. In the fifth inning, Carpenter hit the second leg of a back-to-back with teammate Spencer Torkelson, homering 403 feet to center field off of a Louis Varland cutter. Carpenter is batting .400 (14-for-35) in the month of June as the Tigers work back towards a .500 record (which could be enough to win the AL Central this season).
Jordan Walker (STL): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Walker finished with a home run and a stolen base as the Cardinals outlasted the Mets, 8-7. Walker took a first-pitch fastball 357 feet the opposite way for a solo home run in the fifth inning to pad the St. Louis lead. He added a pair of walks and swiped his first stolen base since his return, his third of the year. Batting .327 (17-for-52) since being recalled to the majors, Walker is making his case to stay in St. Louis for the remainder of the season.
Mike Tauchman (CHC): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.
Tauchman continued his hot streak on Sunday with a home run and a stolen base, but the Cubs fell to the Orioles, 6-3. Tauchman opened the game with a shot that just cleared the ivy in Wrigley, taking a first-pitch fastball 365 feet to left to put the Cubs ahead, 1-0. Later in the game, Tauchman swiped second base off of Adley Rutschman, one of the premier defensive catchers in the game, showing he’s capable of stealing at just about any time. Tauchman has gotten consistent playing time, leading off for the Cubs consistently for the past couple of weeks, and could remain there for the foreseeable future.
Aaron Hicks (BAL): 2-3, 2B, R, BB, SB.
Who is this person playing for the Orioles and what have they done with Aaron Hicks? Hicks finished with a pair of hits and a walk but also swiped his second base since joining the Orioles in late May. Hicks has been a revelation for the O’s as Cedric Mullins continues his recovery, but Hicks could stick on the Baltimore roster even after Mullins returns, making him at least interesting in deep fantasy leagues for the remainder of the year.