Juan Air

Juan Soto (NYM): 4-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.

After signing an MLB-record 15-year, $765 million contract this offseason, expectations were high for Juan Soto in Queens.

For most players, a .256 average, .877 OPS, and 16 home runs in 341 plate appearances is “excellent” production. However, Soto is not like most players (and isn’t paid like most, either). Even though his numbers have still been productive and have kept the Mets up at the top of the NL East division (along with the Phillies), they are a bit down from his .288 average and .988 OPS in the Bronx a season ago.

All players go through regression from year to year, even if it’s only temporary. Thus, some decline was to be expected for Soto, even for a short period. However, any struggles will be forgotten if he can come up in big moments against big teams.

He had that moment against the Phillies, their division rival, with whom they are going back and forth with for the top of the NL East.

On Saturday in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Soto had four hits, two home runs, and four RBI in an 11-4 victory. The victory tied them again for first with the Phillies, making Sunday’s series finale even more crucial.

The 26-year-old franchise player may not finish the year with a .988 OPS. He may not have 41 home runs, like he did with the Yankees in 2024.

However, if he can help the Mets win the division, secure a NL Pennant, and possibly a World Series title?

Well, Mets fans will be able to forgive Soto’s season of regression.

 

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.

 

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

It was a slugfest on the North Side as the Cubs and Mariners combined for 17 runs and six home runs on Saturday. The Cubs won 10-7, thanks to Happ’s production from the leadoff spot. He hit his 10th and 11th home runs of the season and also improved his RBI total to 38 for the year. Happ has been on a tear in June with a .929 OPS and eight home runs.

 

Brandon Nimmo (NYM): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

Soto gets the spotlight, but Nimmo’s big day shouldn’t be forgotten. He hit his 14th and 15th home runs of the season, and his OPS is up to .777 in 301 plate appearances. Nimmo experienced some regression last year, hitting .224 and posting a .726 OPS, after achieving .274 and a .829 OPS in 2023. It appears that his season will be closer to 2023 than 2024.

 

Drake Baldwin (ATL): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.

Baldwin is certainly making his case as a dark-horse candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year. He’s only got 160 plate appearances, but he’s hitting .293 with an .833 OPS and eight home runs. He hit his latest on Saturday in a 7-0 victory over the Marlins. Baldwin is on the same roster as veteran Sean Murphy, but it seems like Baldwin has been getting more favor with Atlanta management as of late.

 

J.C. Escarra (NYY): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

It’s always fun to see a late-blossoming rookie take advantage of his opportunity. The 3o-year-old rookie is hitting .246 with a .753 OPS and two home runs in 77 plate appearances. In New York’s 9-0 win over the Orioles, Escarra joined the home run party and had three RBI to boot. It’s hard to see Escarra being a major fantasy option, but he’s one to keep an eye on.

 

Elly De La Cruz (CIN): 2-5, 3B, HR, R, 2 RBI.

The Reds lost 6-5 to the Cardinals on a walk-off, but don’t blame De La Cruz, who continues to put up gaudy stats. He hit his 17th home run of the year and has improved his average to .265 and OPS to .837. It’s been another season of improvement for De La Cruz, who’s on track to pass his 25 home runs and .810 OPS from a season ago.

 

Fernando Tatis (SDP): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.

Tatis has been a bit up and down this season, but he’s had a penchant to come through for the Padres when they need him the most. That was the case on Saturday, as he launched a three-run home run against Kansas City’s Taylor Clarke in the 7th inning, which essentially sealed the game for San Diego. Tatis has 14 home runs, 15 stolen bases, a .268 average, and .818 OPS. Safe to say, he seems primed for another All-Star game appearance.

 

Alec Burleson (STL): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Burelson may be one of the more underrated sluggers in the National League. In 237 plate appearances, he is hitting .314 with an .825 OPS and has eight home runs and 30 RBI. He may not possess big-time power or tools, but he gets the job done as the Cardinals’ No. 3 hitter. He demonstrated that ability on Saturday with a home run and three RBI in St. Louis’ one-run victory over Cincinnati.

 

Geraldo Perdomo (ARI): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Eugenio Suárez, Ketel Marte, and Corbin Carroll steal all the Diamondback headlines, but Perdomo continues to thrive in the Arizona desert. On Saturday, Perdomo hit his eighth home run of the year, which is one away from his total in the past two seasons combined. He is also hitting .260 with a .769 OPS and has 11 stolen bases to go along with Gold Glove-caliber defense. Will this year be a step toward stardom for Perdomo, or will he turn back into a light-hitting pumpkin like Luis Rengifo? That’s still to be determined.

 

Rafael Devers (SFG): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Devers finally launched his first home run as a Giant. And what better way to do it than against his former team? Devers’ 16th home run of the year was not a “Splash Shot” into McCovey Cove, but rather one over the left field fence. It also proved to be a key home run that helped the Giants beat the Red Sox 3-2 in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon.