Burger Special
Jake Burger (MIA): 4-5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
It hasn't exactly been a "feast" at the plate this year in Miami for Jake Burger.
In 141 games and 540 plate appearances combined with the Marlins and White Sox a year ago, Burger hit 34 home runs, collected 80 RBI, and hit .250 with a .827 OPS. While his batting average overall was mediocre, he hit .303 with a .860 OPS in 53 games with the Marlins after being traded over from Chicago. Thus, there was some hope that Burger had turned a corner and would be pretty comfortable as a slugging third baseman for the Marlins in 2024.
Things haven't gone nearly as smoothly this season in South Florida.
In 298 plate appearances with the Marlins, Burger's average is down to .225, as is his OPS, which is .633. His barrel rate is still solid at 10.2%, and his 43.9% hard-hit rate is only 5.7% lower than a season ago. And yet, he only has 10 home runs, and his slugging percentage of .368 is 150 points lower than his slugging in 2023.
Burger hasn't produced in his second stint in Miami. Then again, though, the same could be said for most hitters in the Marlins lineup. After all, they are 32-63 after an 11-6 loss in Cincinnati on Saturday night.
The Marlins are 31 games below .500 and are clearly in "seller" mode as the Trade Deadline approaches. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Tanner Scott have been popular trade candidates. However, Burger hasn't been mentioned, as he won't hit arbitration until 2026 and won't be a free agent until 2029. For a Marlins team looking for cost-controlled talent, Burger fits the bill.
On the other hand, Burger is 28 years old and doesn't have the physique or skill set that will age gracefully. Are the Marlins willing to hold onto him until he's 33? That feels unlikely. If they are willing to trade an athletic but flawed star like Chisholm, they likely should be open to a "hitting only" third baseman who will be 30 by 2026.
On Saturday, Burger went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. Thus, he can produce when locked in and be a bright spot for a Marlins team in the dog days of a brutal 2024 season that likely will result in significant changes this offseason (don't expect Skip Schumaker to be back as manager).
He won't command a ton in any trade due to his regression this season, but if the Marlins are indeed in seller mode, they ought to kick the tires and see what kind of return Burger could bring at the August Deadline.
Let's see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD): 2-4, 3B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Ohtani may not be enough for the Dodgers as Mookie Betts remains on the IL. Ohtani had another vintage hitting performance: two hits, two walks, a home run, and a stolen base. However, the Dodgers lost 11-9 to the Tigers. The No. 5 through No. 9 spots in the batting order all had hitters with OPS numbers below .615. If the Dodgers want to add another World Series title to their cabinet, they may need to be active at the Trade Deadline.
Rece Hinds (CIN): 2-3, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
All aboard the "Hinds Hype Train"! Hinds hit two home runs and collected three RBI. In just six games and 24 plate appearances, Hinds has five home runs and 11 RBI. The 23-year-old outfielder was a second-round pick by the Reds in 2019 and has long been known for his intriguing tools in the Reds' Minor League system. With the Reds trying to climb back into the NL Central and Wild Card race, Hinds' presence in the lineup comes at just the right time.
Colt Keith (DET): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.
Remember back in April when everyone was thinking Keith was a bust? Seems like Keith has put those haters in the rearview mirror. Keith had three hits and four RBI, and he hit his ninth home run of the year, a game-tying shot off Dodgers closer Evan Phillips. Keith's rookie year has been a bit up and down. He had a .396 OPS in April, a .881 OPS in May, and a .567 OPS in June. He's got a 1.337 OPS in July, so fantasy managers who roster Keith can be encouraged for now.
Alec Burleson (STL): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
It feels like Burleson will cool off at some point. And yet, he continues to produce game after game for the Cardinals. In the first game of a doubleheader against the rival Cubs on Saturday, he had three hits, including his 16th home run. The 25-year-old East Carolina product has demonstrated sneaky fantasy value in traditional 5x5 leagues as a 1B/OF player with double-digit home runs, double-digit stolen-base potential (he has seven), and is hitting .285.
Francisco Lindor (NYM): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Lindor may have gotten snubbed from the All-Star game, but that hasn't stopped his tear at the plate as the first half ends this weekend. Against the lowly Rockies on Saturday, Lindor hit his 17th home run of the year and stole his 18th base. Lindor may never be a high-average hitter again at this point in his career. He hit .257 last season, and he's at .250 this year. However, despite the lackluster batting average, his power and stolen-base ability make him one of the better-producing shortstops in fantasy.
Nick Castellanos (PHI): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI.
Significant events happen in the world, and Castellanos home runs follow. Saturday was no different, though I don't need to explain what happened in the world that correlated with Castellanos' 13th home run. It's been a down year for Castellanos in most categories: a .235 average, .684 OPS, and an 8.6% barrel rate. Maybe Castellanos can see better results in the second half and, hopefully, without something shattering outside of baseball simultaneously.
Aaron Judge (NYY): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
Judge is 39 plate appearances away from his total last year and seems on track to another MVP-caliber season. He hit his 34th home run of the year on Saturday against the rival Orioles and is hitting .308 with a 1.114 OPS. His OPS would be better than his MVP season in 2022, and he's over halfway to the 62 home runs he hit that season as well. Does Judge have a 63-HR season in him? If he stays healthy, he has a shot.
Brent Rooker (OAK): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Like Lindor, Rooker was considered a bit of an All-Star snub. He hit his 19th home run of the year on Saturday against Philadelphia and is also hitting .287 with a .915 OPS in 340 plate appearances. Then again, though, the Mets are 49-45 and hunting for a spot in the NL Wild Card. The Athletics are in the basement of the AL West with a 36-61 record. Rooker is a great player for fantasy purposes, but the All-Star talk probably needs to cool (because Mason Miller is the most deserving on that A's roster).
Rafael Devers (BOS): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
After a rough night on Friday, Devers bounced back and helped the Red Sox recapture the last AL Wild Card spot from the Royals. Devers had two hits and blasted his 22nd home run of the year (against All-Star Seth Lugo to boot). Devers won't be at the All-Star game as he will take the time during the break to nurse a sore shoulder. However, there's no question that Devers has been one of the most productive third basemen in the AL during the first half.
Carlos Santana (MIN): 2-2, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB.
It's been a vintage Santana first half, which is good news for the Twins. He's hitting .247 and has an OPS of .759. His walk rate is under 10% for the first time in the Statcast era (post-2015), but his K% is also down by one percent (15.8%). Santana came up big against the Giants on Saturday as he hit his 13th home run of the year, collected two hits, and drew two walks in their 4-2 win. Even at 38 years old, Santana continues to show no signs of slowing down.
Was it too late to stay up for the AZ game? Is Carroll’s 2 HR, 6 RBI game not noteworthy?
100%, Carroll with 3hr and 3sb over last 6 games
It was noteworthy. But yeah, it was late and didn’t get a chance to write it up. But he’s been looking good recently.
As one of my keepers, it’s been hard to watch this season. Hope he turns it around the second half