Matt Shaw (CHC): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Shaw Rakes Redemption

Matt Shaw entered the season as a highly touted prospect in the Cubs’ farm system and the club’s Opening Day third baseman. Shaw understandably had some growing pains but appeared to break out in May, posting a .906 OPS in his second stint in the majors after spending some time in Iowa to get his head right. June and July have been less kind to the youngster, as Shaw has an OPS below .600 in those two months.

Still, the All-Star Break has seemed to be a much-needed reset for Shaw, who posted a line of 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI in Monday’s game against the Royals. Two of Shaw’s four homers this season have come in the past few games, and it’s worth wondering if he’s turning a corner or just running into a few baseballs. Unfortunately, it’s probably too soon to tell, but there are a few interesting things about Shaw to dive into.

First and foremost, while Shaw is the Cubs’ primary third baseman for the time being, the Northsiders have been frequently tied to Diamondbacks slugger Eugenio Suárez as a trade deadline add. Suárez makes perfect sense for the Cubs as a power source at the hot corner, which is by far their weakest position. While Shaw has a near-everyday role in the current state of the roster, adding Suárez or another third baseman would significantly cut into his playing time. Still, Shaw’s eligibility at several infield positions makes him an intriguing add for the time being in case the Cubs decide to trust the rookie rather than trading for an established veteran. I’d only recommend adding him for now if you need steals or are especially weak at 2B or 3B, but there’s a chance this could be the start of a longer hot streak for the youngster.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

 

Salvador Perez (KCR): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.

Among the hottest players in baseball right now is Salvador Perez, who now has four homers in his past three games and eight in his past 11. Perez is eluding Father Time in his age-35 season, holding down an everyday role in the Royals’ lineup while posting a 95th percentile .562 xSLG. Of course, this ridiculous hot streak isn’t going to last forever, and this might be a good time to sell Perez if a team is willing to overpay based on recent performance. If Sal is your primary catcher, either enjoy this production while it lasts or look to move him and scoop up the next player on this list.

 

Drake Baldwin (ATL): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 6 RBI.

A primary beneficiary of Marcell Ozuna taking some extra time off has been Drake Baldwin, as the catcher is getting more reps as DH when Sean Murphy is behind the plate for Atlanta. Baldwin has been extremely impressive in his first season of big league action, slashing .290/.358/.488 across 229 PAs. If Ozuna is traded or Atlanta decides to give the rookie more looks, he could be a league-winner at catcher down the stretch. He’s available in 85% of Yahoo! leagues and 90% of ESPN leagues.

 

Willy Adames (SFG): 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

The demise of Willy Adames was greatly exaggerated. The former Brewer is looking more like the player the Giants signed to be their franchise shortstop, slashing a red-hot .438/.438/1.125 since coming out of the break. Adames has slowly but surely improved every month this season, and if he continues to showcase the power he displayed during his final year in Milwaukee, he could be a league winner down the stretch.

 

Willson Contreras (STL): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Prior to Monday’s action, Willson Contreras only had one home run in the month of July, but as is the case with many hitters, a trip to Coors may be just what the catcher-turned-first-baseman needed. Contreras torched a 443-foot long ball in the fourth inning and ended up a triple short of the cycle in the first of three games in Colorado. Contreras’ near-everyday role makes him somewhat of a cheat code at the catcher position, but keep in mind that he’s likely to lose that eligibility for 2026.

 

Ramón Laureano (BAL): 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI.

Things have been dismal for the Orioles in 2025, but one of the lone bright spots has been the ascendance of Ramón Laureano in the outfield. The 31-year-old boasts an .854 OPS in 72 games with Baltimore, which is the second-best mark of his eight-year career. Laureano’s value may increase if he is traded to a contending team, so keep an eye out for news as the deadline approaches.

 

James Wood (WSN): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB.

It’s great to see James Wood returning to form after his first appearance in the Home Run Derby. Wood was going through a mini-slump extending before the Summer Classic but looked more like his typical 2025 self on Monday, hitting a pair of doubles and swiping his 14th bag of the season. Wood has been a fantasy stud in his sophomore season, and there’s a very real chance he ends up as a first-round pick in 2026 fantasy leagues.

 

Nick Kurtz (ATH): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

The man cannot be stopped. Nick Kurtz is making a legitimate push for the AL Rookie of the Year over teammate Jacob Wilson, hitting an opposite-field home run for his 19th bomb of the season. Kurtz possesses raw power in a way few other players do, and with his hitter-friendly home park, there’s a case to be made that Kurtz is a top-five first baseman the rest of the way. He’s still somehow available in 30% of Yahoo! leagues, so check your wire just to be sure.

 

Brice Matthews (HOU): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

Congratulations to Brice Matthews, who hit his first and second career home runs on Monday night! Matthews was a thorn in the side of Zac Gallen all night, plating five of Houston’s six runs. The Astros’ top prospect is currently functioning as the primary second baseman for Houston while members of their outfield get healthy, but he doesn’t project to be a long-term asset just yet. Leave him on the wire for now.

 

Will Smith (LAD): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Monday night was certainly a great night for catchers, and Will Smith capped things off with a multi-homer game in the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Twins. After somewhat of a down 2024, Smith is having a career season in 2025, slashing .326/.424/.556 through 314 PAs. He should continue to be a great source of RBIs, hitting in the heart of this Dodgers lineup, and is building a strong case to be the second catcher off the board in 2026 behind only the Big Dumper.