Cielito Lindor
Francisco Lindor (NYM): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.
Remember how much Francisco Lindor was struggling to start the season? Yeah, me neither. A pair of home runs and another stolen base on Monday continue a red-hot July for the New York Mets superstar, who has increased his OPS every single month this season, with a 1.017 mark this month.
In a season that’s seen its fair share of struggles from superstar players, Lindor has shown that patience does work from time to time when it comes to waiting for your studs to turn things around. Lindor is one home run shy of yet another 20/20 season and still has time to match his 31/31 mark from last year. With the Mets in the thick of the Wild Card hunt, it seems more likely than not that the lineup will improve around Lindor before the end of the month, adding a slight boost to his fantasy value before the season wraps up. Let’s make sure we don’t underrate him again next year.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:
Juan Soto (NYY): 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Juan Soto smacked a pair of home runs in the later innings of Monday’s 9-1 win over the Rays, bringing his season total to 25 round trips. Fantasy players that drafted Soto are getting exactly what was advertised this season–elite ratios with a boost of power in New York’s lefty-friendly environment. Hitting in the same lineup as Aaron Judge certainly helps the counting stats, too.
Bobby Witt Jr. (KCR): 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Bobby Witt Jr. was just a single short of the cycle after the fourth inning but was hit by a pitch and flied out in his last two at-bats to fall just shy of the achievement. Fantasy owners outside of cycle category leagues (yes, those exist) won’t be disappointed with a line that has a hat trick of hits, runs, and RBI. The only question to ask about Witt’s fantasy ability now is how high he’ll get drafted next season.
Teoscar Hernández (LAD): 3-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Sometimes, participating in the Home Run Derby can have adverse effects on a player’s performance after swinging for the fences with reckless abandon. This hasn’t been the case for Teoscar Hernández, who has recorded a hit in every game since winning the derby crown and a home run in each of his last two contests. Hernández wasn’t the headline acquisition for the Dodgers in the offseason, but he’s exceeded expectations and turned in a solid fantasy year for those who drafted him.
Will Benson (CIN): 2-2, HR, R, RBI, BB, 2 SB.
Though he’s only slashing .194 this season, Will Benson has had a few bright moments in 2024, and Monday’s game was one of them. With last night’s performance, Benson has 11 home runs and 13 steals this year. Benson will need to improve his contact skills and plate discipline if he wants to maintain a role in the Reds’ lineup, but for now, he’s a decent streaming option against righties on short days.
Bryan De La Cruz (MIA): 3-5, HR, R, RBI, SB.
Bryan De La Cruz also doesn’t have the most impressive ratios (.247/.287/.411), but he’s provided a solid amount of power this season with 17 long balls. Unfortunately for his fantasy value, De La Cruz doesn’t seem likely to be traded to a better team, as he has control options through the 2027 season. He’s still a solid option in leagues with four or more outfield spots.
Justyn-Henry Malloy (DET): 1-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Justyn-Henry Malloy is performing exactly like we’d expect a rookie with strong power upside to in their first big-league stint: he’s knocked seven home runs in 123 PAs, but he’s also striking out at a 34.1% rate. While June was a rough month ratio-wise, JHM has made some adjustments in July, with a .279/.380/.605 slash line this month. He’s worth a speculative add with the recent improvements as long as you can manage the higher strikeout numbers.
Jose Siri (TBR): 1-2, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Jose Siri has a pretty similar profile to Benson–he’s got some pretty rough ratios this season but can provide home runs or steals in a pinch if you need a stream. Playing time in Tampa Bay can always be tough to predict, but his defensive ability in center field should earn him a near-everyday role for the team.
Tommy Pham (CHW): 1-5, HR, R, RBI.
Tommy Pham and teammate Paul DeJong both hit home runs on Monday night and are having solid seasons for the White Sox. It’s just a matter of time before one (or both) of these veterans are traded at the deadline to boost the lineup of a contending team. We’ll have more to discuss with these players once we know where they’re playing come August.