All Shall Harris
Michael Harris II (ATL): 4-4, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Michael Harris II has been on fire after the All-Star Break.
In 28 plate appearances, the Atlanta outfielder has a slash of .308/.357/.538 with an .895 OPS. That is a significant upgrade from his pre-All-Star Break numbers, which include a slash of .210/.234/.317 and an OPS of .551 in 368 plate appearances.
Harris has two home runs after the All-Star Break, including one coming on Saturday night in a 6-5 loss to the Texas Rangers. In addition to his eighth home run of the year, Harris also collected four hits, including a double and two triples. He had two RBI, scored three runs, and was a single shy of the cycle.
It’s been a downward trend for Harris the past couple of years, much to Atlanta and fantasy baseball managers’ chagrin.
After hitting .293 with an .808 OPS and 18 home runs in 2023, the 24-year-old outfielder saw his numbers dip in 2024. He hit 16 home runs, but his average dropped to .264, and his OPS also regressed to .722. This year, his average is .219, and his OPS is .594 in 397 plate appearances. He has 12 stolen bases, which is more than he had in 2024 (10), but it’s not enough in fantasy to make up for his paltry average, OPS, and home run total.
That said, his hot start to the second half may be a sign of positive things to come for Harris, which makes him an intriguing buy-low target for fantasy managers looking for inexpensive outfield help. He still possesses excellent bat speed, as it ranks in the 77th percentile, according to Savant. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to translate that speed into barrels (29th percentile) or hard hits (39th percentile) this season.
Still, Harris is an athletic player who is still young and could be an adjustment or two away from getting back into that 2023 or 2024 form soon. This hasn’t been his most outstanding season, and his numbers by the end of 2025 will likely still be poor. Then again, he’s available in 30% of Yahoo leagues right now (according to Fantasy Pros), so he may be worth picking up off the waiver wire, just based on pedigree alone.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Tyler O’Neill (BAL): 2-2, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB.
The Orioles scored 18 runs in a shutout victory, so there were plenty of Baltimore hitters to recognize. O’Neill stands out the most, as he had two hits, a home run, and three RBI in Baltimore’s blowout victory. It’s been a tough year for O’Neill, as he is hitting .211 with a .696 OPS. Hopefully, this Rockies series isn’t just a standalone success for him in the second half.
Maikel Garcia (KCR): 2-3, 3B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
The Royals took game one of their Saturday split doubleheader thanks to a Jonathan India walkoff home run. However, it was Garcia who kept the Royals in the game with his ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot off of Gavin Williams. Garcia also had a triple and two RBI in what was his best game since the All-Star Game.
Dane Myers (MIA): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.
Miami continues to be the hottest team in baseball, and Myers was a catalyst in their latest win over the Brewers (which clinched them the series). Myers hit his fifth home run of the year, collected two RBI, and stole his 15th base as well. Initially perceived as sellers at the deadline, the Marlins may indeed be buyers, especially since they are only five games back of a Wild Card. That means Myers will stay in Miami for now.
Jarren Duran (BOS): 3-4, 2B, 2 3B, R, 2 RBI.
Duran is being rumored to a bunch of places, but that hasn’t distracted him at the plate. On Saturday against the Dodgers, Duran had three hits, including a double and two triples, in Boston’s 4-2 win. The 28-year-old outfielder is hitting .259 with a .768 OPS, which is a bit down from a .285 average and .834 OPS marks in 204 that earned him an All-Star Game appearance.
Alex Call (WSN): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
After Jacob Young came out of the game due to a finger injury, Call answered the…well, call, I guess. The 30-year-old outfielder hit his third home run and collected three RBI as well. With a .275 average, .764 OPS, and solid defense, Call could find himself in another uniform by next Thursday’s Trade Deadline.
Andrew Vaughn (MIL): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Milwaukee Vaughn continues to outshine South Side Vaughn. Even though the Brewers lost, the former White Sox draft pick had two hits and launched his eighth home run of the year (third with Milwaukee). With the Brewers, he is slashing .324/.409/.649 with a 1.058 OPS in 44 plate appearances. Safe to say, it’s been a good deal for Vaughn and the Brewers thus far.
Steven Kwan (CLE): 1-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
Kwan didn’t have the best day at the plate, but he came through when it counted. The Cleveland All-Star hit his ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot off Royals reliever Jonathan Bowlan. The 27-year-old outfielder has been on a tear since the All-Star Break, as he is hitting .292 with a 1.100 OPS and three home runs in 30 plate appearances.
Ian Happ (CHC): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
After getting thomped by the White Sox on Friday night, the Cubs got their revenge on Saturday. They beat the South Siders 6-1, and Happ had a big day with a home run, two hits, and an RBI. It hasn’t been Happ’s best season, as he is hitting .227 with a .708 OPS in 433 plate appearances. That said, he has 14 home runs and knows when to come through in big spots, as was the case on Saturday.
George Springer (TOR): 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI.
The “Summer of George” continues. Against the AL Central-leading Tigers, Spring had three hits and launched his 18th home run of the year (putting him one away from his 2024 total). In July, he is hitting .383 with a 1.136 OPS and seven home runs. It’s safe to say that the AL East, and the American League in general, are looking forward to July finally ending, hoping that the change in month can slow down Springer.
