Jorge, Jorge
Jorge Polanco (SEA): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Mariners desperately need offense, especially as they have seen their AL West division lead disappear after the All-Star break.
Over the weekend, they addressed that area of struggle by trading for Tampa’s Randy Arozarena. They likely will make another move to improve the lineup, though it won’t be for Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was traded to the Yankees on Saturday.
While outside help is needed, the Mariners need bats to step up. Jorge Polanco is a Mariners player who needs a solid finish to the season to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Polanco’s first season in Seattle has been disappointing. In 273 plate appearances, he is hitting .209 with a .633 OPS, including only nine home runs and two stolen bases. That’s not quite what the Mariners expected from Polanco when they acquired him from Minnesota for four players and cash considerations (the deal included pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa).
However, Polanco has been a bit more encouraging after the All-Star break. After hitting .197 with a .567 OPS in the first half, he is hitting .290 with a 1.095 OPS in 34 plate appearances in the second half. On Saturday, he had three hits, two home runs, and three RBI against the White Sox.
Of course, it’s the White Sox, but this performance could help Polanco lock in for a solid August and September. That makes him a crucial piece for the Mariners down the stretch and an intriguing waiver wire pickup for fantasy teams hurting at the keystone position.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Tyler O’Neill (BOS): 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.
The Red Sox lost to the Yankees on Saturday, but O’Neill continued to add to his impressive first year in Boston. He launched two home runs on Saturday, bringing his home run total to 22 for the season. His most home runs came in 2021 when he hit 34 for the St. Louis Cardinals. O’Neill will likely come close to or maybe surpass that career-high.
Aaron Judge (NYY): 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Judge had an “MVP-like” day against the Yankees’ biggest rival. He had four hits, three RBIs, a double, and a home run and got on base in all five plate appearances. Judge has surpassed his plate appearance mark from a year ago and tied his HR mark (37). It will be interesting to see if Judge can stay healthy enough to make another push toward 62 in the next two months.
Colt Keith (DET): 2-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Looking for a “dark horse” AL Rookie of the Year candidate? Look no further than Keith. After a horrendous start to the year (.396 OPS in April), he has improved his overall OPS to .728. He also has 11 home runs and five stolen bases and is hitting .296 in the second half of the year. The Tigers are on the outside of the playoff race but have a puncher’s chance to get back into it, especially with a four-game set against the Royals looming next weekend.
Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
The Phillies blanked the Guardians 8-0 on Saturday. Schwarber led the charge on the hitting end of things. He had three hits, three RBI, and his 20th home run of the season. It’s been a different kind of season for Schwarber. The home runs are a bit down (he had 47 in the past two years). However, he is hitting a higher average (.245), getting on base more (.370), and keeping his OPS around the same mark as previous seasons (.817). With 65 wins this year, the Phillies will take this new Schwarber.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Ohtani hit his 32nd home run, a 443-foot bomb that seemingly went through Minute Maid Park. The Dodgers still lost to the Astros 7-6, but Ohtani is doing all he can to carry the Dodgers on the hitting end of things. His 26 stolen bases have tied a career-high, and his .318 batting average would be a career-high if the season ended today.
Cedric Mullins (BAL): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI.
It hasn’t been a productive year for Mullins, who is hitting .217 with a .651 OPS this season. The hard-hit rate is down. The BB rate is down. And the K rate is up. Those are all signs of a player in significant decline. He did have two hits, which included his 11th home run of the year on Saturday. Thus, he’s showing he can still be productive on occasion. It’s just not something that will happen regularly.
Manny Machado (SDP): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
After hitting .333 with a .900 OPS in June, Machado has seen his average and OPS dip to .240 and .758, respectively, in July. That’s not what Padres fans hoped to see from their third baseman, especially with them hanging in playoff position (they are tied for first in the Wild Card). On Saturday, Machado had three hits and collected his 14th home run of the year. Perhaps a bounce back in August is in store for Machado.
Josh Bell (MIA): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
The Marlins are dealing players left and right, and one has to wonder if Bell’s days in Miami are ending. If it is, at least he’s going out on a high note. On Saturday, he had two hits and hit his 14th home run of the season in a 7-3 win over the NL Central-leading Brewers.
Hunter Renfroe (KCR): 3-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
The Royals blew a 4-3 lead spectacularly (thanks to a Patrick Wisdom pinch-hit grand slam). On a positive note, Renfroe was a machine on Saturday with three hits, three RBI, and a home run, his 10th of the year. The power has been a bit down this year, but his K rate is down, and his BB rate is up, which are encouraging signs. He also has improved his OPS to .723 for the season. That’s significant progress since the beginning of the year, when his OPS was as low as .487 on May 20, and Royals fans were calling on him to be designated for assignment.