The Perfect Deversion
One day after Ben Rice cranked out three HRs in a dominant Yankee win, Boston was mired in a 0-0 game and looking for any spark to divert attention from their weekend struggles. Lo and behold, Rafael Devers stepped up and saved the day with HRs in the 7th and 9th inning to lead the Red Sox to a 3-0 Sunday night victory in New York in classic Devers fashion. That is now 3 HRs in the past 2 games for Devers and 7 in the last 15 games. He also recently collected his 1,000 career hit at the ripe young age of 27 and continues to produce like the best one of the best 3B of this generation.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday
Willson Contreras (STL): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Veteran catcher Willson Contreras struggled in his first week back from the Injured List but since the calendar has turned to July he has hit .320/.452/.760 with 3 HRs. A healthy Contreras is a big boost to St. Louis’s surprise run at the playoffs.
Jarred Kelenic (ATL): 1-3, HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB.
With all of the injuries to the Braves lineup, a massive opportunity opened up for Jarred Kelenic and he has started to take advantage. Over his last 15 games hitting in the leadoff spot for Atlanta, Kelenic has slashed .286/.339/.554 with 4 HRs and 2 stolen bases.
Danny Mendick (CHW): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB.
With the Chicago White Sox lineup in a state of disarray, they have received contributions from a number of random players and Danny Mendick was that guy on Sunday. The 30-year-old stepped up with a HR and a stolen base, but I wouldn’t count on many more big performances from Mendick this year.
Jonah Heim (TEX): 4-5, HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Jonah Heim was huge for the Rangers in their 2023 World Series season with 18 HRs and 95 RBIs in 457 at-bats. He has taken a step back this season, but the Rangers are hoping his 4-hit effort yesterday can spur him going forward.
Bobby Witt Jr. (KC): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Bobby Witt Jr. has compiled an MVP-caliber 1st half of 2024 and he his only getting stronger as we approach the All Star break. In the last week, Witt has hit an absurd .536/.533/1.036 with 3 HRs.
Maikel Garcia (KC): 2-3, HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB.
Big things were expected from Maikel Garcia coming into 2024, but it has been a tough go as he has dropped from the leadoff spot to 8th in the Kansas City lineup. He has been excellent on the basepaths (21 steals in 22 attempts) but the Royals are hoping more days like Sunday are ahead for Garcia.
Eugenio Suarez (ARI): 3-4, HR, 1 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI.
A veteran power hitter with over 250 career HRs, Eugenio Suarez is looking like a player succumbing to the ravages of time. His HR on Sunday was just his 7th of the season and it looks like his 30-HR seasons are behind him.
Christian Yelich (MIL): 3-4, HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB.
Although he may never reach his 44 HR total of 2019, Christian Yelich is back to hitting like his MVP days with a .329/.407/.533 line so far this season. People forget how good he was in his early Milwaukee days and Yelich is a big reason for the Brewers’ NL Central-leading 53 wins this season.