Tony Two Jacks
Anthony Santander (BAL): 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.
It’s been a career year so far for Anthony Santander, as he’s powered his way to 16 home runs, and a career-high .272 batting average through the first half. He’s clubbed 50 RBI and has led the Orioles to an incredible start, sitting just two games back of the Rays for the AL East lead at 54-35 through 89 games this season. Fantasy managers have been thrilled with the production from Santander and were even happier on Sunday afternoon when he blasted a pair of home runs to lead the Orioles to a season-high 15 runs.
Anthony Santander (BAL): 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.
Santander smashed home runs in consecutive at-bats, firing a solo shot in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Santander smashed a cutter into the right-center field bleachers in the sixth and then clobbered a poor attempt at a back-foot slider in the seventh to complete his two home run day. Santander has never played at this level for a sustained period before, and his .226 xAVG is concerning. Those with Santander on their roster may want to consider selling high on the Orioles’ outfielder.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday
Bryan De La Cruz (MIA): 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Bryan De La Cruz is quietly having a monster season down in South Beach, with 10 home runs and 49 RBI at the All-Star Break. On Sunday, De La Cruz posted a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the plate, including a double and a home run. De La Cruz smashed a 2-1 sinker down and in and took it 404 feet to center to put the Marlins ahead, 4-0. He scored twice and drove in two as the Fish defeated the Phils, 7-3. Though he has been outstanding so far, De La Cruz’s .342 BABIP seems unsustainable, but time will tell.
Brent Rooker (OAK): 3-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.
One of the lone bright spots for the Athletics in the first half, Rooker has batted .246 through the first half and lifted his 16th home run of the season on Sunday. Rooker drove a 95-mph sinker 443 feet over the Green Monster, but it wasn’t enough as the A’s fell short of the Red Sox, 4-3. Rooker added two more hits and his second stolen base of the season in the loss.
Edouard Julien (MIN): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Julien was one of the lone bright spots in the Twins’ series over the weekend as they were swept by Baltimore, including Sunday’s game where he knocked a pair of extra-base hits. Julien opened the game with an RBI double in the first inning to put Minnesota ahead, 1-0. He added a solo home run in the sixth, lifting a changeup out to center for his seventh of the season. Julien has proved that he can hang against major league pitching, with a .271 batting average and an .853 OPS, he should figure to be a top-10 second baseman in the second half as long as he stays in the lineup.
Ramón Urías (BAL): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Urias hammered his fourth home run of the season, one of two hits, as he finished with three RBI as the Orioles routed the Twins. Urias crushed a first-pitch fastball to dead center field, taking Joe Ryan deep for a two-run shot. He added an RBI single as well to cap his day. With second-base and third-base eligibility on most sites, Urias makes an interesting utility play for the second half, but with the Orioles continuing to pull up their stud prospects he does have playing time concerns.
Ji-Man Choi (PIT): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Welcome back, Ji-Man Choi! In just his third game since returning from injury, Choi socked a double and a home run as the Pirates closed out their first half with a 4-2 victory over the host Diamondbacks. Choi took an 88-mph fastball deep to center field to put the Pirates ahead, 2-1, in the second inning. He added a double in the ninth inning before being lifted for a pinch-runner. Choi struggled prior to his injury, but perhaps the time away will help the first baseman turn things around.
Kyle Isbel (KC): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Isbel hit his first home run since May 4, finishing with two hits to lead the Royals past the Guardians to cap the first half with a victory. Isbel led off the fifth inning with a 397-foot blast, taking a middle-middle fastball over the center field fence to tie the game, 1-1. He added a single and a run scored in the sixth as the Royals tagged Shane Bieber with the loss. Batting just .210 on the season in spite of a 32.0% hard contact rate, Isbel has much to prove before he becomes fantasy-relevant outside of the deepest leagues.
Kyle Higashioka (NYY): 3-4, HR, R, RBI.
Higashioka finished with three hits on the day, including a solo home run, but it wasn’t enough for the Yankees as they fell to the Cubs, 7-4. Higashioka took Kyle Hendricks deep in the sixth, taking an 0-2 changeup the opposite way for a home run over the Yankee Stadium short porch. He added a pair of singles, improving his season average to .239, including a .364 batting average in July.
Dane Myers (MIA): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Another Marlins outfield prospect making noise for the Fish as they continue their surprisingly successful first half. Myers turned in a pair of hits, including his first career home run. Myers took a knuckle-curve from Aaron Nola deep over the right field fence to extend the Marlins’ lead to 3-0 in the third inning. The everyday centerfielder in Miami — at least while Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jonathan Davis are out — Myers could provide some sneaky speed and pop in deep leagues.
Alek Thomas (ARI): 2-3, HR, R, RBI.
Thomas finished with a pair of hits as the Diamondbacks fell to the Pirates in their first-half finale. Thomas turned on a hanging slider in the third inning to tie the game, 2-2, sending it 378 feet to the right field bleachers. With the uncertain status of Corbin Carroll, Thomas will be called upon to fill the NL MVP candidate’s shoes during his absence. Fantasy managers may be able to take advantage.