An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Jose

Jose Altuve (HOU): 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

We all remember Jose Altuve, right? The guy too embarrassed to take his shirt off because he didn’t want to upset his wife over showing a tattoo or something during a very famous ALCS game. That Jose Altuve. I’ve seen the tattoo, thanks to some Twitter help and wish it was something actually embarrassing. Something that would warrant a controversy. Can’t imagine being so embarrassed to have your jersey removed during a game so no one sees a tattoo of your daughters name, but I digress.

For fantasy purposes, Altuve is alive and well at the second base position, which is thin.

After dealing with a few different injuries that have impacted his 2023, he’s back to what seems like healthy, slashing .327/.421/.584 over his last 30 games with 7 home runs and 9 stolen bases. That’s the Altuve of old we know.

Altuve is on a possible Hall of Fame trajectory but the aforementioned tattoo may hurt his chances. What we do know is he is still an elite baseball player and he is once again healthy. With second base the way it is, anyone who has been holding onto him through the season is, I’m sure, feeling great. He is most likely going to put up huge numbers down the stretch.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday

 

J.T. Realmuto (PHI): 2-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB.

The next two Philly stars have had just OK seasons. Realmuto has seen a sizeable dip in OBP as compared to past years but has still maintained a nice power-speed combo. Thursday the Phillies took down the Nationals thanks to Realmuto, Castellanos, and someone I’m about to mention. Catcher is a tough position to fill and Realmuto is the prize at the position. I say he’s had just an OK season even though he is in the middle of a season other players would kill to have. The Phillies are figuring it out and the reigning NL Champs are on the right path.

Trea Turner (PHI): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

The other Philly, the biggest signing of the offseason, Trea Turner was that person I was going to mention earlier. Turner hasn’t been very good for the Phillies in his first year, which is honestly, in a word, shocking. Since Turner entered the MLB he has been one of the most consistent players. Everyone is allowed a mulligan in life, within reason, and Phillies fans showed their appreciation to Turner recently by way of a standing ovation during an at-bat. So far since then, Turner has looked reenergized.

Max Muncy (LAD): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

Muncy is in the middle of one of the funniest statistical seasons in recent memory. He now has 28 home runs on the season, a 2.1 WAR, and yet has a .194 batting average. A fan in 1995 would call him a bum. That is why I love baseball though, cause I still see that batting average and pull my collar. Muncy is the ultimate Dodgers product. Like Justin Turner in years of old, he underperformed before putting on the royal blue, and since becoming part of the team, is a major piece to their success.

Riley Greene (DET): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.

Well well well. Look who’s getting hot because, shocker, he’s healthy. Our young friend Riley Greene. I’ve been a big supporter of waiting on Greene and Spencer Torkelson, and both have shown signs of life recently. His last 30 games? .315/.382/.541 with 5 home runs and one bag. Let’s get those stolen bases up but, wow, that is encouraging. He’s 22. Please remember that. I was working at Office Max when I was 22. Where does the time go?

Andrew Knizner (STL): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

My OOTP backup catcher legend strikes again. I just double-checked, and in my OOTP 2023, save right now, his defensive catching ability is not high. I disagree. It seems like every Thursday this guy shows up. We know the St. Louis catcher position is a mess, or at least was. I don’t see Knizner taking over full time but who knows what Marmol wants to do.

Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT): 2-5, 3B, R, 3 RBI.

Who is Ke’Bryan Hayes as a player? I see Yandy Díaz. Lean into the low launch angle and not hitting home runs and just go for the high average, Hayes. Cause games like Thursday, a triple, 2 singles, and 3 RBIs—that is a valuable player. The Pirates felt close to contending at the beginning of the year but Connor Joe couldn’t stay hot forever. Hayes is a big piece of their plans, which they should be happy about. He’s a very good player, just may not show up on the hitter’s ranks much. A better real life than fantasy player it would seem. I almost traded Bobby Witt Jr. for Hayes straight up pre-2022. That would’ve hurt.

Yainer Diaz (HOU): 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.

The Astros have found a few gems this year while Altuve and Alvarez were hurt. Chas McCormick and Yainer Diaz are the 2 that really stand out. Diaz has power. If you need anything else from Diaz, besides a tremendous smile, I can do nothing for you, son. He has become a great source of power for the Astros and is providing more than stable innings as backup catcher.

Brayan Rocchio (CLE): 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI.

Who will win the Cleveland Guardians shortstop sweepstakes? Who! If I bet on things I would go with Rocchio. Rocchio hit 2 doubles Thursday, both 97+ off of the bat and helped the Guardians split a series against the Blue Jays. Rocchio is still a work in progress but it isn’t crazy to think he could run into 20 home runs and 20 steals if he was the Guardian’s everyday shortstop to start 2024. He hasn’t won the position just yet, but it’ll be interesting to see who does take over the position.