Bart and Homer

Joey Bart (PIT): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

It seems fitting that Joey Bart shares a name with San Francisco’s public transportation system, given how much they have in common. For one thing, they’ve both consistently disappointed folks in the Bay Area. But also, just like a BART train leaving Powell Street Station, Joey Bart’s career has started to accelerate as he’s made his way out of San Francisco.

Now, that’s not to say that Bart’s performance over the last month is necessarily here to stay. After all, maintaining the .301/.357/.583 triple-slash and 48-homer pace he’s flashed over his last 30 games is a tall task. But with his 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI performance yesterday, the former #2 overall pick is really starting to make the case that he’s turned a corner in his career. And while he’ll likely never win a batting title, much of the recent power outburst is backed up by elite bat speed (74.9 MPH) and Hard Hit (45.4%) metrics.

In all likelihood, the train has already left the station when it comes to Bart. But if by some chance he is still available in your league—especially in a keeper format—you may want to hop on and enjoy the ride over these final six weeks.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday

Ryan Jeffers (MIN): 2-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.

Jeffers has really scuffled badly after opening up the season with a blistering .295 average and five homers in his first 100 plate appearances. He’s hit just .180 so far in the second half, and while the overall line probably won’t look too bad at season’s end thanks to a few hot streaks along the way, there isn’t any point chasing his recent uptick in production and hoping that the Jeffers we saw past April will come back anytime soon.

Brandon Lowe (TBR): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

Lowe’s 2024 season has really gone under the radar—likely due in large part to the fact that he missed a significant chunk of the first half with yet another back/oblique injury. However, when Lowe has been on the field, he’s been his customary, power-hitting self. Lowe currently ranks in the 93rd-percentile or better in xwOBA, xSLG, barrel rate, and Sweet Spot rate. And he’s coming off a 30-game run where he’s hit .293 with 8 homers. He did hit a bit of a lull these last two series, here’s hoping this performance is a sign that the good times will keep on rolling.

Corbin Carroll (ARI): 2-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.

I’ve been playing fantasy baseball for almost 20 years, and yet I’ve never been able to internalize a true understanding of just how long the baseball season is—and how quickly things can change. It’s so important to remember though, because no matter how bleak things look for 75% of a player’s season, the sheer number of games that take place over the course of the year means that there’s almost always a chance for things to completely turn around. Carroll is perhaps the poster boy for this phenomenon this year, as he’s now popped 10 homers in his last 30 games after swatting just three over the first 3.5 months of the season. What’s interesting about this run is that his rolling charts don’t show any notable improvements in his strikeout rate, Hard Hit rate, or Sweet Spot rate over his last 200 plate appearances. So either his long run of bad luck has finally run out, or he’s experiencing an extremely fortunate string of at-bats lately. Regardless, it’s comforting for owners who’ve held on this long waiting for a turnaround.

James Wood (WSN): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB.

James Wood may be the first and only hitting prospect to debut this season and actually perform well. Obviously that’s not actually the case, but it certainly feels like it (I’m looking at you Manzardo!). Wood has been blistering hot over his last 15 games, hitting .358 with three homers and three stolen bases while cutting down fairly significantly on his strikeout rate. Considering his otherworldly 56.6% Hard Hit rate (!!!) and upper-echelon sprint speed, the prospect of Wood dropping his strikeout rate closer to 25% going forward is legit scary. Enjoy.

José Caballero (TBR): 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, 3 SB.

Caballero has now managed to swipe 35 bags while playing intermittently for the Rays, which would put him on pace for close to 60 steals over the course of a full season. Pair that with double-digit pop, and he’s actually a fairly intriguing fantasy player. The playing time problems are, of course, a real issue though, given that Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero are currently boxing him out of getting many at-bats rest-of-season. Still, he’s a useful player to plug into the lineup in deeper, daily leagues when he does play.

Dairon Blanco (KCR): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB.

Speaking of guys with intriguing skillsets who have struggled to garner at-bats, Dairon Blanco homered for the third time in two games—and added his 22nd stolen base of the season on top for good measure. Blanco is easily one of the fastest players in the game at the moment, but while it’s tempting to imagine him usurping an outfield role from an MJ Melendez or a Kyle Isbel, the fact is Blanco has as many (if not more) holes in his offensive profile than those players, so it’s likely not worth holding your breath for him to become a full-time player.

Joey Loperfido (TOR): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

Loperfido’s rookie season has continued its inauspicious run since he arrived in Toronto, as he’s hit just .190 with the Jays to this point. The power he flashed in the minors simply has not materialized yet in the majors, as he’s running an extremely poor barrel rate (3.4%) and Hard Hit rate (33.7) on the year, and seems like he could use a bit more development.

CJ Abrams (WSN): 2-4, BB, 3 SB.

This performance gives Abrams five stolen bases over the past week, and he seems determined to eclipse the 40 stolen base plateau for the second straight year. The problem? You can’t steal first base, and Abrams has been in an awful slump this month, hitting just .178 since the All Star Break.

Gavin Lux (LAD): 3-5, 2 2B.

Is Lux finally starting to shake the rust off after missing all of last year with a leg injury? While the fact that he’s hit .353 with five homers in the second half gives reason for optimism, he is rocking a massive .455 BABIP during that span while striking out 25% more often than he was in the first half. Hope for the best, but don’t be shocked if the bottom falls out here.

Parker Meadows (DET): 2-4, 2B, SB.

Meadows was rocking a strikeout rate close to 40% in the first half of the season, but since returning from his demotion and subsequent injury, he’s cut that strikeout rate nearly in half while upping his Hard Hit rate. He’s now swiped four bases this past week, and his hitting .351 over his last 15 games. Whatever he worked on in the minors seems to have done the trick.

Tyler Fitzgerald (SFG): 2-4.

In the second half of the season, Fitzgerald has put up the seventh-best wOBA (.474) among all qualified players while slugging the third-most homers (12) and throwing in seven stolen bases for good measure. That last part seems like a footnote, but it’s important to draw attention to the fact that Fitzgerald’s power barrage has overshadowed his elite, top-tier 99th-percentile sprint speed. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that his hard contact metrics are pretty lackluster compared to his home run totals, but like, who cares about all that nerd stuff because this guy has been a monster.