Peanut Butter and Elly
Elly De La Cruz (CIN): 4-5, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.
Some things go together perfectly: Bacon and eggs, movies and popcorn, peanut butter and jelly, and Elly De La Cruz and hitting home runs. It was yet another productive night at the plate for the self-labeled "most exciting player in baseball" as De La Cruz notched four extra-base hits to produce a line of 4-5, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI. De La Cruz has reached 20 home runs on the season with just over 50 games to play.
What else is there to say about De La Cruz that hasn't been said already? With elite counting stats, massive speed upside, and solid ratios, De La Cruz was a steal in drafts this year and is essentially a lock to be a first-round pick next season. Of course, the one knock against this fantasy superstar is the strikeout rate - a 30.3% number in that category does slightly diminish his value in points leagues. It can lead to some frustrating stretches between these incredible moments, but it is worth noting he's cut his strikeout rate and raised his walk rate from his rookie season. If De La Cruz can continue that trend while consistently delivering performances like this, we may be looking at one of the best fantasy players in 2025.
Let's see how the other hitters did Monday:
Ty France (CIN): 3-5, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
After recording just one hit in his first 12 at-bats in Cincinnati, Ty France had his best game with his new club on Monday night while also hitting his first home run for the Reds. France has struggled in 2024 with a career-worst .664 OPS, but the veteran still has time to turn things around, especially in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Don't go rushing to add him just yet, but pay attention to those weeks when the Reds will be playing at home often.
Matt Chapman (SFG): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
The veteran third baseman is quietly putting together a solid season in San Francisco, with Monday night's performance being the third straight game with a home run, bringing his season total to 18. With solid ratios, counting stats, and a career-best 12 steals on the year, Chapman has been a stable option at a position that can be frustrating to manage. At 31 years old, Chapman still has some gas left in the tank and could be a valuable option in the middle to late rounds next season.
Gabriel Moreno (ARI): 2-2, HR, R, RBI.
Gabriel Moreno got off to a hot start on Monday night by recording two hits in his first two at-bats, including his fifth home run of the season. Unfortunately, he'd later leave the game with a left groin strain and is expected to land on the injured list for a couple of weeks while he recovers. Ughhhh. There aren't any other valuable Diamondbacks catchers worth rostering right now, so stash Moreno for the time being if you have the IL space available.
Manuel Margot (MIN): 2-3, HR, R, RBI.
Manuel Margot had a solid performance on Monday night, hitting his fourth home run while aiding the Twins to a 3-0 victory over the Cubs. Still, with lackluster ratios and a lack of reliable power or speed on the short side of a platoon, Margot is best left on waivers for right now, as he tends to start primarily against left-handed pitching.
Michael Massey (KCR): 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R.
Michael Massey ripped a pair of extra-base hits on Monday to turn in his first multi-hit performance since July 19th. Massey had a solid month of May before missing a month due to injury and hasn't quite been the same player since returning from the IL. A .522 OPS in July means that you should wait to see some more consistent production from the second baseman before you consider adding him to your lineups.
Jesús Sánchez (MIA): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Jesus Sanchez is on today's recap for one very, very big reason: a 480-foot home run that is the longest shot of the entire 2024 season. Sánchez has a penchant for hitting massive homers, as he also hit 2022's longest with a 496-foot blast at Coors Field. However, with only 13 home runs on the season and playing in the Marlins offense, there are likely better outfield options for you to consider at this point in the season.
Lawrence Butler (OAK): 1-2, HR, R, RBI.
Though he began the game on the bench, Lawrence Butler still managed to come through for your fantasy teams by delivering his 13th home run of 2024. Butler has displayed his talent and raw power over the past month and is still available in plenty of ESPN leagues, so grab him if you have an outfield spot to spare during this playoff push. There will be ups and downs in Butler's production - he was 1 for his last 15 entering today's game - but he's displayed plenty of upside to deserve a place on your roster.
Josh Bell (ARI): 2-5, 3B, R.
Josh Bell is swinging an incredibly hot bat lately, even before landing with the Diamondbacks in a trade from Miami. This was Bell's second multi-hit performance in just two games with his new club, the first of which was a multi-homer performance over the weekend. Before moving to Arizona, Bell had a four-game home run streak, so his offensive surge isn't just a result of a change of scenery. Playing in a better offense means Bell's fantasy value has increased in the short term, though it's yet to be seen how prominent of a role he will have when Christian Walker returns from injury in a few weeks.
Josh Smith (TEX): 1-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Though he has the MLB's most ordinary name, Josh Smith's season has been anything but. The superutilityman has enjoyed a breakout campaign and played the hero in Monday night's game, hitting a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth to win the game for the Rangers. Smith's elite positional versatility means he should have a spot on almost any roster, especially with his new role as the Rangers' leadoff hitter.
