Muck and the Meyers
Jake Meyers (HOU): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.
In three seasons with the Houston Astros, Jake Meyers has ascended the ranks to a nearly everyday outfielder, taking over in center field for the Astros. With career numbers in nearly every offensive category, Meyers has stepped up in some big spots for Houston, including on Sunday at New York.
Jake Meyers (HOU): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.
A career afternoon for Jake Meyers led the Houston Astros to a 9-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday in the Big Apple. In the second inning, Meyers lifted a three-run blast to left-center taking a Carlos Rodón fastball deep to give the Astros the lead. Meyers broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning, blasting a first-pitch changeup over the center field fence for a second three-run shot and giving the Astros the lead for good. If Meyers were to ever receive consistent everyday playing time, he would be a fantasy asset. But until he does, he’s mostly just a streaming option for fantasy managers.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday
Nick Allen (OAK): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Allen finished the day with three hits including a pair of home runs to lead the Oakland Athletics to a victory over their local rival, San Francisco on Sunday. Allen golfed a sinker out of the park for a two-run home run in the second inning and then hammered a solo shot in the fifth, driving a hanging curve into the left-field seats. Allen tripled his home run total for the season and raised his batting average to a whopping .195. He’s not fantasy viable except in the deepest leagues.
CJ Abrams (WSH): 4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB.
Abrams led off the game with a solo home run, taking a first-pitch belt-high fastball deep to right field. Abrams added a double and two singles with a stolen base before his day was through, leading the Nationals to a 6-3 victory and series sweep over the Reds on Sunday. Since the All-Star Break, Abrams has hit four home runs with 12 stolen bases in 22 games. With nine RBI and 21 runs scored, Abrams is in the middle of a bonafide breakout in the second half.
Davis Schneider (TOR): 4-5, HR, R, 4 RBI.
Are you still trying to figure out who Davis Schneider is? Yeah, me too. I thought he was the Blue Jays’ manager’s son, but it turns out he’s just a slugging second baseman that the Blue Jays recently called up. Schneider raked four hits on Sunday afternoon, including a 425-foot two-run blast in the fourth inning as the Jays defeated the Red Sox, 13-1. Schneider is a name to watch at the shallow second base position, especially if he sticks around after Bo Bichette returns from the injured list.
Yandy Díaz (TB): 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
With three hits, including a double and a home run, Diaz led the Rays to a 10-6 victory over the host Tigers on Sunday afternoon. Diaz opened the game with a double and came around to score later in the first inning. In the second inning, Diaz lifted a slider deep to left-center for a two-run shot. He added a single in the sixth inning as the Rays pulled away. Batting north of .300 with 16 home runs, Diaz has become a must-roster third baseman in all leagues.
Kerry Carpenter (DET): 3-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Carpenter was one of the few bright spots (or stripes) for the Tigers on Sunday afternoon as they fell to the Rays, 10-6. Carpenter ripped three hits, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning. In 20 games since the All-Star Break, Carpenter has driven in 14 runs, tied for the team lead over that span. He is a serviceable outfielder in most 12-team leagues and will bat in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup pretty much every day.
Freddie Freeman (LAD): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB.
Freeman served up a combo meal on Sunday Night Baseball, blasting a three-run home run and adding a stolen base for good measure as the Dodgers took down the Padres, 8-2. Freeman hammered a hanging sweeper in the third inning on the 10th pitch of his at-bat to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead. He added a single and stole a base in the sixth inning as Los Angeles took down San Diego.
Endy Rodríguez (PIT): 3-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Rodriguez welcomed Brandon Woodruff back to action from the IL with a solo home run off the Brewers ace. Rodriguez yanked a four-seam fastball deep to right field to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead, as the visiting team went on to defeat Milwaukee, 4-1. Rodriguez is a solid second catcher in two-catcher leagues.
Matt Wallner (MIN): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Wallner continued his outstanding stretch of hitting with another home run on Sunday afternoon. This one came in the bottom of the ninth as he punished a Paul Sewald fastball to lead the Twins to a 5-3 walk-off victory over the Diamondbacks. Wallner has recorded 10 hits in his last 11 games — six of them have been home runs.