Semien Truckin’
Marcus Semien (TEX): 4-5, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Marcus Semien (TEX): 4-5, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
The Rangers have fallen to third place in the AL West after leading the division for much of the summer. The squad has needed a player to lean on as their success has wavered. One of the pillars of consistency for this lineup throughout the season has been Semien. Despite a 3-6 team record in September, Semien has batted 14-for-38 with three home runs and 10 runs scored. He’s doing all he can to will his team into a playoff spot, as the Rangers sit just a half game back of the second wild card spot.
On Sunday, Semien knocked four hits including three for extra bases. Semien led off the game for the Rangers with a solo home run, setting the tone with a 396-foot blast off a first-pitch sinker. He added a double in the second inning before homering again in the sixth, this time crushing a hanging slider to left-center. Semien added a single in the eighth inning for good measure as the Rangers earned a 9-4 win over the Athletics.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday
Mitch Haniger (SF): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
The Giants got blown out on national television and… wait, wrong Giants. The San Francisco Giants handed the Colorado Rockies a loss in primetime, earning a victory over their division rivals on Sunday Night Baseball. Haniger doubled in the second inning and came around to score two batters later. In the third inning, Haniger turned on a 1-0 fastball, taking it deep to the left-center field stands for a two-run home run. He drew a walk and was pulled for a pinch runner late in the game. Batting just 3-for-23 since returning from the injured list entering Sunday night, perhaps Haniger can use his good swings as a launchpad for the rest of the season.
Will Benson (CIN): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
Benson led the way for the Reds in a 7-1 victory over the Cardinals, finishing with three hits including a double and a home run. In the third inning, Benson smashed a hanging curveball to the center-field bleachers for a solo shot. Benson added a double in the fifth and a single in the eighth as the Reds moved to a game and a half back of the second NL wild-card spot.
Bryan De La Cruz (MIA): 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
De La Cruz finished with just one hit, but it was the most important of the day for the Marlins as they edged the division rival Phillies, 5-4. With one out and one on in the top of the eighth and the game tied, 3-3, De La Cruz hammered a 2-2 sinker 421 feet to dead center, giving the Marlins the go-ahead runs they needed to take down the Phillies and draw to just a half-game back of the Diamondbacks in the wild card race.
Thairo Estrada (SF): 2-5, 3B, HR, R, RBI.
Estrada helped the Giants past the Rockies with a pair of extra-base hits, including his second home run in as many games. Estrada laced a triple to center in the first inning but was left stranded on third. Later, he smashed a 2-0 fastball to dead center, 412 feet away to tie the game, 3-3 in the third inning. With 12 home runs this season, Estrada has hit 17 home runs in his past 162 games played over the past two seasons.
Jonathan India (CIN): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.
In his first game back since the end of July, India provided a spark for the Reds with a combo meal to lead them past division rival St. Louis, 7-1. India led off the third inning with a solo shot, driving a knee-high sinker to center field to put the Reds up 1-0. In the sixth, he reached first on an error and swiped second base, his 13th bag of the season. Despite missing nearly 40 games this season, India has an outside chance at a 20-20 season if he goes on a tear to end the year.
Tyler Soderstrom (OAK): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Soderstrom lifted his third home run of the season, crushing a hanging curveball on the first pitch of the third inning. It marked his first home run off a left-handed pitcher and could indicate a breakthrough for the rookie catcher as he enters the final few weeks of the regular season. Soderstrom is batting below the Mendoza Line but is still fantasy-relevant due to the lack of depth at the catcher position.
Jacob Young (WSH): 2-4, RBI, BB, 2 SB.
Batting leadoff for the Nationals against a left-handed starter, Young slapped a pair of singles and swiped a couple of bags as Washington fell to the visiting Dodgers. In the fifth inning, Young beat out an infield single and flashed even more speed on the basepaths, stealing second and third base during the next two at-bats. In just 14 major league games, Young has stolen four bases while batting .311. He makes an interesting speculative add on waivers over the final few weeks.
Eguy Rosario (SD): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Though his team didn’t play well, Eguy Rosario was still pleased with his MLB debut as he yanked a solo home run to left field for his first career hit. Barely scratching the Padres’ top-20 prospects, Rosario was in the lineup to give Manny Machado a breather. He likely won’t stick around in the majors for too long, or if he does he won’t get enough at-bats to be fantasy-relevant.