J.D. Martinez (LAD): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

JD POWER

The lights were flashing early in Dodger Stadium when J.D. Martinez hit a scorching opposite-field home run to kick off the 2nd inning:

J.D. homer? Go get 'em, Tiger. pic.twitter.com/DlZlu6xNSW

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2023

Former teammate Eduardo Rodriguez was already struggling into the 3rd inning after three straight batters reached base, with a run scoring on a Will Smith sac-fly. So, with two outs and two on, and Martinez seeing his second at-bat in as many innings, he did his favorite thing in the world, hit another dinger:

JUST DINGERS AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/yJW91kENsp

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2023

J.D. Martinez (LAD): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

Whew, a casual 4 RBI by the end of the 3rd inning. The Dodgers have been a wagon for another season, and Martinez has had a huge part in rounding out the top of the lineup. Martinez signed a 1-year $10M deal in search of another championship run and will be going into his age 36 season in 2024 in command of another good contract.

In a review of this season, Martinez aims to finish in the top 5 percentile in Hard-Hit%, Barrel%, Avg Exit Velo, and xSLG. In 2022, Martinez regressed in that latter category, xSLG, dipping below .500 for the first time since his rookie season and the shortened 2020 season, but has jumped right back up to .537 near the top of the league.

The production has been consistent since Martinez returned from the IL with groin tightness on 9/8. Since Martinez has 5 R, 3 HR, and 13 RBI after last night’s performance. A 30 HR and 100 RBI season is back on the table, but even if he doesn’t eclipse either number, Martinez will find himself once again in the middle of the order for a championship contender.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

 

Cedric Mullins (BAL): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI.

Mullins capped off an excellent playoff-caliber game with a huge 425 ft. bomb in the 9th to take a 1-run lead at the Astros. Since the beginning of September, Mullins has had a couple of games with significant production, including a 4 RBI game on 9/11. The last two Mondays have been big nights for Mullins, and the Orioles will have more opportunities to stave off the Rays for the AL East crown, with the remaining three series against teams out of the playoff race (CLE, WAS, BOS). The highest of honorable mentions to Ryan O’Hearn (5-5, 2 RBI) and Gunnar Henderson (3-5, 3 Runs).

Luis Campusano (SD): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

It was a great night for Campusano in the middle of the Padres lineup on Monday night. Leading the team in RBI during an 11-9 win against the Rockies tallies another productive game for the catcher. Campusano has three multi-hit games in his last five appearances, and in his last ten starts, he has earned at least a run or RBI in 9 of them. Desperate for a catcher in your fantasy playoffs?

José Caballero (SEA): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB.

Shoutout to Caballero, who stepped in off the bench to have a great night at the plate. A clean sweep across the counting stats, Caballero hit a big shot and got the guys in the dugout and the broadcasters hyped up:

That sound 🥵 pic.twitter.com/CMri45ngLu

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 19, 2023

While this may be just a flash of fun for Caballero, you never know who is going to get called upon for a big moment down the stretch.

Marcus Semien (TEX): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Semien was the lone bright spot on Monday against the Red Sox. After hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning, Semien drove in the only other run of the game for the Rangers with a single in the 6th. Semien has maintained his exceptional 2023, where he will finish near the top of MLB in hits, runs, and doubles. Semien has been an iron man in his career, and he will complete another 150+ game season, with 2017 as the only year since 2015 that he did not do so (in 2020, he played in 53 games).

Will Benson (CIN): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Benson, hitting out of the 9th slot, leads currently active Reds players in SLG. Only Matt McLain has an edge on Benson in that category, and Benson has had a good sample size sitting 6th in total games played for Reds’ position players. The hype around the Reds has seen Steer, De La Cruz, McLain, and others take most of the limelight, but Benson has been a consistent cog for the 2nd half of the year. The last few weeks have been hit or miss for Benson, but he will have more opportunities for big hits as the Reds battle for a Wild Card berth.

Luis Robert Jr. (CWS): 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Robert Jr. hit another big fly for damage in what has been a disappointing team season. The silver lining for the White Sox has been Robert Jr.’s health and overall production for the MLB’s 29th-ranked offense, according to team OPS. Robert Jr. will have a shot for a 40 HR season, along with 35 or more doubles and a top 10 SLG.

Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

There’s been plenty of attention set around Schwarber’s singles-to-home run ratio, but I would be remiss not to mention his 6th-inning titanic home run. Schwarber hit it 483 ft. to bury the Braves on Monday night 7-1, in style:

WAIT, WHAT KYLE???#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/j9mga9TbKz

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 19, 2023

Jeff McNeil (NYM): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.

The 2022 NL batting champ wasn’t able to follow it up this year. McNeil has regressed significantly, with a dip in nearly every category relative to his expected value as a top hitter for average. McNeil will play the most games of his career in 2023 and eclipse 150 hits for the 3rd time. Recently, McNeil has put together a solid September for fantast playoff owners. Since 9/1, McNeil has had 10 R, 4 HR, and 6 RBI.

Drew Waters (KC): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI.

Waters had a nice day with 2 XBH, including a go-ahead 2 RBI double in the 8th inning. It has been a year with a good amount of opportunities for Waters, with a chance to play in about 100 games and show an ability for some streaky hitting. Though, Waters’ value is on the defensive side of the ball, where his speed and athleticism shine. If Waters can find his way on base more often in the future, he could be a deep league OF addition for some stolen bases and a spark.