A Man Called Otto
Otto Lopez (MIA): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Miami’s Otto Lopez doesn’t profile as the typical cleanup hitter, which is where he hit on Sunday against the Phillies.
In 517 plate appearances with the Marlins this season, Lopez is slashing .248/.315/.376 with a .691 OPS. The Miami second baseman has 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases, the former being a career-high (he stole 20 bases last year in his first season in Miami).
And yet, despite that atypical profile, there was no more critical hitter on Sunday for the Marlins than Lopez.
Against the Phillies, who sit in first place in the NL East, the 26-year-old went three-for-four with two home runs and four RBI. His second home run of the day came in the seventh inning off José Alvarado, who has a 3.60 ERA and seven saves this season. Lopez’s home run broke a 4-4 tie, and the Marlins ended up beating Philadelphia in the Sunday series finale 5-4.
Lopez has been an interesting player in fantasy, as he offers some value with his home runs and stolen bases. That said, his low average somewhat hurts his overall value, especially in traditional 5×5 scoring formats. Even though this his been a “breakout” season for Lopez, he’s only rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues, according to Fantasy Pros.
The main question with Lopez for 2026 is whether what we’re seeing is sustainable. His 30th percentile barrel rate and 26th percentile hard-hit rate say “no.” However, his 88th percentile squared-up rate shows that he has the potential to get more consistent quality contact (and hence, more fantasy production) in the future if the plate discipline and swing decisions improve.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Sunday:
Shohei Ohtani (LAD): 2-2, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB.
Ohtani made sure it wasn’t two disappointing games in a row for the Dodgers. The LA slugger hit his 47th and 48th home runs of the year and also drew three walks on the day in the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over Baltimore. The average is a bit down at .279 (it was .310 last year), but his OPS is 1.001 after Sunday’s performance. With a few weeks left in the regular season, a strong finish could help him cruise to another MVP award.
Eugenio Suárez (SEA): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
It was a rough initial month for Suarez in Seattle. In August, he only hit .186 with a .661 OPS. September in Seattle has been much kinder. In 27 plate appearances, he is hitting .280 with a 1.053 OPS. Furthermore, he has three home runs, which is three away from his six home runs in 108 plate appearances in August. With two home runs on Sunday, Suarez looks like he’s due for a big finish for the Mariners.
Carson Kelly (CHC): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
The Cubs came up short against the Nationals on Sunday, losing 6-3. However, Kelly had a solid game, hitting two home runs and collecting two RBI. The Chicago catcher has had a breakout season with 16 home runs, 49 RBI, and an .800 OPS in 366 plate appearances. The 31-year-old is proving that he may deserve a long-term home in the North Side after 2025.
Lenyn Sosa (CHW): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Speaking of Chicago, the South Side made noise, winning another game from the Tigers on Sunday. In a 6-4 win, Sosa went yard, his 20th of the season. The 25-year-old infielder is showing that he is a building block for the White Sox’s future, as he is hitting .260 with a .730 OPS and 65 RBI in 485 plate appearances this year.
Manny Machado (SDP): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
The Padres cruised to an 8-1 win over the Rockies, and Machado led the way with two hits, three RBI, and his 23rd home run of the season. It’s been a nice year for Machado, who is hitting .280 with a .807 OPS and 84 RBI in 612 plate appearances this season. The Padres are committed to Machado in the long term, so it’s nice to see the 33-year-old being productive.
Tyler Soderstrom (ATH): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.
Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz have commanded most of the attention this year on this Athletics team. However, Soderstrom has quietly been one of the Athletics‘ best hitters. After a two-hit performance on Sunday, he is hitting .276 with an .824 OPS in 575 plate appearances this season. He also has 24 home runs, 86 RBI, and eight stolen bases, not bad for a former catcher. The former top A’s prospect is proving that he could be a franchise player for this organization.
Ben Rice (NYY): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Rice only had one hit, but it was a big three-run bomb in the first inning of Max Scherzer that set the tone in the Yankees’ 4-3 win on Sunday. Rice has rotated between first base and catcher to mixed results defensively. However, his bat has kept him in the Yankees lineup. He is hitting .243 with an .809 OPS and has 23 home runs and 54 RBI in 466 plate appearances.
Jake Burger (TEX): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI.
After a paltry first half (.228 average; .660 OPS), Burger has been on fire after the All-Star Break (though it’s been a limited sample). In 41 plate appearances, he is hitting .359 with a 1.057 OPS and has three home runs. On Sunday, he went 2-for-3 and launched his 14th home run of the year. For the Rangers to sneak into the postseason, they will need a hot-hitting Burger.
Byron Buxton (MIN): 1-2, HR, R, RBI.
The Twins avoided the sweep, and Buxton set the tone with a leadoff home run off Kansas City’s Michael Lorenzen. Buxton ended up leaving the game early after getting hit in the knee by a Lorenzen pitch in the fifth. Hopefully, it’s not a long-term injury, as Buxton has been sensational this year with 30 home runs, 21 stolen bases, a .271 average, and .894 OPS in 467 plate appearances (his highest since 2017).
