Pulled Tork

Spencer Torkelson (DET): 3-5, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Is Spencer Torkelson finally turning it around?

Since being drafted first overall, there has been a lot of hype surrounding Tork. He showcased the abilities of one of the best hitting prospects ever in college, so many were eager to see how it would translate at the Major League level, even if he was going to a ballpark that isn’t the most friendly to hitters.

The early results were mixed. His rookie year was one he would probably choose to forget about, as his numbers were definitely below average. His sophomore season saw things improve though, as he had a 31-home run campaign, which made up for the fact his on-base percentage was pretty pedestrian. This year, Tork looked to really put it together but ended up having an even worse start than his rookie year. He looked lost. So lost, in fact, that they sent him down to Triple-A Toledo in early June.

Tork is back now though, and with a vengeance. Against the White Sox last night, he went three for five with a run and three runs batted in. He had two extra-base hits, one being the three-run shot that put the game out of reach and the other being a well-hit double.

Even if it is against the White Sox, it’s certainly exciting to see a player who has struggled throughout the year have a great game like this. The thing is though, is that most of his games since coming back have been pretty great. He has a solid 150 wRC+ since his callup, a number much more in line with what was initially expected of him. It’s exciting to see how Tork will finish out 2024, as he has a lot of potential, and games like these showcase that perfectly. We’re all rooting for him to become that elite player many expected him to be.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday

Matt Olson (ATL): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

If Matt Olson could have this year back, he almost certainly would take it. It’s been a bit of a struggle for him this year, especially considering his electric, record-breaking season last year. In 2024, Olson has been an average hitter all-around, which is disappointing for a player who looked to be possibly the National League’s best power bat. Last night though, he was back to his old ways, tallying a no-doubter home run in the first inning which was accompanied by two smoked doubles. It was a tough night for the recently dominant Bailey Ober, and Olson with two hits was able to plate five of the earned runs against him. This is a player you don’t want to let get hot, as he has the potential to be an absolute game-changer in a lineup, both in fantasy and real life.

Manny Machado (SDP): 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB.

The narrative in San Diego has centered around the emergence of super rookie Jackson Merrill and the career year of former top prospect Jurickson Profar. If the Padres want to go on a deep run though, they are going to need their leader, Manny Machado to be that guy for them. Last night showed exactly what he is capable of. His early home run in the game was huge for momentum, as he allowed his team to get on the board early. His double in the fifth allowed the Padres to continue to apply pressure onto the Cardinals, as it plated a run, further moving the game out of reach for St. Louis. This game pretty much encapsulates Machado as a whole. His season hasn’t been eye-popping compared to some of his other years, but he’s Manny Machado. He is always capable of casually doing something like this.

Isaac Paredes (CHC): 2-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.

An entire recap article could be done about the performances of the players in the Cubs/Pirates game, so narrowing it down was really tough. However, Isaac Paredes deserves a special shoutout when you consider just how much he has struggled in the blue and red. Paredes has built an entire profile around pulling fly balls in the air, which allowed him to succeed and become one of the game’s best third basemen at Tropicana Field. Now he plays at Wrigley, which doesn’t have the most friendly left-field dimensions. However, this game against the Pirates was not at Wrigley, and either way, Paredes’ eighth-inning solo shot would have been a no-doubter at any ballpark. Paredes also notched a walk and a late-game RBI single, reaching home every time he got on base. This was a game where the entire Cubs lineup feasted, yet maybe this is the type of game that will allow Paredes to turn it around. He may not be the artificial slugger he was playing at a more pull-friendly ballpark, but he’s always had decent on-base skills so it does seem possible that he turns things around in Chicago.

Randy Arozarena (SEA): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI.

From one former Ray to another, Randy Arozarena continued compiling storybook moments to add to his career collection last night. Arozarena has been pretty average since joining Seattle, which is somewhat expected considering the extreme hitting woes they have faced all year, but especially deep into the summer. Still, he’s a dangerous bat in the lineup, and last night showed that. How fitting was it that a modern Rays legend’s first home run in his new jersey would be against the Rays? This particular home run was set up by a bit of a comedy of errors, as a two-out error by Caballero and a soft bunt brought the runners on the bases. It’s going to be interesting to see how Arozarena is going to perform down the stretch. He has the tools needed to be an impact bat and he’s known as one of the best performers under pressure. If the Mariners pull it together and go on a run to take the division back, it very well could be Randy leading the charge.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): 3-5, 2 R, RBI, BB, 3 SB.

It’s that time of year when exciting young players come into their own. Pete Crow-Armstrong looks to be the next player to have a bit of an end-of-season breakout. After a slow start, PCA began to mash in August, as he is putting up a 151 wRC+ across the month. PCA’s best tool offensively is his elite speed, which he has been able to take full advantage of lately. His 99th-percentile sprint speed is what allows him to have three stolen base games like this one, especially when he gets on base four times. This is a hitter who hasn’t had great results thus far and the underlying numbers haven’t been particularly great, but the toolset of PCA makes him an intriguing option for fantasy rosters from here on out, especially for managers who want to ride the hot hand.

Whit Merrifield (ATL): 5-5, 2B, 2 R.

Have the Braves magically revitalized another journeyman’s career? This was the classic old-school leadoff hitter stat line, as every time Whit Merrifield came to the plate, he got on base via the bat. His second hit was a double, which gave him six total bases on the night. We know who Merrifield is by now, a speedy, twitchy slap-hitter who walks lots and rarely strikes out. The ceiling isn’t super high for that type of player, but it feels like in his new home in Atlanta he’s going to produce fine enough that the stolen bases could be an enticing reason to keep him in a fantasy lineup for a team that perhaps is ravaged by injuries, just like the real-life Braves.

Josh Lowe (TBR): 2-3, HR, R, RBI.

The Rays had a pretty awful showing in the tough Seattle environment, as they only notched two hits in their bout with the Mariners. Those two hits both belonged to Josh Lowe, who homered early to give the Rays a lead they would lose shortly after. It’s been a very disappointing year for Lowe, as he really hasn’t been that impact bat he looked like he was going to be. This is largely due to an injury cutting away his spring training time and the Rays’ reliance on platoon matchups, but it still is frustrating for Lowe managers to see him put up below-average numbers while sitting on the bench a bit more than a player of his caliber would be expected to. Still, putting up a bomb in such a tough environment to do so is always impressive, and we will see if Lowe can build off this and finish off his season strong just like he did last year.

Bryce Harper (PHI): 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB.

BOOM! Another Bryce Harper career highlight was added last night, as he walked off the Astros in the tenth inning with an RBI single that plated Kyle Schwarber. This was your standard, classic Harper affair, as he had his two hits, one being an extra-base hit, as well as two walks to showcase his patience at the plate. His first at-bat saw him grounding into a double play, and it feels like from there on out he was determined to get his revenge by getting on base for the rest of the game by any means necessary. Harper is just a bastion of consistency at this point, and he probably is the guy you pick to have up in a clutch situation.

Gleyber Torres (NYY): 2-5, HR, R, RBI.

Gleyber Torres is scorching hot right now. He is on a whopping 21-game on-base streak, salvaging a season that looked lost early on. Even though it was a solo shot in a 5-2 game, it really felt like Torres’ leadoff homer set the tone for the rest of the match.  Torres has become a key piece in the Yankees lineup again, as having an on-base machine hitting in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge is certainly something that gets Yankees fans salivating. Let’s see how Torres finishes the season off leading into the postseason. If he continues this run, he could be the X factor for both the Yankees and fantasy managers who start him in their fantasy matchups.

Salvador Perez (KCR): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, BB.

Both Salvador Perez’s performances in the doubleheader could’ve been chosen here, but you can’t argue against the two home run performance. Perez is having a massive season for the Royals, as he has rebounded offensively and has become a huge piece of the turnaround for the Royals. Games like this just exemplify this, as six runs batter in is just a crazy stat line all around. The one walk he had was largely inconsequential, but it also shows that Perez has actually been much more patient at the plate this year, as he has a nearly 7% walk rate. This is impressive for a player who was maligned for a large part of his career for really struggling to show any form of discipline at points. This year, Perez is on pace to have the highest on-base percentage of any full season of his career, and fantasy managers of Perez certainly must be very happy with these results.