Luis Luis

Like the hit song Louie Louie in the mid-1960’s, Luis García Jr., Jr. is on an absolute fire right now. The 26-year-old carried the Nationals offense on Sunday, going 3-5, with a HR, 2B, 3 R and 5 RBI in the team’s series winning 6-4 victory over Baltimore. Garcia became the first Nationals player to hit double-digit home runs in a month since slugger Kyle Schwarber hit 16 in June 2012. Over the past seven days, Garcia has been especially locked in at the plate, with six HRs and a .435/.500/1.304 line.

Garcia has made some solid improvements at the plate in 2026 that, directly resulting in his 16 HRs this season, already just two short of his career-high 18 HRs in 2024. Since 2024, Garcia has raised his Average Exit Velcoity from 89.1 (51st percentile) to 92.3 (91st percentile) and Hart-Hit% from 41.7 (60th percentile) to 46.9 (82nd percentile). His 15.5 K% is outstanding and Garcia is an excellent power option that has 1B and 2B eligibility and is available in over 40% of leagues.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did on Sunday:

 

Ryan O’Hearn (PIT): 3-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI.

The Pirates were in desperate need of a win and they couldn’t have done it without the efforts of prized offseason signing Ryan O’Hearn. After the Pirates blew a 4-0 lead, O’Hearn hit a 421-foot solo shot to get Pittsburgh the lead back. After a brief rain delay interrupted the game, O’Hearn put it out of reach with a three-run HR off reliever Pierce Johnson. The 32-year-old lefty had been slumping in the month of June with an 82 wRC+ and the Pirates are hoping he can pick of some of the slack left by injured sluggers Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz.

 

Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT): 3-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

One of the ways Pittsburgh is combating the injuries plaguing their lineup is promoting top prospects like Esmerlyn Valdez. The 22-year old power hitter went back-to-back with O’Hearn in the eighth inning with an epic 461-foot blast, giving him a HR in each game of the series and five in 42 at-bats at the MLB level. After going on a historic tear in the Arizona Fall League, Valdez now has 17 HRs in AAA and the Majors this season and could be just the jolt the Pirates offense needs to push through a playoff run.

 

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

Isaac Paredes came through in the clutch for the Astros in the team’s 7-5 win over the Tigers on Sunday, hitting a game-tying solo HR in the eighth inning and hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the tenth. Paredes recorded five hits over the weekend and is hitting .345/.375/.517 over his last seven games.

 

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

Spencer Torkelson did not find his name in the starting lineup on Sunday but showed up when Detroit need him, with two hits after pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter, including a two-run HR in the bottom of the tenth to give Tigers fans hope. It has been a bit of a tough go for Torkelson in the first half of 2026, but Torkelson still provides a strong power presence to Detroit’s lineup.

 

Junior Caminero (TB): 3-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

Another impressive performance from Junior Caminero as reached base in each of his plate appearances, including his 22nd HR of the season. The Rays young superstar has a HR in each of his last four games and six total in that span.

 

Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB.

Why anyone pitches to Kyle Schwarber anymore is beyond me. The legendary slugger took the lead back for the Phillies with his 30th HR of the season, a two-run shot to give them a 5-4 win over the Mets. The 33-year old even stole his second bag of the season.

 

Miguel Vargas (CHW): 2-2, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB.

Miguel Vargas is taking full advantage of whatever magic the White Sox are using to generate HRs, smashing a two-run HR in the first inning, his career-high 19th of 2026. Vargas is setting career-bests across the board with a .247/.358/.483 line, ten stolen bases, 13.5 BB% and a 17.0 K%. The 26-year old former Dodger has been an absolute steal for fantasy managers this season.

 

Josh Lowe (LAA): 1-2, HR, R, 4 RBI.

Josh Lowe gave the Angels all the run support they needed in their 4-1 win over the Athletics on Sunday with a second inning Grand Slam. Lowe’s 20 HR, 32 stolen base season for the Rays in 2023 seems like ancient history at this point, so much so that he was demoted by the Angels in May. The 28-year old did hit .299/.397/.617 with nine homers and six steals in 107 at-bats in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but it will be a while before I buy back in to the hype around Lowe.