Home Runs to La Maxima

 

Okay, so Junior Caminero didn’t have the best game in yesterday’s action, a day when some players were on cycle watch, some knocked in tons of RBIs, and others stuffed the stat sheet, helping in every category. With that said, Caminero had the most impactful hit of the entire night yesterday, hitting a walk-off home run that clinched the Rays’ postseason spot.

Remember when people thought that Caminero was going to struggle at Tropicana Field? Reports of him being a Steinbrenner Field merchant were greatly exaggerated, as he largely struggled on the road last season due to infield fly ball rates. He hit more home runs on the road after all last season, and can any ballpark really contain the player with the fastest bat speed in the Major Leagues? This home run was actually one of his less impressive, being hit at only 107 mph and only 417 feet. Wow, Junior, you’re slacking. In all seriousness, this is an elite player who is the best hitter at a position that isn’t always the most productive. He’s not a superstar in the making; he’s a superstar now.

Junior Caminero (TBR): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did Friday…

 

Kyle Tucker (LAD): 3-3, 3B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

Tucker has gotten a lot of slack this season, as the big-money signing has been a below-average hitter for the entire year. With that said, he’s inching towards being average, as he’s only four points below 100 in terms of wRC+. He was on cycle watch yesterday, showcasing his wheels with a triple, his power with a grand slam, and his contact skills by getting a hit in each at-bat he had. He goes down as one of the biggest fantasy busts of the season, unfortunately, but for those who have had to endure his ups and downs in 2026, a game like this in the second week of fantasy playoffs is a pretty welcome sight.

Brice Turang (MIL): 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB.

Bang bang Turang gang. Turang is fully in the conversation as being one of the best second basemen in the sport, helping his team out in every single category offensively and defensively. The Brewers had an absolute field day against the Reds, beating them 20-0 and outhitting them 23-2. Turang is now one home run away from tying his career high in the stat, and with the Brewers offense being so hot and his more power-focused approach this season, it definitely feels like it will happen.

William Contreras (MIL): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.

Speaking of Brewers who ate away at the Reds, William Contreras also had himself a night. Now yes, the home run and half of the RBIs came against a position player pitching, but shhhh. Contreras hasn’t quite had the best season by his standards, as he’s putting up his lowest wRC+ since 2021. In the first half of the season, we were seeing a much more contact-oriented Contreras at the expense of power and walks. In the second half, it’s flipped, as he’s walking at a higher rate and has a higher slugging percentage, while he strikes out more and has a lower average. Contreras will still be one of the highest-drafted catchers next season, as he’s proven to have a decently high floor this season. It will be interesting to see if he’s still with the Brewers when the winter rolls around.

Brett Bateman (TOR): 3-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.

Bateman has been a revelation for the Blue Jays. While some may argue that his archetype isn’t as valuable as the old-school baseball fans may think it is, Bateman has proven himself immensely important for a Blue Jays team that acquired him at the deadline. The knock on Bateman is that he doesn’t have enough power to make the ball leave the yard. Well, guess what: he homered yesterday, the first of his career. He may not ever put up double-digit home runs, but his speed and contact skills make up for a good chunk of that.

Dylan Beavers (BAL): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.

Beavers was one of my favorite dark horse fantasy player picks going into the season, as I even drafted him with a much higher pick than many would have. It didn’t really work out, as he’s been an average hitter who missed a fair bit of time. Very few are rostering him now, but the ones who are, boy, were they in for a treat last night. Beavers hit his 7th home run of the season to lead off the game, setting the tone for an Orioles offense that took advantage of a shaky Max Scherzer. I still believe in Beavers, as he has great launch angle management and solid discipline, despite it not always adding up to walks. If he can pull the ball in the air a bit more like he did last season, he has a chance to be a great player again in 2027.

Ben Rice (NYY): 3-4, HR, 3 R, RBI.

What a season for Ben Rice, who many expected to have a really solid season in 2026 due to underlying numbers, but perhaps not as solid as it ended up being. He’s likely to eclipse 40 home runs, as he hit his 37th last night. Rice should probably be considered more in the talks of the best first baseman in baseball, as he does basically everything right offensively and plays in a park where his skills will continue to allow him to thrive. He’s also getting more action against lefties than he has in the past, solidifying him as a core member of the Yankees and fantasy teams.

Chase Meidroth (CHW): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

It was a two-homer night for Meidroth, who I feel kind of gets lost in the shuffle of the White Sox resurgence, with players like Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas deservedly getting hyped up. Meidroth has been good, though, looking like a solid hitter who has hit at both the front and the back of the White Sox lineup throughout the season. He puts the ball in play often, which can be an essential skill down the stretch. This was interestingly not a very Meidroth-esque game, as he had two homers and a walk, two things he isn’t necessarily known for, though very welcome contributions for both White Sox fans and fantasy managers.

Alex Bregman (CHC): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

What a way to turn around a season for Alex Bregman. I remember seeing talks about him being a disappointment of a signing after the first couple of months, but since all that negative press got out there, he’s looked like a new man, routinely putting up stat lines like these. He now has his best single-season WAR since 2022, and if he keeps this up, he could come close to tying that mark. Bregman was exactly what this Cubs squad needed: one more core bat that can man the hot corner exceptionally well.

Rafael Devers (SFG): 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB.

The Devers dominance continues, as the Giants’ first baseman/designated hitter is having an absolutely incredible stretch of baseball. To say he’s on a tear is underselling it. He’s been the best hitter in baseball in September, leading the month with six home runs. It took over two decades for the Giants to have a 30-home-run hitter after Bonds, but now it looks like there’s a very real chance they have a player who is going to put up a forty-piece. This is especially impressive when you realize how rough of a start he got off to.

Victor Mesa (TBR): 1-2, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB.

Mesa had a combo meal yesterday, the term we use for a game with a stolen base and a home run. His homer tied the game, which allowed Junior to later be in the position to walk it off. Mesa has been a bit of a revelation for the Rays, as he is OPSing over .800 now following yesterday’s game. He has incredible raw power, really solid discipline for a player with little big league experience, and an impressive aggressiveness on the basepaths that makes him a valuable base stealer. He could be taken late in drafts next season, and I wouldn’t be surprised.