The Sun Will Come Out, Ildemaro

Mexico City makes Coors Field look like a pitcher’s park and Ildemaro Vargas took full advantage of the thin air to lead the Diamondbacks to a thrilling 12-7 comeback victory against the Padres. Down 7-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Vargas gave Arizona hope with his sixth HR of the season. Following a six-run seventh inning that included a Vargas double, Arizona put up another four runs in the eighth thanks to a three-run triple by Vargas to complete the comeback. The 34-year-old Venezuelan utility man nearly hit for the cycle, finishing the day going 3-5 with a HR, 3B, 2B, 3 R and 4 RBI.

Vargas has been a revelation so far for the Diamondbacks, hitting .367/.383/.722 with a 203 wRC+, six HRs and 20 RBI, effectively leading the team in just about every offensive category. Coupled with the emergence of rookie Jose Fernandez, Vargas has provided strong depth to a top-ten Arizona offense, despite early season injuries to veteran Lourdes Gurriel and top prospect Jordan Lawlar. Vargas has never hit more than six HRs in an MLB season so the power surge is sure to slow down, but he may be worth a speculative pickup if your fantasy team also needs some depth.

 

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

 

Gleyber Torres (DET): 3-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.

Gleyber Torres continued a strong run over the last week by collecting three hits in Detroit’s 8-3 win over the Reds, including a game-sealing, two-run HR in the ninth inning, his second of the year. Torres is hitting .292/.469/.417 over his last seven games, with seven walks to just five strikeouts. The 26-year-old slugging first baseman tied a career-high with 31 HRs in 2025 and is on fire over his last seven games, hitting .391/.462/1.174.

 

Spencer Torkelson (DET): 3-4, HR, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB.

Speaking of strong weeks, Spencer Torkelson entered the week with no home runs on the season. That is ancient history now after he homered in his fifth consecutive game on Sunday, tying a franchise record.

 

Christian Walker (HOU): 3-4, HR, 2B, R, 4 RBI.

After a brutal first half in his first season in Houston (84 wRC+), Christian Walker turn things around after the All-Star Break and he has picked up right where he left off with a strong start to 2026. The 35-year old collected three hits, including his seventh HR, in Houston’s 7-4 win over the Yankees and is now hitting .291/.373/.573 with a 157 wRC+ on the early season.

 

Isaac Paredes (HOU): 2-4, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI.

Like Torkelson, Isaac Paredes had no home runs coming into the week, but he is not up to three after hitting a two-run shot in the third inning off Yankees starter Luis Gil on Sunday. Hitting in between Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker should be a dream scenario for the 27-year-old Paredes and I expect him to continue to pick things up as the season progresses.

 

Manny Machado (SD): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

While the Padres blew a six-run lead on Sunday, it was Manny Machado that helped them build that lead in Mexico City, hitting his third and fourth HRs of the season. It has been a slow start to the season for Machado, who is hitting just .209/.327/.363, but I wouldn’t be worried as he’s a lock for around a .275 average with roughly 30 HRs every season.

 

Jose Fernandez (ARI): 3-4, HR, 3 R, RBI.

Diamondbacks rookie Jose Fernandez continues to dominate Major League pitching, collecting three hits and his third HR of the season in the Diamondbacks win. While his low walk rate (2.6%) and high BABIP (.418) indicate regression is on the horizon, Fernandez has earned consistent playing time in the Arizona lineup, especially with Geraldo Perdomo leaving Saturday’s game with an injury.

 

Jung Hoo Lee (SF): 4-5, 3B, 2 R.

Jung Hoo Lee was a thorn in the side of Marlins pitchers on Sunday, with four hits at the top of the Giants lineup as the team secured a come-from-behind 6-3 win over Miami. Lee has quietly been one of the better hitters in baseball over the course of the first month, hitting .313/.358/.475.

 

Shohei Ohtani (LAD): 3-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB.

I try to preach this as much as possible, but it is truly a gift that we get to watch arguably the greatest baseball player of all-time play every day. Shohei Ohtani never ceases to amaze, and he did it all for Los Angeles on Sunday (except pitch, which he will do on Tuesday), getting on base all four times, hitting his sixth HR of the season and stealing his third base. Just incredible.

 

Lane Thomas (KC): 3-6, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

It was a long day for the Royals and Angels, as their Sunday night game was pushed up to avoid inclement weather, and then that weather arrived in the seventh inning, resulting in a lengthy delay with the Angels leading 7-4. Down 8-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Royals scored three runs to tie the game and added another three on a walk-off HR by Lane Thomas in the bottom of the tenth to take the game. We are still waiting for Thomas to recreate the 28 HR, 20 SB season he had with Washington in 2023 and hopefully his performance on Sunday will spark a much needed breakout from the 30-year-old for the Royals.