Robert-Ing the Spotlight

Luis Robert Jr. (NYM): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

It hasn’t been quite the first year in Queens for outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

After being traded from the White Sox to the Mets this offseason in exchange for utility player Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Truman Pauley, Robert has been limited by a lumbar spine disc herniation. That injury not only landed him on the 60-Day IL, but has limited him to just 51 games this season.

However, Robert got healthy in time for a series against the White Sox at the Rate Field, where he played from 2020 to 2025.

On Saturday, the 29-year-old Cuban outfielder was able to play spoiler to a White Sox crowd that is eager for postseason baseball for the first time, hopefully, since 2021.

In a 10-5 Mets win, the former All-Star went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. The pair of home runs on Saturday increased his home run total to nine for the season, and he now has a .222 average and .701 OPS in 171 at-bats.

It will be interesting to see what the Mets do with Robert this offseason. After such a lackluster season and an injury-plagued career, it seems unlikely that New York will exercise his $20 million club option for 2027.

Then again, the White Sox weren’t expected to exercise his club option last year either, but they did so to trade him to a willing suitor (the Mets, in this case). After a season of fewer than 100 games, the market will be much less competitive for Robert this offseason.

Thus, Robert likely won’t return to Queens in 2027 and may need to settle for a cheaper, one-year deal this offseason to “prove” he can stay healthy and play 120+ games again.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did on Saturday

JJ Bleday (CIN): 4-6, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

It was an onslaught by the Reds in the desert, as they beat the Diamondbacks 11-5. Bleday was one of many Reds hitters who had big days, as the outfielder had four hits and hit for the cycle. Bleday is the 8th player in Reds history to hit for the cycle and first since Elly De La Cruz, who accomplished the feat in 2023. Cincinnati has been a great landing spot for Bleday, who has 21 home runs and .786 OPS this season.

 

Randy Arozarena (SEA): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.

Arozarena had a big day all around in Seattle in their walk-off win over the Cubs. Not only did he have two home runs, including the game-winning two-run home run in the 9th, but he also robbed Chicago’s Miguel Amaya of a home run in the third inning. Rookie Kade Anderson, making his MLB debut, may have gotten the most attention going into the game, but it was Arozarena who stole the spotlight in Seattle.

 

Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

The Phillies won a laugher against the Cardinals, winning 12-3. St. Louis ended up utilizing catcher Pedro Pagés to pitch in the eighth. A key contributor to the Phillies’ victory was Schwarber, who not only had two hits and two RBI, but also launched his 38th home run of the year. He’s slightly behind his 56-HR pace from a year ago, but don’t count out Schwarber, who can go on a run down the stretch.

 

Brooks Lee (MIN): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.

The Twins blew a lead to the Padres in San Diego, but that shouldn’t downplay what Lee did on Saturday. He had three hits, a double, and collected his 19th home run of the year. Lee hasn’t been previously known for his power, but he seems due for a 20+ HR season in 2026, not bad value for a utility infielder. He could be an intriguing infield option in deep leagues in 2027.

 

Jo Adell (CLE): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.

Moving from Orange County to Cuyahoga County seems to have done wonders for Adell. In 16 games with the Guardians, he is hitting .246 with an .849 OPS, much better than the .239 average and .682 OPS he posted earlier this season with the Angels. The outfielder also has four home runs with the Guardians, his latest coming on Saturday in Colorado. Adell is looking like he may have a place in Cleveland for 2027 (even if the weather is worse).

 

Héctor Rodríguez (CIN): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.

It’s been a slow start for the Reds rookie, who is hitting .162 with a .532 OPS in his first 42 plate appearances. However, he hit his first MLB home run on Saturday and had two hits as well. The No. 3 prospect in the Cincinnati farm system, he will get plenty of opportunities down the stretch to prove he can be a part of this 2027 Opening Day roster.

 

Jackson Merrill (SDP): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

The Padres completed a four-run comeback, with Merrill being one of the catalysts in San Diego’s winning effort. He had two hits, two RBI, and launched his 20th homer of the year on Saturday. It’s been a weird fantasy season for Merrill. On one hand, he’s hitting just .241 with a .704 OPS. Conversely, he has 20 homers and 24 stolen bases and could be due for a 25 HR and 30 SB season. Fantasy managers who roster him could do worse.

 

Tim Tawa (ARI): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

It’s been tough sledding for the Diamondbacks at first base this year. After Christian Walker left for Houston and Josh Naylor was traded to Seattle, Arizona first basemen have produced a 79 wRC+ this year, the worst mark at first base in all of baseball. Tawa is trying to change that, hitting .246 with a .711 OPS in 233 plate appearances. On Saturday, he hit his eighth home run of the year. Could he be a 20+ HR guy over a larger sample? He may get that shot in 2027.

 

Luis García Jr. (NYY): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

After hitting .283 with an .873 OPS with the Nationals, García has cooled a bit since moving to the Bronx at the Trade Deadline. He is currently hitting .254 with a .755 OPS in 64 plate appearances with the Yankees. That stat line is fine, but it’s not the gaudy numbers he was producing in the Nation’s Capital. On Saturday, he hit his third home run with the Yankees, a sign that he may be heating up in New York.

 

Jake Bauers (MIL): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.

Bauers has been Milwaukee’s unsung hero in 2026. Though he was widely overlooked in fantasy drafts, he has produced a .273 average, .890 OPS, and 23 homers in 469 plate appearances. While he still whiffs and strikes out a lot, the other numbers are impressive. He’s proving that he could be a hitter to target in fantasy drafts in 2027, which was only applicable in 2026 in deep or NL-only leagues.