The Man(zardo) is Again – September 2nd, 2024
Kyle Manzardo (1B/DH – CLE) – Manzardo returned to the majors with a bang on Sunday, hitting two solo homers towards the Pirates in a 6-1 win. I anticipate that he’ll be the first DH (a minimum of towards RHP) down the stretch for the Guardians, and as although his first stint with Cleveland was relatively poor, I anticipate higher issues from him this time round. He blames plenty of his struggles on making an attempt to determine learn how to be a productive hitter whereas not enjoying the sector, and I do suppose that may be a factor for a lot of younger gamers (which is why I hate the thought of prospects coming as much as DH). Manzardo might be akin to a extra gifted model of the Hoskins/Torkelson class of participant, the place there’s plus contact and plus energy however an method that limits AVG to an extent. I do consider that he’s value a declare for the stretch run in hopes that the superb OBP/energy combo offers manufacturing now that he is a bit extra accustomed to being an almost full-time DH.
Zach Eflin (SP – BAL) – Effectively, that was shocking. I used to be definitely a little bit involved about Eflin coming off of the IL and beginning in Colorado, a lot in order that I would not have began him if I had another choices in nearly any format. Naturally, he went out and allowed 4 hits and a run on 85 pitches, strolling 1 and fanning 9 in a particularly environment friendly outing. That provides him 5 QS in 5 begins since coming to Baltimore, and the schedule strains up very effectively for him the remainder of the best way: TB, @DET, and SF earlier than ending up on the Yankees. I am operating him on the market for the following 3 with out considering after watching him on Sunday. His velo was up on the entire arduous stuff and down on the breaking pitches Sunday, so all of that appears optimistic as effectively.
Tommy Pham (OF – KC) – The Royals went a little bit loopy over the weekend, choosing up Robbie Grossman, Yuli Gurriel, and Tommy Pham to bolster their squad for the stretch run. Pham and Gurriel had been each within the lineup on Sunday, with Pham hitting leadoff….my assumption is that Grossman will primarily be a short-side platoon bat. The opposite two ought to play more often than not although, and Pham particularly nonetheless has a bit to supply at age 36. I do know the numbers do not look spectacular in any respect this yr, however the Statcast xAVG of .277 and XSLG of .422 are a bit higher, and whereas the exit velo is off a bit this season, it is nonetheless solidly above common. He has a little bit of velocity and nonetheless has glorious plate self-discipline and phone capacity. He’s nonetheless a high quality hitter, and I might haven’t any qualms about grabbing him if I wanted an OF. This can be a top-10 offense, and he could also be their leadoff hitter for the final month of the season, and his underlying stats present that he’s a minimum of common in each side of the sport on offense.
Alex Cobb (SP – CLE) – Cobb was the man that we have develop into accustomed to seeing over the previous few years on Sunday, going 6 robust innings towards Pittsburgh, permitting 2 singles and an unearned run with 6 Okay’s. He did not stroll a batter, generated 11 GB outs towards 1 flyball out, had 11 swinging strikes on simply 80 pitches, and confirmed a slight enhance in velocity. All optimistic stuff, and whereas his subsequent outing towards the Dodgers provides me a little bit of pause, the next week towards the Rays is a plus matchup, and the Twins and Playing cards after that are not something notably scary. I feel that he is value a pickup for the stretch run based mostly on what I noticed Sunday.
Spencer Torkelson (1B – DET) – I actually do not need to get sucked in right here once more, however Torkelson hit one other homer on Sunday towards the Purple Sox, giving him 4 in 55 ABs since his return from AAA. He was hitting 308/368/577 since his recall coming into the competition, and whereas that AVG is not more likely to be sustainable, the ability must be. He simply turned 25, and he appears to be like very very like a Rhys Hoskins clone stat-wise. Hoskins was fairly perpetually underrated as a result of low batting averages, however notably in OBP-based codecs he was very helpful. The AVG points do not actually stem from swing-and-miss as a lot as they arrive from the very excessive pull/FB charge…..similar to Hoskins. I nonetheless have hope right here, even for the rest of this season.
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