Brett Baty, 3B, NYM (CBS: 45% rostered, ESPN: 5% rostered): The ranks of the CI are getting a tad lean. Brett Baty has far from enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign, but with two homers in the past week, is he turning a corner? It’s worth a small bid to get the answer to that question.
Will Benson, OF, CIN (CBS: 24% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): We mentioned Benson on our July 2 Waiver Wire Report, and it’s time to bring his name up again. Thus far in July, he has gone 14-for-47 with three home runs, three stolen bases, and a .411 OBP and has started the past six games. The power/speed potential continues to be very intriguing.
J.D. Davis, 3B, SFG (CBS: 51% rostered, ESPN: 8% rostered): July hasn’t been a great month, but overall, Davis has enjoyed a solid year, slugging 12 homers while driving in 49 runs, and posting a .344 OBP in 305 at-bats.
Mike Ford, 1B, SEA (CBS: 7% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): We should call this Article the CI review. Let’s add Mike Ford to the list. With ten homers and 21 RBI in 109 at-bats since getting the call at the beginning of June and the opportunity for regular at-bats in the absence of Jared Kelenic, that power should continue to play well.
Sal Frelick, OF, MIL (CBS: 27% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): He’s played well in the field and at the dish going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. The Brewers and Frelick couldn’t be happier with the results of his debut. The Brewers need a spark as they duke it out with the Reds for the NL Central title. Sal Frelick has the potential to be that spark.
Edouard Julien, 2B, MIN (38% rostered, ESPN: 9% rostered): It appears that finally, the Twins will commit to Edouard Julien as their everyday 2B and for good cause. He’s tearing it up with five homers and a .452 BA in 42 at-bats in July. The Twins are giving Jorge Polanco regular reps at the “hot corner” during his current rehab assignment. Someway, somehow, the Twins have to find a way to keep Julien’s bat in the everyday lineup. He’s too talented to be looked at as a part-time player.
Cade Marlowe, OF, SEA (CBS: 2% rostered, ESPN: not rostered): Possibly Dylan Moore. When Jarred Kelenic took his best kick-at-the-can, it proved very costly, as he is now sidelined until the beginning of September with a broken left foot. The Mariners have called up Cade Marlowe, and with 11 homers and 25 thefts at Triple-A Tacoma in 282 at-bats should, along with Dylan Moore, get him plenty of opportunities until the return of Kelenic.
Chas McCormick, OF, HOU (CBS: 44% rostered, ESPN: 24% rostered): Very quietly, Chas McCormick is having a great year. He’s now up to 12 homers, 11 stolen bases, and a great .372 OBP in 202 at-bats. With a five-homer July, his days as a platoon-type player could be a thing of the past.
Logan O’Hoppe, C, LAA (CBS: 25% rostered, ESPN: 6% rostered): It seemed highly unlikely that we’d see a return to action this year for Logan O’Hoppe, but he’s ahead of schedule in his rehab and a return to action in September and possibly sooner now seems like a genuine possibility. The Angels can use all the offense they can muster down the stretch if they wish to challenge for a Wild Card berth.
Brandon Pfaadt, SP, ARZ (CBS: 21% rostered, ESPN: 1% rostered): One-in-a-row isn’t a streak, but it was nice to see Pfaadt getting another opportunity and enjoying a solid start. Yesterday, on the road against the Reds, he shut them down until the sixth inning, when he tired and allowed three gopher balls. He went six innings allowing the three earned runs while chipping in with six punchouts and, most importantly, no walks. Hopefully, this is a sign of better days for the young righty.
Jose Quintana, SP, NYM (CBS: 20% rostered, ESPN: 4% rostered): Quintana finally made his 2023 debut last Thursday against the White Sox, which was a success. He went five strong innings allowing six hits with no walks and a pair of earned runs. After missing the first four months of the season following surgery to remove a benign lesion on one of his ribs in Spring Training, the Mets must be happy to see him back and take the hill every five days.
Jackson Wolf, SP, SDP (CBS: 5% rostered, ESPN: not listed): Wolf had to wait out an hour-and-a-half rain delay, and even with his very short resume, he didn’t look out of place. Five innings later, in which he allowed six hits, one walk, and three earned runs, he had earned his first MLB win. The #4/5 starters have been a challenge for the Padres all year. Maybe Wolf is the answer?
The Closer Report
Kevin Ginkel, RP, ARZ (CBS: 12% rostered, ESPN: 2% rostered): The on-again, off-again relationship with Scott McGough and the ninth inning is off again with Kevin Ginkel, at least for now, moving into the closer role. For how long, who knows, but at least for now, with two saves in his past two opportunities, he’s the go-to guy for the DBacks.
