Kyle Seager- SEA- Hot- Seager has raised his average to .313 on the strength of a 6-game hitting streak in which he has gone 15-for-25 with 2 homers, 5 doubles, 7 runs scored and 3 RBI. Seager's .397 BABIP is a big part of his surge. He also enjoyed very high numbers in that category in the minors last year and this year so it's possible it is not all luck. Seager's Batting EYE is only at .35, far below his minor league norm, so there may be some regression to the mean manifesting itself in the final weeks of the season.
Dustin Ackley- SEA- Hot- Ackley is 9-for-29 in his last 6 games. He still hasn't quite recovered his Batting EYE, with 2 walks and 5 Ks in that span. Despite this streak and a .355 BABIP in August, Ackley is hitting just .262 this month. Although he is drawing walks at a 14.3% clip for the month, he is striking out at an uncharacteristic 22.4% pace. Ackley also is not getting the ball in the air, with a FB% of only 22.6%. With his pedigree it would be best to not panic and chalk this up to some growing pains.
Dustin Pedroia- BOS- Hot- Pedroia is 10-for-30 in his past 8 games. His average for August is now up to .294, an improvement but far from the .340 and .411 he hit in June and July, respectively. IN those months, not only was his BABIP extra high (at .345 and .380) but his Batting EYE was over 2.00 in both months. In August Pedroia's Batting EYE is only at .73. If he drops his K% then he will likely see a batting average surge, even if he doesn't get the abnormal luck.
Mike Napoli- TEX- Hot- After seeing an 11-game hitting streak snap Tuesday, Napoli started a new one last night, going 2-for-4 with a homer. It was his 4th homer in his last 10 games. Napoli is on pace to set career bests in average, homers, RBI and runs scored. His torrid July (.443 average) was driven by the luck of a .500 BABIP, but his August mark of .305 is less luck driven and more a product of the improved Batting EYE Napoli has showed this season.
Luke Hochevar- KC- Hot- Hochevar was back on the quality start train last night, after not having one in his previous 2 starts. He has kept striking out batters at a decent rate, with 29 Ks in 32.1 IP this month, while walking only 9. That is what makes for good indicators for the rest of this season and looking towards 2012.
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