Lombard's Debut, August 5th, 2026

Dan Nachtigal

Aug 4, 2026

George Lombard Jr., SS, NYY

Lombard Jr. went deep in his MLB debut on Tuesday. The shortstop finished 1 for 2 and added a walk to an impressive debut. Just a 21-year-old, Lombard has shown impressive plate discipline in the minors the past few seasons. He owns a 16.8% BB% and .411 OBP across 358 MiLB plate appearances this season. Lombard also has displayed speed on the base paths, with 14 SBs this season and 35 in 2025. The Yanks sent struggling Anthony Volpe down, and it appears the future is now; Lombard should see plenty of playing time at SS in the Bronx for the foreseeable future.

Luis Arraez, 2B, PHI

Arraez made his presence felt in his first career game for the Phillies on Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. The three-time batting champ is a proven hitter, and he slotted in at cleanup for the Phillies on Tuesday. If that is the norm going forward, Arraez will have the opportunity for extra fantasy production for the remainder of the season.

Yannier Cano, RP, BAL

Cano tossed a scoreless inning to secure his 2nd save of the season. After a brutal 2025 campaign, in which Cano owned a 5.12 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, he has responded brilliantly. The 32-year-old has switched his pitch mix up dramatically this season, opting to rely on his hard downward-moving pitches. His Sinker usage is 55.6% (45.8% in 2025), and his Splitter usage is 25.3% (7.2% in 2025). The result has been a league-high 64.8% GB% and a sparkling 2.09 ERA.

Liam Hicks, C, TB

Hicks introduced himself to Tampa with a bang on Tuesday, hitting a Grand Slam in his debut. The 27-year-old is having a breakout campaign. His defense behind the dish leaves something to be desired, but the offense has been there. He doesn't swing hard (68.3 Bat Speed) or hit the ball hard (3.7% Barrel% and 85.2 Avg Exit Velo), but he is getting results. He has a great approach at the plate (10.9% Whiff% and 9.5% K%) and squares it up in the 98th percentile (35.7%). He's slashing .284/.365/.443 with 15 homers and 66 RBI, making him one of the most productive catchers in the league.

Austin Riley, 3B, ATL

Riley went 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBI, hitting out of the 8-hole on Tuesday. Since establishing himself with three consecutive good seasons from 2021 to 2023, the former All-Star 3rd basemen has regressed the past few seasons. He seems to have lost confidence at the dish. His 30.7% K% this season is a career high, while his .206 xBA, 10.9% Barrel%, and 17.3% LD% are career-lows. Positively, he is riding a four-game hitting streak, in which he has six hits and three extra-base hits.

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Aug 4, 2026

Dan Nachtigal

Growing up I loved Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs. The 1998 Home Run duel between Sosa and Mark McGwire was a highlight of my childhood and was ultimately where my infatuation with baseball and statistics began. That infatuation then grew exponentially a few years later when my father took me to my first Major League game between the Cubs and Rockies at Coors Field. We sat a few rows up behind home plate where I witnessed Slammin' Sammy hit three, 3-run Home Runs, in three consecutive innings. I was elated, it was as if the game was scripted for me. I've personally witnessed a lot of great sports games since then, from Brett Favre at Lambeau to LeBron James in the finals, but nothing compares to the show that my favorite player put on for me at my first baseball game.