Alec Burleson-Cardinals-1B/OF
Alec Burleson went 3-for-5 with a HR, 2 R, and 4 RBI. He's batting .288 with 21 HR, 70 R, 90 RBI, and 3 SB through 521 PA while striking out just 16% of the time, and his 11% Barrel rate and 49% HardHit rate support the production. Burleson has been even better in August, hitting .311 with 5 HR, 11 R, and 15 RBI over 54 PA while improving his Barrel rate to 15% and HardHit rate to 59%. The combination of contact ability, run production, and improving quality of contact makes him a strong everyday fantasy option.
Matt Olson-Braves-1B
Matt Olson went 1-for-4 with a HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, and 1 SB. Olson is having another monster power season, batting .264 with 36 HR, 88 R, 77 RBI, and 3 SB across 541 PA, supported by a 16% Barrel rate and 50% HardHit rate. August has been productive as well, with six homers and a .265 average over 54 PA, though his 26% strikeout rate during the month remains a little high. The power is as reliable as ever.
Ben Rice-Yankees-1B
Ben Rice went 1-for-5 with a HR, 1 R, and 2 RBI. Rice is hitting .251 with 33 HR, 76 R, 78 RBI, and 3 SB through 509 PA, with a strong 12% walk rate and 15% Barrel rate helping drive the power. August has been much tougher, though, as he's hitting just .091 with one homer in 52 PA despite a 15% walk rate and 57% HardHit rate. The contact quality suggests the slump isn't entirely skill-driven, so Rice remains a strong power option even as the batting average has taken a significant hit.
Munetaka Murakami-White Sox-3B
Munetaka Murakami went 1-for-5 with a HR, 1 R, and 2 RBI. Murakami has hit .235 with 28 HR, 64 R, 57 RBI, and 1 SB across 383 PA, with a 33% strikeout rate but plenty of power behind it thanks to a 20% Barrel rate, 59% HardHit rate, and 114.4 mph max exit velocity. August has been a different story at the plate, as he's hitting just .188 with 3 HR and a 39% strikeout rate over 56 PA, although the 23% Barrel rate and 54% HardHit rate suggest the quality of contact remains strong. The strikeouts remain the biggest obstacle, but the power profile makes Murakami worth sticking with in formats where his batting average can be absorbed.
Tyler Stephenson-Reds-C
Tyler Stephenson went 1-for-1 with a HR, 1 R, and 1 RBI. He's batting .251 with 12 HR, 32 R, 39 RBI, and 0 SB through 339 PA, with a 26% strikeout rate and 12% Barrel rate providing a decent power foundation. August has been more encouraging from a skills perspective, as he's hitting .222 with 3 HR and 8 RBI over 39 PA while posting a 19% Barrel rate and 58% HardHit rate. The batting average remains a concern, but the recent quality of contact gives him some appeal as a power-oriented catcher, especially when he calls Great American Ballpark home.
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