Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk against the Yankees in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Yankees. After going just 2-for-9 in the first three games of the series, Cano erupted against his former team, raising his average to .370 in the process. Cano has been one of baseball's hottest hitters over the last month, batting a scalding .420 with 10 extra-base hits (five homers) and 16 RBIs over his last 20 games. The 37-year-old, with the benefit of being a part-time DH in addition to his second base duties, has turned back the clock and is hitting like he did in his glory years with the Yankees. Despite his advanced age, Cano remains a reliable fantasy option at the keystone and is still a worthy starter in most fantasy leagues.
Kyle Schwarber led the Cubs' 10-1 rampage against the Reds on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a pair of homers and five RBIs. It was a classic game of feast or famine for Schwarber, who unloaded for his 8th and 9th home runs while also striking out twice. Schwarber has fanned in just under 1/3 of his plate appearances thus far, which explains the .228 batting average and limits his fantasy ceiling as a boom or bust hitter. His 12.1 BB% rate makes him more valuable in OBP leagues, however, and fantasy owners should want him in their lineups now that he has five homers in his last eight games. Schwarber's a streaky hitter, so fantasy owners should look to ride him while he's hot.
Jason Heyward helped the Cubs crush the Reds, 10-1, on Sunday, contributing a pair of solo homers to the cause. The multi-homer game was Heyward's ninth of his career and first of the season, stemming from solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings. He also walked twice as part of his 2-for-3 effort, giving him a 1:1 BB/K ration on the season that would be the best of his career if he maintains it. He's also walking much more in general this year with a career-high 15.7 BB% rate -- well above his lifetime 10.4 BB% rate. He's been on fire over the past week as well, going 8-for-19 with three of his five homers this year. Heyward hasn't been the most consistent or productive hitter since coming to Chicago in 2016, but he still has his moments, making him frustrating from a fantasy perspective but still worth owning in deeper mixed leagues or NL-only formats.
Joey Votto went yard for the second game in a row after going 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk on Sunday vs. the Cubs. Votto was essentially Chicago's only source of offense in their 10-1 demolition by the Cubs, with Votto going deep for the fifth time this year. He also homered in consecutive games to begin the season, however, before falling into a protracted slump, so fantasy owners shouldn't put too much stock in that. Votto's power has only been on display intermittently in recent seasons, as he's managed just a .415 slugging percentage since the start of 2018. The days of Votto's 30-homer power are over, and so are his days as one of fantasy baseball's elite.
Ian Happ helped the Cubs to a 10-1 win over the Reds on Sunday with his first multi-homer game of the season, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. Happ, who also homered on Saturday, is now up to nine homers and 20 RBIs on the season, with six of those dingers coming in his last 15 games. Happ started hitting on Opening Day this year and hasn't stopped, proving to be one of baseball's most consistent hitters in 2020. The big game pushed his OPS to a robust 1.041, as he's been getting on base a ton as well. While he doesn't offer much in the way of speed, Happ has done more than enough with the bat to be a fantasy stud based on his hitting alone.
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