Gary Sanchez, C, NYY
Sanchez went 2 for 3 with a homer and a walk on Tuesday night against the Phillies. The 28-year-old backstop now has three homers over the past five contests and his 17th on the season. The 17 dingers are 3rd best amongst catchers in 2021, but with a career-low 30.9% Hard% Sanchez has had difficulty finding hits that don't go out of the park. His 13.4% BB% is a career-high, which is positive, but he is still slashing just .220/.336/.473 this season. He is 3 for 11 with two homers, three walks, and three strikeouts since the All-Star break; hopefully, the four days off has helped rejuvenate Sanchez.
Shane McClanahan, SP, TB
McClanahan gave up one run while striking out seven in 5.0 innings against the Orioles on Tuesday night. He improved to 4-3 on the season and brought his ERA down to 3.88 in the process. The 24-year-old southpaw has been quite impressive in his first season in the majors. He throws hard (97.4) and totes a 10.8 K/9 ratio without surrendering too many free passes (3.05 BB/9). McClanahan has been tough to hit, his 15.9% SwStr% currently ranks 8th amongst starters (min 60 IP), and his O-Swing% sits at a solid 35.5% (ranks 15th). What's also encouraging to see is that even though he is a lefty, he has been more effective against right-handers than against left-handers. Additionally, the advanced metrics favor him as his 3.17 xFIP and 3.64 SIERA both display.
Luis Garcia, SP, HOU
Garcia continued his impressive rookie campaign with 6.0 shutout innings against the Indians on Tuesday night. He surrendered just three hits, walked none, and struck out eight in the contest. In 16 starts this season, Garcia is 7-5 with a 10.35 K/9 and 2.86 ERA. The 24-year-old has some life on his fastball (93.4 vFA), but it doesn't overpower hitters. So, Garcia mixes in four off-speed pitches with similar regularity to keep hitters uncomfortable at the plate. The youngster has been quite effective this season, but his 3.80 SIERA and 3.91 xFIP indicate that he hasn't been as good as his stellar 2.86 ERA suggests. Regardless, you aren't going to complain about what Garcia has done in this, his rookie season, and there is plenty of reason for optimism about his future.
Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU
Altuve hit a pair of solo home runs on Tuesday night against the Indians. The veteran second baseman now has 22 homers on the season to go along with a .275/.356/.500 triple-slash line. Altuve has taken a much more patient approach at the plate this season (32.45 O-Swing% and 7.7% SwStr%), and it's helped him be more of the kind of hitter we are used to him being. His average isn't up in the .300s like it was for so many years, but his current 11.3% BB% is a career-high. He may never be the high-average base stealer with decent power that made him a fantasy superstar anymore, but he has been a solid contributor so far in 2021 nonetheless.
James Kaprielian, SP, OAK
Kaprielian shut out the Angels across 6.0 innings of work on Tuesday afternoon. He struck out seven, walked two, and surrendered five hits in the contest. Kaprielian has been a very consistent pitcher this season. In his 12 starts, the 27-year-old has given up less than three runs nine times while allowing more than three runs just once (four runs). Kaprielian is now 5-3 with an impressive 2.65 ERA and 9.66 K/9 on the season, though the advanced metrics (4.38 xFIP and 4.17 SIERA) don't like him as much, so expect some regression as the season continues.
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