Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base against the Red Sox on Sunday. Guerrero helped sparked Toronto's comeback with a two-run shot in the fifth, cutting the deficit from 7-2 to 7-4 and putting them on the path to a 9-8 victory. The long ball helped snap Guerrero out of a rare 3-for-24 slump over his previous six games with no RBIs, while the stolen base was just his third of the year. The 22-year-old superstar is still having a tremendous season at the plate with 35 homers, 87 RBIs (most in the majors), 86 runs, and an MLB-high 1.047 OPS. If Shohei Ohtani fades or gets hurt down the stretch, Guerrero will likely be named AL MVP come season's end.
George Springer went 2-for-4 with four runs, one walk, and a game-winning three-run homer against the Red Sox on Sunday. Springer propelled Toronto to a series win in Sunday's finale with a dramatic, go-ahead three-run bomb off Boston closer Matt Barnes in the bottom of the eighth, turning an 8-6 deficit into a 9-8 lead. Springer has been one of baseball's hottest hitters in the second half, which has resulted in him replacing Marcus Semien in the leadoff spot. Over his last 22 games, Springer has nine home runs, 10 doubles, 22 RBIs, and 25 runs while helping Toronto close the gap in the AL East. After a cold first half that saw him carry a sub-.200 average into mid-July, Springer is dialed in right now and has rediscovered his All-Star form.
J.D. Martinez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs against the Blue Jays on Sunday. Martinez equaled his hit total from his previous five games combined, boosting his average to .290 in the process. The 33-year-old had been mired in a brutal slump lately, slashing .150/.177/.233 with three extra-base hits and 16 strikeouts over his previous 15 games. Perhaps the big game will help him get back on track, as he was one of the American League's best hitters in the first half en route to his fourth All-Star selection. Even with the recent swoon, his overall numbers are still strong with 71 runs, 71 RBIs, 30 doubles, 21 homers, and an .888 OPS. With a cushy spot batting in the middle of Boston's lineup, Martinez remains an automatic start in all fantasy formats.
Jorge Polanco powered the Twins to a 7-5 win over the Astros by going 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, and a walk on Sunday. Polanco provided Minnesota's final four runs with his fifth-inning solo shot and sixth-inning three-run blast, helping the Twins stave off Houston's late comeback. Polanco's second multi-homer game of the season gave him 20 long balls on the year and five already in August. After a sluggish April and May, Polanco has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the past two-plus months. He's been especially scorching over the past four weeks with 10 homers and 26 RBIs over his last 24 games. With 20 homers, 61 RBIs, a .272 average, and an .817 OPS, the 2019 All-Star has rediscovered his form after an off 2020 and start to 2021.
Cedric Mullins went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, two runs scored, and a walk against the Rays on Sunday. Baltimore's leadoff man kicked off the bottom of the first with his 20th homer of the season and his second in as many days. The long ball was his third of August and extended his hitting streak to 16 games, lifting his average to .320 and raising his AL-leading hit total to 133. He's also scored at least one run in seven straight games, giving him 65 on the year. While his 40 RBIs are underwhelming for someone with so many hits and home runs, his 21 steals and .936 OPS make him one of the best all-around offensive players in the American League this year. While the Orioles don't have too many fantasy-relevant players these days, the 26-year-old first-time All-Star is certainly one of them.
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