#HIGHFIVE | These Bros Were Top Of The Class This Week

­Money” Michael Harris II takes the top spot on Week 17 of our #HighFive List thanks to 16 hits in his last 18 games and Gold Glove level defense in center for the best team in the Majors.

1. “Money” Michael Harris

 

The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year will go down as the most talented player ever to hit in the nine hole.

He would not be in that spot in any other manager’s lineup, but being the youngest player on the current betting favorites to win the World Series, that role is understandable and gives pitchers nightmares.

In the Angels vs Braves series this week which featured 10 2023 All-Stars, Harris was the best player on the field.  

He had a two homer game after going 0-for-3 and ending his 12-game hitting streak.

However Harris would not leave that hitless outing empty handed after robbing Shohei Ohtani of a home run.

2. Marcus Semien

 

This week Semien was named the Texas Rangers recipient of the MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award given to one player on each of the 30 teams for embodying the values, spirits and traditions of the game of baseball.

On the field, his squad reloaded at the deadline and he has shaken back from a pre All-Star Break slump.

Since returning from Seattle, Semien is batting .324 with 13 RBI and six home runs including his 17th of the year Thursday that broke a tie with the White Sox.

The battle for the American League West between Semien’s Rangers and Dusty Baker’s Astros will be great theater for the last two months of the year, climaxing with their final meeting of the season on Labor Day,

Devin Williams 

Williams was named the National League Reliever of the Month for August, finishing the month with 10 saves, a 1.54 ERA, 21 strikeouts and a .171 batting average allowed.

 

“The Airbender” was credited with a blown save Wednesday, but the runs were unearned after a throw from the third baseman pulled the catcher off of home plate.

In his last seven games, William’s has gone six innings allowing four hits and striking out 15 with his ERA standing at zero.

4. Taijuan Walker

Taijuan Walker became the first pitcher in the Majors to reach 12 wins this week after going 6.2 and giving up only two runs in a win on South Beach.

Walker, who has been one of the most consistent starters over the last few years got his ERA under four for the first time this season.

Every game from here on out is crucial for the Phillies, so Walker who has a 12-4 record on the year will need to continue to make his start days, win days for them to have a shot at a Wild Card spot.

Flaherty joined a few MLBbros including All-Star center fielder Cedric Mullins in Baltimore after St. Louis dealt him at the deadline.

In his debut for the O’s, Flaherty struck out eight in six innings and gave up only one run on four hits in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Starting pitching is one of the only question marks for a young Baltimore team that is looking to win the American League East for the first time since 2014.