As the dust settles from a busy trade deadline, the playoff push has officially commenced .  Royce Lewis showed he is ready for battle, racking up a career-long 10 game hit streak while reaching safely in his last 16 games to take the top spot on our Week 18 #HighFive list.

1. “Rolls” Royce Lewis

Royce Lewis has his Minnesota Twins team just a game out of the final American League Wild Card spot entering Thursday evening’s finale in their series against their division rival Kansas City Royals.

Lewis is finally healthy both physically and mentally after being sent down to Triple A earlier this season and dealing with multiple injuries since being selected first overall in the 2027 MLB Draft. He has hits in a career-high 10 games in a row while also reaching base safely in a career-high 16 consecutive contests.

Through his first five games in August, Lewis has a .533 average, .867 slugging percentage, a home run, two doubles and three RBIs; this after only posting a .217 batting average for the month of Jul

A Healthy Royce Lewis Could Help the Twins Win the AL Central

The Twins have a tough matchup this weekend as they travel across state lines to take on the Brewers who are one of the top teams in the National League.

2. Chase Burns

Chase Burns continues to stack together good starts as he claims the two spot on our Week 18 #HighFive after collecting his 13th win of the season.

Those 13 wins are the second most in the Majors behind Sonny Gray and Christopher Sanchez who both have 14. 

Burns began August with a solid outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates going six innings while allowing one earned on two hits with two walks and striking out nine. He is in the mix for the National League Cy Young award as he ranks 3rd in ERA and batting average against while also being in the top 10 in strikeouts and WHIP.

Chase Burns Continues To Dominate With 13th Win

Burns next start will be Saturday against fellow #HighFive member C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals.

3. Chandler Simpson

Chandler Simpson has been one of the most consistent players in the Majors since the All-Star Break as he finally finds himself back on the #HighFive. Simpson has carried a great month of July into August as he continues to get better in his sophomore season. He has hits in six straight games, three of those where he recorded multiple in.

Chandler Simpson Continues To Produce More & More Hits For Tampa Bay Rays

Over his last seven games, Simpson is hitting .385 with four steals and three RBIs.  Those 30 steals tie him for first in the American League with Jazz Chisholm Jr.

4. George Lombard Jr.

A home run in Yankees stadium in your Major League debut is enough to earn a spot on our #HighFive.

The son of a former Major Leaguer and top prospect made his much anticipated debut for the Yankees this week against the Cardinals where he went 1-for-2 with a walk and a homer.

2026 MLB Futures Game Headlined By Eight MLBbros: George Lombard Jr., Kaelen Culpepper and More

With Aaron Judge just now beginning to do physical activities along with Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger being on the Injured List, Lombard will need to serve as a spark plug on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. 

5. C.J. Abrams “The Alien”

July’s National League Player of The Month, Washington Nationals All-Star shortstop C.J. Abrams take the fifth and final spot on our Week 18 #HighFive list.

Abrams posted a 1.150 OPS and .348 batting average along with 23 RBIs as well as 10 home runs, which was the most for any player in the Majors during the month.

Washington Nationals Shortstop CJ Abrams Wins NL Player of the Month for July

He enters the weekend leading MLB with 88 RBIs as he hopes to keep his Nationals playoff chances alive after the loss of James Wood to an oblique injury earlier this week.