#HIGHFIVE | Top Black & brown Players (Week 18)

#HIGHFIVE | Top Black & brown Players (Week 18)

by | Aug 12, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Triston McKenzie has molded himself from top prospect to Ace of a playoff team.  He showed out in most recent start getting the win after eight shutout innings, allowing just two hits on eight strikeouts against the first place Houston Astros to take the top spot in Week 18 of our #HighFive list.

1. Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie

Since debuting in August of 2020, Triston McKenzie has allowed an opponents batting average of .194 which is the fifth lowest for any starting pitcher who has thrown at least 200 innings.

That is lower than the likes of eight time All-Star Max Scherzer and last year’s American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray.

In his last seven starts, McKenzie has a 1.70 ERA with 48 strikeouts and a 4-2 record.

Before his last start McKenzie cut his braids and stayed solid on the mound with a fade.

Triston McKenzie Is Shutting Everybody Down To The Very Last Compound | See How It Sounds

It was the second time a Guardians pitcher allowed no hits after the second inning in a start this season, the other was also done by McKenzie in a May start against the Blue Jays.

McKenzie’s Guardians currently sit in first place in the American League Central and down the stretch he will need to perform against multiple contenders on their schedule.

In three starts against the two best teams in the American League, the Yankees and Astros, he is 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA, 18 strikeouts, three walks and has given up only one run.

His next start will come Saturday in Toronto against the Blue Jays.

2. Aaron Judge


The quest for history continued for Aaron Judge this week as he hit home runs  #44 and #45 to go along with a .375 batting average, six RBI, five runs and a stolen base.

Judge is now on pace for 65 homers which would tie him with Mark McGwire for fourth most All-Time. He would also  pass Roger Maris who hit the most ever by a Yankee in 1961.

This weekend Judge brings his Yankees into Fenway for a series against the Red Sox, culminating with a matchup on Sunday Night Baseball.

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3. Mookie Betts

 

 

Mookie Betts has been one of the best players in the National League since the All-Star Game and has a hit in eight of nine games in August.

In his last seven games Betts is batting .333 with four RBI, two steals and eight runs to add to his National League leading total of 81.

 


His Dodgers have won ten games in a row and will look to make it 13 after this weekend’s series in Kansas City against the Royals.

4. “Money” Michael Harris II

 

Michael Harris is working towards becoming the fifth Brave ever to win National League Rookie of the Year.

He helped himself this week, batting .360 with four RBI and his 10th home run of the season.

Harris is now joined by another Braves MLBbro prospect Vaughn Grissom, which gives Atlanta two of the three youngest players in the Majors.

Wednesday night fans got a taste of what could end up being one of the best outfielders in the game when Harris greeted Grissom at the plate after his first career hit and home run at Fenway Park.

 

 

5. Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins

 

Cedric Mullins has his Baltimore Orioles tied for one of the three American League Wild Card spots entering Thursday ahead of a weekend series against the team they are tied with, the Tampa Bay Rays.

In his last seven games Mullins is batting .286 with two steals.

He now has 24 steals this year and is looking to hit 30 for the second straight season.

Cedric Mullins Is Reminding Us Of Past MLBbros That Have Led The Orioles To Playoffs

 

#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Players (Week 18)

#HIGHFIVE | Top 5 Black & Brown MLB Players (Week 18)

by | Aug 13, 2021 | 6TH SLOT

Cedric Mullins continues to make history on the field as he joined seven Baltimore Orioles, including Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, Don Baylor and Paul Blair as members of the 20 home run 20 stolen base club. 

He has also been one of the hottest hitters on the planet as he has hits in 19 consecutive games after a three-hit performance in the finale of the Tigers series 

For that, he takes the top spot in Week 18 of our #High/Five list.

 

1. Cedric Mullins


The Orioles centerfielder would have a real shot an American League MVP award if he was on a winning team. 

Mullins was named as Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlights pick after eclipsing the feat. 

 

 

Over his last seven games, Mullins has an average of .345 with two home runs, three RBI, two stolen bases and seven runs scored.

“CM Storm” has climbed his way into the top four in the race for the Major League Baseball batting title, but Astros Michael Brantley still sits on top and has extended his lead over the past few days.

 

 

2. Lewis Brinson

 

Lewis Brinson was a topic of conversation on social media throughout the entire week, but what should be trending is how well he has played.

In Wednesday’s game against the Padres he showed Slam Diego fans they can hit the long ball in Miami too.

He hit two home runs, had three RBI and a walk in a Marlins victory.

 

During the 8th inning of Miami’s game against the Mets last Thursday, members of their broadcast team downplayed Brinson’s power and ability to bat out of the cleanup spot.

Well, as quickly as a SpongeBob “A few moments later” scene comes up, Brinson lined a two run double to the right field gap to ice the Marlins win. 

 

 

Brinson was 12-for-25 this week for a .480 average, three home runs, 10 RBI and three walks.  

His Marlins take on the Chicago Cubs in Sunny South Beach this weekend.

 

3. George Springer


It’s only been a few weeks since the Blue Jays began playing games in Toronto again, yet George Springer is already bigger than Drake in Canada; at least to the Rogers Centre faithful. 

 

 

Last week Springer had the top spot on our #High/Five list after earning his third career Player of the Week award, and even though he fell a few spots, he’s still raking since he came off the IL. 

Springer hit a go-ahead three run home run late in Sunday’s game to lift the Blue Jays over a Boston Red Sox team that they are battling neck-and-neck for a Wild Card spot. 

 

 

On Wednesday night, G Springs hit two home runs in Cali against the Angels, bringing his total to three on the week.

Over his last seven games Springer is batting .267 with nine runs and eight RBI. Look who’s making a late MVP run.

 

4. Tim Anderson


Tim Anderson has shown he is a Prime Time player this year, and that was exactly the case during Week 18. 

 

 

In addition to Major League Baseball’s “Field of Dreams” game Thursday which featured a matchup between the White Sox and the Yankees, the Sox had three total Prime time games this week. 

 Anderson homered on the first pitch of the first-ever Sunday Night Baseball game broadcasted live on ABC. 

Then, less than 24 hours later, T.A. played in a game broadcasted on ESPN against the Twins and would homer in the games first at bat as well.

 

 

Anderson currently sits eighth in the league in batting average.  Over his past seven games, he batted .281 with four RBI and four runs scored.

 

5. Lorenzo Cain

Since coming off of the Injured List July 27th, World Series Champion Lorenzo Cain has been finding his stride at the plate, as he has recorded a hit in 10 of his last 11 games.

 

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Cain hit an opposite field home run to extend his Brewers lead over the Cubs to 4-1 in the sixth.  

 

 

Cain decided not to play during last year’s Covid shortened season, but this year he is getting a chance to show great verteran leadership as he is a part of an outfield that includes fellow MLBbros Jackie Bradley Jr. and Tyrone Taylor.

Over his last seven games, Cain is batting .269 with five RBI, two steals and three runs scored.

This weekend Cain and his Brewers will take on Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Steel City.