MLB Streaks & Trends: Steven Kwan Riding a Big Hot Streak

First things first, while he may not have cracked this list, congratulations to Albert Pujols for hitting his 699th and 700th career home run last night. Congratulations, Albert! Back to our regularly scheduled programming… It’s Saturday, so it’s time to grab your coffee, tea, or whatever your morning/early afternoon beverage of choice is and dive into some notable streaks and trends across Major League Baseball. Preseason fantasy baseball darling Wander Franco currently has the longest active hit streak in Major League Baseball, but guys like Steven Kwan and Vinnie Pasquantino are only a couple of games back. On the other hand, veteran sluggers Matt Olson and Giancarlo Stanton are struggling as their teams inch closer and closer to the playoffs. This is the most important time of the year for fantasy baseball, especially if you are in your league’s playoffs and pushing for that illustrious fantasy baseball championship. Let’s take a look at some of the notable hit streaks and current trends across Major League Baseball.

MLB Streaks and Trends

MLB Stat Leaders

MLB Hit Streaks

Who’s Hot

Steven Kwan, CLE

Just like the beginning of the season, Kwan is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. If you think his .348 average over his last 15 games is impressive, you should see his .444 average, and .487 OBP over his last seven games. He’s in the midst of a seven-game hit streak, and I get shades of Michael Brantley with Kwan, in that the power may be slightly underwhelming, but he should run a little bit and hit for a great average. He has no major split disadvantages, and he’s hitting atop a lineup that is pushing to be talked about in the American League Playoffs.

Willy Adames, MIL

Not only has Adames hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games, but during this run, he’s slashed .357/.455/.732 with five home runs and three stolen bases. This most recent run has pushed him up to 31 home runs on the year, making him one of just two (Corey Seager) shortstops to have 30+ home runs this season, and if he is just two stolen bases away from being in the 30/10 club, and there are only three players (Ohtani, Betts, Judge) in that exclusive club. The batting average may only sit in the mid-.240s, but it’s hard to argue with everything else that Adames has done, and he’s white hot at one of the most important times of the year for fantasy baseball managers.

Vinnie Pasquantino, KC

Over his last seven games, Pasquantino is hitting .423 with a .538 SLG, and this recent stretch has brought his season marks up to .273/.361/.792. The 24-year-old has punished left-handed pitching this season, when given the opportunity, and he looks poised to be a regular for Kansas City in 2023. Since returning from the injured list from shoulder discomfort, Pasquantino has hit .317 in the month of September, but he has yet to homer this month. His power may be sapped the rest of the way, but he should still be able to hit for a good average for fantasy baseball managers down the stretch.

Who’s Not

Matt Olson, ATL

It’s been a rough go of things for Matt Olson of late, as he’s just 6-for-56 with 20 strikeouts over his last 15 games. The power was decent for him in August, as he hit six home runs in 111 at-bats, but in September, it’s been a completely different story. In 72 at-bats this month, he has just two extra-base hits, one of which was a home run, and the other was a double. He’s punched out 26 times in 72 at-bats this month, which comes out to a 36.1 percent strikeout rate. Yikes.

Hunter Renfroe, MIL

What does Renfroe do well? He crushes lefties, and while his batting average may be higher against right-handers (.251) than lefties (.234) this season, that same story can’t be said for his entire career. The team has faced nine straight right-handed starters, and Renfroe is hitting just .194 with a 29.3 percent strikeout rate during this stretch. While he’s hitting .251 on the year against southpaws, he’s hitting just .234 against righties since the start of August, not to mention a .699 OPS and 95 wRC+

Giancarlo Stanton, NYY

The Yankees need Stanton to help Aaron Judge in this lineup, and of late, Stanton hasn’t done it. Sure, he’s homered in two of his last four games, but over his last nine games, aside from those two home runs, he has a .167 average, 82 wRC+ and a whopping 43.9 percent strikeout rate! During the same aforementioned stretch, Stanton has a 59.7 percent contact rate, and a 16.8 percent swinging strike rate. The Yankees are going to need him to be more consistent down the stretch and throughout October if they want to make a run at the World Series trophy.

Statistical Credits:

• baseballsavant.mlb.com
• fangraphs.com
• baseballmusings.com

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Related MLB Links:

• Fantasy Baseball Daily Round-Up
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• Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch
• 2022 MLB Injury Reports