Mesa homers for lone Rays run against Braves

After Javier Sanjoa tied the game with a two-run double against Tanner Scott, Ramírez hit for Joe Mack and greeted Brock Stewart with a monster blast beyond the left field fence. Going into Sunday’s action, the 25-year-old was just 2-for-21 to begin September. It has been a disappointing year for Ramírez, but this is one to build off as he attempts to reestablish his value.

Scott inherited a 4-2 lead to begin the ninth inning, but Xavier Edwards and Jacob Marsee reached on singles to begin the frame before Javier Sanoja brought them home with a two-run double. The southpaw was replaced by Brock Stewart, who gave up the go-ahead two-run homer to Agustín Ramírez. For Scott, this was his second blown save of the month. He had just two blown saves for the year coming into the month. It will be interesting to see how the closer situation shakes out with Edwin Díaz nearing his return.

All of the damage came via a massive home run from Josue De Paula in the fourth inning. He struck out five and walked a pair while inducing 13 swinging strikes in 96 pitches. This one was better than his previous three outings, both in terms of his velocity and control. Still, due to his workload, he feels like a bit of a dice roll in fantasy moving forward. The red-hot Padres are up next.

After striking out 10 batters in his return to the majors on Monday, Sheehan feasted in a favorable matchup. He gave up just two hits — both of them singles — while walking one and striking out five. He induced 14 swinging strikes in his 81 pitches while getting multiple whiffs on all four of his pitches. Unfortunately, the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Nevertheless, it was another impressive outing for someone who was regarded as a breakout candidate in fantasy leagues coming into the year. This doesn’t make up for the disappointment earlier in the year, but Sheehan is back on the radar. If the Dodgers decide to keep him in the rotation, it would likely be against the Giants next weekend.

The Marlins were held scoreless until Lopez delivered a bases-loaded single with two outs in the eighth. They would go on to win it in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth. Lopez is coming off a brutal August, but he’s hitting .363 (16-for-44) to begin September.

Realmuto put the Phillies on the board with a two-run homer off Grant Holmes in the second inning. He then led off the fifth with a double before driving in a third run with a base hit in the eighth. The 35-year-old backstop is hitting .223/.296/.358 with 11 homers, 50 runs scored, and 49 RBI across 425 plate appearances.

And what a way to do it, as the top prospect sliugger crushed a pitch from Eury Pérez into the second deck in right field. The moonshot traveled an estimated 416 feet, with an exit velocity of 108.2 mph. The 21-year-old also doubled in the sixth inning. The display of raw power on the home run was impressive — and tantalizing for fantasy mangers — as we look to the home stretch and beyond, but he’s also worked four walks to start his brief MLB career. We’d expect the usual ups-and-downs for a rookie hitter, but his potential is off the charts.

Olson had been cold at the dish over the last two weeks. After snapping a 14-game home run drought on Friday, he had his first multi-hit game since August 25 on Sunday against the Phillies. He started with a base hit in the first inning, then drove in a run on a single in the seventh. Olson then hit his second home run in three days with a two-run blast in the ninth. The 32-year-old slugger is up to 39 homers, 96 runs scored, and 85 RBI across 650 plate appearances.

Painter gave up a run in the first inning on two hits and a sacrifice fly. He recovered with a scoreless second and went on to keep the Braves off the board for another three innings, ending his day after five with three strikeouts. He scattered six hits and four walks. The 23-year-old right-hander will take a 5.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 100/43 K/BB ratio across 115 1/3 innings into a start against the Mets in New York on Saturday.

After a scoreless first inning, Holmes surrendered a two-run homer to J.T. Realmuto in the second. He recovered with two more scoreless innings before departing after four frames. He did not record a strikeout. The 30-year-old right-hander will carry a 3.49 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 110/59 K/BB ratio across 141 2/3 innings into a start against the Astros in Houston next weekend.