Nathaniel

Lowe

Lowe’s homer was a two-run shot off Seth Lugo in the bottom of the first. He has hit fourth or fifth in every game against a right-hander since coming over from the Reds at this summer’s trade deadline. Kyle Manzardo has been at Triple-A ever since, suggesting there’s no threat to Lowe’s strong-side platoon role down the stretch.

Lowe was an offensive engine for the Guardians here. He got them on the board with a solo home run in the second, drove home another run with a single in the third, and scampered home to score on a wild pitch as they tried to mount a comeback in the eighth. In eight games since being acquired at the trade deadline, he’s gone 8-for-27 with two home runs and eight RBI.

Lowe is off to a .333/.385/.667 start in three games as a Guardian and has knocked in five runs. In this one, he took Nolan McLean out on a line drive to right for his 13th homer of the season. It’s likely he’ll remain a strong side platoon bat for the Guardians but a good first impression never hurts.

Manzardo has been limited to mostly facing right-handed starters and the Guardians are going to roll with newly acquired Nathaniel Lowe in that role at first base for the final two months. The 26-year-old former top prospect heads back to the minors after hitting .215/.306/.378 with 13 homers and 39 RBI in 356 plate appearances over 102 games this season. He’s simply not a fantasy-relevant option at first base anymore.

Lowe represents a strong depth addition for Cleveland at DH as they attempt to push some chips towards the metaphorical center of the table and make another playoff push. The 31-year-old has played mostly against right-handed starters, hitting .266/.341/.480 with 12 homers in 276 plate appearances for the Reds this season.

It’s another buzzer-beater for Cleveland as they’re adding Lowe to their first base and DH mix as a platoon option against right-handed starters. The 31-year-old has hit .266/.341/.480 with 12 homers in 276 plate appearances for the Reds this season.

Another little late boost for Lowe’s trade value. He’s hit .340/.365/.540 in 13 games to start the second half. With Luis García Jr. now off the table, teams still looking for a left-handed first base/DH type (Arizona? Cleveland?) could turn here.

Lowe strolled to the dish with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning and the score knotted at two runs apiece. He ended up hitting a slow ground ball to shortstop that resulted in an out at second base, but Lowe beat the relay throw to first to plate the winning run. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI and is now hitting .255/.332/.472 with 12 homers and 34 RBI in 262 plate appearances on the season.

Sal Stewart singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th before Lowe broke it open, giving the Reds a 5-2 lead. The Cardinals then scored just the automatic runner in the bottom of the inning. Incredibly enough, it’s Lowe’s very first three-hit game of the year. He’s been pretty good in batting .258/.333/.475 in 249 plate appearances, and he’d seem to be a particularly likely candidate to be moved before next week’s trade deadline.

The 22-year-old slugger has certainly earned a day off after hitting .251/.327/.468 with 21 homers, 75 RBI and 11 stolen bases across 449 plate appearances in what has been an extremely impressive rookie campaign. Nathaniel Lowe will start in his place at first base and will bat fifth for the Reds against Cardinals’ right-hander Kyle Leahy on Sunday.