Yandy

Díaz

Díaz is back at DH and hitting leadoff, as expected, following an early exit from Sunday’s contest against the Diamondbacks with a left shoulder strain. It doesn’t appear to be a significant concern for the 34-year-old on-base machine, who has been at the epicenter of Tampa Bay’s stellar first half along with young slugger Junior Caminero. It’s a situation fantasy managers should closely monitor, but it doesn’t seem like Díaz is going to wind up missing any game action for now.

Diaz was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Diamondbacks with a left shoulder strain. The 34-year-old told reporters that he has managed a similar issue previously, and that while he’s “hurting a bit” he expects to be ready for Tuesday’s game in Kansas City. Fantasy managers should be encouraged that Díaz has a chance to go, but should be ready for an alternative.

Díaz was seen heading into the tunnel with the training staff following his at-bat in the fifth inning, then he was lifted for a pinch hitter the next time his spot in the lineup came around. He’s considered day-to-day. Before exiting, the 34-year-old slugger had been 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

All this guy does is hit. He had singles in each of his final four at-bats and the first two of which helped spur Rays’ rallies in both the third and fourth innings. With them, he brought his average up to .332 which is the highest mark in the American League. He also has 12 home runs and a .926 OPS in what’s been another outstanding season

Díaz provided Tampa Bay’s lone run during a low-scoring affair at Tropicana Field when he smashed a 102.2 mph double off the left-field wall against Royals starter Michael Wacha in the fifth inning. The 34-year-old on-base machine has put together a phenomenal campaign, slashing .326/.407/.511 with 38 runs scored, 12 homers, 50 RBI and one steal in 72 games.

Díaz is now 313 plate appearances into his age-34 season while posting the second-highest wRC+ of his career. There was some concern entering the year about how he’d readjust to Tropicana Field after enjoying Steinbrenner Field last summer. However, he simply remains one of the best pure hitters in the majors. Díaz popped a career-high 25 homers last season, but he’s already at 12 with a higher slugging percentage than a season ago.

Díaz already has four three-hit games this month. He leads the AL and is fourth in the majors with a .331 average. He’s fourth in both the AL and the majors with a .940 OPS.

Díaz greeted Red Sox lefty Connelly Early with a leadoff homer before tacking on a key insurance run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly. It was his 12th long ball of the season. The 34-year-old on-base machine has put together one of the strongest stretches of his career recently, hitting .319 (37-for-116) with eight homers and 24 RBI over his last 30 games. He’s hitting .429 (12-for-28) over his last seven games alone.

It took the Rays eight innings to finally scratch across a run in what was mostly a bullpen game for the Marlins. Díaz knocked the lid off the basket with an RBI double and chipped in another run-scoring single in the ninth as their rally fell just short. Nevertheless, his .326 batting average leads the American League and his 11 home runs already are on pace for a career-high.

Díaz led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer off Reid Detmers, continuing his power binge after Friday’s two-homer contest. He later singled and scored in the fifth. The 34-year-old slugger is up to 11 homers and 37 RBI while hitting .317/.396/.538 across 227 plate appearances.