Stock Up, Stock Down: Mariners, Padres, Giants, Phillies

fantasy baseball outfielders — SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 11: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his home run during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at T-Mobile Park on September 11, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Stock Up: Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners

There is no team hotter than the Seattle Mariners right now and there is no player hotter than their star outfielder Julio Rodriguez.

Forget about an American League Wild Card spot, the Mariners are closing in on the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros in the West while holding onto the third and final Wild Card spot over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners had their eight-game winning streak snapped by the Chicago White Sox, but Rodriguez remains as hot as any player.

In his last seven games, he’s slashing .556/.590/.806 with 20 hits, two home runs, nine RBI, and six stolen bases. In a three-game sweep of the Astros, he had nine hits, scored four runs, and collected 13 total bases in 16 at-bats. Tensions were rising in the series and Rodriguez was a peacemaker to make sure nothing happened.

Hotter than the sun.@JRODshow44 is the AL Player of the Week! 🔱

🔗 https://t.co/u4OrgJdmSA pic.twitter.com/tNyuMd1DH2
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 21, 2023

He got some time off against the White Sox, but he is playing a big part in the Mariners’ resurgence. After looking like the AL East was going to get three teams in the postseason, there is a good chance that the AL West does. The division race between the Rangers, Astros, and Mariners is going to be good theater in September.