MLB Team of the Week: David Ortiz, Hisashi Iwakuma and David Peralta Star
Another week of MLB action is in the books, which means it's time for a fresh installment of Bleacher Report's Team of the Week.
In case you're new to the party, these are the players (one per position, plus a designated hitter) who have busted box scores over the past seven days. Forget their overall stats. We're judging them solely on what they accomplished between August 7 and August 13.
To qualify, a player needs at least two starts at the position in question or, for pitchers, at least one start. Speaking of which, we're only considering starting hurlers—sorry, relievers.
Finally, we award bonus points if a strong individual performance led to notches in the win column—because as the playoff races come into focus, that's what it's all about.
Catcher: Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
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The Cleveland Indians went 4-2 this week but remain buried in last place in the American League Central.
Still, catcher Yan Gomes—who went 8-for-21 with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI—isn't ready to throw in the towel.
"I can tell you right now, we're still going to battle our butts off and we’re not mathematically out," Gomes told Chris Assenheimer of Ohio's Chronicle-Telegram. "...We're going to battle and see where we end up at the end of the year."
Honorable Mention
J.T. Realmuto (MIA): Like Cleveland, the Miami Marlins are well out of the playoff picture. But the Fish closed out the week with a modest three-game winning streak, and backstop J.T. Realmuto chipped in with seven hits in 18 at-bats, including a double, a triple and a home run.
First Base: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
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While most playoff hopefuls are locked in tight races, the Royals went 5-2 this week and have established a comfortable 11-game cushion in the AL Central.
Eric Hosmer led the offensive charge, pacing all first basemen with nine RBI and clubbing two home runs and three doubles among his eight hits.
Honorable Mention
Ryan Zimmerman (WAS): After a three-game skid to close out the week, the Washington Nationals are now just two games over .500 and staring up at the New York Mets in the NL East. But don't blame Ryan Zimmerman. He went 9-for-26 with four doubles, two home runs and six RBI.
Second Base: Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Neil Walker capped off the week in style, going 3-for-5 and falling a home run shy of the cycle in a 10-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
In all, Walker tallied eight hits in 23 at-bats, including a double, two triples and a dinger. And the Bucs held onto the National League's top wild-card spot, though they still sit six games back of the Cards in the NL Central.
Honorable Mention
Dee Gordon (MIA): Dee Gordon, who was a regular Team of the Week honoree early in the season, warrants mention after going 8-for-24 with a triple, a home run and five RBI.
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Third Base: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
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The Baltimore Orioles went 2-4 and slipped to fourth place in the AL East this week, but they're still fluttering around the jam-packed AL wild-card picture.
They could use more weeks like this one from Manny Machado, who went 11-for-27 with two doubles and a home run.
Remember, Machado suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2013 and 2014, both of which required surgery. The 23-year-old is playing like he's all the way back, but his body says otherwise.
"I still don’t feel like myself," he said, per SI.com's Emma Span. "My muscles are still not 100 percent back to where they need to be strength-wise."
As Span noted, "Just think what Machado might do when he finishes healing."
Honorable Mention
Matt Carpenter (STL): Matt Carpenter kept his quietly excellent season rolling, going 8-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
Shortstop: Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds
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In June, Eugenio Suarez got the call to replace injured shortstop Zack Cozart. This week, Suarez got another promotion of sorts, as skipper Bryan Price moved him into the No. 2 spot in the Cincinnati Reds lineup.
"I think he's earned the opportunity to go up there and get some more at-bats at the top of the lineup and help set the table," Price said, per C. Trent Rosecrans of Cincinnati.com.
Suarez responded like a middle-of-the-order bat, going 8-for-23 with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBI and posting an eye-popping 1.183 OPS for the week.
Honorable Mention
Francisco Lindor (CLE): Francisco Lindor hit safely in every game this week, going 11-for-23 overall with four RBI and leading all shortstops with a .478 average.
Left Field: David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks
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David Peralta has been swinging a ridiculously hot stick for a while now, and he kept it going this week, rapping out 13 hits in 21 at-bats with two doubles, a home run and 10 RBI.
Peralta's been so good, in fact, that we'll forgive ArizonaSports.com's Chris Courtney for suggesting he's "Superman wielding a baseball bat infused with lightning and god particles."
Really, that's as good an explanation as any.
Honorable Mention
Michael Brantley (CLE): Five of Michael Brantley's 11 hits this week were two-baggers, and he added six RBI.
Center Field: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
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The competition was stiff in center field this week (see our honorable mention), but Andrew McCutchen gets the Team of the Week nod.
The former NL MVP was in vintage form, cracking three doubles, a triple and two home runs among his 10 hits and collecting nine RBI.
He's also good at impressions, if that does anything for you.
Honorable Mention
Lorenzo Cain (KC): We despise ties here at Bleacher Report, but Lorenzo Cain tempted us, going 13-for-24 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI.
OK, fine. It's a tie.
Right Field: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays might never lose again. And while it's easy to heap credit for their sudden invincibility on newcomers Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, Toronto had some pretty nice players before the trade deadline.
Like Jose Bautista, who went 8-for-23 with a double and three big flies as the Jays took over first place in the AL East.
Honorable Mention
Nelson Cruz (SEA): Nelson Cruz made the most of his six hits this week, blasting three home runs and a double, though he sat out Wednesday's game with neck spasms, per ESPN.com.
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
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In an otherwise dismal season, David Ortiz keeps giving Boston Red Sox fans a reason to tune in.
Big Papi—who will turn 40 in November—went 10-for-19 with a double, four home runs and eight RBI this week and is now just nine long balls shy of 500 for his career.
That won't pull the Red Sox out of last place or negate the taste of bitter disappointment in Beantown, but it can't hurt.
Honorable Mention
Kendrys Morales (KC): Kendrys Morales went 7-for-26, good for just a .269 average, but he hit three doubles and a home run, good for a .500 slugging percentage.
Pitcher: Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
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Hisashi Iwakuma threw the fourth no-hitter of 2015, with nine stellar frames against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old right-hander also became just the fifth pitcher in Seattle Mariners history to author a no-no and the second Japanese-born pitcher (after Hideo Nomo) to accomplish the feat in the major leagues.
And he gave the Mariners faithful a reason to cheer in what has been a mostly dreary season.
"I felt the fans a lot," Iwakuma told Root Sports' Jen Mueller through a translator, moments after getting showered by a Gatorade bucket. "The fans deserve it. Thank you, fans."
Honorable Mention
Johnny Cueto (KC): Johnny Cueto was dominant in his third start for the Royals, surrendering four hits and striking out eight in nine shutout innings against the Tigers.
All statistics current as of August 13 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
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