Following a 31 HR season in 2025, Brandon Lowe (pronounced “Lau”, for those confused by the title) was brought in by Pittsburgh to provide some power at a position that has been lacking for the team since the departure of hometown hero Neil Walker in 2016. Lowe endeared himself to Pirates fans in a big way on Opening Day, hitting two HRs against the Mets and he replicated that effort with another multi-homer day on Sunday against the Cubs, going 2-4 with 2 HRs, 2 R, 5 RBI and a walk. Batting with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Lowe hit a high fly ball to right field that would have been an out on a normal day, but with the wind blowing at Wrigley it snuck over the wall for a grand slam to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead. The 31-year-old followed it up with a 108.5 mph, 444-foot rocket that needed needed no help from the wind. With his season total now up to five, Lowe leads all MLB second baseman in HRs and is rewarding the Pirates front office for their efforts to improve the team’s offense.
Let’s see how the other hitters did on Sunday:
Kevin McGonigle (DET): 3-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
Former Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara’s immaculate recent form did not phase Kevin McGonigle heading into Sunday’s matchup, as the Detroit rookie managed three hits, including the first HR of his young career. The Tigers top prospect is now hitting .322/.412/.508 over his first 59 MLB at-bats and his 11.7 Whiff % is in the 97th percentile.
Nolan Schanuel (LAA): 2-3, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB.
Former first-round pick Nolan Schanuel got on base four times and recorded three RBI in backing another stellar José Soriano start for a 9-6 win for the Angels. Schanuel will never hit for a ton of power and isn’t particularly flashy, but his career 11.3 BB% and 14.8 K% make him a pesky out for opposing pitchers.
James Wood (WSH): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB.
Nationals star James Wood did a little bit of everything to help the team to an 8-6 win over Milwaukee on Sunday, hitting his fifth HR and stealing home on a double-steal in the seventh inning. Wood’s Barrel%, Hard-Hit% and Bat Speed are all in the 97th percentile and he has also made some slight improvements in BB% (12.3% in 2025 to 14.9% in 2026) and K% (32.1% in 2025 to 28.4% in 2026).
Brice Turang (MIL): 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.
Brice Turang showed off his power on Sunday, hitting two HRs for Milwaukee out of the leadoff spot. The budding star hit 18 HRs in 2025 after hitting 13 combined in the previous two seasons and it looks like the power surge of last year was no fluke. After stealing 50 bases in 2024, his total dropped off to 24 last season, however he already has five on the young season, good for top ten in baseball.
Willson Contreras (BOS): 4-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Facing his old team, Willson Contreras hit his third HR of the season in a four-hit day to lead Boston to a 9-3 victory over St. Louis. Contreras has shown no issues adjusting to the American League, as his Bat Speed is still in the 93rd percentile and he is also walking at a career-high 16.4% clip, resulting in a .302/.448/.509 line.
Dansby Swanson (CHC): 1-2, HR, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB.
Dansby Swanson continued his career domination of the Pirates, hitting his second HR of the season and using his speed to score twice on a pair of Pittsburgh defensive gaffes. Swanson is still hitting just .163/.311/.306 on the season and is not worth rostering in fantasy until he can turn it around, especially hitting down at the end of the Chicago lineup.
Ty France (SD): 3-3, HR, 2B, 3 R, RBI.
Ty France had a near perfect day at the plate, coming up a triple short of the cycle in the Padres’ 7-2 win over Colorado. France blasted a 427-foot shot to center for his first HR of the season in the fourth inning and is now hitting a strong .286/.375/.571.
Casey Schmitt (SF): 3-4, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Casey Schmitt’s defensive woes at first base have been well documented this season (especially by Matt Chapman), but the 27-year old has certainly hit the ball well. Schmitt went three for four with his first HR of the season and is now hitting .368/.429/.579 across 42 plate appearances in 2026.
Josh Jung (TEX): 2-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB.
Despite a slight injury scare, Josh Jung has been hitting the ball well lately for the Rangers and was on base four times in their 5-2 win over the Dodgers on Sunday. Over his last seven games he is hitting .400/.500/.450 with more walks than strikeouts and Texas is hoping he can recreate his 2023 success when he had a 114 wRC+ and 23 HRs.
Jorge Mateo (ATL): 4-4, 2 R, RBI.
Jorge Mateo is making it hard for Atlanta to keep him out of the lineup after going a perfect four for four in the team’s 13-1 blowout of the Guardians on Sunday Night Baseball. The former top prospect has done an admirable job filling in for the injured Ha-Seong Kim, hitting .467/.500/.733 with a HR and a stolen base in 16 plate appearances.
