Manny Machado Heats Up at the Plate, Turning Around His Season

Manny Machado is turning around his season at the plate, with a .307 average, 7 homers, and 1.069 OPS since June 20.

What happened?

Manny Machado, the Padres' seven-time All-Star, has been struggling this season, but he's finally found his form. On June 20, he launched a go-ahead three-run homer at Globe Life Field in extras, marking the beginning of his hot streak. Over the next 96 hours, he hit a solo shot in a 1-0 win over the Braves, and then ripped a walk-off hit against Braves All-Star Raisel Iglesias.

Why it matters for Manny Machado

Machado's improvement is crucial for the Padres, who are struggling to score runs this season. With a .290 on-base percentage, a .418 slugging percentage, and a 22.3% strikeout rate, Machado has been a disappointment so far. However, his recent performance suggests that he's getting back to his All-Star form.

What comes next?

Machado's approach to hitting has changed since June 20. He's been hunting heaters, and his results have been impressive. Against fastballs, he's batting .450 and slugging .925, with a third-best whiff rate in the Majors. However, this approach comes with a tradeoff, as Machado's whiff rate on non-fastballs has increased.

Machado's success against fastballs can be attributed to his improved launch angle. Prior to June 20, his launch angle sat at 11 degrees, but it's since climbed up to 13. This change has resulted in a significant drop in his ground-ball rate on pitches in the heart of the zone, from 40.5% to 14.3.

As the second half of the season gets underway, it will be interesting to see if Machado can maintain his hot streak. Will pitchers adjust their approach to Machado, or will he continue to thrive against fastballs? Only time will tell.

The Padres' offense has been struggling this season, with 379 runs scored and a .672 OPS. However, with Machado's improvement, there's hope that the team can turn things around. If Machado can maintain his All-Star form, it would make a world of difference for the Padres, who are unsure whether they'll be buyers or sellers at the Deadline.

Machado's recent performance has been impressive, and it's clear that he's getting back to his All-Star form. With his improved launch angle and increased success against fastballs, Machado is a player to watch in the second half of the season.

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