Yainer Diaz's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz is receiving a breather in the series finale on Wednesday versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. With Diaz on the bench, Victor Caratini is behind the plate and is catching rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti while batting fifth against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. It's a normal day of rest for Diaz in the matinee affair after a night game. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a second straight strong season for the Astros, slashing .297/.323/.456 with 16 home runs, 72 RBI and 57 runs scored in a career-high 121 games as the team's primary catcher. His power has been down a bit this year, but fantasy managers can't really complain at a shallow position. Caratini has hit a solid .273 (45-for-165) in a backup role but has limited power (six homers). He's also hitting .143 in seven career at-bats against Walker.

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz played the hero in Monday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox. Diaz, who played first base and catcher, went 2-for-5 with a single, a walk-off solo home run, and a strikeout. The 25-year-old connected with a Kenley Jansen pitch and sent it off the top of the back left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Astros the win. Diaz has been a fantasy asset in the second half of the season, slashing .345/.372/.593 with seven HR and 21 RBI in 113 second-half at-bats. He should continue to be in fantasy managers' lineups at all times when he is in the lineup, given his production at a weak fantasy position.

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz helped the team take down the hosting Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Friday night's win, blasting his 11th home run of the year. Diaz added some insurance in Friday night's come-from-behind victory against Boston in the ninth inning with a two-run homer off Red Sox left-hander Cam Booser, which was a 448-foot moonshot over the Green Monster. Since the start of June, the 25-year-old hard-hitting backstop is batting .349 (73-for-209) with eight home runs, 10 doubles, 38 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his last 52 games for the Astros during his first year as Houston's everyday catcher.

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz excelled at the plate with a four-hit performance, including his 10th home run in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Diaz has put his hat in the ring as one of the best catchers in fantasy baseball this season with his .295 batting average and double-digit home runs. He's been incredibly hot at the plate in July, hitting .330 with a .350 OBP, three home runs, and 17 RBI. Diaz may not have the power stroke these other catchers have, but he makes up for it in different categories. The 25-year-old is second amongst catchers in total hits (109) and fourth in RBI (58). He's a bit of a liability in OBP leagues, with only 15 walks on the season. Still, as long as he keeps hitting in the middle of that Houston Astros order, he should provide plenty of value for fantasy managers in all league formats.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome suggests the Houston Astros could move catcher Yainer Diaz to first base, perhaps putting him in a platoon with the left-handed-hitting Jon Singleton on days he does not catch, when Victor Caratini returns from a hip-flexor strain. The Astros haven't ruled out Diaz playing first base, and he took ground balls at the position during the team's final homestand before the All-Star break. Since the team released veteran first baseman Jose Abreu, Singleton is hitting .301/.374/.411 in 83 plate appearances, but it remains to be seen if the Astros believe that is sustainable. If Houston decides to seek an upgrade at first on the trade market, Tampa Bay Rays corner infielders Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz could both be targets.