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Young hit safely in all seven games and compiled five straight multi-hit games to close out the week with a .448 average (13-for-29). On top of that, the 24-year-old hit three homers and drove in 10 runs in Minnesota's weekend sweep of Kansas City. Kubel finished the final week of the regular season 11-for-26 (.423 AVG) with two doubles and four multi-hit games. On Sunday, he smashed two home runs and drove in six runs in a 13-4 win over the Royals to help the Twins force a tiebreaker game with the Tigers to decide the AL Central.
Kubel has driven in runs in four straight games, and seems to be turning it on down the stretch. He's 9-for-18 (.500) over his last five games, and should see plenty of run production opportunities from the cleanup spot as the Twins continue their late charge in the AL Central.
Kubel celebrated his first two-hit night in over 10 days by crossing home more than once for the first time since back on Aug. 22. The hard-hitting lefty has hit nearly 30 points worse and left the yard five times less in the second half than he did before the All-Star Break, but overall he's helped mixed-leaguers out with a .303 average, 23 home runs and 84 RBIs on the year, all career highs.
Kubel's homer was his 23rd of the season, and a nice signal that he is ready to get back into action and continue building on what has been a breakout season. This is good news for fantasy owners, who can slot Kubel back into their lineups, and likely bad news for Carlos Gomez, who drew his second straight start in center on Monday but will likely shift back to a fourth outfielder role with Kubel's return.
Kubel hurt his neck while taking swings in the batting cage before the game, giving the outfielder a crick in his neck. Denard Span shifted from center field to right to cover for Kubel, and Carlos Gomez was inserted into the lineup as the center fielder. It's unclear whether Kubel will return to the starting lineup Monday, when the Twins open a three-game set vs. the Indians.
Kubel is 10-for-19 (.526) during his current six-game hitting streak, and has quietly put together a terrific season in Minny. His 22 homers and 79 RBIs are already career highs, and he is reaching base at a solid .381 clip. Although the 27-year-old continues to fly under the radar somewhat, his .302-22-79 line will play in any fantasy format.
Kubel has set new career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (79) -- and he still has a month to play. Batting behind the MVP-caliber duo of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer certainly can't hurt.
With just over a month left in the season, it's safe to say that Kubel's career-highs in homers (20), RBIs (78), walks (47) and at-bats (463) are due to fall by the wayside. The 27-year-old's balky left knee has always been the main obstacle keeping him from tapping into his full potential, but it hasn't been a problem for the veteran batsman this year, who is hitting .300 with 20 homers, 72 RBIs and 43 walks.
Kubel brought his average back up to .307 and raised his RBI total to 71, just seven shy of his career total. Keep starting the sweet-swinging lefty when he faces right-handers, against whom he sports a sizzling .337 average and .610 slugging percentage.
Brendan Harris stepped in to finish the at-bat and struck out, with the K being charged to Kubel's ledger. Kubel was later diagnosed with a left knee bruise and was listed as day-to-day. The knee was still swollen after the game, and Kubel said he'd have to see how he feels when he arrives at the ballpark on Wednesday to determine whether or not he can play.
Kubel's next bomb will set a new career mark for the 27-year-old mauler. With the way he's raking in August, he shouldn't have to wait too long. In the current month, Kubel is tearing things up, ripping at a sizzling .381 clip with five extra-base hits and 10 ribbies.
Make that six straight games in which Kubel has hit safely. He continued to feed off right-handed pitching on Saturday. He has a .339 batting average against righties vs. a meager .211 figure off left-handers.
Kubel has four homers in nine games since the All-Star break to give him 11 long balls on the road. He looks primed to top the career-high 20 homers he drilled last year, and his .315 batting average his by far a career-best mark. The 27-year-old is yet another example of those who see a maturation at the plate at that particular age.
The long ball came off right-hander Jered Weaver, continuing an all-too-familiar pattern in which Kubel crushes righties (.352 AVG, .657 SLG) and struggles vs. lefties (.203, .291). Fortunately, there are many more right-handed pitchers in the Majors. Thursday's performance left the DH with a .312 average, 17 homers and 55 RBIs.
Kubel's big season is flying under the radar somewhat, both because of his low media profile in Minnesota and because his playing time has been held captive by a very dramatic platoon split. Kubel's 16th homer of the season was just his first off a lefty, and he's hitting .205 (15-for-73) against southpaws vs. .359 (75-for-209) against righties. Kubel is worthy of a mixed-league spot, regardless, but he will lose at-bats in Minnesota's crowded outfield mix until he can improve his performance against lefties.
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