Sorare MLB GW23 Breakdown | No Time Like Shotime
Welcome to the Sorare MLB Game Week 23 Breakdown!
My goal for these slate breakdowns is to create an all-in-one place for users to get an overview of each Game Week and use that information to pinpoint marketplace inefficiencies and construct a winning team.
I will be focusing on the Limited tier cards when referencing market prices as this is where the majority of Sorare users will be playing, and where there is the most liquid market.
Also, follow me on Twitter @Hunter_Himself!
Let’s dive in!
⏪ Game Week Rewind
George Kirby led the way in GW22 by a healthy margin, striking out 10 Marlins over six shutout innings.
It was a season high for Kirby, who is typically known for his league leading walk-rate (1.9%) rather than his strikeout rate (22%).
Another name to note here would be rookie Eury Perez, who has looked very impressive to start his career.
He hadn’t been going to deep into games but did crack a season-high 93 pitches in this outing against Seattle.
A.J. Minter made three appearances in this GW, striking out 4 while earning 2 holds and one save.
Detroit put up a fight in this series, notably walking off Monday’s game in the 10th inning, then combining for 12 runs in the next two games.
The Tigers forced Atlanta to turn to their pen often in this game.
Relievers Michael Tonkin and Collin McHugh finished 7th and 8th on this list as well with 36 and 35 Sorare points, respectively.
We saw some big names at the top of the hitters leaderboard this week, most notably Shohei Ohtani, who cracked the century mark with four total homers in the Angels’ series with the Rangers.
Shotime is knocking at the door of Pete Alonso for the league-lead in home runs (22).
We should also note the big games from the nine and one hitters from the Braves here in Harris and Acuña.
Atlanta should keep it rolling with a great matchup versus Colorado on tap, which I will talk about more later.
📋 Roster Movements
In:
Alex Wood - Likely to return from IL to start Saturday’s game vs. Dodgers
Out:
Vinnie Pasquantino - Out for the season, will undergo shoulder surgery
Salvador Perez - Day to day after being hit by pitch on left pinky
Mitch Haniger - Will undergo surgery to repair right forearm
Max Muncy - Has left hamstring strain, hopeful to be back Saturday
Ryan Mountcastle - Placed on the 10-day IL with vertigo
Brandon Belt - Placed on 10-day IL Tuesday with left hamstring inflammation
Jesse Chavez - Placed on 15-day IL after being hit by comebacker on shin
Lance McCullers - Out for the season, underwent flexor tendon surgery
🔎 Multi Game Monitor
All teams play three games!
⚾️ Pitching Primer
Joe Ryan vs DET
Although the Tigers somehow gave Spencer Strider some trouble this past game week, including three homers in the first inning from Spencer Torkelson, Miguel Cabrera, and Eric Haase, this remains one of the best matchups for right handed pitching.
Detroit still has the eighth-highest K% (24.1%), third-worst ISO (.131), and the worst wOBA (.292).
Ryan is 14th in strikeout rate (27.3%), 7th in walk-rate (4.9%), but has dropped down to 25th in xFIP.
He hasn’t been as sharp in his last several starts, but the Tigers seem to always be a get-well spot for opposing pitchers.
Limited Price: ~$15
Logan Gilbert vs CHW
Speaking of guys who weren’t good in their last start, Logan Gilbert looks like a prime candidate to bounce-back against the White Sox this weekend.
In his previous start, Gilbert threw just 58 pitches while surrendering six runs to the Angels, including homers to Taylor Ward and Zach Neto.
The matchup against Chicago is neutral, if not positive, with the Sox striking out at a league average rate (22.9%). They are also bottom-ten in both ISO (.151), and wOBA (.297).
Gilbert remains extremely underrated with a 27.1 strikeout rate and 3.44 xFIP.
Limited Price: ~$10
Other Starters Include:
~$29 Kevin Gausman vs TEX
~$28 Zac Gallen vs CLE
~$8 Michael Kopech at SEA
~$9 James Paxton vs NYY
~$9 Charlie Morton vs COL
~$8 Jesus Luzardo at WSH
~$16 Bryce Miller vs CHW
~$23 Hunter Brown vs CIN
~$37 Shane McClanahan at SDP
~$13 Jon Gray vs TOR
📞 Call To The Bullpen
Since all teams play three games this week, our best bet is to target series’ we think can stay competitive throughout the weekend.
Series’ I think can stay close:
NYY/BOS, TOR/TEX, PIT/MIL, SFG/LAD
Closer Options:
~$3 Clay Holmes
~$6 Kenley Jansen
~$13 Jordan Romano
~$10 Will Smith
~$10 David Bednar
~$7 Devin Williams
~$12 Camilo Doval
~$4 Evan Phillips
💰 Stacks
Braves
The Braves were the obvious stack last week and unsurprisingly came through against the Tigers pitching staff.
This week they head back home to face an even worse pitching staff in the Rockies.
Atlanta should see Dinelson Lamet, Connor Seabold, and Chase Anderson
The Red Sox weren’t able to put up as much runs as we were hoping for in GW22, but I think that’s more of a testament to Boston’s offense underperforming rather than Colorado pitching suddenly becoming good.
Also, do not sleep on Michael Harris Jr. in your Braves stacks even though he typically hits in the 9-hole.
~$164 Ronald Acuña Jr.
~$30 Matt Olson
~$36 Austin Riley
~$30 Ozzie Albies
~$10 Sean Murphy
~$25 Michael Harris Jr.
Phillies
If you want a hot offense, look no further than the Philadelphia Phillies.
Over the last two weeks they are seventh in ISO (.193), third in wOBA (.353), and fifth in wRC+ (121).
Philly will face J.P. Sears, James Kaprielian, and Hogan Harris at the Oakland Coliseum.
Harris has looked much better after his disastrous debut against the Mets, but this is still one of the least-threatening trios to toe the rubber this weekend.
~$22 Kyle Schwarber
~$44 Trea Turner
~$14 Nick Castellanos
~$44 Bryce Harper
~$12 JT Realmuto
Other Stacks To Consider:
Yankees, Twins, Rangers, Angels
Value Options (Under $20):
Middle Infielder:
~$16 Jonathan India, ~$19 Oneil Cruz, ~$13 Daulton Varsho, ~$14 Jeremy Peña, ~$18 Edouard Julien, ~$14 Carlos Correa
Corner Infielder:
~$18 Ketel Marte, ~$19 Luis Arraez, ~$13 Isaac Paredes, ~$14 Gary Sanchez, ~$19 Alex Bregman, ~$19 Bryan Reynolds, ~$9 Ryan Noda
Outfielder:
~$7 Jo Adell, ~$10 Michael Conforto, ~$17 Steven Kwan, ~$14 Riley Greene, ~$9 Marcell Ozuna, ~$14 Christian Yelich
There you have it, the Sorare MLB Slate Breakdown for Game Week 23.
All statistics referenced in this newsletter were pulled from Fangraphs.
I will be releasing these every Monday and Friday prior to lineup lock to help you all with preparing for the slate and setting your teams.
I hope to see everyone at the top of the leaderboards.
Thanks for reading!