Sorare MLB GW34 Breakdown | Court Is Back In Session
I’m not fond of the word “podcast”.
Probably because of the joke that everyone with any sort of fan base or public image has started up a podcast within the last ten years or so.
And while the word podcast can be cringy, I understand why the medium has been so desirable for people, especially now that I started one (Although I prefer the term “YouTube Show 😎).
The main draw is, of course, the ability to have full creative control of the content, but other hidden side effects I’ve found include: Hearing different people’s perspective on things, practicing the art of conversation/storytelling, and establishing a significant network.
Storytelling is a big part of the creative process.
During my chat with Ryan, aka BorowskiDaChef, I was curious to learn about how his experience with physical cards translated to his curiosity and strategy with digital Sorare cards.
When I spoke with Talor Meyer this week I learned that he works in crypto and has been to almost every MLB stadium, leading me to connect the dots to how that leads to Sorare MLB.
The journey has been a fun one so far.
You just won’t hear me referring to the show as a podcast.
Let’s dive into GW34!
⏪ Game Week Rewind
Shohei Ohtani led the way in GW33 with an 8-strikeout, complete-game shutout of the Tigers on Thursday.
He followed this up by hitting two homers in the latter game of the Angels’ doubleheader.
Unfortunately for Sorare managers, Ohtani’s cards can only be played at either the pitcher or hitter slot, not both.
Devin Williams made an effort to finish first again, but it was Cubs’ closer Adbert Alzolay that took the crown with back-to-back saves against the White Sox.
Blue Jays' reliever Jay Jackson earned bronze by earning a couple appearances, including one win, as the Jays took two out of three games against the Dodgers.
Also, Nick Pivetta once again worked as the bulk reliever for the Red Sox and had another successful outing despite facing the tough Atlanta offense.
It was a low-scoring game week across the board as only one hitter breached 65 Sorare points.
Carlos Santana was just traded to the Brewers, but not before the 37-year old showcased he still has the ability to hit three homers in a game week.
Also, the Cubs made for an awesome stack this week.
Dansby Swanson finished just outside the top-5 and could have been paired with Nico Hoerner and Christopher Morel for a solid 3-man.
White Sox pitching has been #Bad and they just traded away Lucas Giolito.
📋 Roster Movements
In:
Aaron Judge - Should be activated off IL prior to Friday’s game vs. Baltimore
Yordan Alvarez - Activated off IL and was in Astros’ lineup Wednesday
Jose Urquidy - Should be activated off IL next week
Zach Neto - Returned to Angels’ lineup Thursday, hasn’t played since Friday
Kyle Freeland - Returning from dislocating right shoulder, should start Friday
Ramon Laureano - Returned from IL this week, should be in A’s lineup this weekend
Out:
Juan Soto - Day to day with right middle finger injury
Yandy Diaz - Day to day with left groin tightness, didn’t play Wednesday
Zach Eflin - Left Wednesday’s start with left knee discomfort, Day to day
Jonah Heim - Day to day with left wrist soreness, removed from Wednesday’s game
Jesse Winker - Placed on 10-day IL with back spasms
Kris Bryant - Placed on 10-day IL with fractured finger
🔎 Multi Game Monitor
All teams play three games!
⚾️ Pitching Primer
Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler at PIT
Nola and Wheeler have been one of the better one-two punches this season.
Nola currently ranks 26th in K% (24.8%) and 21st in xFIP (3.76) while Wheeler ranks 13th in K% (27.1%) and 10th in xFIP (3.47).
Pittsburgh has middling strikeout numbers on the season but over the last two weeks they have the 8th-highest K% with a 25.6% mark.
Don’t overthink this one. Both of these Phillies arms make for great plays this week.
Limited Prices: ~$15 Nola, ~$10 Wheeler
Jesus Luzardo vs DET
That’s right, Luzardo is back.
“Back” meaning back in the Breakdown. I wrote him up two Game Weeks ago against the Rockies and he dominated with a 13-strikeout performance.
Just one start later he gets another awesome matchup against Detroit, who rank 10th-worst in K% (23.8%), 4th-worst in ISO (.138), and 3rd-worst in wOBA (.293).
Luzardo has been awesome this season with a 7th-best 29.4% strikeout rate and 8th best 3.45 xFIP.
Limited Price: ~$17
Other Starters Include:
~$3 Kenta Maeda at KCR
~$8 Max Scherzer vs WSH
~$6 Justin Verlander vs WSH
~$25 Gerrit Cole at BAL
~$22 Kevin Gausman vs LAA
~$18 Tyler Glasnow at HOU
~$4 James Paxton at SFG
~$3 Aaron Civale at CWS
📞 Call To The Bullpen
With all teams playing the maximum number of games, our best edge is to pick series’ we think can stay close and target the closers on those teams.
A competitive series will increase the odds of our closer getting a relief appearance.
Series’ I think can stay competitive:
BOS/SFG, CHC/STL, SEA/ARI, LAA/TOR
Closer Options:
~$3 Kenley Jansen
~$16 Camilo Doval
~$4 Adbert Alzolay
~$4 Paul Sewald
~$8 Jordan Romano
~$4 Carlos Estevez
💰 Stacks
Mets
The Mets draw a three-game series at home against Mackenzie Gore, Patrick Corbin and Trevor Williams of the Nationals.
Gore actually has a respectable 3.73 xFIP despite a 4.37 ERA, but Corbin’s xFIP is sitting at 4.49 and Williams’s is 5.05 which ranks 4th-worst amongst qualified pitchers.
The Mets rank right at league-average for ISO (.163) and wRC+ (102), and slightly below average for wOBA (.314).
I love Pete Alonso and the righties in particular for New York here.
~$32 Francisco Lindor
~$35 Pete Alonso
~$2 Tommy Pham
~$11 Francisco Alvarez
~$2 Jeff McNeil
Athletics
The time has come. The Oakland Athletics offense is being recommended as a stack.
The A’s get the best possible matchup in baseball as they head to Coors Field to face Kyle Freeland, Chase Anderson, and Austin Gomber.
Amongst qualified pitchers, Freeland has the 2nd-worst xFIP (5.26) and Gomber has the 7th-worst (4.81).
Anderson has a higher xFIP than both (5.31) but he doesn’t have enough innings to be a qualified pitcher.
Oakland doesn’t have a great offense, and recently placed both Ryan Noda and Esteury Ruiz on the IL, but I can see a mini-stack from the top of the order do some damage here.
Just beware the A’s don’t play all their core hitters every day with this team out of playoff contention.
~$2 Tony Kemp
~$5 Brent Rooker
~$3 JJ Bleday
~$1 Ramon Laureano
Other Stacks To Consider:
Braves, Marlins, Twins, Mariners, Dodgers
Value Options (Under $20):
Middle Infield:
~$17 CJ Abrams, ~$19 Nico Hoerner, ~$13 Edouard Julien, ~$11 Francisco Alvarez, ~$17 Adley Rutschman
Corner Infield:
~$14 Nolan Gorman, ~$13 Triston Casas, ~$19 Josh Naylor, ~$16 Christian Walker, ~$17 Ketel Marte
Outfield:
~$13 Steven Kwan, ~$10 Eloy Jimenez, ~$14 Anthony Santander, ~$15 James Outman, ~$6 Teoscar Hernandez
There you have it, the Sorare MLB Slate Breakdown for Game Week 34.
All statistics referenced in this newsletter were pulled from Fangraphs.
All prices references were pulled from the Limited tier.
I release 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!
Also, follow me on Twitter @Hunter_Himself!
Thanks for reading!