Sorare MLB GW41 Breakdown | Strider Back On Top
There were 18 baseball games played on Saturday.
With Hurricane Hilary set to make its (her?) way up the southern coast of California, the Angels, Dodgers, and Padres all elected to host a doubleheader on Saturday.
This actually helped Sorare players, as six pitchers were not bumped off the GW40 slate.
And this also helped MLB players, as last time I checked Dodger Stadium was completely surrounded with water.
Hurricanes are common where I live, in fact the NHL team is named after the tropical storm.
However, California’s last hurricane occurred in 1939, so I assume many Californians were not prepared for a storm.
Let’s hope everyone stays safe and LA and San Diego can get back to baseball soon. 🙏
⏪ Game Week Rewind
Spencer Strider finished on top with a 10-strikeout performance against the Giants.
After a disastrous start against the Pirates, Strider has not given up a run over his last 14 innings of work.
The other notable player here is Eury Perez, who had a career-high 10 K’s against the Dodgers.
He is the youngest player to record 10 strikeouts since Felix Hernandez in 2005.
The Tigers bullpen stayed busy this weekend with relievers Jason Foley and Tyler Holton taking the first and third spots.
The Tigers won three out of four games against the Guardians this week, winning by totals of 2, 1, and 3.
If not for the last-minute addition of a fourth Detroit/Cleveland game, Jhoan Duran and Raisel Iglesias would have finished higher on this list.
Gunnar Henderson took advantage of his matchup agains the bottom-ranked Oakland pitching, as the Orioles put up 9, 7, and 12 runs this weekend.
Charlie Blackmon turned the clock back and hit a couple homers against the White Sox.
We should also note Julio Rodriguez, who now has 17 hits in 4 games, breaking the previous record Milt Stock in 1925.
📋 Roster Movements
In:
Carlos Rodon - Scheduled to start against the Nationals on Tuesday
Tanner Houck - Should return from facial fracture to pitch against Astros Tuesday
Brandon Marsh - Activated from the 10-day IL on Sunday
Out:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - Day to day after getting hit by pitch on left middle finger
Jarren Duran - Day to day with left toe contusion after climbing outfield wall
Tony Gonsolin - Placed on the IL with right forearm inflammation, season maybe over
Aaron Hicks - Placed on the 10-day IL with low back strain
Anthony Santander - Day to day with general soreness
Brandon Crawford - Placed on the IL with left forearm tightness and knee soreness
Ross Stripling - Placed on the 15-day IL with mid-back strain
🔎 Multi Game Monitor
Four Games:
Pirates, Astros, Red Sox, White Sox, Cubs, Reds, Athletics
Three Games:
Dodgers, Tigers, Angels, Marlins, Braves, Mariners, Rangers, Padres, Phillies, Giants, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Cardinals, Royals, Twins, Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles, Guardians, Yankees, Rockies, Mets
Two Games:
Brewers
⚾️ Pitching Primer
Aaron Nola vs SFG
Nola will bring his 20th-best K% (25.4%), and 26th-best xFIP (3.81) to a matchup against the strikeout-happy Giants.
We just saw Spencer Strider finish as the top overall pitcher in this same matchup in this past game week, and although Nola doesn’t have the same K numbers, I expect him to find success here.
San Fransisco strikes out at the 4th-highest rate in the league (25%), and they also rank bottom-10 in ISO, wOBA, and wRC+.
Nola has shown a high floor all season and I think he has the ability to find a ceiling game here with the strikeouts.
Limited Price: ~$8
Kevin Gausman at BAL
Gausman has looked a bit shaky in two of his last three starts, including one against these same Orioles.
However, on the season Gausman is ranked 2nd in K% (31.7%), and 3rd in xFIP (3.03).
After holding the two spot in xFIP for the past few months, he was recently surpassed by Logan Webb’s 2.93 mark.
The Orioles have been a good offense this year, but this is still the youngest team in the MLB and I think they can find trouble against Gausman’s elite numbers.
Baltimore ranks 12th in wRC+ (104), 10th in ISO (.171), 14th in wOBA (.321), and they strikeout at the 18th-highest clip (22%).
Limited Price: ~$15
Other Starters Include:
~$10 Luis Castillo at CHW
~$14 George Kirby at CHW
~$16 Zac Gallen vs TEX
~$8 Justin Verlander vs BOS
~$156 Shohei Ohtani vs CIN
~$3 Lucas Giolito vs CIN
~$12 Clayton Kershaw at CLE
~$18 Corbin Burnes vs MIN
~$10 Pablo Lopez vs TEX
~$5 Carlos Rodon vs WSH
📞 Call To The Bullpen
There is a clear advantage to be had this week with just seven teams playing all four games.
I think it makes sense to only prioritize these 7 closers if you have them.
I will note that this could be one of the rare game weeks to roster Oakland closer Trevor May with the A’s playing the Royals for 4 games.
His Limited card is just 1$.
Closer Options
~$6 David Bednar
~$10 Ryan Pressly
~$5 Kenley Jansen
~$1 Gregory Santos
~$5 Adbert Alzolay
~$7 Alexis Diaz
~$1 Trevor May
💰 Stacks
Cubs
Chicago draws Alex Faedo, Reese Olson, and Tarik Skubal of the Tigers before facing Mitch Keller of the Pirates on Thursday.
I don’t love the matchup against Keller at PNC Park, but four games is still better than three, and three games against Detroit pitching is a recipe for bats.
I’ve talked about the Cubs a lot recently as being the hottest offense in baseball.
On the season Chicago ranks 17th in ISO (.165), 8th in wOBA (.326), and 10th in wRC+ (105).
This team will also be on the road for all four games which means guaranteed 9th inning at bats.
~$13 Nico Hoerner
~$5 Ian Happ
~$25 Cody Bellinger
~$11 Dansby Swanson
~$10 Christopher Morel
Athletics
Yes the A’s offense is bad.
But from an opposing pitching matchup and factoring in the four games, they have they are in the best spot of the week.
They will draw Tucker Davidson, Angel Zerpa, and Cole Ragans of the Royals, and then one game against Jesse Scholtens of the White Sox.
Davidson was recently traded from the Angels, where he recorded a 4.15 xFIP in a relief role.
Ragans has actually flashed some upside as a starter after being moved over from the Kansas City bullpen.
He sports a 3.12 xFIP and 29.8% K% and would be the one guy I’m afraid of in this series.
Otherwise everything is pointing in the A’s direction. Just note that I prefer a two-man A’s stack over a three-man one.
~$9 Esteury Ruiz
~$1 Aledmys Diaz
~$3 Brent Rooker
~$1 Tony Kemp
Other Stacks to Consider:
Rays, Braves, Royals, Astros, Pirates
Value Options (Under $20):
Middle Infield:
~$8 Brandon Lowe, ~$18 Nico Hoerner, ~$8 Isaac Paredes, ~$9 Jorge Polanco
Corner Infield:
~$15 Spencer Torkelson, ~$15 Bryan Reynolds, ~$9 Eddie Rosario, ~$13 Alex Bregman
Outfield:
~$18 Kyle Schwarber, ~$9 Daulton Varsho, ~$16 Randy Arozarena, ~$8 Teoscar Hernandez
There you have it, the Sorare MLB Slate Breakdown for Game Week 41.
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!