Sorare MLB GW52 Breakdown | The Finale
We’ve made it to the end.
52 Breakdown’s later, we have reached game number 162 in the MLB.
I can’t thank everyone enough for subscribing to the newsletter and supporting the content all season long.
I have some ideas for Sorare NBA and DraftKings Reignmakers content in the works so this won’t be the end of me.
But for now we look towards the postseason.
Let’s dive into GW52!
⏪ Game Week Rewind
The Bassitt Hound led the way in GW51 with a season-best 12 strikeouts versus the Yankees.
The day before, on the other side of that game, Gerrit Cole delivered a complete game shutout with 5 strikeouts against the Blue Jays.
Cole is -1800 to win the AL Cy Young this season in what has been the lone bright spot for the Yankees.
The bullpen leaderboard makes a bit more sense after two weeks in a row of unknown names popping up.
Braves closer’ Raisel Iglesias led the way as Atlanta beat the Cubs in three games by just 1,1, and 2 points.
This was in inopportune time for the Cubs to fall as they are still hunting for a wildcard spot in the National League.
Otherwise we can note that Orioles’ closer Felix Bautista should return for the playoffs which will switch Yennier Cano back to a set-up roll.
There is nothing too surprising with the hitter leaderboard in the final week.
Fransisco Lindor maybe didn’t hit for the average we are used to seeing from him, but the 29-year old did just hit his 30th homer on the year yesterday.
Everyone else on this list is still alive for a playoff seat as I write this.
As noted on Off Bas3 yesterday, Arizona has the best chance to secure a wildcard spot, but they have a tough matchup against the Astros.
If the Dbacks can sweep Houston, the Mariners can sneak into the playoffs if they can sweep their series versus Texas.
📋 Roster Movements
In:
Felix Bautista - Threw a 25 pitch simulated game Tuesday, nearing a playoff return
Randy Arozarena - Returned to Rays’ lineup Wednesday, missed three games in a row
Chase Silseth - Returning from concussion to start Friday vs. Oakland
Out:
Corey Seager - Diagnosed with right forearm contusion after hit by pitch, day to day
Luis Robert - Placed on 10-day IL with mild MCL strain in left knee
Luis Arraez - Day to day with twisted left ankle, possibly done for the year
🔎 Multi Game Monitor
All teams play three games!
⚾️ Pitching Primer
Blake Snell at CWS
Blake Snell is currently -4000 to win the NL Cy Young, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
He can get absolutely shelled by the White Sox in this game and still win the coveted award.
But I don’t see that happening.
Over his last six starts, Snell has allowed just 2 runs while striking out 50.
On the season he is ranked 2nd in K% (31.5%), 3rd in HR/9 (0.75), and 13th in xFIP (3.63).
He’s been one of the lone bright spots for an otherwise disappointing Padres season, given their expectations before the season.
Chicago strikes out about league-average but are now tied for dead-last with Oakland in wOBA (.294), and second-to-last to Colorado in wRC+ (83).
I expect Snellzilla to finish his career-best season strong here.
Limited Price: ~$14
Aaron Nola at NYM
Nola has seemed to fall through the cracks this season, but the 30-year old has had a relatively high floor all season long.
You’re most likely not complaining if you invested in him at the beginning of the year and deployed him on a consistent basis in Sorare.
His K% sits at 19th in the league (25.5%) and his xFIP is at a highly-respectable 3.64, good for 15th-best in the majors.
New York has been a mostly neutral matchup for most of the year.
The Mets rank 14th in wRC+ (101), 18th in wOBA (.316), 12th in ISO (.170), and they strike out at the 20th-highest rate (21.8%).
Philly recently punched a wildcard ticket in the NL so Nola and his partner Zack Wheeler will hold some utility for at least the short term.
Limited Price: ~$7
Other Starters Include:
~$122 Spencer Strider vs WSH
~$8 Michael King at KCR
~$7 Justin Steele at MIL
~$8 Hunter Greene at STL
~$8 Clayon Kershaw at SFG
~$18 Brandon Woodruff vs CHC
~$12 Freddy Peralta vs CHC
~$12 Kevin Gausman vs TBR
~$3 Chase Silseth vs OAK
📞 Call To The Bullpen
For the last time this season I will say that there is no advantage to be had when picking a reliever for a weekend slate.
With all teams playing three games, our best strategy should be to target closers on teams that are projected to be in competitive matchups to maximize their chances for relief appearances and save opportunities.
Series’ I think can stay close:
TEX/SEA, HOU/ ARI, CHC/MIL, CLE/DET
Closer Options:
~$6 Will Smith
~$6 Andres Muñoz
~$5 Ryan Pressly
~$4 Paul Sewald
~$2 Mark Leiter Jr.
~$12 Devin Williams
~$8 Emmanuel Clase
~$2 Alex Lange
💰 Stacks
Twins
Minnesota will play the final series in Coors this season with three games against Ty Blach, Chase Anderson and a TBD pitcher.
The Twins are looking ahead to the postseason having clinched the AL Central last week, but they should be able to get some batting practice in this spot.
Minnesota’s pitching this year has been stellar, but their offense still surprisingly ranks 5th in ISO, 9th in wOBA (.325), and 7th in wRC+ (107).
Ty Blach has a 5.04 xFIP and just a 14% strikeout rate, while Chase Anderson has a 5.39 xFIP and a 17.5% strikeout rate.
This team wouldn’t have made the playoffs had the been in any other division in the majors, but I still think they could make a sneaky playoff run.
~$13 Edouard Julien
~$6 Jorge Polanco
~$4 Max Kepler
~$1 Donovan Solano
~$4 Alex Kirilloff
Braves
It wouldn’t be a finale without the Braves offense being mentioned.
Atlanta draws a three game series at Truist Park against Trevor Williams, Jackson Rutledge, and Joan Adon of the Nationals.
Rutledge has only pitched 15 innings this year but his almost 6 xFIP and paltry 12.5% K-rate don’t inspire much confidence.
Williams and Adon both sit with xFIP’s over 5 and strikeout rates in the teens.
The Braves are coasting into the playoffs at this point. Their incentives currently involve Matt Olson looking to further his league-leading 53 home runs, and Acuña looking to improve upon his historic 40-70 season.
~$150 Ronald Acuña Jr.
~$72 Ozzie Albies
~$55 Matt Olson
~$58 Austin Riley
~$12 Marcell Ozuna
Other Stacks To Consider:
Yankees, Orioles, Phillies, Angels
Value Options (Under $20):
Middle Infield:
~$5 J.P. Crawford, ~$9 Ketel Marte, ~$13 Edouard Julien, ~$5 Carlos Correa
Corner Infield:
~$10 Nick Castellanos, ~$14 Christian Walker, ~$12 Marcell Ozuna, ~$10 Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Outfield:
~$10 Seiya Suzuki, ~$4 Max Kepler, ~$17 Christian Yelich, ~$6 Bryan Reynolds
There you have it, the Sorare MLB Slate Breakdown for Game Week 52.
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!
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