On The Lookout: Taters Loaded Up with Starters Tuesday

Starting Pitchers for Tuesday, 8/29

Fightin' Fish: N/A

Lunatic Fringe: Alcantara vs. TB

Goutfish: Kirby vs. OAK

Taters: Civale @ MIA, Kremer vs. CHW, Morton @ COL, Steele vs. MIL, Kershaw vs. ARZ

Maulers: Skubal vs. NYY, Berrios vs. WSH

Devils: France @ BOS, Kelly @ LAD

Taters Turn for Five Starters

The Lunatic Fringe sent five starters to the mound with mixed results on Monday (17 ER in 25 2/3 IP) with the Idaho Taters matching that number on Tuesday. Aaron Civale, Dean Kremer, Charlie Morton, Justin Steele and Clayton Kershaw will look to close the gap on the leading Spokane Fightin' Fish as they look to keep pace with a strong Taters offense that went 15-for-40 on Monday.

Fish Offensive Explosion

It's hard to have a more productive day at the plate than the Fightin' Fish had on Monday, going 20-for-39 with eight extra base hits and seven walks. The totals produced a ridiculous .513/.587/.872 line and 66.0 points for the Fish offense while giving the club an early Playoff lead.

Kirby Looks to Stay Hot

Despite seven earned runs over his last two starts, George Kirby has been one of the league's hottest pitchers over the last month. Known for some of the best command in all of baseball, Kirby hasn't walked a hitter in his last four starts and owns a 2.90 ERA over the last month entering a favorable matchup against the Athletics on Tuesday.

Fringe Turn to Sandy

GM Tony Guglielmi was certainly looking for more than a 5.96 ERA after five starts and seven total appearances from his pitching staff on Monday. The team will turn to 2022 RDBL Pitcher of the Year Sandy Alcantara on Tuesday who will face off against a tough Tampa Bay lineup at home.

Devils Look for Jumpstart

After an 11-for-47 day at the plate and without an appearance on the mound, the Devils will look for a shot in the arm from JP France (@ BOS) and Merrill Kelly (@ LAD) on Tuesday.

On The Lookout: Fringe Send Five to Mound to Kickoff Playoffs

We are off and running Monday as the 2023 Playoffs kick off as the Roger Dorn Baseball League will crown a new Champion five weeks from now. Covering Periods 23-27, the RDBL Playoffs will be a sprint to the finish line with each of the six clubs fully loaded and capable of making a run at the title.

Here's what we are on the lookout for on Monday in the latest installment of OTL.

Projected Starting Pitchers for Monday, 8/28

Spokane Fightin' Fish: Elder @ COL, Miley @ CHC

Lake Merced Goutfish: Snell @ STL

Mt. Diablo Devils: N/A

Lunatic Fringe: Gray @TOR, Maeda vs. CLE, Rodriguez vs. CHW, Taillon vs. MIL, Walker vs. LAA

Idaho Taters: N/A

Mission Viejo Maulers: Gausman vs. WSH

Fringe Set for 12 Starts in Period 23, Five on Monday

The Lunatic Fringe are loaded up with starters as the 2023 RDBL Playoffs kick off on Monday. GM Tony Guglielmi announced the activations of Josiah Gray and Grayson Rodriguez Monday morning, with both young right-handers immediately inserted into the lineup and ready for their Active Roster debuts.

In total, the Fringe are set for 12 starts to kick things off this Period with five set to take the mound on Monday.

Activations Join Active Rosters

With the RDBL Rulebook allowing for a "free activation" for the Playoffs, the Fringe aren't the only ones taking advantage this week with their additions of Josiah Gray and Grayson Rodriguez to their Active Roster. The Mission Viejo Maulers pulled the trigger on outfielders Drew Waters and Nolan Jones while the Lake Merced Goutfish are expected to make the same move on right-hander Bobby Miller at some point this month.

Fish Enter Playoffs White-Hot

The Spokane Fightin' Fish are fresh off a 486.0 point week, the highest scoring Period in the RDBL this season. The club is slashing .283/.354/.516 over the last 14 days, leading all teams in hitting while dominating on the mound as well, ranking first in pitching points with a 2.62 ERA over their last 120.0 IP.

Devils Pitching Staff Limps Into Playoffs

The Devils hold a 5.17 ERA over the last 14 Days, ranking 13th in Pitching Points over that span. While their starting pitching is idle on Monday, the club will need to find their footing on the mound to make a run at their second League Title.

Goutfish Ready to Show Off Prized Rotation

With Brandon Woodruff and Max Fried back healthy, the Lake Merced Goutfish boast arguably the league's best pitching staff and will look to show that off starting on Monday with Blake Snell gets the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Goutfish tied the Fightin' Fish in Pitching Points with 2,900 this season, tops in the RDBL.

2023 Playoffs Kick Off Monday

The 2023 Roger Dorn Baseball League Playoffs have arrived with 14 games set to start Monday afternoon. As the scores reset to zero, the pressure builds as the RDBL looks to crown a Champion in their 10th season of play.

The Returnees

The Spokane Fightin' Fish and Mission Viejo Maulers the only teams to reach the Playoffs in both 2022 and 2023. The Fightin' Fish captured their second Regular Season Title on Sunday, capping off a dominant season that saw them lead the RDBL in both hitting and pitching. The Fish won their third consecutive Masters Division Title and fifth overall, setting a new RDBL Record.

A New Champion?

The Lunatic Fringe or Idaho Taters will need to accomplish the feat of going from Wild Card to RDBL Champion to avoid a repeat winner in 2023. The Spokane Fightin' Fish are the lone multi-Champion with Titles in in 2016 and 2018 while the Lake Merced Goutfish (2021), Mission Viejo Maulers (2017) and Mt. Diablo Devils (2015) each have one.

The Maulers (2017) and Burlingame Blue Ducks (2019) are the only Champions to be crowned from the Wild Card spot.

Who's Hot

Julio Rodriguez (Fish): Ranks second in scoring over last 28 days, slashing .404/.451/.663 with 15 extra base hits.

George Kirby (Goutfish): 2.48 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his last 32 2/3 IP.

Mookie Betts (Devils): Leads all RDBL Hitters in points over the last 28 days, slashing .464/.514/.814

Matt Olson (Fringe): Ranks fourth in scoring over last 28 days while launching eight home runs.

Spencer Strider (Taters): Fifth in Pitcher Scoring over last 28 days, posting a 2.37 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

Luis Castillo (Maulers): 2.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 100.0 points over last 27.0 IP.

Who's Not

Dansby Swanson (Fish): Just 16-for-90 (.178) over last 28 days.

Clay Holmes (Goutfish): 12.46 ERA and 2.54 WHIP over last 21 days (4.0 IP).

Pitching Staff (Devils): Own a 5.17 Team ERA over last 14 Days

Jameson Taillon (Fringe): 6.08 ERA over last 26.0 IP

Taters Offense: Hitting just .234/.320/.407, ranking 13th in offense over last 14 Days.

Matt Chapman (Maulers): Hitting just .190 over last 28 days with four extra base hits while battling a finger injury.

The Money

The RDBL Champion will receive $500, 2nd Place is awarded $275 with 3rd Place receiving $100. The Spokane Fightin' Fish were the first team to cross $4,000 in career earnings and will enter the Playoffs at $4,715, seeking to be the first team to cross the $5,000 mark.