On The Lookout, 4/3: Burnes, Ragans Matchup Highlights Heavy Morning Slate

With clubs eclipsing 250 at-bats and 50 innings, sample sizes about RDBL Rosters are starting to grow enough to form some opinions about the fate of teams for 2024. One thing looks to be certain - the race for the six coveted Playoff spots looks to be quite deep which should lead to a strong summer race to the finish line.

Here's the latest On The Lookout for Wednesday, 4/3 with a full slate of games on deck:

Projected Starters for Wednesday, 4/3

Stacks: Strider (@ CHW)

Grapes: Harrison (@ LAD)

Falcons: Bassitt (@ HOU), Wheeler (vs. CIN)

Aristocrats: Javier (vs. TOR), Mize (@ NYM)

Clovers: Glasnow (vs. SF)

Goutfish: Kirby (vs. CLE)

Maulers: Pivetta (@ OAK)

Hammerheads: Ragans (@ BAL)

Hops: Burnes (vs. KC), Allen (@ SEA)

Devils: Kelly (vs. NYY)

Fringe: Rodon (@ ARI), Montas (@ PHI)

Tacos: Puk (vs. LAA)

Jokers: Civale (vs. TEX)

Ducks: Eovaldi (@ TB)

Fish: Keller (@ WSH), Musgrove (vs. STL)

Pitching Matchup of the Day (Ragans vs. Burnes)

We won't have to wait long as a heavy morning schedule includes a prime-time matchup between Honolulu Hammerheads ace Cole Ragans and Meinert Hops star Corbin Burnes. Both clubs have been strong on the mound to start 2024 with the Heads ranked 4th in Pitching Scoring while the Hops enter Wednesday ranked 8th. Burnes posted a 30.0 point start in his Orioles debut on Opening Day while Ragans had 15.0.

Update: This game will be delayed due to weather.

Ducks Falling Behind in At-Bats

While it's quite early, one key stat to watch on the offensive side is at-bats as it gives an indication of how many full-time players a club has on their roster. The Ducks are falling behind on that front, posting 226 at-bats thus far compared to the league-leading Clovers who have already had 53 more at 279.

Falcons Eying Top Spot

With Zack Wheeler and Chris Bassitt on the mound Wednesday and a 25.0 deficit over the leading Alamo Short Stacks, GM Gary Falzon has eyes on taking over the RDBL lead. The Falcons have already posted 121.5 points this period behind a pair of outstanding starts from Shota Imanaga and Charlie Morton and a standout week from Maikel Garcia.

On The Lookout, 4/2: Moving Day for Maulers?

We are approaching a full week of RDBL action as a 14-game slate on Tuesday will bring another round of changes to the Standings. The Asti Grape Stompers were the big winners on Monday after Ronel Blanco, a $1 pickup that morning, pitched the 43rd No-Hitter in RDBL History.

Here's the latest On The Lookout for Tuesday, 4/2:

Projected Starters for Tuesday, 4/2

Stacks: Lopez (@ CHW)

Falcons: N/A

Grapes: Valdez (vs. TOR)

Clovers: Marsh (@ BAL)

Goutfish: Crochet (vs. ATL)

Heads: N/A

Aristocrats: Bieber (@ SEA), Mikolas (@ SD), Mize (@ NYM)

Hops: Webb (@ LAD), Gallen (vs. NYY)

Tacos: N/A

Devils: N/A

Jokers: N/A

Maulers: Berrios (@ HOU), Castillo (vs. CLE), Eflin (vs. TEX), Luzardo (vs. LAA)

Fringe: N/A

Ducks: Darvish (vs. STL)

Fightin' Fish: Bello (@ OAK)

Maulers Look to Make Big Move Tuesday

The Mission Viejo Maulers enter Tuesday in 12th place but send four starters to the mound with eyes on a big move in the standings. Luis Castillo leads the parade of arms as he will oppose the Cleveland Guardians at home tonight.

Hops Face Tough Offenses

The Meinert Hops are usually thrilled to send Logan Webb and Zac Gallen to the mound, but Tuesday presents a bigger challenge than normal as the duo faces the Dodgers and Yankees respectively. The Hops enter Tuesday in 8th place, just 4.5 points out of the final Wild card spot early in the season.

Fish Look for Jumpstart

The Spokane Fightin' Fish have been the class of the RDBL since 2017 with six cash finishes in seven seasons along with a pair of Regular Season and RDBL Titles. GM Michael Tirabassi finds himself in a different spot to start 2024 as the club enters Tuesday in last place while ranking last in pitching and 13th in hitting. The pitching staff is off to a troublesome start with a 6.02 ERA and 1.61 WHIP, totaling 18.0 points while slashing .233/.305/.323 in the plate.

Change at the Top of the Standings?

The Alamo Short Stacks suffered through a 4-for-43 day at the plate on Monday, opening the door for the top spot in the Standings on Tuesday as the Maltese Falcons and Asti Grape Stompers sit just 14.0 and 17.5 points behind. The rough day at the plate dropped the Stacks team batting average by 30 points.

On The Lookout, 4/1: Period 3 Kicks Off with Wave of 2-Start Arms

A slate of 14 games is on deck for Monday as clubs look to take advantage of their first opportunity to slot in 2-start pitchers in Period 3. All eyes will be on the Mt. Diablo Devils, Honolulu Hammerheads and San Mateo Oppo Tacos who look to make Monday "Moving Day" with three starters on the mound.

Here's the latest On The Lookout for Monday, 4/1:

Projected Starters for Monday, 4/1

Stacks: N/A

Goutfish: Sanchez (vs. CIN)

Clovers: N/A

Falcons: Imanaga (vs. COL), Morton (@ CHW)

Hops: N/A

'Crats: N/A

Grapes: Blanco (vs. TOR)

Devils: Dunning (@ TB), Nelson (vs. NYY), Paxton (vs. SF)

Jokers: Gore (vs. PIT), Wacha (@ BAL)

Hammerheads: Olson (@ NYM), Silseth (@ MIA), Houck (@ OAK)

Tacos: Pepiot (vs. TEX), Kremer (vs. KC), Gibson (@ SD)

Maulers: Gil (@ ARI)

Fringe: McKenzie (@ SEA), Abbott (@ PHI)

Ducks: N/A

Fish: N/A

Imanaga Debut for Falcons

The Maltese Falcons enter Period 3 in 4th place after a hot start and send a pair of starters to the mound on Monday including Japanese signee Shota Imanaga who makes his big league debut against the Rockies. Imanaga posted some elite K/9 numbers in Spring Training but was bit frequently by homers. He will be one of the more interesting pitchers to watch early in the season.

McKenzie Makes Long Awaited RDBL Debut

It has been a long road for Fringe right-hander Triston McKenzie who will finally make his RDBL debut Monday. McKenzie has already logged 360 1/3 big league innings including the 2022 campaign where he logged a 2.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP to earn the RDBL Pitching Prospect of the Year Award. He was set to be activated last season but an injury pushed him back to the Minors on Draft Day.

Heads Look to Continue Surge

It was a rough first three days for the Honolulu Hammerheads, but GM Ross Horiuchi's team is surging after a big day Sunday. They will look to continue that momentum on Monday as one of three teams sending three starters to the mound. Chase Silseth was virtually untouchable in Spring and will look to carry that momentum over against the 0-4 Miami Marlins while Tanner Houck gets a favorable matchup against the Oakland A's. The Heads have posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 37 2/3 innings thus far but have failed to match that production at the plate with just 51.5 points through 169 at-bats with league-low numbers in on-base percentage (.246) and slugging (.296).

Maulers Look to Heat Up Bats

The Mission Viejo Maulers will look to get their bats going in Period 3 as they enter Monday with a league-low .198 batting average through 202 at-bats. Brandon Nimmo, Harold Ramirez and Ryan Jeffers are among the slow starters, combining to go 2-for-41 through the first weekend for a combined -11.5 points.