State Farm Weekly Recap: Ducks Charging with 10 Days to Go

10 Days remain in the 2022 RDBL Playoffs and we are shaping up for an All-Time finish with three teams firmly in the mix for the League Championship. The Alamo Short Stacks enter Period 26 with a 40.0 point lead over the Spokane Fightin' Fish while the Burlingame Blue Ducks sit just 72.0 points out of the lead.

Here's the recap from Period 25:

Team of the Week: Burlingame Blue Ducks, 383.0 Points

94-301, 301 AB, 28 2B, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 50 R, 7 SB, 31 BB, 3 CS, 2 HP, SF

46.1 INN, 34 HA, 21 BBI, 58 K, 14 ER, 4 W, 2 L, S, HB

Ryan Walsh has developed a knack for assembling a championship caliber roster without selling the Farm System and 2022 looks to be no different. The Ducks posted a league-high 383.0 points in Period 25 and enter the final 10 days just 72.0 points behind the lead with a solid hold on third place. The club leads the Playoffs in hitting points and average (.275), currently 20 points over their mark in the Regular Season.

Hitter of the Week: Steven Kwan, Fish, 43.0 Points

14-32, 32 AB, 2 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, 4 SB, 2 BB

Kwan was hardly a one week wonder to start 2022 as the outfielder is now on pace for a 426.5 point season after going 14-for-32 in Period 25. He currently ranks sixth in scoring in the RDBL Playoffs while slashing .300/.379/.436 over that span.

Pitcher of the Week: Max Scherzer, Maulers, 59.0 Points

12 INN, 4 HA, BBI, 16 K, ER, 2 W

While the Maulers have continued to mash at the plate, their pitching has failed them in the RDBL Playoffs with a league-high 4.45 ERA, significantly higher than the 3.62 mark they posted in the Regular Season. Scherzer helped drive the club over the 300 point mark last week with a dominant Period 25 and is likely set for one final start this year as he completes the third season of his $68 contract that will produce over 1,500 points.

Prospect of the Week: Francisco Alvarez, Grapes

Alvarez went 12-for-29 over the last 10 days, pacing all RDBL prospects with a 1.190 OPS including a pair of home runs and doubles. Alvarez looks primed for an Opening Day activation in 2023 for the Grapes if he can show the catching skills to handle a veteran Mets pitching staff behind the plate.

Life Insurance Player of the Week: Mookie Betts, Stacks, -1.0

Mookie Betts limped to -1.0 points in Period 25 and highlighted the surprising struggles from several Stacks stars. Betts is hitting just .202 in the Playoffs, joined by Juan Soto (.195), Corbin Burnes (4.89 ERA) and Jacob deGrom (3.72 ERA) with disappointing performances through 4 weeks of play.

On The Lookout: Burnes Burned Out, Pressure on Duck Bats

Period 25 kicks off with just 2.5 weeks remaining in the Roger Dorn Baseball League Playoffs. Currently, the race for the 2022 Title looks to be focused on the Alamo Short Stacks, seeking their first RDBL Championship, and the Spokane Fightin' Fish who are seeking to extend the league record with a third Title.

Here's what we are watching over the slate of games Monday.

Burnes Burned Out?

The prize of the Trade Deadline for the Alamo Short Stacks was supposed to be right-hander Corbin Burnes but he's hardly been himself, posting just two positive starts in his last five outings. Over his last five starts, Burnes owns a 6.23 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 30.0 innings. He is set for two starts in Period 25 against the Mets and Reds as he looks to help lead the Stacks to their first RDBL Championship.

The Stacks will also send Logan Gilbert (@ LAA) to the mound who has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts.

J-Rod Back?

Julio Rodriguez (back) was scratched Saturday and left out of the lineup Sunday and will be an important piece of the Fish lineup to watch on Monday. Rodriguez is the 4th AL player age 21-or-younger to hit 25+ home runs in his first MLB season, joining Joe DiMaggio (1936), Ted Williams (1939) & Eddie Murray (1977) and leads the Fish with 74.0 hitting points in the RDBL Playoffs.

Pressure on Ducks Offense

The Ducks remain within striking distance of the Stacks and Fish but the pressure will shift to the club's offense with all one-start pitchers slated to go for GM Ryan Walsh in Period 25. The Ducks enter Monday ranked fourth in hitting and pitching in the RDBL Playoffs.

Falcons Hot Streak Continues?

The Falcons are surging and will send Clayton Kershaw (vs.ARI) and Sonny Gray (@CLE) to the mound on Monday as they look to continue their ascent in the RDBL Standings.

State Farm Weekly Recap: Falcons Push Back Into Race for Top 3 Finish

The Roger Dorn Baseball League Playoffs are shaping up for an epic finish with 2.5 weeks remaining on the schedule as the Alamo Short Stacks and Spokane Fightin' Fish continue to battle it out for the League Championship. The Stacks rode a monster day at the plate Sunday to take over the top spot heading into Period 25 as their lineup reached base 37 times, posting a .524 on base percentage.

Team of the Week: Maltese Falcons, 391.5 Points

59-287, 287 AB, 12 2B, 14 HR, 41 RBI, 31 R, 2 SB, 31 BB, 2 CS, 3 HP, 2 SF

57.2 INN, 29 HA, 10 BBI, 59 K, 9 ER, 6 W, L, 3 S

The Maltese Falcons had a sluggish start to the 2022 RDBL Playoffs but broke out with a 172.5 point day on Tuesday. The pitching staff was dominant, allowing just nine earned runs over 57 2/3 innings with Yu Darvish, Clayton Kershaw, Sonny Gray and Waiver Claim Bailey Falter all posting 35 or more points in the period.

Hitter of the Week: OF Aaron Judge, Maulers, 44.0 Points

11-20, 20 AB, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, CS

Judge continues to assault American League pitching, posting a .550/.640/1.250 slash line last week while hitting a ridiculous .484/.590/1.031 over the RDBL Playoffs. He's a heavy favorite to win the RDBL Regular Season Hitter of the Year Award and could become the first to also win the Playoff MVP in the same season.

Pitcher of the Week: RHP Yu Darvish, Falcons, 77.0 Points

14 INN, 3 HA, BBI, 15 K, 2 W

The addition of Darvish early in the season from the St. Joseph Jokers has paid massive dividends for the Falcons with the right-hander putting an exclamation point on a dominant season in Period 24. Darvish posted 14 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits overall, helping the Falcons post a league-high 391.5 points in the period.

Prospect of the Week: RHP Ryne Nelson, Heads, 40.0 Points

Nelson posted 40.0 points and a 2.38 ERA over starts against the Dodgers and Padres and now has 74.0 points over his first three big league starts. Nelson is joined by Dray Jameson and Brandon Pfaadt as pitching prospects on the rise in the Hammerheads system.

Life Insurance Player of the Week: RP Ian Kennedy, Maulers, -25.0 Pts.

It's been a frustrating Playoff run for GM Chris Ferraro with Ian Kennedy among four pitchers on the staff to post negative points in Period 24. Kennedy allowed five earned runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings of work as the Maulers enter the final two and half weeks trying to dig their way out of 6th place.