Wild Card Race
All eyes will be on the Las Vegas Aristocrats and Cloverdale Clovers as they battle it out over the final seven days for the RDBL Regular Season for the final Wild Card spot while the Maltese Falcons remain within arm's length. The Clovers trail the Aristocrats by 108.5 entering play Monday with the Falcons out by 160.5.
While Hyun-Jun Ryu is unlikely to be replaced as a one-start starter, the Clovers do have five options on their roster that are scheduled for two starts in Period 22. Jack Flaherty (DET, @PIT), Kyle Hendricks (COL, @CHW), Antonio Senzatela (@CHC, @LAD), Nick Pivetta (MIN, @CLE) and Jesus Luzardo (WAS, CIN) are all lined up for two turns in Period 22. Much attention will be paid to how GM Chris Shelley aligns his rotation over night.
The 'Crats meanwhile are taking hits to their offense as James McCann, Dylan Carlson and Nelson Cruz each hit the IL this week. Zack Greinke (KC, @TEX) is the only starter lined up for 2-starts this week, though the likes of Joe Musgrove, Max Fried and Tyler Anderson are all throwing it well currently.
The Falcons are likely to send two-start options Tylor Megill (SF, WAS), Tyler Mahle (@MIL, @MIA) and Ranger Suarez (TB, ARZ) to the mound as they look to pull out all of the stops to make up their deficit.
The two clubs who come up short will occupy the top two selections in the 2022 RDBL Reserve Draft.
East Bay Division Title
The Alamo Short Stacks tried their best to make things interesting on Sunday, posting a 101.5 point day and sit 105.0 points behind the Asti Grape Stompers entering play Monday. The Stacks are without a 2-start option though Yu Darvish and Julio Urias are each expected to return form the IL this week which could give GM Greg Shelley some options to squeeze out an additional start from their rotation.
The club did get Rhys Hoskins back from the IL Sunday while Alex Bregman appears to be lined up for his long anticipated return this week as well.
The Grapes will also be without a two-start option in Period 22 though Trevor Rogers could make his return from the Restricted List at some point in the week.
Record Watch
Slow finishes from the Lake Merced Goutfish and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. have most of the RDBL Record Books safe for 2021. The Top Five should get some love though as the Goutfish Pitching Staff (2,868.0 points) has a chance to move up to the second overall spot behind the 2016 Lunatic Fringe (3,251.0).
The Goutfish will also move into the Top-5 for Regular Season Team Points with a 400.0 point week landing them in the Top-3.
Asti Grape Stompers right-hander Walker Buehler (556.0) needs just 10.0 points in his final start to move into the Top Five in Regular Season Pitching Points and would need 31.0 to tie Justin Verlander (Maulers, 2019) for third place. Max Scherzer (Falcons, 2018) holds the overall record with 633.0 points in the RDBL Regular Season.
Goutfish Ramp Up
The Goutfish failed to crack 300 points for the third consecutive period this week and will look to ramp things up headed into the Playoffs. The club has a fully healthy lineup with Fernando Tatis, Jr. back in the fold but has taken substantial hits to their rotation in recent weeks. Help appears to be on the way with Anthony DeSclafani, Freddy Peralta and Tejay Antone all expected back over the next week. The club should also return Noah Syndergaard in September, though a relief role appears to be the plan to close out 2021.
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