The race for Playoff spots and Division Titles remains incredibly close as 2nd through 6th place is currently separated by just 18.5 points five teams sit less than 85.0 points out of the final Wild Card spot. The Alamo Short Stacks have opened up a 180.5 point lead over second place as the first team to cross the 1,000 point mark while the Spokane Fightin' Fish and Lunatic Fringe cling to close Division leads.
Here's the latest On The Lookout for Friday, 4/29.
Heads Look for Offensive Spark
The Honolulu Hammerheads are posting a historic season on the mound with a league-best 2.53 ERA and just 93 hits allowed in 135.0 innings. GM Ross Horiuchi hasn't been able to find the same production at the plate as the group has hit just .213, tied for 2nd worst in the RDBL while ranking 13th overall in hitter scoring. 10 of their 13 offensive starts this week are hitting .231 or lower with six at or below .200. The pressure is starting to grow on $37 shortstop Carlos Correa who is slashing .200/.278/.292 who will look to get things going in Tampa Bay this weekend. The Heads enter play Friday in 9th place, 63.5 points out of the final Wild Card spot.
Falcons Soaring
The Maltese Falcons have posted a .296/.378/.549 line with 18 extra base hits this week while Zack Wheeler's 30.0 point outing helped produce 236.5 points in Period 4 so far, second most in the RDBL. Nestor Cortes will look to continue his hot start in Kansas City on Friday with Kyle Tucker (6 for his last 13 with 2 HRs) a bat to watch.
Goutfish Surging
Freddy Peralta and Dakota Hudson combined for 61.0 points on Thursday as the Goutfish surged into 5th place and will send Draft Day steal Noah Syndergaard to the mound Friday against a banged up Chicago White Sox lineup. While the pitching is heating up, GM Ryan Atkinson is still looking for more from their lineup who went just 8-for-47 yesterday and is hitting .231 overall on the season.
Fringe Banged Up
The Fringe have six expected starting players on the IL, a number that could jump to seven if Joc Pederson's groin injury sidelines him today. The club has been able to withstand the absences so far, but with just 119.5 points in Period 4 (2nd fewest in the RDBL), the injuries appear to be catching up with them. The club will send co-ace Lucas Giolito to the mound Friday against the Angels as the club looks to get hot over the weekend. GM Tony Guglielmi's club enters Friday in 4th place, just 4.5 points out of 2nd.
Crats Continue to Seek Balance
The Las Vegas Aristocrats lead the RDBL with 181.0 pitching points this week with a 1.30 ERA and 0.70 WHIP as a staff, including five quality starts in six chances. The offense is another story as they are just 24-for-155 at the plate, a league-worst .155 average with a matching low .216 on-base percentage. Marcus Semien (.158/.224/.210) and Darin Ruf (.145/.272/.174) continue to look for production at the plate. Alec Bohm could be a player to watch after grabbing back his starting spot in Philly. Bohm slugged a home run Thursday and is slashing .326/.375/.500, doubling the point total of Justin Turner (who he was traded for before Draft Day) in 17 fewer at-bats.
Comments