[U7Gohan]

State of the Team

The team sits at 82-58 after a 17-11 August fueled by an 11-game winning streak, but the Royals have caught fire and now sit just 4 games back of 1st place.

The team's AL Ranks:

Runs Scored: 4th
OPS: 4th
Runs Allowed: 1st
ERA: 1st
SP ERA: 1st
RP ERA: 2nd
Defensive Efficiency: 1st
Zone Rating: 1st

News Dump

The injury bug took hold of the Guardians in August, as in addition to Carlos Correa, Sean Hjelle, Michael A. Taylor, and Cody Morris all hit the IL. Morris' season is likely over, unfortunately, and Correa also suffered a setback that will keep him out until late-September. Taylor will return as rosters expand and take over for Matt Vierling, who will stay on the active roster. Kris Bubic will also join the active roster for long relief.

Notable Performances

* = as a Guardian

Hitters:

C Luis Campusano*: .237/.306/.289, 66 OPS+, -0.2 WAR
C Austin Hedges: .180/.220/.300, 44 OPS+, 0.6 WAR
1B J.C. Correa*: .285/.328/.415, 103 OPS+
1B Vinnie Pasquantino: .269/.336/.501, 127 OPS+
2B Andres Gimenez: .295/.343/.491, 127 OPS+, 18 SB, 5.9 WAR
2B Bryson Stott: .176/.273/.283, 54 OPS+, -0.4 WAR
SS Angel Martinez: .336/.392/.500, 144 OPS+, 2 SB, 1.3 WAR
SS Jermaine Palacios: .252/.283/.402, 86 OPS+, 0.2 WAR
3B Jose Ramirez: .255/.328/.509, 126 OPS+, 9 SB, 4.2 WAR
LF George Valera: .256/.351/.458, 121 OPS+, 3.0 WAR
LF Oscar Mercado: .221/.317/.290, 70 OPS+, -0.5 WAR
CF Michael A. Taylor: .226/.279/.306, 69 OPS+, 4 SB, 0.6 WAR
RF Kyle Tucker: .304/.364/.485, 132 OPS+, 6 SB, 3.9 WAR
RF Matt Vierling: .225/.276/.388, 80 OPS+, -0.1 WAR

Pitchers:

SP Shane Bieber: 2.62 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 5.8 fWAR
SP Sandy Alcantara: 3.43 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 3.2 fWAR
SP Sean Hjelle: 2.68 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 2.5 fWAR
SP A.J. Puk*: 4.85 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 0.6 fWAR
SP Gavin Williams: 2.57 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 0.3 fWAR
SP Tanner Burns: 5.06 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.1 fWAR

CL Emmanuel Clase: 3.05 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, 32/39 SV/OPP, 8.2 K/9, 1.9 fWAR
RP James Karinchak: 2.77 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 0.8 fWAR
RP Jakob Hernandez: 2.83 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.08 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 0.7 fWAR
RP Marlon Perez*: 2.35 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 0.78 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 0.3 fWAR
RP R.J. Dabovich: 2.65 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 0.9 fWAR
RP Denny Bentley: 2.54 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.31 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 0.6 fWAR
RP Jake Cousins*: 6.28 ERA, 6.18 FIP, 1.40 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, -0.3 fWAR
RP Lenny Torres: 4.08 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 0.3 fWAR


Minor League Report

The latest Top 100 Prospects update has us now at 16th in MLB, our highest mark in a long time. We now have five Top 100 prospects with a new addition:

SS Angel Martinez (2.5, 3.0) - #48
SP Nazier Mule (0.5, 3.0) - #60
SP Lenny Torres (3.0, 3.5) - #71
SP Ethan Robinson (0.5, 3.0) - #81
SP Trenton Denholm (2.5, 2.5) - #98

There may be graduations from this list soon, however.

Player Development

MLB 1B J.C. Correa (3.0, 5.0) -> (2.5, 4.5)
MLB 2B Angel Martinez (2.0, 3.0) -> (2.5, 3.5)
MiLB SP Troy Taylor (2.0, 2.0) -> (2.0, 2.5)
MiLB SS Luis Carrizales (0.5, 4.0) -> (0.5, 5.0)


Around the League

Standings

AL Seeding:

1. Guardians (82-58)
2. Orioles (77-62)
3. Rangers (76-63)
4. Royals (77-61)
5. Yankees (75-62)
6. Rays (74-66)

NL Seeding:

1. Dodgers (84-54)
2. Cubs (83-55)
3. Braves (77-63)
4. Pirates (76-63)
5. Cardinals (77-64)
6. Giants (75-65)

It would take a miracle for the playoffs to not consist of these 12 teams.

League Leaders

AL:

Hitter WAR:

1. Mike Trout (LAA) - 6.8
2. Adley Rutschman (BAL) - 6.0
3. Andres Gimenez (CLE) - 5.9

AVG:

1. Luis Robert (CHW) - .317
2. Adam Frazier (LAA) - .308
3. Kyle Tucker (CLE) - .304

OPS:

1. Mike Trout (LAA) - .960
2. Adley Rutschman (BAL) - .953
3. Josh Jung (TEX) - .935

HR:

1. Aaron Judge (NYY) - 40
2. Mike Trout (LAA) - 38
3. Spencer Torkelson (DET) - 33

RBI:

1. Vinnie Pasquantino (CLE) - 102
2. Mike Trout (LAA) - 101
3. Triston Casas (BOS) - 97

SB:

1. Enrique Bradfield Jr. (BOS) - 51
2. Vidal Brujan (TBR) - 50
3. Julio Rodriguez (SEA) - 40

Pitcher fWAR:

1. Jacob deGrom (DET) - 8.9
2. Shane Bieber (CLE) - 5.8
3. Shane Baz (TBR) - 5.7

ERA:

1. Shane Bieber (CLE) - 2.62
2. Jacob deGrom (DET) - 2.63
3. Chris Bassitt (OAK) - 2.63

Strikeouts:

1. Jacob deGrom (DET) - 264
2. Shane Bieber (CLE) - 255
3. Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 247

Wins:

1. Shane Bieber (CLE) - 17
2. Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 16
3. Sean Hjelle (CLE) - 16

SV:

1. Tim Herrin (KCR) - 39
2. Andres Munoz (SEA) - 37
3. Tommy Kahnle (OAK) - 36

NL:

Hitter WAR:

1. Patrick Bailey (SFG) - 6.7
2. Ezequiel Tovar (COL) - 5.6
3. Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 5.6

AVG:

1. Patrick Bailey (SFG) - .325
2. Elehuris Montero (COL) - .322
3. Ezequiel Tovar (COL) - .318

OPS:

1. Oneil Cruz (PIT) - .966
2. Shohei Ohtani (LAD) - .965
3. Patrick Bailey (SFG) - .937

HR:

1. Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 40
2. Shohei Ohtani (LAD) - 39
3. Kristian Robinson (ARI) - 37

RBI:

1. Oneil Cruz (PIT) - 112
2. Shohei Ohtani (LAD) - 106
3. Kristian Robinson (ARI) - 100

SB.

1. Esteury Ruiz (STL) - 44
2. Myles Straw (MIA) - 36
3. Garrett Mitchell (MIL) - 28

Pitcher fWAR:

1. Julio Urias (LAD) - 4.8
2. Kyle Wright (ATL) - 4.4
3. Andrew Heaney (LAD) - 4.4

ERA:

1. Luis Castillo (CHC) - 2.74
2. Gregory Santos (SFG) - 2.96
3. Julio Urias (LAD) - 3.05

Strikeouts:

1. Freddy Peralta (MIL) - 218
2. Lyon Richardson (CIN) - 210
3. Max Scherzer (NYM) - 202

Wins:

1. Julio Urias (LAD) - 17
2. Nabil Crismatt (SDP) - 14
3. Andrew Heaney (LAD) - 14

SV:

1. Yerry De Los Santos (PIT) - 43
2. Jasseel De La Cruz (ATL) - 39
3. Camilo Doval (SFG) - 35


Major Extensions

None


It will be a tighter division race than expected in this final month. Let's hope more of our new additions pipe up with some of our stars injured.