MLB Draft Lottery Look-In: September 26

That’s more like it, fellas. There are really only two things that matter at this point – tanking and Drake Baldwin. By fWAR, Baldwin is currently having the most valuable rookie season in the National League at exactly 3 wins. Chad Patrick, Cade Horton, Caleb Durbin, Isaac Collins, and Jakob Marsee are all within a solid argument of taking home the award themselves. On a per game basis, Baldwin is still better than the other hitters with the exception of Marsee, but his 53 games and .376 BABIP probably

ultimately disqualify him. He’s been good and probably will be pretty good, but I don’t think he’s 6 win good. It’s hard to directly compare to pitchers, but their peripherals aren’t quite actually as good as their ERA results.

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Pirates 9, Braves

Box Score | Savant | Condensed Game

Oh hey, that’s us. If you want a recap of the game, go here for a more detailed look. It’s too late to catch up to the Pirates at this point as the Pirates are still 5 games “ahead” on the Lottery Race, but the Pirates winning can still affect the overall standings.

Twins 1, Phillies 3

Box Score | Savant | Condensed Game

Aaron Nola had a perfect game going into the sixth, and he ended up pitching 8 innings, giving up two hits, one run in a Christian Vazquez of all people home run, and none strikeouts, before Jhoan Duran made things interesting in the ninth. The Phillies scattered a few runs off off Joe Ryan, who went five innings and struck out nine himself, but he gave up a couple runs. And the Twins just aren’t very good these days. In fact, they’re worse than the Pirates, so there’s no chance of the Braves catching them. But they pulled a game ahead of the Pirates.

Athletics 4, Royals 3

Box Score | Savant | Condensed Game

Old Friend Shea Langeliers walked them off with a double in the ninth, “spoiling” the mid-est of starts by Mason Barnett. Noah Cameron, having a solid rookie season of his own, had a mid-er (?) start, though. The bullpens did a fantastic job until L. Avila gave up the game-winner. I had Luis Avila flashbacks seeing that, but it’s Luinder Avila. This victory allowed the Braves to take a one-game lead over the Athletics.

Marlins 6, Mets 2

Box Score | Savant | Condensed Game

This one started off rough for Sandy Alcantara. Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff home run, Juan Soto singled, and Pete Alonso (after a Brandon Nimmo flyout) doubled him home. In the Mets fashion, they did nothing after that. Rookie Brandon Sproat did well for the first four innings before the wheels fell off in the fifth, and the Marlins scored all six of their runs. In true Marlins fashion, that was it for them, but it was enough this time. Atlanta pulled three games ahead and clinched being ahead of the Marlins.

Orioles 4, Yankees 8

Box Score | Savant | Condensed Game

I imagine you knew Aaron Judge was good, and he homered in this one, his 51st of the year. But did you know Giancarlo Stanton is still good? Homering twice in those one brought his season line to .264/.340/.561 (146 wRC+) and enough for 1.5 wins. Well, he still gets hurt, so he’s only played 76 games. Trevor Rogers, who has only given up 3 home runs all season, gave up three in this one. The Orioles and Braves are tied at 75-85.

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At this point, we’re really just watching the Athletics and the Orioles. The Twins and the Pirates are close, so this weekend’s series can change the outcome there.