Here’s our rest-of-season Top 300. Expect this space to be updated every Monday. Players are ranked for 5×5 mixed leagues using a one-catcher format. I include the mixed-league disclaimer because I do reward upside, particularly past the top 200 or so.
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**Updated Sept. 21**
|
Sept. 21 |
Top 300 |
Team |
Pos |
Pos Rk |
Sept. 14 |
|
1 |
Cubs |
OF |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
Yordan Alvarez |
Astros |
OF |
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
Bobby Witt Jr. |
Royals |
SS |
1 |
3 |
|
4 |
Ronald Acuna Jr. |
Braves |
OF |
3 |
4 |
|
5 |
Rays |
3B |
1 |
6 |
|
|
6 |
Juan Soto |
Mets |
OF |
4 |
8 |
|
7 |
Reds |
SS |
2 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
1B |
1 |
12 |
||
|
9 |
Fernando Tatis Jr. |
Padres |
2B |
1 |
5 |
|
10 |
1B |
2 |
15 |
||
|
11 |
SP |
1 |
66 |
||
|
12 |
Phillies |
1B |
3 |
17 |
|
|
13 |
James Wood |
Nationals |
OF |
5 |
7 |
|
14 |
OF |
6 |
13 |
||
|
15 |
OF |
7 |
25 |
||
|
16 |
SP |
2 |
16 |
||
|
17 |
Matt Olson |
Braves |
1B |
4 |
22 |
|
18 |
Tarik Skubal |
Dodgers |
SP |
3 |
11 |
|
19 |
Brewers |
SP |
4 |
10 |
|
|
20 |
3B |
2 |
52 |
||
|
21 |
Mason Miller |
Padres |
RP |
1 |
24 |
|
22 |
CJ Abrams |
Nationals |
SS |
3 |
20 |
|
23 |
Michael Harris II |
Braves |
OF |
8 |
27 |
|
24 |
Josh Hader |
Astros |
RP |
2 |
28 |
|
25 |
Kyle Tucker |
Dodgers |
OF |
9 |
21 |
|
26 |
Ketel Marte |
Diamondbacks |
2B |
2 |
33 |
|
27 |
Oneil Cruz |
Pirates |
OF |
10 |
31 |
|
28 |
Ben Rice |
C |
1 |
32 |
|
|
29 |
Mets |
SS |
4 |
37 |
|
|
30 |
Phillies |
SP |
5 |
46 |
|
|
31 |
Cristopher Sanchez |
Phillies |
SP |
6 |
19 |
|
32 |
Parker Messick |
Guardians |
SP |
7 |
69 |
|
33 |
Guardians |
3B |
3 |
54 |
|
|
34 |
Braves |
SP |
8 |
29 |
|
|
35 |
Rangers |
SS |
5 |
35 |
|
|
36 |
Dodgers |
SS |
6 |
44 |
|
|
37 |
Sal Stewart |
Reds |
2B |
3 |
26 |
|
38 |
Cade Smith |
Guardians |
RP |
3 |
47 |
|
39 |
Bryan Woo |
Mariners |
SP |
9 |
75 |
|
40 |
Brewers |
2B |
4 |
30 |
|
|
41 |
Astros |
SS |
7 |
59 |
|
|
42 |
Orioles |
SS |
8 |
36 |
|
|
43 |
Jhoan Duran |
Phillies |
RP |
4 |
45 |
|
44 |
Zach Neto |
Angels |
SS |
9 |
39 |
|
45 |
Mariners |
OF |
11 |
18 |
|
|
46 |
Trea Turner |
Phillies |
SS |
10 |
48 |
|
47 |
Tigers |
OF |
12 |
53 |
|
|
48 |
Seiya Suzuki |
Cubs |
OF |
13 |
51 |
|
49 |
Mariners |
OF |
14 |
49 |
|
|
50 |
Cardinals |
OF |
15 |
42 |
|
|
51 |
Cardinals |
1B |
5 |
55 |
|
|
52 |
Cody Bellinger |
Yankees |
OF |
16 |
50 |
|
53 |
Yankees |
RP |
5 |
63 |
|
|
54 |
Padres |
OF |
17 |
41 |
|
|
55 |
Henry Bolte |
Athletics |
OF |
18 |
86 |
|
56 |
OF |
19 |
60 |
||
|
57 |
Padres |
3B |
4 |
38 |
|
|
58 |
Louis Varland |
Blue Jays |
RP |
6 |
64 |
|
59 |
Wyatt Langford |
Rangers |
OF |
20 |
78 |
|
60 |
Rangers |
SP |
10 |
56 |
|
|
61 |
Mike Trout |
Angels |
OF |
21 |
61 |
|
62 |
Bo Bichette |
Mets |
SS |
11 |
77 |
|
63 |
Kevin McGonigle |
Tigers |
SS |
12 |
72 |
|
64 |
Braves |
C |
2 |
74 |
|
|
65 |
Freddie Freeman |
Dodgers |
1B |
6 |
76 |
|
66 |
Angels |
SP |
11 |
85 |
|
|
67 |
Braves |
RP |
7 |
87 |
|
|
68 |
Dodgers |
OF |
22 |
67 |
|
|
69 |
Astros |
3B |
5 |
108 |
|
|
70 |
Diamondbacks |
SS |
13 |
98 |
|
|
71 |
Yankees |
SP |
12 |
34 |
|
|
72 |
Yandy Diaz |
Rays |
1B |
7 |
70 |
|
73 |
Luke Keaschall |
Twins |
2B |
5 |
95 |
|
74 |
Brandon Nimmo |
Rangers |
OF |
23 |
94 |
|
75 |
Dodgers |
DH |
1 |
NR |
|
|
76 |
Taj Bradley |
Twins |
SP |
13 |
216 |
|
77 |
Diamondbacks |
C |
3 |
138 |
|
|
78 |
Gerrit Cole |
Yankees |
SP |
14 |
79 |
|
79 |
Pirates |
OF |
24 |
89 |
|
|
80 |
Daylen Lile |
Nationals |
OF |
25 |
99 |
|
81 |
Wilyer Abreu |
Red Sox |
OF |
26 |
96 |
|
82 |
Athletics |
OF |
27 |
186 |
|
|
83 |
Pirates |
RP |
8 |
109 |
|
|
84 |
Sonny Gray |
Red Sox |
SP |
15 |
101 |
|
85 |
Rockies |
C |
4 |
80 |
|
|
86 |
Cubs |
SP |
16 |
203 |
|
|
87 |
Nolan McLean |
Mets |
SP |
17 |
91 |
|
88 |
Cal Raleigh |
Mariners |
C |
5 |
97 |
|
89 |
Otto Lopez |
Marlins |
SS |
14 |
107 |
|
90 |
Carlos Rodon |
Yankees |
SP |
18 |
136 |
|
91 |
Cardinals |
C |
6 |
92 |
|
|
92 |
Andy Pages |
Dodgers |
OF |
28 |
NR |
|
93 |
Josh Naylor |
Mariners |
1B |
8 |
84 |
|
94 |
Trevor Megill |
Brewers |
RP |
9 |
81 |
|
95 |
Jose Altuve |
Astros |
2B |
6 |
121 |
|
96 |
Athletics |
C |
7 |
160 |
|
|
97 |
Bryan Baker |
Rays |
RP |
10 |
113 |
|
98 |
Konnor Griffin |
Pirates |
SS |
15 |
115 |
|
99 |
Brewers |
SP |
19 |
73 |
|
|
100 |
Pirates |
2B |
7 |
162 |
|
|
101 |
Paul Skenes |
Pirates |
SP |
20 |
106 |
|
102 |
Kenley Jansen |
Tigers |
RP |
11 |
142 |
|
103 |
White Sox |
3B |
6 |
129 |
|
|
104 |
Jo Adell |
Guardians |
OF |
29 |
123 |
|
105 |
Luis Garcia Jr. |
Yankees |
2B |
8 |
118 |
|
106 |
Red Sox |
SP |
21 |
120 |
|
|
107 |
Cubs |
1B |
9 |
110 |
|
|
108 |
Max Muncy |
Dodgers |
3B |
7 |
102 |
|
109 |
Kyle Stowers |
Marlins |
1B |
10 |
112 |
|
110 |
Brewers |
C |
8 |
100 |
|
|
111 |
Tommy Edman |
Dodgers |
2B |
9 |
82 |
|
112 |
Carson Benge |
Mets |
OF |
30 |
126 |
|
113 |
Jacob Latz |
Rangers |
RP |
12 |
116 |
|
114 |
Mariners |
OF |
31 |
104 |
|
|
115 |
Coby Mayo |
Orioles |
3B |
8 |
199 |
|
116 |
Braves |
3B |
9 |
103 |
|
|
117 |
Max Fried |
Yankees |
SP |
22 |
65 |
|
118 |
Astros |
1B |
11 |
148 |
|
|
119 |
Rays |
1B |
12 |
135 |
|
|
120 |
Max Clark |
Tigers |
OF |
32 |
124 |
|
121 |
Jake Bauers |
Brewers |
1B |
13 |
114 |
|
122 |
Dodgers |
SP |
23 |
128 |
|
|
123 |
Luis Arraez |
Phillies |
2B |
10 |
133 |
|
124 |
Rays |
OF |
33 |
150 |
|
|
125 |
Alec Bohm |
Phillies |
3B |
10 |
137 |
|
126 |
Rays |
SP |
24 |
177 |
|
|
127 |
Shane Baz |
Orioles |
SP |
25 |
168 |
|
128 |
Red Sox |
SS |
16 |
143 |
|
|
129 |
Nico Hoerner |
Cubs |
SS |
17 |
111 |
|
130 |
Payton Tolle |
Red Sox |
SP |
26 |
149 |
|
131 |
Rays |
SP |
27 |
125 |
|
|
132 |
Guardians |
SP |
28 |
62 |
|
|
133 |
Ty France |
Padres |
1B |
14 |
172 |
|
134 |
Jose Soriano |
Blue Jays |
SP |
29 |
119 |
|
135 |
Kazuma Okamoto |
Blue Jays |
3B |
11 |
139 |
|
136 |
Shota Imanaga |
Cubs |
SP |
30 |
194 |
|
137 |
Jake McCarthy |
Rockies |
OF |
34 |
146 |
|
138 |
Rays |
SP |
31 |
83 |
|
|
139 |
Bryson Stott |
Phillies |
2B |
11 |
147 |
|
140 |
Dylan Crews |
Nationals |
OF |
35 |
134 |
|
141 |
Marlins |
SP |
32 |
105 |
|
|
142 |
Josh Jung |
Rangers |
3B |
12 |
192 |
|
143 |
Guardians |
OF |
36 |
132 |
|
|
144 |
Cade Cavalli |
Nationals |
SP |
33 |
161 |
|
145 |
Spencer Jones |
Yankees |
OF |
37 |
151 |
|
146 |
Tyler Mahle |
Braves |
SP |
34 |
190 |
|
147 |
Blue Jays |
OF |
38 |
155 |
|
|
148 |
JJ Wetherholt |
Cardinals |
SS |
18 |
NR |
|
149 |
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. |
Blue Jays |
1B |
15 |
58 |
|
150 |
Zack Gelof |
Athletics |
2B |
12 |
198 |
|
151 |
Ozzie Albies |
Braves |
2B |
13 |
156 |
|
152 |
Noah Cameron |
Royals |
SP |
35 |
163 |
|
153 |
Kade Anderson |
Mariners |
SP |
36 |
145 |
|
154 |
Emilio Pagan |
Reds |
RP |
13 |
166 |
|
155 |
Steven Kwan |
Guardians |
OF |
39 |
141 |
|
156 |
Twins |
SP |
37 |
258 |
|
|
157 |
Daulton Varsho |
Astros |
OF |
40 |
158 |
|
158 |
Ethan Pecko |
Astros |
SP |
38 |
254 |
|
159 |
Brett Bateman |
Blue Jays |
OF |
41 |
157 |
|
160 |
Red Sox |
RP |
14 |
57 |
|
|
161 |
Phillies |
OF |
42 |
169 |
|
|
162 |
Caleb Durbin |
Red Sox |
3B |
13 |
164 |
|
163 |
Royals |
SP |
39 |
170 |
|
|
164 |
Framber Valdez |
Tigers |
SP |
40 |
122 |
|
165 |
Will Smith |
Dodgers |
C |
9 |
175 |
|
166 |
Mariners |
RP |
15 |
NR |
|
|
167 |
Connor Prielipp |
Twins |
SP |
41 |
NR |
|
168 |
Diamondbacks |
3B |
14 |
233 |
|
|
169 |
Padres |
SP |
42 |
204 |
|
|
170 |
Jeff McNeil |
Athletics |
2B |
14 |
243 |
|
171 |
Royals |
OF |
43 |
188 |
|
|
172 |
Tigers |
SP |
43 |
213 |
|
|
173 |
Royals |
1B |
16 |
130 |
|
|
174 |
Yankees |
2B |
15 |
NR |
|
|
175 |
Jared Jones |
Pirates |
SP |
44 |
200 |
|
176 |
White Sox |
SS |
19 |
167 |
|
|
177 |
Sean Burke |
White Sox |
SP |
45 |
275 |
|
178 |
Cardinals |
SP |
46 |
247 |
|
|
179 |
Clay Holmes |
Cubs |
SP |
47 |
182 |
|
180 |
Orioles |
3B |
15 |
212 |
|
|
181 |
Brewers |
OF |
44 |
144 |
|
|
182 |
Jakob Marsee |
Marlins |
OF |
45 |
220 |
|
183 |
Jarren Duran |
Red Sox |
OF |
46 |
90 |
|
184 |
George Kirby |
Mariners |
SP |
48 |
174 |
|
185 |
Joe Ryan |
Twins |
SP |
49 |
179 |
|
186 |
Riley O’Brien |
Cardinals |
RP |
16 |
193 |
|
187 |
Travis Bazzana |
Guardians |
2B |
16 |
180 |
|
188 |
Ian Happ |
Cubs |
OF |
47 |
178 |
|
189 |
Brewers |
OF |
48 |
127 |
|
|
190 |
Davis Martin |
White Sox |
SP |
50 |
262 |
|
191 |
Grant Taylor |
White Sox |
RP |
17 |
235 |
|
192 |
Cubs |
SS |
20 |
NR |
|
|
193 |
Blake Snell |
Dodgers |
SP |
51 |
23 |
|
194 |
Angel Martinez |
Guardians |
2B |
17 |
NR |
|
195 |
Daniel Lynch IV |
Royals |
SP |
52 |
NR |
|
196 |
Diamondbacks |
OF |
49 |
205 |
|
|
197 |
White Sox |
SS |
21 |
279 |
|
|
198 |
Cole Carrigg |
Rockies |
SS |
22 |
176 |
|
199 |
Tigers |
1B |
17 |
267 |
|
|
200 |
Jonah Cox |
Giants |
2B |
18 |
NR |
|
201 |
Guardians |
SP |
53 |
226 |
|
|
202 |
Marlins |
OF |
50 |
208 |
|
|
203 |
Jonah Tong |
Mets |
SP |
54 |
183 |
|
204 |
Astros |
OF |
51 |
202 |
|
|
205 |
Ryan O’Hearn |
Pirates |
1B |
18 |
217 |
|
206 |
Ezequiel Duran |
Rangers |
SS |
23 |
197 |
|
207 |
TJ Rumfield |
Rockies |
1B |
19 |
171 |
|
208 |
Brewers |
SP |
55 |
NR |
|
|
209 |
A.J. Ewing |
Mets |
OF |
52 |
173 |
|
210 |
Josh Bell |
Twins |
1B |
20 |
214 |
|
211 |
Hunter Brown |
Astros |
SP |
56 |
68 |
|
212 |
Josue De Paula |
Dodgers |
OF |
53 |
165 |
|
213 |
Jake Burger |
Rangers |
1B |
21 |
221 |
|
214 |
Hao-Yu Lee |
Tigers |
2B |
19 |
260 |
|
215 |
Blue Jays |
SP |
57 |
291 |
|
|
216 |
Orioles |
SP |
58 |
230 |
|
|
217 |
Walker Jenkins |
Twins |
OF |
54 |
248 |
|
218 |
Aaron Nola |
Phillies |
SP |
59 |
256 |
|
219 |
Willson Contreras |
Red Sox |
1B |
22 |
88 |
|
220 |
Anthony Kay |
White Sox |
SP |
60 |
NR |
|
221 |
Mets |
SP |
61 |
272 |
|
|
222 |
Janson Junk |
Marlins |
SP |
62 |
NR |
|
223 |
Astros |
SP |
63 |
NR |
|
|
224 |
Tanner Scott |
Dodgers |
RP |
18 |
191 |
|
225 |
Kody Clemens |
Twins |
2B |
20 |
210 |
|
226 |
Pedro Ramirez |
Cubs |
2B |
21 |
292 |
|
227 |
Cooper Pratt |
Brewers |
SS |
24 |
238 |
|
228 |
Mets |
SP |
64 |
234 |
|
|
229 |
Carter Jensen |
Royals |
C |
10 |
242 |
|
230 |
Matthew Boyd |
Cubs |
SP |
65 |
215 |
|
231 |
Jesus Sanchez |
Diamondbacks |
OF |
55 |
NR |
|
232 |
Lazaro Montes |
Mariners |
OF |
56 |
196 |
|
233 |
Adley Rutschman |
Red Sox |
C |
11 |
218 |
|
234 |
Keider Montero |
Tigers |
SP |
66 |
NR |
|
235 |
JR Ritchie |
Braves |
SP |
67 |
NR |
|
236 |
Griffin Conine |
Marlins |
OF |
57 |
239 |
|
237 |
Orioles |
SP |
68 |
244 |
|
|
238 |
George Lombard Jr. |
Yankees |
SS |
25 |
297 |
|
239 |
Xander Bogaerts |
Padres |
SS |
26 |
159 |
|
240 |
Giants |
OF |
58 |
225 |
|
|
241 |
JJ Bleday |
Reds |
OF |
59 |
224 |
|
242 |
Walbert Urena |
Angels |
SP |
69 |
282 |
|
243 |
Andrew Painter |
Phillies |
SP |
70 |
232 |
|
244 |
Yainer Diaz |
Astros |
C |
12 |
NR |
|
245 |
Giants |
SP |
71 |
NR |
|
|
246 |
Zac Thornton |
Mets |
SP |
72 |
NR |
|
247 |
Eury Perez |
Marlins |
SP |
73 |
131 |
|
248 |
Red Sox |
SP |
74 |
NR |
|
|
249 |
Royals |
3B |
16 |
246 |
|
|
250 |
Ben Joyce |
Angels |
RP |
19 |
253 |
|
251 |
Tigers |
SP |
75 |
NR |
|
|
252 |
Andrew Vaughn |
Brewers |
3B |
17 |
294 |
|
253 |
Dustin May |
Brewers |
SP |
76 |
187 |
|
254 |
Kodai Senga |
Mets |
RP |
20 |
189 |
|
255 |
Angels |
SP |
77 |
NR |
|
|
256 |
Athletics |
SS |
27 |
NR |
|
|
257 |
Spencer Miles |
Blue Jays |
RP |
21 |
NR |
|
258 |
Padres |
OF |
60 |
241 |
|
|
259 |
Rafael Flores Jr. |
Pirates |
C |
13 |
NR |
|
260 |
Cardinals |
SP |
78 |
NR |
|
|
261 |
Pirates |
2B |
22 |
265 |
|
|
262 |
Reds |
3B |
18 |
201 |
|
|
263 |
Javier Sanoja |
Marlins |
SS |
28 |
285 |
|
264 |
Joey Ortiz |
Brewers |
SS |
29 |
NR |
|
265 |
Rangers |
SP |
79 |
NR |
|
|
266 |
Matt McLain |
Reds |
SS |
30 |
287 |
|
267 |
Diamondbacks |
RP |
22 |
NR |
|
|
268 |
Brooks Lee |
Twins |
SS |
31 |
274 |
|
269 |
Braves |
SS |
32 |
NR |
|
|
270 |
Tim Tawa |
Diamondbacks |
2B |
23 |
281 |
|
271 |
Yankees |
OF |
61 |
NR |
|
|
272 |
Blue Jays |
SS |
33 |
236 |
|
|
273 |
Tanner Bibee |
Guardians |
SP |
80 |
152 |
|
274 |
Mariners |
SP |
81 |
NR |
|
|
275 |
Cody Bradford |
Rangers |
SP |
82 |
266 |
|
276 |
Hector Rodriguez |
Reds |
OF |
62 |
207 |
|
277 |
Mickey Gasper |
Red Sox |
C |
14 |
273 |
|
278 |
Will Warren |
Yankees |
SP |
83 |
206 |
|
279 |
Leo Bernal |
Cardinals |
C |
15 |
283 |
|
280 |
Marlins |
RP |
23 |
NR |
|
|
281 |
Wade Meckler |
Angels |
OF |
63 |
271 |
|
282 |
Emmet Sheehan |
Dodgers |
SP |
84 |
223 |
|
283 |
Braves |
SP |
85 |
NR |
|
|
284 |
Quinn Mathews |
Cardinals |
SP |
86 |
181 |
|
285 |
Pavin Smith |
Diamondbacks |
1B |
23 |
NR |
|
286 |
Xavier Edwards |
Marlins |
SS |
34 |
153 |
|
287 |
Emmanuel Rodriguez |
Twins |
OF |
64 |
296 |
|
288 |
Brandon Pfaadt |
Diamondbacks |
SP |
87 |
NR |
|
289 |
Connor Norby |
Rockies |
2B |
24 |
NR |
|
290 |
Colt Keith |
Tigers |
2B |
25 |
237 |
|
291 |
Alejandro Kirk |
Blue Jays |
C |
16 |
290 |
|
292 |
Nick Pivetta |
Padres |
SP |
88 |
261 |
|
293 |
Salvador Perez |
Royals |
C |
17 |
245 |
|
294 |
Nathan Church |
Cardinals |
OF |
65 |
NR |
|
295 |
Sam Antonacci |
White Sox |
2B |
26 |
154 |
|
296 |
Chad Patrick |
Brewers |
RP |
24 |
NR |
|
297 |
Marcus Semien |
Mets |
2B |
27 |
NR |
|
298 |
Moises Ballesteros |
Angels |
C |
18 |
NR |
|
299 |
Michael Massey |
Royals |
2B |
28 |
NR |
|
300 |
Dean Kremer |
Twins |
SP |
89 |
278 |
Falling off: Aaron Judge (ninth), Dylan Cease (40th), Alex Bregman (43rd), Andrés Muñoz (71st), Jesús Luzardo (93rd), Troy Melton (117th), Bryce Eldridge (140th) and 36 other players.
– It’s a fool’s errand, but here’s one last update for the final week of the season. I tried emphasizing two-start starters unless they’re particularly dangerous, but I also tried to take into account that some of the guys currently in line to start twice are going to end up being scratched or making only brief appearances next weekend.
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– With no updates yet on Alex Bregman (face) and Andrés Muñoz (knee), I’ve dropped both from the rankings. Pedro Ramírez, who was set to fall off the list with Dansby Swanson back, reclaimed a spot in Bregman’s place. Seranthony Domínguez seems like the likeliest choice for saves in Seattle in Muñoz’s place, so he comes in at No. 166.
– Thank you so much to everyone who has followed along all season. Anyone interested in the full spreadsheet of where players have ranked start to finish, reach out to my gmail at matthewpouliot. I’ll be back in mid-October with the first (or second) go at a 2027 Top 300.
Falling off: Shohei Ohtani DH (eighth), Rafael Devers (41st), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (58th), Bryce Miller (177th), Gleyber Torres (183rd), Hayden Wesneski (206th), Royce Lewis (214th), Kyle Bradish (222nd), Michael McGreevy (243rd), Brandon Pfaadt (246th), Braxton Ashcraft (250th) and 21 other players
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– I don’t have much of a notes section for you right now, since it’s after 3 am and I’d like to get some sleep. Still, the rankings are updated for the final 14 days of the season. A lot of the pitcher movement this week is elevating guys with three starts remaining and dropping those with only two. I also gave Rockies hitters a nice boost, as they play 10 of their remaining 13 games at home. Padres hitters also got a little lift from that, as they’ll be starting a four-game series in Coors Field on Monday.
Falling off: Kyle Harrison (101st), Shane McClanahan (125th), Luis Robert Jr. (163rd), Trent Graham (180th), Joe Musgrove (192nd), Byron Buxton (202nd), Cam Smith (219th), Brendan Donovan (227th), JJ Wetherholt (236th), Eric Lauer (243rd), Jesús Sánchez (247th), Xavier Edwards (254th), Sean Manaea (261st), Samuel Basallo (262nd), Nathan Eovaldi (265th), Connor Norby (268th), Chase Burns (273rd), Shohei Ohtani SP (280th), Tommy White (282nd), Daniel Palencia (285th), Colton Cowser (286th), Taylor Ward (289th), Ezequiel Tovar (290th), Alek Thomas (292nd), Willi Castro (294th), Elvis Alvarado (295th), Brandyn Garcia (299th)
– With three weeks to go, nearly every injured player is off the rankings at this point, with the exception of a few guys hopefully returning before the end of this week. Also, I’m paying a lot more attention to matchups, particularly this week’s. So, some starters with multiple starts this week who wouldn’t normally be in the top 300 make the cut. Also, Athletics hitters have moved up, since they’ll be at home for six games this week. Rockies hitters have dropped off as that team goes back on the road after a week of home games.
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– Rafael Devers gets an overdue late bump. There really was good reason for concern early on with his strikeout rate up and his bat speed down, but he bounced back nicely in both categories. Amazing is the consistency in his wOBAs since 2021: .373, .373, .359, .364, .365 and .365. His xwOBAs, on the other hand, still show a little decline: .391, .365, .380, .366, .367, .340. Still, it’s been a really impressive season, and getting to 100 runs scored (maybe) and 100 RBI (almost certainly) on the moribund Giants offense is one heck of an accomplishment.
– The Orioles getting swept by Red Sox over the weekend, dropping their postseason odds at Fangraphs to just three percent, would seem to greatly increase the chances that Kyle Bradish gets shut down with a week or two to go. He’s up to 152 innings in his first full year back from Tommy John, and he’s not exactly doing his best work at the moment.
– Kyle Harrison might have lost his rotation spot with his performance Sunday against the Reds, though I thought about keeping him on the list anyway, since he could be well set up for wins in middle relief if moved to the pen. In the end, he didn’t quite make the cut. It will be really interesting to see how the Brewers play things the rest of the way. I imagine both Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson will make a couple of shorter starts in an attempt to save bullets for October.
– It’ll be nice to see Corbin Burnes back on a major league mound Tuesday, but given that he threw just two innings in his lone rehab start after Tommy John, so I couldn’t see including him here just yet. San Diego’s Nick Pivetta, on the other hand, at least made it up to 4 1/3 innings in his last rehab start as he returns from an elbow injury. That gets him a spot on the bottom of the list, even if he’s a long shot to get a win Monday in his return.
