MLB Starting Nine (Week of July 10th)
Major League Baseball heads toward the final weekend before next week’s All-Star Break. July is one of the most exciting months on the baseball calendar with the All-Star Game followed by a trading frenzy as teams gear up for a playoff push. Here is this week’s Starting Nine:
Starting Nine (Week of July 10th)
Hope to see you back: The More Things Change; Welcome Back to the Show: The More Things Stay the Same
#9. Seattle Mariners 50-43 (+1000/+2000) - The Mariners are last in baseball in batting average and just 27th in runs per game. They can’t win if they can’t score. Last Week’s Rank: 7th
#8. Atlanta Braves 51-39 (+475/+900) - The Braves offense is humming along again. This team needs more reliable starting pitching and their front office has a solid track record of key trade acquisitions. Last Week’s Rank: 9th
#7. Minnesota Twins 52-39 (+650/1300) - Carlos Correa looks like the player that was an intricate piece of the Astros team that won a World Series. Byron Buxton looks healthy..shhhh!!! Don’t jinx it! The Twins have a playoff look to them. Last Week’s Rank: 8
#6. New York Yankees 55-38 (+225/+600) - The Yankees have lost 16 of 20 games and the ugly warts are showing. A lack of lineup depth and questionable starting pitching has this team free-falling to the rest of the pack. Last Week’s Rank: 5th
#5. Milwaukee Brewers 53-39 (+750/+1800) - Civale can’t be the last piece that the Brewers add. They have a great bullpen and solid hitting. Consistency on the mound will decide their October fate. Last Week’s Rank: 6th
#4. LA Dodgers 55-37 (+165/+320) - The Dodgers have six all-stars but the facts remain, this team will go as far as the rotation they roll out in October. Injury-prone Tyler Glasno is back on the shelf, that can’t be good. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
#3. Cleveland Guardians 57-33 (+500/+1100) - The Guardians have to feel good about Gavin Williams’ second start in his return. He bolsters a rotation that was leaning heavily on Ben LIvely and Tanner Bibee. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
#2. Baltimore Orioles 57-34 (+310/+650) - The Orioles have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Yankees this weekend in Baltimore. The trade deadline looms for this team. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
#1. Philadelphia Phillies 59-32 (+275/+500) - Schwarber and Harper returned this week and Trea Turner is playing like an MVP since his return. This looks like the team to beat in the NL. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
AL/NL Cy Young Candidates:
Here are this week’s Top Three Cy Young candidates for each league.
American League
Tarik Skubal, LHP Detroit Tigers (+110) - Skubal is first in the AL in WAR, WHIP and strikeouts. Health will determine his fate this season. The stuff is rock solid.
Corbin Burnes, RHP Baltimore Orioles (+250) - Burnes has the best shot to surpass Skubal in the AL. He is first in quality starts, second in innings pitched, and third in WHIP while pitching for arguably the best team in the league.
Seth Lugo, RHP Kansas City Royals (+1300) - Lugo has had a breakout season in KC. He is first in the AL in ERA, first in wins, and he’s second in WAR.
National League
Chris Sale, LHP Atlanta Braves (+175) - Health and command have brought Sale back to the forefront in his first season in the National League. He’s first in the NL in wins, 2nd in WHIP, and 3rd in strikeouts while holding down the Braves’ rotation.
Zack Wheeler, RHP Philadelphia Phillies (+150) - Wheeler heads into the All-Star Break first in the NL in quality starts, second in wins, third in WHIP and second in innings pitched while heading the rotation of baseball’s best team.
Ranger Suarez, LHP Philadelphia Phillies (+650) - Suarez has been healthy and outstanding this season for Philly. He’s first in the NL in ERA, fourth in WHIP, and he’s second in wins.
*All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle
