Post by Commissioner Erick on May 3, 2023 18:42:34 GMT -5
Oakland Athletics (25-23) @ Cleveland Indians (33-12)
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (6-1, 2.45)
OAK: Ken Spraglin (2-2, 4.69)
Athletics 3 Key Stats
4: Starting players who were also starters on the 2029 Athletics: Despite a strong 2029, Oakland has remade its team this year. J.P. Crawford and Shane Benes are now in the White Sox minors, Jose Altuve and Austin Meadows are free agents, and Jesus B. Sanchez is in Kansas City. Oakland has rebounded though. Former MVP candidate Addison Russell is playing Second Base and hitting well, as is former Athletic Adam Hasely, posting a .982 OPS for the team he debuted with. Rookie star prospect Elias Ramirez is struggling a bit in Center Field and First Baseman Jake Bauers is struggling too, but the future expectations of Ramirez and track record of Bauers suggest success later in the year. When John Malcolm returns from injury, their First Base situation should be shorn up as well. It’s a new lineup—but it’s a better one.
6: Saves for Anderson Espinoza: Espinoza has rebuilt himself after a pair of down years in San Diego. The former Padres starter won 11 games in 2026, but became homer prone in 2027 with a 3.86 ERA, but poor metrics. His descent continued in 2028 with a 5.66 ERA season, and culminated with a 7.63 ERA disaster last year. Now a full time reliever, Espinoza is still homer prone, but he’s struck out 30 in 27.2 innings, as his stuff has rebounded with a trip to the pen. He’s 3-0 with six saves in seven outings and a 3.90 ERA. He allowed too many homers to remain a closer, but is a key member of the Athletics pen.
303: Career innings by Ofelky Peralta: One of the most anonymous players in the league, Peralta has pitched in 303 games, started 74, and thrown 648 career innings, pitching for Oakland ever year of his career after being traded from Baltimore early in 2021, his rookie year. 2024 was his worst year with -1.0 WAR, but last year was a career best 1.7 WAR. This year, he’s off to a solid start. He has a career best 5.98% walk rate and a strong 26.5% strikeout rate. A long time back roster player, he’s become a key contributor out of the Oakland pen.
Indians 3 Key Stats
9: Homers in Izak Pals last 18 games: Pals got off to a rough start adjusting to the PBA. He was hitting .206 without a homer April 21. He had three hits against Miami his next game, homered the game after, and then his following game had two hits, a homer, and six RBI against Houston. He’s hitting .343 with nine homers since that moment, and has become the Ignitor of Cleveland’s offense.
.358: Franklin Barreto’s average: Barreto went unsigned in 2029 after a strong half season in Seattle in 2028. However, Barreto struggled in 2027, meaning it had been since 2026 since Barreto showed he can produce over a full year. This year, he’s off to a great start though, with nine homers, eight doubles, and a .975 OPS. Barreto was likely helped by his first time playing for Venezuela’s National Team, hitting for an .807 OPS this offseason. With the rust shaking off, he’s on pace for the best year of his career. He’s second in the league in average, only trailing his teammate Luis Retana.
.746: Juan Marrufo’s OPS: Marrufo is having a quite mediocre season. He’s only hitting .248, and while he has 10 homers, he only has four homers and 18 RBIs. He hasn’t been what Cleveland expected. He has stolen four bases, and played adequate defense, but for almost $14 million, Cleveland needs him to hit better to win a tough AL Central.
Questions for the GMs
For Garrett White, Addison Russell is day to day with a bad elbow. Will he go on the IL?
John Malcolm is due to come off the IL. Will he do so or go on a rehab assignment?
Joe White has been on rehab for a week. Will he come back today?
For Chris Stephen, John Kinser is out for two months. Who will take his place on the roster?
Jordan Groshans will miss a week. Will he wait out the injury or will you put him on the IL?
Bryce Harper is hitting .175 and looks like his best days are behind him. What role will he play for your team?
TRIVIA: Who led the AL in 2028 in ERA, Wins, and WAR?
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (6-1, 2.45)
OAK: Ken Spraglin (2-2, 4.69)
Athletics 3 Key Stats
4: Starting players who were also starters on the 2029 Athletics: Despite a strong 2029, Oakland has remade its team this year. J.P. Crawford and Shane Benes are now in the White Sox minors, Jose Altuve and Austin Meadows are free agents, and Jesus B. Sanchez is in Kansas City. Oakland has rebounded though. Former MVP candidate Addison Russell is playing Second Base and hitting well, as is former Athletic Adam Hasely, posting a .982 OPS for the team he debuted with. Rookie star prospect Elias Ramirez is struggling a bit in Center Field and First Baseman Jake Bauers is struggling too, but the future expectations of Ramirez and track record of Bauers suggest success later in the year. When John Malcolm returns from injury, their First Base situation should be shorn up as well. It’s a new lineup—but it’s a better one.
6: Saves for Anderson Espinoza: Espinoza has rebuilt himself after a pair of down years in San Diego. The former Padres starter won 11 games in 2026, but became homer prone in 2027 with a 3.86 ERA, but poor metrics. His descent continued in 2028 with a 5.66 ERA season, and culminated with a 7.63 ERA disaster last year. Now a full time reliever, Espinoza is still homer prone, but he’s struck out 30 in 27.2 innings, as his stuff has rebounded with a trip to the pen. He’s 3-0 with six saves in seven outings and a 3.90 ERA. He allowed too many homers to remain a closer, but is a key member of the Athletics pen.
303: Career innings by Ofelky Peralta: One of the most anonymous players in the league, Peralta has pitched in 303 games, started 74, and thrown 648 career innings, pitching for Oakland ever year of his career after being traded from Baltimore early in 2021, his rookie year. 2024 was his worst year with -1.0 WAR, but last year was a career best 1.7 WAR. This year, he’s off to a solid start. He has a career best 5.98% walk rate and a strong 26.5% strikeout rate. A long time back roster player, he’s become a key contributor out of the Oakland pen.
Indians 3 Key Stats
9: Homers in Izak Pals last 18 games: Pals got off to a rough start adjusting to the PBA. He was hitting .206 without a homer April 21. He had three hits against Miami his next game, homered the game after, and then his following game had two hits, a homer, and six RBI against Houston. He’s hitting .343 with nine homers since that moment, and has become the Ignitor of Cleveland’s offense.
.358: Franklin Barreto’s average: Barreto went unsigned in 2029 after a strong half season in Seattle in 2028. However, Barreto struggled in 2027, meaning it had been since 2026 since Barreto showed he can produce over a full year. This year, he’s off to a great start though, with nine homers, eight doubles, and a .975 OPS. Barreto was likely helped by his first time playing for Venezuela’s National Team, hitting for an .807 OPS this offseason. With the rust shaking off, he’s on pace for the best year of his career. He’s second in the league in average, only trailing his teammate Luis Retana.
.746: Juan Marrufo’s OPS: Marrufo is having a quite mediocre season. He’s only hitting .248, and while he has 10 homers, he only has four homers and 18 RBIs. He hasn’t been what Cleveland expected. He has stolen four bases, and played adequate defense, but for almost $14 million, Cleveland needs him to hit better to win a tough AL Central.
Questions for the GMs
For Garrett White, Addison Russell is day to day with a bad elbow. Will he go on the IL?
John Malcolm is due to come off the IL. Will he do so or go on a rehab assignment?
Joe White has been on rehab for a week. Will he come back today?
For Chris Stephen, John Kinser is out for two months. Who will take his place on the roster?
Jordan Groshans will miss a week. Will he wait out the injury or will you put him on the IL?
Bryce Harper is hitting .175 and looks like his best days are behind him. What role will he play for your team?
TRIVIA: Who led the AL in 2028 in ERA, Wins, and WAR?