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06/07/2066
The Drillers achieved perfection with a 7-0 record built on dominant pitching, posting a remarkable 1.86 ERA while allowing opponents to hit just .199 against them. Their 0.95 WHIP showed they rarely allowed runners on base, which created easy games for their offense to manage with 40 runs scored. Pittsburgh took a different approach to their 5-2 record, leading all teams with 18 home runs and a .583 slugging percentage that allowed them to out-slug opponents despite weaker pitching (4.14 ERA). Phoenix also went 5-2 by combining the best of both worlds - they led in runs scored (51) with a .929 OPS while maintaining solid pitching (3.05 ERA), showing the most complete team performance of the week.
At the bottom, the Montreal Exports went winless at 0-6 with a catastrophic 6.88 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, while their offense managed only 16 runs in six games. The Muckdogs weren't much better at 2-5, posting an even worse 7.65 ERA with a 1.87 WHIP that created constant scoring threats for opponents, though they managed slightly better offensive production with 27 runs. Syracuse (1-6) and Denver (1-5) also struggled significantly, with Syracuse posting a 5.68 ERA and Denver managing only 13 runs all week, demonstrating how quickly teams can fall behind when both pitching and hitting fail simultaneously.
1) Wilmington Wildcats (146.3, o)
2) California Kodiaks (141.1, o)
3) Dallas Drillers (141.0, o)
4) Pittsburgh Millers (116.9, +)
5) Hartford Whalers (114.9, -)
6) Indianapolis Clowns (97.6, ++)
7) Carolina Tobs (96.6, +)
8) Seattle Pilots (96.6, -)
9) Washington Bats (93.5, --)
10) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (92.5, +)
11) Windy City Blues (92.4, ++)
12) Los Angeles Sharks (89.6, -)
13) New Orleans Voodoo (89.6, +)
14) Philadelphia Freedom (81.6, ++)
15) Phoenix Roadrunners (80.4, ++)
16) Baltimore Bulldogs (79.6, --)
17) New York Cyclones (78.9, ++)
18) Batavia Muckdogs (78.4, --)
19) Pawtucket Patriots (75.9, --)
20) Syracuse Snappers (63.2, -)
21) Denver Bulls (61.2, +)
22) Montreal Exports (58.5, --)
23) Toronto Canadians (53.0, o)
24) Maine Guides (36.9, o)
Performance of the Week
LF Alec Boersen - Boersen had a spectacular offensive performance in Philadelphia's 12-3 victory over Batavia on June 2nd, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs scored. The May Batter of the Month and Rookie of the Month's night was highlighted by a pivotal 3-run homer in the fourth inning that gave the Freedom a 4-1 lead and broke the game open, followed by another 3-run blast in the fifth inning that extended Philadelphia's advantage to 8-1. Boersen's dominant display at the plate earned him Player of the Game honors and helped propel the Freedom to a big win, improving their record to 25-29 on the season.
Prospect of the Week
2B Chase Spiker - The 21-year-old second baseman was selected 3rd overall in the 2065 draft by Maine and has quickly validated that high selection, earning recognition as the #4 prospect in the entire BLB as of April. His college career at Pacific was nothing short of spectacular, where he accumulated multiple All-Star selections, won consecutive Platinum Stick Awards, and helped lead the Tigers to the 2065 NCAA College World Series championship. Now in Double-A with the Bar Harbor Islanders, Spiker is putting up solid numbers with a .295/.361/.464 slash line and 1.1 WAR in just 44 games, demonstrating his ability to hit for both average and power while maintaining excellent plate discipline. His defensive versatility is another major asset as he has the ability to play multiple infield positions effectively. With his combination of proven collegiate success, high draft pedigree, current prospect ranking, and strong early performances, Spiker represents exactly the type of well-rounded, high-ceiling talent that organizations build their future around.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The Drillers are having an outstanding year, racking up a 42-18 record (.700) that places them just 3.5 games behind division-leading Wilmington in the Lager. The team's balanced attack features a potent offense that has scored 308 runs (5.13 per game) with 84 home runs while hitting .265/.328/.458 as a unit. Power has come from multiple sources, including Ari Lynn (.262/.310/.564 with 15 home runs), Kaden Heck (.301/.365/.579 with 10 homers), and Tate Brown (.263/.338/.458 with 7 homers and 14 stolen bases). This has been complemented by exceptional pitching that has limited opponents to just 227 runs (3.78 per game) with a stellar 3.48 team ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Individually, starter Joe Hodo has been dominant with a perfect 10-0 record, while closer Devantae Kim has been reliable with nine saves despite also serving in a stopper role (5-2 record). The team's depth is evident in their balanced approach, as players like Abdoul Ren (.273/.335/.497) and Barrett Avila (.284/.370/.463) have provided quality at-bats throughout the roster, while speedster Logan Kedzie has contributed 20 stolen bases despite a modest .241 average. The Drillers have also shown their toughness in close games with a 15-7 record in one-run contests and have been particularly impressive on the road (21-7) while currently riding a 7-game winning streak.
2. The cool June 1st evening at Kennywood Park promised to be a routine Tuesday night game between the struggling Maine Guides (12-43) and the surging Pittsburgh Millers (33-21). What unfolded over the next three hours was anything but routine. After Maine managed just one hit in the top of the first, Pittsburgh exploded for four runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Jeremy Goodson's three-run homer and Tristen Johnson's solo shot. The offensive fireworks were just beginning. Maine fought back with home runs from Jolice Haamid, Garon Norgrove, and Frank Memmi, but Pittsburgh answered every challenge. Isaac Pack was the night's biggest star, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs, while Johnson completed a remarkable hat trick with three home runs of his own.
When Jerry Coleman struck out looking to end the ninth inning, the scoreboard told the story of a night when everything went right for Pittsburgh: 14-5, with 16 hits that included a staggering nine home runs. The 41,011 fans who witnessed this offensive explosion saw something truly special—the kind of game that becomes part of baseball folklore. Pack's Player of the Game performance, Johnson's three-homer night, and the Millers' 16-hit attack turned what should have been a quiet Tuesday into pure baseball theater. As manager Jimmy Collins said afterward, "The boys were really swinging the bats today"—a simple observation that perfectly captured a night when everything went right and the home runs flew like fireworks under Kennywood Park's closed roof.
3. Looking at the baserunning statistics, there's a clear divide between teams that excel at stolen bases and those that struggle significantly. Batavia dominates the league in baserunning effectiveness, leading with 106 stolen bases and an outstanding wSB of 7.63 while maintaining a solid 80.9% success rate. Their combination of high volume and strong efficiency makes them the premier baserunning team in the league. California follows as another top performer with 102 steals and a 5.29 wSB at a 77.9% success rate, showing they can both run frequently and succeed at a good clip. Dallas rounds out the elite tier with 73 steals and a 3.75 wSB, though they achieve this with an impressive 81.1% success rate, suggesting they're more selective but highly effective when they do run.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, several teams are actively hurting themselves with poor baserunning decisions. Pawtucket stands out as the worst offender with just 45 stolen base attempts but a dismal 58.4% success rate, resulting in the league's worst wSB at -7.54. They have gotten caught 32 times, far too many for their modest attempt total. Syracuse is nearly as problematic with 42 steals at only 61.8% success, producing a -5.31 wSB that significantly drags down their offensive value. Philadelphia also ranks poorly with 44 steals at 65.7% success for a -3.85 wSB, indicating they need to be much more strategic about when to send runners.
4. Lets check out the division races and playoff odds starting with the Ale, where Hartford has established itself as a clear favorite with a 76.1% chance to win the division despite holding just a one-game lead over Pittsburgh (38-21 vs 37-22). Hartford's metrics suggest they're the stronger team, projecting to finish with over 97 wins on average, while Pittsburgh is expected to finish closer to 92. Both teams are virtually locks for the playoffs, with Hartford at 99.8% and Pittsburgh at 98.0%. Even if Pittsburgh doesn't win the division, they're almost certain to claim a wild card spot. The Lager appears to be Wilmington's to lose, as they hold a commanding 73.4% chance to win their division at 45-14. Dallas trails at 42-18 but remains a dangerous contender with a 26.3% division-winning chance and 99.9% playoff odds. The battle for the remaining two Domestic League playoff spots will likely involve teams like Santo Domingo (74.3%) and Indianapolis (65.7%), with New Orleans (42.8%) also in the conversation.
In the Import League, the Bock Division belongs to California, who at 46-14 enjoys an overwhelming 96.0% chance to capture the division title. Their dominance has relegated what would otherwise be competitive teams like Seattle, Windy City, and Los Angeles to fighting for wild card positions, with Seattle's 88.6% playoff odds suggesting they're at least well-positioned for a postseason berth. The Stout features the season's tightest race between Washington and Carolina, who are separated by just one game in the win column (31-28 vs 32-27) and have nearly identical division-winning odds around 45%. Both teams project to finish strong with 86+ wins, making this division race the most unpredictable. The loser of this battle will likely still secure a wild card spot, with teams like Baltimore (36.0% playoff odds) and the other Stout Division contenders fighting for the remaining Import League wild card positions.
5. What's on tap? The week's most compelling matchup features the Wilmington Wildcats hosting the Carolina Tobs on June 7th, a clash between the league's second-best team (45-14) and the leader of the competitive Stout. Wilmington enters riding a 3-game winning streak and boasting an impressive 25-7 home record, while Carolina faces a crucial test on the road where they've struggled at 10-17. This series could either extend Wilmington's comfortable 3.5 game lead in the Lager Division or give Carolina momentum to solidify their tenuous one-game advantage over Washington in the Stout.
In the “Battle of the Second Place Teams” Dallas travels to Washington on June 11th in what promises to be a pivotal series as well. The red-hot Drillers (42-18) bring their 7-game winning streak and 9-1 record over their last 10 games into hostile territory, facing a Washington squad (31-28) that's been excellent at home (21-9) but inconsistent overall. With Washington trailing Carolina by just one game in the Stout and Dallas trying to close the gap on Wilmington in the Lager, this three-game set could reshape the early playoff picture significantly.
Finally the Kodiaks visit Pawtucket in a series that highlights the vast gulf between baseball's elite and its struggling franchises. California (46-14) leads all but has shown some recent vulnerability with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, while Pawtucket (27-31) sits in fourth place in the Ale Division, mired in a 4-game losing streak and desperate for any spark to salvage their season. Though the Kodiaks should dominate on paper, road series can be unpredictable, and Pawtucket will be fighting to avoid falling further behind in their division race.
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Lets Go Streaking
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| Nick Edwards (IND) has a 15 game hitting streak |
| Brian Van Hook (CAL) has a 14 game hitting streak |
| Wyatt McKenney (BAT) has a 12 game hitting streak |
| Justin Reaves (HAR) scored in 9 straight games |
| Blake Bateman (HAR) has an RBI in 6 straight games |
| Milton Hastings (CAL) has converted 23 straight save opportunities |
| James Forbes (LAS) has converted 18 straight save opportunities |
| Payton Cooke (NYC) has converted 14 straight save opportunities |
| Joe Hodo (DAL) has won 10 straight decisions |
| Wyatt Laginess (CAL) has won 8 straight decisions |
| Wyatt Laginess (CAL) hasn't lost in 12 straight starts |
| Joe Hodo (DAL) hasn't lost in 12 straight starts |
| Braydon Lynn (DAL) hasn't lost in 11 straight starts |
| Justin Casey (WAS) hasn't lost in 10 straight starts |
Who's Hot
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| Hot Batters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stat of the Week
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| Teams With The Closest Balance Between Power and Speed (Top 25 Teams) |
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