2024 CFOD Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Mantle Division - Port Huron Hubris (49-34) Koufax Division - Cincinnati Rock (54-29) Ruth Division - Olympia Rainiers (48-35) Young Division - San Mateo Thunder (54-28) MK Conference Wildcard - Pig's Eye Pirates (48-34) RY Conference Wildcard - Park City Climbers (47-33) #1 League Wildcard - Arlington Arthropods (44-35) #2 League Wildcard - Miami Mangos (45-37) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Mechan Syndicate (45-38) - 1/2 game behind Dallas SuperSquad (42-39) - 2 1/2 games behind Tualatin Pioneers (42-41) - 3 1/2 games behind New Orleans Rougarou (42-42) - 4 games behind Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia (41-42) - 4 1/2 games behind Brookfield Brouhaha (41-42) - 4 1/2 games behind Topeka MooseDogs (40-42) - 5 games behind *************************************** Mantle Division - 1st - Port Huron Hubris (49-34) - Zach Neto is having a strong year, hitting .283 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI at the break. Yandy Diaz is hitting .280 with 41 runs scored and 40 RBI, while Matt Wallner is hitting .326 with 13 home runs, 36 runs scored and 35 RBI. Acquisition Yainer Diaz is hitting a combined .320 with 35 runs scored, and fellow acquire-ee JJ Bleday is has 14 home runs, 46 runs scored and 52 RBI at the break. Logan Gilbert is 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA, Blake Snell is 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA and Charlie Morton has 9 wins. Closer Blake Treinen has saved 12 games with a 3.33 ERA. With solid pitching and solid hitting, the Hubris are a lock to make the post-season. 2nd - Arlington Arthropods (44-35, 3 games behind) - Shohei Ohtani is having an MVP season, hitting .343 with 27 home runs, 60 runs scored and 57 RBI. Alex Bregman has 10 home runs and 44 RBI, while Jordan Westburg has 11 home runs and 55 RBI. Taylor Ward has 14 home runs and 49 runs scored. On the pitching side, Cole Ragans is 9-4 with a 2.80 ERA, and Kevin Gausman has won 7 games with a 3.49 ERA. Closer Cade Smith has 11 saves with a 2.42 ERA. It is hard to envision Arlington not making the playoffs this year, and could rise in playoff seedings with a few key trades. 3rd - Mechan Syndicate (45-38, 4 games behind) - Mookie Betts continues to put up franchise numbers, hitting .312 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI. Luis Garcia has 14 home run with 46 runs scored and 49 RBI, while Jazz Chisholm has 16 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 45 runs scored. Corbin Burnes has won 9 games with a 2.43 ERA and Carlos Rodon has won 8 games with a 3.61 ERA. Closing duties have been distributed, with Edwin Diaz leading with 7 saves and 3.31 ERA. Pitching has been working for the Syndicate, as their 2.99 team ERA is league best. The Syndicate are just 1/2 game out of a playoff spot, and a win streak or the trade for a key bat or two might push them into the post-season. 4th - Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia (41-42, 8 games behind) - Gunnar Henderson has been a bright spot, hitting 15 home runs with 48 runs scored and 52 RBI. Teoscar Hernandez has 17 home runs and 47 RBI, and Luis Arraez is hitting .336 with 31 runs scored. Andrey Heaney has won 8 games with a 4.24 ERA, and closer Raisel Igelsias has been stellar, saving 20 games with a 1.66 ERA. But being 4 1/2 games out of a playoff spot at the moment, the Fightin' Oglethorpes will need to have a very strong 2nd half in order to make the post-season. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Angry Candy, San Francisco Organization *************************************** Koufax Division - 1st - Cincinnati Rock (54-29) - The Rock have the best record in the MK Conference at the break, and missed hosting this year's all-star festivities by a mere 1/2 game. Their 434 runs scored is league best. Freddie Freeman is hitting .295 with 23 home runs, 73 runs scored and 57 RBI, and Michael Busch has 19 home runs and 57 runs scored. Kyle Tucker is slugging .550 with 41 RBI, and Rafael Devers has 17 home runs and 41 RBI. Luke Raley has swiped 11 bases with 42 runs scored. Tarik Skubal has been dominant, going 12-0 with a 2.41 ERA. Freddy Peralta has won 8 games, and closer Justin Slaten has saved 21 games, won another 6 in relief and has a 2.54 ERA. Cincinnati is favored to have a deep run in the playoffs. 2nd - Pig's Eye Pirates (48-34, 5 1/2 games behind) - Despite hitting .242/.307/.375 as a team, the Pirate's hold onto the MK conference wildcard. Carlos Correa is hitting .323 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI, and Jon Singleton has 34 runs scored. Ian Happ has 35 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Their strong suit has been pitching, sporting a team ERA of 3.14. Aaron Nola is 8-3 with a 2.04 ERA, and Erick Fedde is 8-5 with a 2.57 ERA. Joe Ryan is a fellow member of the 8 win club, and has a 3.23 ERA. Closer Jhoan Duran has saved 14 games. A few trades for some hitters would help the Pirates maintain their current playoff seeding status. 3rd - New Orleans Rougarou (42-42, 12 1/2 games behind) - Trea Turner is having another great year, hitting .297 with 19 stolen bases, 13 home runs and 57 runs scored. Vinnie Pasquantino has 10 home runs, 43 runs scored and 45 RBI, and Andrew Benintendi is slugging .460 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI. Julio Rodriguez has 22 stolen bases and 37 runs scored. Chris Sale has 8 wins and a 3.02 ERA, and closer Robert Suarez has 11 saves despite a 4.98 ERA. With a .500 record and being 4 games behind the current #2 league wildcard, the Rougarou may need to make a few trades in order to make the post-season. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Somerville Sluggers, Fertile Crescent Ziggurats, Trisolaris Droplets *************************************** Ruth Division - 1st - California Coneheads (48-35) - Bobby Witt Jr is in consideration for MVP honors, hitting .317 with 11 home runs, 60 runs scored and 53 RBI. William Contreras has 10 home runs and 51 RBI, and Wilyer Abreu is hitting .275 with 13 home runs and 40 runs scored. Elly De La Cruz has 42 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. Matt Olson has 12 home runs and 37 RBI, while Kyle Schwarber has 11 home runs and 35 RBI. On the pitching side, Luis Ortiz is 10-3 with a 3.26 ERA, and Ryan Feltner is 8-5 with a 3.87 ERA. Recent acquisition Tanner Houck is 1-0 with 1.69 ERA across 2 starts. Closer duties have been split, with Bryan King and Enoli Paredes leading the team with 9 saves each. Riding a 9 game winning streak, the Coneheads are looking to add to their division lead in the 2nd half. 2nd - Miami Mangos (45-37, 2 1/2 games behind) - 1st round pick Lawrence Butler leads the team in RBI with 30, with 10 stolen bases to boot. 2nd round pick Brandon Lowe leads the team in runs scored with 37. Christan Yelich is hitting .319 with 33 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. Zack Wheeler has been an ace, going 9-5 with a 2.97 ERA, and Reynaldo Lopez is 7-3 with a 3.14 ERA. Closer Kirby Yates has 19 saves and a 2.60 ERA. The Mangos presently hold onto the #2 league wildcard, but a trade for a few strong bats could solidify their hold on a post-season slot. 3rd - Dallas SuperSquad (42-39, 5 games behind) - Seiya Suzuki has been stellar for the team, hitting .303 with 19 home runs, 58 runs scored and 58 RBI. Jose Ramirez has cracked 15 home runs with 45 runs scored and 52 RBI, and Jarren Duran is hitting .284 with 39 runs scored and 40 RBI. Jose Altuve has contributed a .288 average and 35 runs scored. Dylan Cease is 7-4 with a 3.05 ERA, and Max Fried has won 7 games with a 3.47 ERA. Jack Flaherty has won 8 with a 4.27 ERA. Closer Josh Hader has 14 saves with a 2.10 ERA. Dallas is currently 2 1/2 games behind the Mangos for the #2 league wildcard spot, so a win streak or a few key trades could bolster their post-season hopes. 4th - Topeka MooseDogs (40-42, 7 1/2 games behind) - Fernando Tatis Jr has 14 home runs and 54 RBI at the break, but likely won't last the rest of the regular season. Austin Riley has 15 home runs, 42 runs scored and 42 RBI, while Colton Cowser has 17 home runs and 38 RBI. Nestor Cortes has gone 11-5 with a 3.26 ERA, but none of the other starters are over .500. Closer Jose Butto has 15 saves with a 3.46 ERA. Being 5 games out of the playoff hunt the MooseDogs will need to put together a spectacular 2nd half to make the playoffs. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Olympia Rainiers, Slam Diego Termites *************************************** Young Division - 1st - San Mateo Thunder (54-28) - The Thunder sported the best record at the break and hosted this year's all-star game. Aaron Judge has 23 home runs, 62 runs scored and 54 RBI, while Ketel Marte has 20 home runs, 56 runs scored and 45 RBI. Bryce Harper is hitting .282 with 12 hom runs and 53 runs scored, while David Peralta is hitting .295 with 47 RBI. Bryson Stott and Pete Crow-Armstrong each have 22 stolen bases. Jared Jones is 9-2 with a 3.40 ERA, Logan Webb has 8 wins with a 3.11 ERA, and Nick Lodolo is 8-4 with a 3.35 ERA. Jose Berries has won 6 with a 3.04 ERA. Closer Griffin Jax has been dynamite, saving 21 games with a 1.01 ERA. The Thunder are firing on all cylinders and will be a force to reckon with come playoff time. 2nd - Park City Climbers (47-33, 6 games behind) - Vladimir Guerrero Jr has been a bright spot, hitting .326 with 16 home runs and 52 runs scored. Francisco Lindor has 19 home runs with 50 runs scored and 42 RBI, and Joc Pederson is hitting .291 with 16 home runs and 41 runs scored. Will Smith has contriubted 36 RBI, and Zack Gelof has added 14 stolen bases and 31 RBI. Luis Gil is 11-3 with a 2.62 ERA, and George Kirby is 8-4 with a 2.83 ERA. Closer duties have been split, with Bryan Hudson saving 13 games with a 2.95 ERA and Matt Strahm saving 14 games with a 1.13 ERA. Currently sitting on the RY Conference Wildcard, Park City's battle with the Thunder may wind up being resolved in a playoff matchup. 3rd - Tualatin Pioneers (42-41, 12 1/2 games behind) - Kyle Higashioka has a strong first half, hitting 25 home runs wiht 42 RBI before burning out. Andrew Baughn has 14 home runs with 42 RBI, and Tyler O'Neill has hit 20 home runs with 46 runs scored. Michael King is 12-2 with a 2.70 ERA, and Hunter Greene has won 6 games with a 2.98 ERA. Closer Mason Miller has saved 11 games with a 2.38 ERA. And this is all without Paul Skenes, the #1 overall pick who has yet to pitch this year. At just 3 1/2 games out, they are a win streak away from jumping back into the playoff picture. 4th - Brookfield Brouhaha (41-42, 13 1/2 games behind) - Shea Langeliers has had some pop in his bat, hitting 20 home runs with 42 runs scored and 47 RBI. Eugenio Suarez has 17 home runs with 46 RBI, and Brenton Doyle has 21 stolen bases and 46 runs scored. Sonny Gray has won 7 games with a 3.59 ERA, and Mitchell Parker has won 7 games despite a 6.44 ERA. Ryan Helsley has saved 7 games with a 1.85 ERA. Brookfield is still in it, but a few trades may be required to keep their playoff hopes alive. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Seattle Moshers, San Francisco Piazza's