Major League Players Club (10/27/23)

(3 Picks)

8:03PM EST: ARI/TEX Under 8.5 (3 Units)

ARI SP Zac Gallen really hasn't been all that. He has a 5.24 ERA across 4 post-season starts but started off well allowing just 2 ER in each of his first 2 starts. Philly blasted him for 5 runs his first start in Philly and the 4 Runs in the next start in Arizona. Bit of tough luck his last time out. The 1st inning started with an infield single by Schwarber off the very end of the bat. Bryson Stott drove him in with 2 outs and then Bryce Harper was credited with stealing home after that. Both earned runs. He went on to shutout Philly until the top of the 6th when he faced the lineup for the 3rd time. Schwarber and Harper hit a pair of Solo homeruns that inning. Gallen did face Texas twice this year, allowing 4 ER over 11IP.

Gallen's one of the toughest pitchers to hit when he's on and he's just past due for that vintage performance. This is a guy who throws up plenty of shutouts and 1 run outings. Just twice in his career has he gone more than 4 consecutive starts without allowing 1ER or Less and that's across 115 starts. This Texas offense is as good as any but they've had some time to cool off. They haven't played since Monday and the top seeds from the last two MLB post-seasons (since the new format) can tell you all about why they don't like extended rest. It's just 3 days off but the MLB All-Star Break only gives some teams 4 days off and that's long enough to throw a complete wrench into their flow.

Texas starts Nathan Eovaldi and he's been lights out the whole way. 2.42 ERA across 4 post-season starts without allowing more than 3 ER in any. He's also completed at least 6 innings in every start. Eovaldi also hasn't pitched against Arizona since 2016 and no, not a single one of those players is on Arizona's roster anymore. Never easy facing a pitcher for the first time, especially one of Eovaldi's caliber.

Both bullpens have performed rather well throughout this post-season. Arizona's is certainly deeper and more trustworthy than Texas's at this time but they've both delivered when needed. TEX Closer Jose LeClerc has been pretty lights out outside of that 1 blown save to Houston. He recorded 1 out in the 8th and then there was that huge brawl debacle when Garcia was hit by a pitch. He was sitting on ice for quite a while before coming back out for the 9th. Either way Eovaldi should pass the torch off late and the time off has freshened up each bullpen.

World Series Futures

1) Marcus Semien MVP +1,500 (1 Unit)

2) Christian Walker MVP +2,000 (1 Unit)

Both of these guys were one of the most important bats on their team throughout the regular season. Both recording over 100 RBI's and double digit steals. Semien has some speed but Walker's more of a sneaky thief, he's no elite runner. Semien also scored 122 runs while Walker scored 86. Walker also hit 33 homeruns and Semien 29.

Both of them have struggled throughout the playoffs. Semien's hitting .192 with a .276 OBP and Walker .179 with a .365 OBP. Baseball is very streaky, especially at the plate. These are elite hitters that have been subpar through 12 games now. They both started to show signs of a breakout though.

In Walker's last 10 at bats he has 3 Hard Hit Balls, 1 Double and 3 Walks with just 1 strikeout. He had 13 strikeouts in 29 AB's leading up to that. He looks more and more comfortable in that box and the high OBP shows he's been seeing the ball just fine.

Semien closed out the final 2 games against Houston with 3 hits and 3 walks in 10 trips to the plate without striking out a single time. He's been one of the best leadoff hitters all season.

These guys are absolute stat sheet stuffers when they're on offensively. Two of the best hitters all season long and they're bound to breakout. If they do they're going to play a huge role in their teams success and winning this world series. They're also both Gold Glove defenders. Semien won it at 2nd base in 2021 and Walker won one at 1st base last year. Some highlight reel defensive plays would certainly help their MVP chances.