CHW 3, CLE 0

A subdued start at the plate for the AL Central champs; everything the Guardians tried to get going seemed to happen with two outs.

Sox still producing, though:

Meidroth 0
Montgomery 3
Murakami 5
Vargas 1

DeLauter 0
Kwan 0

A couple of slates join us thanks to Vargas, and the money looks a bit different after our first game:

22 Yuhan 2
21 Crase
20 Fell 2

Izzo 1, Winklepleck, Bauer 2, and Stempelson just off the pace, and plenty of point opportunities in the ATL/LAD game underway right now (which I think I'll leave on mute). See you around dinnertime ET...

ATL 6, PHI 2; Barves move on

That's a wrap on the WC round -- an uglier one than we usually see. A wide range of picks team-wise is interesting, and protects us from having to re-pick at the Classic, but the flip side is that you might have a bunch of slates staggering into divisional play...and losing PCA and Kyle Schwarber in the first round leaves us with a handful of "Mario Celeste"s going into the LDSes.

The points:

Baldwin 0
Harris 4
Olson 4

Harper 1
Schwarber 2
Stott 0

Italicized picks are out, of course. Harris II, a known Met-killer, is the pick MVP this round but the Schwarb wasn't far behind. Nobody really sucked, but Stott didn't do what we hoped. Albies making a case for the Victorino (usually he and Acuña get decent action if they're available; feels like nobody really believes it for Atlanta this year).

No games today, so here's a look at the money while we wait.

22 Yuhan 2
20 Fell 2
19 Winklepleck, Izzo 1

18 Bauer 2, Stempelson
17 LoPorto 1

Everyone else plus Saturday's sked after the jump...

SD 4, CHC 1; Padres move on

I can't say I expected quite such a brisk dismissal of the North Side team, even from a scorching San Diego team. CHC picks were 0 for last night --

Bregman 0
PCA 0

-- and 0 for BPP 2026, aaaaand are out. Not great news for the pool broadly; PCA was a very popular pick.

In happier news,

Bogaerts 3
Cronenworth 0
France 3
Merrill 2
Tatis 0

Bogey's your MVP for this match-up. I would propose Machado as a future Shane Vic, but those are guys nobody would have thought to pick, versus Machado, who tends to burn us...except when he doesn't.

Here's a look at the money:

22 Yuhan 2
19 Winklepleck, Izzo 1
18 Bauer 2, Stempelson

Everyone else after the jump...

NYY 9, BOS 2; Yankees move on

Off to Tampa for the Yankees, who were more or less untroubled by the Sox. The pool, less so -- one pick was felled by injury last night; Contreras excepted, the others did little to help -- but the players in italics below are out:

Abreu, W 0
Anthony 0
Contreras, Wi 5
Rafaela 0

Better news for the Bomber pickers:

Bellinger 5
Chisholm 2
Garcia 6
Rice 1

Here's where the money is as we wait to see whether the CHW/SD series is going to break the pool...

19 Yuhan 2 and Izzo 1
18 Stempelson and Bauer 2
14 Fell 2

13 Winklepleck, Reid Dumb, LoPorto 1, DGB
12 Crase, Green, Wonsetler Head
10 Izzo 2, Wonsetler Heart, O'Reilly

9 Brady
7 AK 2
6 Quinn 2, Reid Smart, Yuhan 1, Cameron 2

5 Drake's Dis Track
4 Bingham 2
3 LoPorto 2

2 Tormey, AK 1
1 Cameron 1, SDB Goliath

It seems like maybe a Gol-Dunn Sombrero is in play for this go-round? Lord, I hope not. Corrections, log 'em in the comments and I'll see you later/tomorrow for the CHI/SD wrap.

CHW 7, HOU 3; White Sox move on

Not an unexpected result, but pool-wise you hope at least for some production from losing picks. That didn't happen for Alvarez, although he was obviously a tough pick to resist...but he's out, as you'll see because he's in italics below.

The points:

Meidroth 5

the rest of the Chisox 0

Alvarez 0

Alvarez actually not the pool LVP for this round (that's Vargas); Meidroth the clear MVP, Kyle Teel shaping up as a Victorino, but it's very early yet.

Earlier for some than others, Chad Tracy, but we've only lost one pick here and there's no change to the money. The next update is likely to get gnarly, but until then, check my math and good luck!

PHI 4, ATL 3 (10)

Despite a Harper biff that looked psychologically fatal (and a Phillie pulling up short and asking out of the game after running to first), the Phils hang on to force a decider tomorrow. 

Lots of points on offer this afternoon, with Baldwin putting another handful of you on the board:

Harper 5
Schwarber 4
Stott 1

Baldwin 3
Harris 1
Olson 1

Very slight change to the money --

18 Yuhan 2
17 Stempelson
14 Fell 2

-- with Winklepleck and Izzo Reid Bauer LoPorto LLC just off the pace. 

Houston's trying to climb back into it after an inning in the 5 o'clock game; I should be back in a couple hours with that update. 

SD 8, CHC 0

Me, every year I pick Machado: "...dammit."

Me, every year I don't pick Machado: "...DAMMIT!"

Plenty of points on offer from a game that seemed to get away from Cubs pitching almost immediately. Not exactly a plot twist given that so much Cubs pitching, uh, used to be Mets pitching? 

Your points:

Bregman 0
PCA 0

Bogaerts 5
Cronenworth 1
France 2
Merrill 2
Tatis 5

An authoritative restructuring of the money thanks to the Pads; below, your standings after the first WC day...

18 Yuhan 2
17 Stempelson
13 Winklepleck

12 Izzo 1, Reid Dumb, Bauer 2
11 LoPorto 1, Green, Wonsetler Head
10 Fell 2

7 Crase, AK 2
5 Quinn 2, Reid Smart

4 Brady
3 O'Reilly, DGB 

2 Yuhan 2, Tormey
1 Izzo 2, Wonsetler Heart, Bingham 2

Everyone else either picked Sox, picked byes, or just picked poorly (hi hello, it's me) and waiting to get on the board.  

The schedule's exactly the same today -- Phils/Barves at 2, Pale Hose/'Stros at 5, Yanks/Red Hose at 8, Cubs/Dads at 10. My only prediction is that the Red Sox, who look overwhelmed, submit quietly, but I'm always rooting for more baseball; we'll see!

In the meantime, check my math, make sure I didn't let any other Shlobotniks through, and good luck!