2017 MLB Predictions Pool: August 2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

August 26, 2017

Mark Watzke has held a two-category lead since Chris Sale took over the AL IP lead on August 9. That is, until yesterday.

Sale still leads that category, but his dominance of the non-save AL pitching categories is now in jeopardy after the Indians tagged him for six earned runs in three innings, upping his ERA to 2.88, nearly a quarter run worse than Corey Kluber's 2.65. Obviously, this was a boost to the pool chances of everyone who picked Kluber in this category, most notably Danton Boller, Brian Wells, and Mike Levine.

Boller, Wells and Levine are all within one category of Watzke's lead -- as are four other pool participants -- but they also hold an HBP advantage over Mark, so his lead is looking much more vulnerable than it has in over a month.

A lot can still happen in the season's final month, but the category that looks to be the biggest opportunity for Boller and Wells is NL Saves. Kenley Jansen has saved eight games in August to Greg Holland's three and now trails the NL leader by just one. Jansen sharing or taking over the NL lead in this category would elevate Boller and Wells to a first-place tie, all else remaining equal.

Levine doesn't have as clear a path, although Sale's tenuous AL IP lead could be his opening. In fact, Chris Archer -- who trails Sale by six innings -- will get his next start tomorrow and could briefly take over the category. All else equal, Levine would still trail Wells by one HBP in this scenario.

Monday, August 14, 2017

August 14, 2017

Mark Watzke continues to dominate the 2017 MLB Predictions Pool with just seven weeks remaining in the regular season. Mark's ten correct picks are the most on record for any entrant in the history of our pool.

The rest of us might focus on two categories for any hope of catching our longtime leader: AL wins and NL saves. Chris Sale is currently tied at 14 wins with the Royals' Jason Vargas; Sale slipping out of first would bring eleven entrants one point closer to Mark. In the NL, the red-hot Dodgers have pushed Kenley Jansen to within two saves of Greg Holland for the league lead. Watzke is one of just eight entrants to choose a closer other than Jansen for the category...

-Jud and Dan