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(AP)
The race for the 2030 Brewmasters Cup is on. Here are the preseason predictions brought to you by the Desert Doppler.
Season Standings
Ale
x Maine
z Pittsburgh
z Hartford
Wilmington
Pawtucket
Syracuse
Maine continues to be the class of the Ale as they lead the entire league in runs and finish top five in runs allowed. The staff of Alston, Short, and Harmony blow away opponents while Two Ton, 3B Phil Campbell and CF Dave Tibbs anchor the lineup. Meanwhile the Millers and the Whalers battle it out for the 2nd spot while everyone else struggles to win 70 games. Pittsburgh finishes near the back end in team ERA despite having Tony Castillo and Mel Fagnini, who each win 15 games a piece, but lead the DL in home runs behind Snider, Bushnell, and Doyle. Hartford goes 6-0 in their final week after sweeping a lackluster Patriot squad and a Maine team resting their stars to get above .500 and sneak into the postseason.
Lager
x Miami
z New Orleans
z Montreal
Santo Domingo
Indy
Toronto
With the addition of Santo Domingo this become the hardest division in the BLB. Miami is able to win it as their entire five starters return and each log double digits in wins, with Tom Rakita finally becoming the ace scouts thought he could be. With Khalil Corey shutting the door in the late innings the Sharks lead the league in starters and bullpen ERA and win with pitching and defense. New Orleans and Montreal each win over 90 games with the Dukes doing it by driving in run after run and the Exports doing it with pitching.
Stout
x Washington
z New York
z Philly
Baltimore
Carolina
Batavia
New York and Philly square off in the final three games of the season to determine who finishes 2nd, while Washington gets the Tobs and takes the division. The Bats win their 3rd Stout title in four years behind the pitching of young guns Theisen and Arballo, while being mentored by Payette. On offense they lead the IL in home runs with seven guys going yard in the double digits and 3B Rory Smith belting 40 to lead the pack. New York is just as deadly on offense though as ILCS MVP Chris Pineda hits .290 with 35 HR's and Alpha McCormick takes his spot as one of baseballs best stars by hitting .350 with 30 HR's. Philadelphia also hits the 90 win mark behind new additions Alex Dominguez and Jaime Stone who anchor the rotation and Pat Moore gets back to 2028 form and wins 12 games with a 3.15 ERA.
Bock
x Seattle
z Denver
z Windy City
California
Phoenix
Los Angeles
Seattle continues to be the class of the division as they win their 3rd straight Bock title. They are the most well rounded team in the league and will ride Teel and Shuai while the offense is led by Stout Slugger Swope who hits .315 with 50 HR's. Denver had a big off-season and it takes a while to mesh but by playoff time this team comes together and wins their first Brewmasters in team history. Enrique 'The Artist' Bernardi becomes fast friends with Manny 'Big Cat' Nieto and Antonio Melendez and the three headed monster of new additions blends well with Healey and Janson to form the backbone of the team. Windy City is the only sub .500 team to make the playoffs as they beat California in game 163. Twenty-two year old Dusty Dills wins 18 games with a 3.00 ERA and becomes one of the brightest young pitching stars in the league.
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Wildcard
Montreal over Pittsburgh
New Orleans over Hartford
New York over Philly
Denver over Chicago
Division
Maine over Montreal
New Orleans over Miami
Seattle over New York
Denver over Washington
LCS
Maine over New Orleans
Denver over Seattle
Brewmasters
Denver over Maine 4-2
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Awards
Stout Slugger
Turell 'Two-Ton' Morris, MAI
Johnny Swope, SEA
Pale Ale
Dave Harmony, MAI
Dave Thiesen, WAS
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Stars to Watch
1B Mike Morla, CAL - The old man just keeps on hitting as he leads the IL in average while belting 40 HR's
3B Ron Snider, PIT - The best power hitter in the BLB doesn't let being left off the playoff roster affect him as he belts 51 HR's.
1B Joy-Shan Guo, NO - One of the best players you've never heard of hits .320 with 40 HR's and puts NO in the wildcard.
SP Dave Teel, SEA - The legend continues on as he wins 19 games with a 3.15 ERA.
2B Ricky Figueroa, DEN - The speedster on the base paths goes to his 4th straight All-Star game while hitting .315 and swiping 60 bases.
Up and Comers
1B Colin Bailey, PHI - Making his BLB debut he hits .325 with 25 HR's and easily captures the IL New Brew.
3B Pat Walton, HAR - He got 21 plate appearances in 2029 but blows the DL away as a full time starter when he belts 45 HR's this year.
SP Kevin Alston, MAI - The 23 year old gets his first full year in the BLB and wins 20 games.
CF RJ Kapper, PIT - In his 2nd full season Kapper secures himself as a perennial all-star when he hits .350 and has Pittsburgh back in the playoffs.
OF Johnny Gamon, MIA - As he continues the trend of upping his HR total each year he belts 38 HRs and drives in 110 runs and helps Miami win over 100 games.
Top Faces in New Places
SP Alex Dominguez, PHI - The 36 year signed after Baltimore let him walk will be worth every penny of his $27m as he wins 20 games and leads the Freedom to the playoffs.
SP Pang Shui, SEA - Joining fellow IFA star I-Po 'Tea Time' Chai, the 26 year old Shue will win 15 games and lead Seattle is the ILCS.
OF Manny Nieto, DEN - The Big Cat comes alive in Colorado and hits .300 with 30 HR's while leading Denver to the Brewmasters Cup title.
RP Yi Ou-yang, NYK - The hard throwing IFA from China throws 90 innings in the bullpen with a sub 3.00 ERA and helps the Knights get back to the playoffs.
CL AJ Ingle, PAW - Joining his 5th team in six years Ingle has another 35 save season...if he's not traded by mid-season first.
SP TJ Broughton, HAR - He gets back to 2028 form and goes double digits in wins while posting a sub 3.50 ERA and has Hartford on the cusp of the playoffs.
OF CJ Stripling, CAL - His WAR continues to fall as he hits .275 but barely reaches double digits in HR's and doesn't hit the 50 RBI mark.
SP Ed Carroll, PHO - Dropkick wins 18 games, breaks hearts in Washington, and makes the Roadrunners start to be respectable again.
2B Tom Lewis, MAI - The April 1st signing hits .250 with 30 HR's and leads Maine back to the Brewmasters.
SP Dave Harmony, MAI - Dave gets back to his Phoenix form and wins 17 games with a 2.75 ERA to take the Pale Ale.
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