Week 20 roster changes

Players acquired

SP Dontrelle Willis, by Ubaldo Spots (August #2)

OF Garrett Jones, by Gladstone Goatwhisperers (August #1)

1B Derrek Lee, by Holliday Road (August #1)

2B Darwin Barney, by Triple-A's (August #3)

RP Drew Stroen, by Arbitration Losers (August #1)

Players released

SP Paul Maholm, by Ubaldo Spots

SP Kyle Lohse, by Holliday Road

RP Francisco Cordero, by Arbitration Losers

Trade

Ubaldo Spots traded 3B Chipper Jones to Holliday Road for SP Roy Oswalt.

Week 20 active roster changes

CHICO'S CHUGGERS: Benched SP Joe Saunders; activated SP Edwin Jackson

TRIPLE-A'S: No changes

PITCH YOU BLOCKHEAD: Conditionally placed SS Hanley Ramirez on disabled list; acquired/activated SS Jason Bartlett; benched OF Corey Hart and SP Ricky Nolasco; moved 3B Ty Wigginton to OF; activated 3B Casey Blake and SP Jordan Zimmermann

VC APPRAISERS: Placed SS Jose Reyes and SP Jair Jurrjens on disabled list; benched OF Will Venable and SP Kevin Correia; activated OF Carlos Gonzalez and SP Jonathan Sanchez from disabled list; activated SS Alex Gonzalez and SP Randy Wolf

UBALDO SPOTS: Released SP Paul Maholm; traded SP Hiroki Kuroda; benched SP Bud Norris; activated SP Tim Hudson, SP Ubaldo Jimenez and SP Dontrelle Willis

MISFITS: Released SS Ronnie Cedeno; benched OF Carlos Lee, SP Jonathan Niese and SP Jeff Karstens; activated SS Yuniesky Betancourt, OF Dexter Fowler, SP Hiroki Kuroda and SP Madison Bumgarner

GLADSTONE GOATWHISPERERS: Benched SP Jhoulys Chacin; activated SP Daniel Hudson

ARBITRATION LOSERS: Released RP Francisco Cordero; benched OF Raul Ibanez; activated RP Drew Storen and OF Jason Bourgeois

HOLLIDAY ROAD: Released SP Kyle Lohse; placed 3B Chase Headley on disabled list; benched OF Ryan Ludwick and SP Kyle Lohse; moved 1B Mike Morse to OF; activated 3B Chipper Jones, 1B Derrek Lee and SP Chris Narveson

PICKLE BUGS: Moved C Ryan Doumit from disabled list to bench

Sunday's report

Overall standings

1. Arbitration Losers (Tim) 3216
2. Holliday Road (Bill-Cliff) 3191
3. Triple-A's (Ken) 3174
4. Gladstone Goatwhisperers (Arik) 3161
5. VC Appraisers (Dave-Kevin) 3135
6. Ubaldo Spots (Rich) 3121
7. Pickle Bugs (Jon) 3044
8. Misfits (Reid) 2938
9. Pitch You Blockhead (Scott) 2904
10. Chico's Chuggers (Shawn) 2649

Head-to-Head scores

Gladstone Goatwhisperers 198, Pitch You Blockhead 190 (Goatwhisperers win series, 1-0)
Arbitration Losers 196, Misfits 152 (Arbitration Losers win series, 1-0)
Triple-A's 183, Ubaldo Spots 120 (Triple-A's lead series 1-0 with a +63 aggregate)
Holliday Road 239, VC Appraisers 131 (Holliday Road leads series 1-0 with a +108 aggregate)

Players acquired

1B Derrek Lee, by Holliday Road (August #1)
IF Darwin Barney, by Triple-A's (August #3)
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, by Misfits (August #1)

Notes

Bolstered by three solid pitching outings, the Arbitration Losers finished the week strong to recapture the overall lead and lock down the first-round win in the head-to-head playoffs. The Losers will take a week off from head-to-head competition and get ready to likely face the Triple-A's. Pitch You Blockhead put up a good fight, but losing Hanley Ramirez for the weekend really hurt, so the Gladstone Goatwhisperers advance to the semifinals, where they likely will face Holliday Road. The Triple-A's and Holliday Road easily won their playoff openers by such large margins that they are in good standing to claim the win on aggregate points. The Triple-A's have a 63-point advantage, while Holiday Road leads by 108 points. Big deficits indeed.

Saturday's report

Overall standings

1. Holliday Road (Bill-Cliff) 3169
2. Triple-A's (Ken) 3166
3. Arbitration Losers (Tim) 3165
4. Gladstone Goatwhisperers (Arik) 3140
5. Ubaldo Spots (Rich) 3114
6. VC Appraisers (Dave-Kevin) 3110
7. Pickle Bugs (Jon) 3003
8. Misfits (Reid) 2923
9. Pitch You Blockhead (Scott) 2885
10. Chico's Chuggers (Shawn) 2628

Head-to-head scores

Gladstone Goatwhisperers 177, Pitch You Blockhead 171
Arbitration Losers 145, Misfits 137
Holliday Road 217, VC Appraisers 106
Triple-A's 175, Ubaldo Spots 113

Notes

The Arbitration Losers' weeklong hold on the overall lead was broken. The Holliday Road is enjoying a huge week thanks to guys like Mike Morse, Starlin Castro and Matt Holliday. Pitch You Blockhead remains in its must-win game in the head-to-head playoff, trailing the Goatwhisperers by just six points. PYB hopes for big things Sunday from Clayton Kershaw, while the GGs countered with Zach Greinke. The Misfits trail the Losers by only eight points heading into Sunday. But the Losers will have three pitchers on the mound, so the Misfits face an uphill challenge. Holliday Road and Triple-A's will get head-to-head wins. The VC Appraisers and Ubaldo Spots need big days Sunday to cut the margin of victory down, so their hopes of advancing on aggregate points aren't out of reach.

Friday's update

Overall standings

1. Arbitration Losers (Tim) 3148
2. Triple-A's (Ken) 3124
3. Holliday Road (Bill-Cliff) 3102
4. Gladstone Goatwhisperers (Arik) 3101
5. Ubaldo Spots (Rich) 3098
6. VC Appraisers (Dave-Kevin) 3077
7. Pickle Bugs (Jon) 2968
8. Misfits (Reid) 2892
9. Pitch You Blockhead (Scott) 2847
10. Chico's Chuggers (Shawn) 2602

Head-to-head scores

Goatwhisperers 138, Pitch You Blockhead 133
Arbitration Losers 128, Misfits 106
Triple-A's 133, Ubaldo Spots 97
Holliday Road 150, VC Appraisers 73

Players acquired

1B Derrek Lee, by Holliday Road (August #1)
2B Darwin Barney, by Triple-A's (August #3)

Trade

Ubaldo Spots traded SP Hiroki Kuroda to Misfits for 3B David Freese

Notes

Remember when the VC Appraisers were in first place every day from April to last Saturday? Well, now they're in sixth place, 71 points back. And they're trailing Holliday Road in the head-to-head playoffs, they're in bad position to win the two-week aggregate. The Misfits can't catch a break. First Yadier Molina sprayed it, instead saying it, and that cost him a suspension. Then Jeff Karstens got lit up by the Padres, of all teams. Still the Misfits are not out of their head-to-head must win game with the Arbitration Losers, trailing 128-106. Pitch You Blockhead is hanging tough with the Gladstone Goatwhisperers. And the Ubaldo Spots can't catch a break at 3B. First, Scott Rolen got hurt and went on the DL. Then Chipper Jones got hurt and didn't go on the DL. Then they traded for David Freese and in his first game since he was acquired, he got plunked in the head.

Leading scorers

Top scoring players thru Sunday's games

Batters
1. Matt Kemp (TA) 337
2. Ryan Braun (US) 322
3. Justin Upton (TA) 305
4. Jose Reyes (VCA) 295
4. Michael Bourn (GG) 295
6. Troy Tulowitzki (AL) 289
7. Prince Fielder (PB) 278
7. Hunter Pence (PB) 278
9. Ryan Howard (GG) 276
10. Chris Young (AL) 273

Pitchers
1. Roy Halladay (Mis) 329
2. Clayton Kerhaw (PYB) 319
3. Cliff Lee (HR) 309
4. Cole Hamels (VCA) 298
5. Ian Kennedy (AL) 280

Relievers
1. Craig Kimbrel (Mis) 209
2. John Axford (US) 196
3. Brian Wilson (HR) 183

Tuesday's report

Overall standings

1. Arbitration Losers (Tim) 3085
2. Triple-A's (Ken) 3060
3. Ubaldo Spots (Rich) 3059
4. Gladstone Goatwhisperers (Arik) 3047
5. VC Appraisers (Dave-Kevin) 3023
6. Holliday Road (Bill-Cliff) 3002
7. Pickle Bugs (Jon) 2905
8. Misfits (Reid) 2830
9. Pitch You Blockhead (Scott) 2774
10. Chico's Chuggers (Shawn) 2536

Week 19 scores

Goatwhisperers 84, Pitch You Blockhead 60
Arbitration Losers 65, Misfits 44
Triple-A's 69, Ubaldo Spots 58
Holliday Road 50, VC Appraisers 19

Week 19 roster changes

Players acquired

SP Edwin Jackson, by Chico's Chuggers (July #2)

OF Jason Bourgeois, by Arbitration Losers (July #2)

1B Jesus Guzman, by Arbitration Losers (July #3)

1B Lucas Duda, by Pitch You Blockhead (July #3)

C David Ross, by Triple-A's (August #1)

2B Omar Infante, by Triple-A's (August #2)

SP Paul Maholm, by Ubaldo Spots (August #1)

2B Justin Turner, by Misfits (August #1)

Players released

SP Edinson Volquez, by Chico's Chuggers

2B Mark Ellis, by Triple-A's

2B Omar Infante, by Pickle Bugs (stolen by Triple-A's)

3B Chris Johnson, by Ubaldo Spots

1B Brett Wallace, by Pitch You Blockhead

C Wilson Ramos, by Pitch You Blockhead

OF Cody Ross, by Arbitration Losers

OF Jon Jay, by Arbitration Losers

Week 19 active roster changes

CHICO'S CHUGGERS: Benched 1B Carlos Pena; activated 1B James Loney

TRIPLE-A'S: Released 2B Mark Ellis; placed C Brian McCann on disabled list; benched SP Dylan Gee; activated 2B Omar Infante, C David Ross and SP Chris Capuano

PITCH YOU BLOCKHEAD: Released 1B Brett Wallace and C Wilson Ramos; moved 3B Casey Blake from disabled list to bench; benched SP Jordan Zimmermann and SP Jake Westbrook; activated 1B Lucas Duda, C Chris Iannetta; SP Tim Stauffer and SP Matt Garza.

VC APPRAISERS: Benched 3B Brandon Wood; activated 3B Pedro Alvarez

UBALDO SPOTS: Benched SP Ubaldo Jimenez, SP Mike Leake and SP Tim Hudson; activated SP Paul Maholm, SP Hiroki Kuroda and SP Jason Marquis

MISFITS: Placed 2B Rickie Weeks on disabled list; benched OF Dexter Fowler and SP Madison Bumgarner; activated 2B Justin Turner, OF Marlon Byrd and SP Jeff Karstens.

GLADSTONE GOATWHISPERERS: Benched SP James McDonald; activated SP Jhoulys Chacin

ARBITRATION LOSERS: Benched 1B Aubrey Huff and SP Aaron Harang; activated 1B Jesus Guzman and SP Mat Latos.

HOLLIDAY ROAD: Placed SP Rubby De La Rosa on disabled list; moved 3B Placido Polanco from disabled list to bench; benched SP Chris Narveson and OF Jason Heyward; activated SP Kyle Lohse, SP Matt Cain and OF Ryan Ludwick.

PICKLE BUGS: No changes

Sunday's report

Overall standings

1. Arbitration Losers (Tim) 3020
2. VC Appraisers (Dave-Kevin) 3004
3. Ubaldo Spots (Rich) 3001
4. Triple-A's (Ken) 2991
5. Gladstone Goatwhisperers (Arik) 2963
6. Holliday Road (Bill-Cliff) 2952
7. Pickle Bugs (Jon) 2847
8. Misfits (Reid) 2786
9. Pitch You Blockhead (Scott) 2714
10. Chico's Chuggers (Shawn 2515

For the first time in three months, there is a new overall leader in the FBLG. For weeks, the VC Appraisers have struggled with injuries. Some other teams have appeared ready to challenge the overall lead, but would fade back. Now, the entire pack has closed the gap on the VCA's. The league actually has been very competitive in the 2 through 6 spots all season. Now, that the VC Appraisers have fallen back to the pack, we expect a very exciting final two months of the season. Teams from first to fourth are separated by 29 points. The first-to-sixth spread is 68 points.

Head-to-Head playoffs begin

Week 18 head-to-head scores

Chico's Chuggers 195, Holliday Road 179
Triple-A's 168, Pickle Bugs 166
Goatwhisperers 219, VC Appraisers 143
Ubaldo Spots 171, Pitch You Blockhead 162
Arbitration Losers 199, Misfits 173

Here are the seedings and pairings for the playoffs. Ties were broken by overall point standings. Remember, the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds only need to win games in Week 19 or 20 to advance. Nos. 7 and 8 seeds must win both games to advance. If series between No. 3 vs.  6 or No. 4 vs. 5 teams ends tied 1-1, aggregate scores from Week 19 and 20 break ties.

No. 1 Gladstone Goatwhisperers (12-6) vs. No. 8 Pitch You Blockhead (9-9)
Goatwhisperers earned No. 1 seed by winning last four games and six of last seven. GGs won both meetings with PYB this season.

No. 2 Arbitration Losers (10-8) vs. No. 7 Misfits (9-9)
A rematch of Week 18 game. A loss by Holliday Road last week opened the door for the Losers to claim No. 2 seed. Losers won both matchups with Misfits this season.

No. 3 Triple-A's (10-8) vs. No. 6 Ubaldo Spots (9-9)
Triple-A's won their final three games, while Spots come in having won 3 of last 4. Triple-A's took both meetings this season with the Spots.

No. 4 Holliday Road (10-8) vs. No. 5 VC Appraisers (9-9)
VCA's come into playoffs on serious skid, having lost last four in a row. They have not scored more than 178 in a week since week 11. Holliday Road got bumped from No. 2 spot by spoiler-playing Chico's Chuggers. Two teams split their meetings this season.

Week 18 roster changes

Players acquired

OF-IF Willie Bloomquist, by Ubaldo Spots (July #2)

3B Chris Johnson, by Holliday Road (July #1)

OF Jon Jay, by Arbitration Losers (July #1)


Players released

OF Dominic Brown, by Goatwhisperers

C Dioner Navarro, by Pickle Bugs


OF Garrett Jones, by Arbitration Losers

Trades

On Saturday, Ubaldo Spots traded OF Andre Ethier and SP Rubby De La Rosa to Holliday Road for 3B Chris Johnson and OF Drew Stubbs

Week 17 midweek replacements

UBALDO SPOTS: On Thursday, placed SS Stephen Drew on the disabled list; activated SS Willie Bloomquist; On Saturday, traded OF Andre Ethier; activated OF Drew Stubbs (acquired in trade); placed 3B Scott Rolen on disabled list; activated 3B Chris Johnson

MISFITS: On Wednesday, benched OF Andres Torres; activated OF Shane Victorino from disabled list

HOLLIDAY ROAD: On Saturday, traded OF Drew Stubbs; activated OF Andre Ethier

Week 18 active roster changes

CHICO'S CHUGGERS: No changes.

TRIPLE-A'S: Benched SP Chris Capuano; activated SP Wandy Rodriguez

PITCH YOU BLOCKHEAD: Benched SP Tim Stauffer; activated SP Jake Westbrook

VC APPRAISERS: Benched SS Alex Gonzalez; activated SS Jose Reyes from disabled list.

UBALDO SPOTS: Benched 3B Chris Johnson and SP Jason Marquis; activated 3B Chipper Jones from disabled list; activated SP Mike Leake

MISFITS: Placed SS Miguel Tejada and SS Zack Cozart on disabled list; benched OF Marlon Byrd and SP Jeff Karstens; activated SS Ronnie Cedeno from disabled list; activated OF Dexter Fowler and SP Homer Bailey.

GLADSTONE GOATWHISPERERS: Released OF Dominic Brown; benched 3B Daniel Murphy and SP Daniel Hudson; activated 3B David Wright from disabled list; activated OF Jayson Werth and SP Johnny Cueto

ARBITRATION LOSERS: No changes.

HOLLIDAY ROAD: Benched SP Matt Cain; activated SP Rubby De La Rosa

PICKLE BUGS: Released C Dioner Navarro; activated C Rod Barajas from disabled list