The Sportsletter - Sea Breeze ⚓️

BY JEFF YODER & MARISSA KASCH

AUG. 23, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Rankings and records are the story in today’s mid-week mash-up. The Mariners have won eight straight to climb into the MLB’s elite in our latest power rankings. A’ja Wilson set the WNBA on fire with a record 53-point game. And our Marissa Kasch gets hyped for football season by ranking the youth movement among NFL quarterbacks.

72 hours to college football. Yes, please.

Letter Rip!

  MLB  

Power Rankings: Seattle Soaring ⚓️

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Dodgers Climb, Rangers Skid & Mariners Soar Into Top-5 in Latest MLB Power Rankings

Baseball has officially entered the 30-game countdown to October. With just over five weeks left in the regular season, the MLB hierarchy is still shifting by the week. Ten teams have separated themselves — above or near 70 wins — with a drop-off outside the top-10. And one club has our attention with the latest lengthy win streak.

The Seattle Mariners won their eighth straight contest last night, beating the White Sox (6-3) to pull within striking distance of the AL West lead. That’s the tightest division in baseball with the Rangers (72-54), Astros (72-55) and Mariners (71-55) separated by just one game. We have those three divisional rivals slotted 5-6-7 in our latest power rankings. Things should only get better for Seattle with one more game against the Chi-Sox before getting the Royals, Athletics and Mets in succession. This little streak might just be the beginning.

As clubs jockey for postseason positioning, the wild card race is getting fun, especially in the NL. Eight National League squads are still wild-card eligible. The AL is more concise with four wild-card hopefuls divided by 5.5 games. Let’s do a Week 20 mid-week download and see where they stand.

Biggest Climb: 5. Mariners (↑8)

Biggest Drop: 23. Yankees (↓6)

*Would Make Playoffs if Regular Season Ended Today

MLB Power Rankings

1. *Braves (81-44) | —

2. *Dodgers (76-47) | ↑1

3. *Orioles (77-48) | ↓1

4. *Rays (76-51) | ↑1

5. *Mariners (71-55) | ↑8

6. *Astros (72-55) | —

7. *Rangers (72-54) | ↓3

8. *Phillies (69-57) | ↑1

9. *Brewers (69-57) | ↓1

10. Blue Jays (70-56) | ↓3

Teams 11-20

11. Giants (65-61) | ↓1

12. *Twins (65-61) | ↓1

13. Cubs (65-60) | ↑1

14. Red Sox (66-60) | ↑2

15. *Diamondbacks (66-61) | ↑3

16. Reds (65-61) | ↓1

17. Marlins (65-62) | ↓5

18. Angels (61-65) | ↑1

19. Padres (60-67) | ↑2

20. Guardians (60-66) | —

Teams 21-30

21. Mets (59-68) | ↑2

22. Nationals (58-68) | —

23. Yankees (60-65) | ↓6

24. Tigers (58-68) | ↑2

25. Pirates (57-69) | ↓1

26. Cardinals (55-72) | ↓1

27. White Sox (49-77) | —

28. Rockies (48-77) | —

29. Royals (40-88) | —

30. Athletics (36-90) | —

Home Run Race

T1. Matt Olson (ATL): 43 HRs

T1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA): 43 HRs

3. Pete Alonso (NYM): 39 HRs

4. Mookie Betts (LAD): 34 HRs

T5. Luis Robert (CWS): 33 HRs

T5. Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 33 HRs

T5. Jorge Soler (MIA): 33 HRs

Cy Young Favorites

AL: Gerrit Cole (NYY), Kevin Gausman (TOR), Framber Valdez (HOU)

NL: Zac Gallen (ARI), Blake Snell (SD), Spencer Strider (ATL)

Read More

FOX Sports: MLB Power Rankings Week 20: Are Mariners a Top-5 Team?

USA Today: MLB Power Rankings: The NL Wild-Card Race is Living Up to the Name

  WNBA  

Have a Night, A'ja Wilson 🤯

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Aces’ A’ja Wilson Erupts for 53 Points to Tie WNBA Single-Game Record

Take a bow, A’ja Wilson! The Las Vegas Aces have been the WNBA’s best team for the past two seasons, and their superstar player now owns a piece of history. Wilson scored 53 points in last night’s win over the Dream (112-100), tying the WNBA’s single-season record for points in a game (Liz Cambage, 2018). It’s just the third 50-point game in league history.

Inside Wilson’s 53-Point Highlight Reel

The Aces’ forward tallied her season average (22 ppg) by halftime, getting anything she wanted in the paint and forcing the Dream into fouls left and right. From the stripe, Wilson was nearly perfect (20-for-21). She knocked down 16 shot attempts from the floor and missed only seven. When she wasn’t attacking the rim and getting fouled, Wilson was automatic in the mid-range, giving Atlanta a steady diet of 10-footers. She had 51 points inside the final minute before knocking down two free throws to match the record.

A’ja Wilson’s Stat Line

53 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks

16-23, FG | 1-1, 3-pt | 20-21 FT

50-Point Games in WNBA History

A’ja Wilson (Aces): 53 points (2023)

Liz Cambage (Wings): 53 points (2018)

Riquna Williams (Shock): 51 points (2013)

Watch: A’ja Wilson Matches WNBA Record With 53 Points in Aces’ Win

Other WNBA Highlights

Sun def. Mystics (68-64)

Sky def. Storm (102-79)

Lynx def. Wings (91-86)

WNBA Standings

Read More

ESPN: A’ja Wilson Ties WNBA Record With 53 Points in Aces’ Win

B/R: Aces’ A’ja Wilson Ties Liz Cambage’s WNBA Record With 53 Points

  NFL  

Ranking the New Era of QBs 📈

Image via Giphy

The Top-10 Quarterbacks Age 27 & Under Entering the 2023 NFL Season (By Marissa Kasch)

Out with the old, and in with the new. We’ve reached that point in football again. The point where new seasons bring new hopes and exponential growth for young players, specifically quarterbacks. Believe it or not, the quarterbacks that are done (or on their way out) are the QBs I grew up on: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, to name a few. 

It breaks my heart to see these players fade into memory, but there’s some consolation: The new-age QBs are fun to watch. Like, a lot of fun. The standard has been set, and everyone’s wondering who the next Brady is. Now, we get to watch these young players become the veterans we know and love. So, of these quarterbacks, who has the best chance to become the new-age GOAT? Let’s take a look at the top-10 quarterbacks 27 and under heading into the 2023 season.

1. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
Age: 27 | Record: 64-16

Passing: 24,241 Yards, 192 TDs, 49 INTs (66.3%)

Rushing: 1,547 Yards, 12 TDs, 5.2 Avg.

2. Josh Allen (Bills)
Age: 27 | Record: 52-24

Passing: 18,397 Yards, 138 TDs, 60 INTs (62.5%)

Rushing: 3,087 Yards, 38 TDs, 5.7 Avg.

3. Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Age: 26 | Record: 24-17-1

Passing: 11,774 Yards, 82 TDs, 31 INTs (68.2%)

Rushing: 517 Yards, 10 TDs, 3.4 Avg.

4. Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
Age: 25 | Record: 23-11

Passing: 7,906 Yards, 44 TDs, 19 INTs (62.3%)

Rushing: 1,898 Yards, 26 TDs, 5.2 Avg.

5. Justin Herbert (Chargers)
Age: 25 | Record: 25-24

Passing: 14,089 Yards, 94 TDs, 35 INTs (66.9%)

Rushing: 683 Yards, 8 TDs, 4.0 Avg.

6. Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Age: 26 | Record: 45-16

Passing: 12,209 Yards, 101 TDs, 38 INTs (63.7%)

Rushing: 4,437 Yards, 24 TDs, 6.1 Avg.

7. Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
Age: 26 | Record: 25-31-1

Passing: 13,848 Yards, 84 TDs, 41 INTs (66.8%)

Rushing: 2,204 Yards, 23 TDs, 5.8 Avg.

8. Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars)
Age: 23 | Record: 12-22

Passing: 7,754 Yards, 37 TDs, 25 INTs (62.9%)

Rushing: 625 Yards, 7 TDs, 4.6 Avg.

9. Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
Age: 25 | Record: 21-13

Passing: 8,015 Yards, 52 TDs, 23 INTs (65.7%)

Rushing: 307 Yards, 6 TDs, 3.0 Avg.

10. Justin Fields (Bears)
Age: 24 | Record: 5-20

Passing: 4,112 Yards, 24 TDs, 21 INTs (59.7%)

Rushing: 1,563 Yards, 10 TDs, 6.7 Avg.

Other Notable Starting QBs Under 28 (Non-Rookies)

Deshaun Watson (Browns) — Turns 28 in Sept.

Brock Purdy (49ers)

Daniel Jones (Giants)

Mac Jones (Patriots)

Jordan Love (Packers)

Sam Howell (Commanders)

Desmond Ridder (Falcons)

Kenny Pickett (Steelers)

Read Kasch's Full Analysis: Top-10 New-Age QB Rankings

(TheSportsletter.com)

  STORYLINES  

🏈 NFL Running Backs Paradigm Shift

In recent years, not paying running backs has been smart football business. But what about when that comes at the expense of on-field success? The Colts are testing the paradigm shift. (The Ringer)

⚾️ Did Angels Make a Huge Mistake?

The Angels went all-in on 2023 by keeping Shohei Ohtani at the MLB trade deadline. Now, they’re poised for another playoff-free October, and the potential loss of a generational star. (ESPN)

⛳️ The State of the PGA Tour

PGA commissioner Jay Monahan spoke during his annual State of the PGA Tour at East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday. He says PGA is in ‘Driver’s Seat’ on LIV agreement. Golf’s future is still in flux. (Golfweek)

  NEWS   📰 

• Buccaneers Name Baker Mayfield QB1 Over Kyle Trask (B/R)
• White Sox Could Reportedly Consider Move to Nashville (SI)
• NBA Fines James Harden $100K for Comments About 76ers Brass (ESPN)
• Rays SS Wander Franco Put on Administrative Leave as MLB Continues Investigation (USA Today)
• Former Houston Sixth Man of the Year, Reggie Chaney, Dies at Age 23 (CBS Sports)
• Seahawks Rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Have Wrist Surgery (Yahoo! Sports)

• White Sox Fire GM Rick Hahn & VP Ken Williams Amid Dismal Season (SI)

• No. 10 Washington Football Loses RB Cam Davis for Season (ESPN)

• Reggie Bush to File Defamation Lawsuit Against NCAA for ‘Pay-for-Play’ Accusation (CBS Sports)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

The Must-Watch List

MLB

Twins at Brewers (2:10 pm ET)

Giants at Phillies (4:05 pm ET)

Blue Jays at Orioles (7:05 pm ET)

Dodgers at Guardians (7:10 pm ET)
Red Sox at Astros (8:10 pm ET)

DH: Reds at Angels (4:07 pm ET & 9:38 pm ET)

Soccer (U.S. Open Cup)

Inter Miami CF vs. FC Cincinnati (7:00 pm ET)

Little League World Series

Chinese Taipei vs. Curacao (1:00 pm ET)

Texas vs. Washington (3:00 pm ET)

Japan vs. Mexico (5:00 pm ET)

Tennessee vs. California (7:00 pm ET)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  POLL   📊

Poll Results: Ryder Cup Picks

Yesterday, we asked: Who would you select with the last six captain’s pick for Team USA in the Ryder Cup? Six players are already locked as automatic qualifiers. Among the 15 available players, here are the top picks from The Sportsletter community. The team loves Rickie! Sorry, Brooks.

🇺🇸 Team USA Ryder Cup (Automatic)

1. Scottie Scheffler 🔒

2. Wyndham Clark 🔒

3. Brian Harman 🔒

4. Patrick Cantlay 🔒

5. Max Homa 🔒

6. Xander Schauffele 🔒

Sportsletter Community Picks

Rickie Fowler — 15.1%

Lucas Glover — 12.2%

Collin Morikawa — 12.1%

Jordan Spieth — 10.1%

Cam Young — 9.9%

Justin Thomas — 9.7%

Missed the Cut

Brooks Koepka — 9.1%

Keegan Bradley — 6.5%

Tony Finau — 5.5%

Other (Remaining 9.8%): Russell Henley, Sam Burns, Harris English, Will Zalatoris, Kurt Kitayama, Denny McCarthy

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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