Written by Cory Puffett
Published June 28, 2026

I know I haven't written very many intros to these over the past couple years, but there was a moment this week I felt deserved recognition despite not being part of the Game of the Week and, in fact, taking place in this week's toilet bowl.

The final game of the week in baseball was Yankees/Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball. Entering that final contest, Sean Kennedy and Alex Mayo, owning the two worst records in our league, were separated by 3.20 points, with Alex holding the advantage and seeking his second win of the season and Sean hoping to avoid being the only manager to lose to Alex... again.

Sean's only hope was Boston's closer, Aroldis Chapman, who had an absolutely horrible on the opening day of the matchup, costing his squad more than 5 points. Though he'd had two much stronger showings since, one of them was a 20-pitch effort Saturday night, so there was no guarantee Chapman would get in the game, even if a save situation presented itself.

Well, such a situation did present itself and the Red Sox did turn to Chapman for the job in a 2-0 ballgame. Chapman immediately gave up a single to New York's 9-hole hitter, José Caballero, then issued a walk to Anthony Volpe to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.

A Ben Rice flyout should have settled things down, but a horrific throw by Wilyer Abreu not only allowed José Caballero to score from second but also allowed Volpe to advance to third from first, putting the tying run 90 feet away with one out.

A chopper by Paul Goldschmidt was too slow in developing and the ball didn't get home in time to prevent Volpe from tying the game, hanging a second blown save on Chapman's record for the week and preserving Alex's second victory of the season.

We also have some clinching and elimination scenarios this upcoming week. Sean Kennedy will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss against Sam Martin. Eric Meyer will be eliminated if he loses to Cory Frontin or if Sam beats Sean.

Rich Blorstad has already clinched at least a scenerio in which he and another manager would go to a tiebreaker for the second wild card and he can clinch a playoff spot outright this week with a win over Alex Mayo or if Eric beats Cory Frontin.

Cory Puffett can also clinch a playoff spot this week if he beats Stephen April and Eric beats Cory Frontin. If only one of those two happens, he'll be in the same position next week as Rich is this week.

Players of the Week

Catcher - William Contreras, 7.20 points (Cory Puffett)

1st Baseman - Miguel Vargas, 12.85 points (Cory Frontin)

2nd Baseman - Otto Lopez, 7.40 points (Rich Blorstad)

3rd Baseman - Junior Caminero, 19.45 points (Sean Kennedy)

Shortstop - Mookie Betts, 10.20 points (Alex Mayo)

OF - Ryan O'Hearn, 10.25 points (Stephen April)

UTIL - Hunter Goodman, 9.75 points (Sam Martin)

SP - Jesus Luzardo, 14.90 points (Rich Blorstad)

RP - Jhoan Duran, 12.45 points (Cory Puffett)

Junior Caminero had an historic week, smashing 7 home runs and finishing with nearly three more points than any position player has managed in a week so far this season. In fact, it bested any single week from the 2025 season by a non-pitcher, too!

Lopez, O'Hearn, Luzardo and Duran each earned their first career player of the week honors!

After ceding the Paul Goldschmidt Award to Nick Kurtz for the past two week, Vargas returned to the top of the first baseman list in Week 14.

Hunter Goodman was removed from the UTIL spot in Sam's lineup on Sunday but held on to the Hal McRae Award, his third in the past four weeks.

Mookie Betts earned his first player of the week award since the final week of the 2025 regular season and his second since Week 7 of the 2024 season.

Rich Blorstad remains atop the power rankings this week. It is his 21st #1 ranking in his career.

Alex Mayo has now been at the bottom of the power rankings for nine weeks in a row. His power score has sat at 0.0 for seven straight weeks. This is his 23rd career appearance at the bottom of the power rankings, tying Sean Kennedy for the second most in league history.

Note: MLB issues stat corrections up to 7 days after games. These corrections will be applied to games, including those that have been completed, but these articles will not necessarily be updated with those stat corrections.