The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Adnan Virk Breaks Down the AL Playoff Race | Pitch Clock

Episode Date: August 27, 2026

Adnan Virk is along for his latest appearance on the Pitch Clock to discuss the wild playoff race in the American League. Does anybody want that final Wild Card spot? Does anybody actually want to win the AL West? Which team has the best chance of winning the World Series from the AL? In this week's game, Jeremy and Chris put together their best power/speed combo teams and Jeremy makes a legendary flub that will go down in Pitch Clock history.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sue is your next week, right? Yes, they are. Did baseball as backjack make musical performance? Oh, wouldn't you like to know? It's a great, it's maybe my best vocal performance since starting here. It's not good. I know it's not. But it'll be in there.

Ah! Welcome to the pitch clock. Here's the pitch. A two-part baseball segment. Combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the pitch clock. Pitch clock is back, Jack. Hi, everybody.

Hey, we're here, and I'm very excited because a little birdie has told me. Did Ethan do his job? That Ethan might have done his job. Ethan, did you do your job? Some might say I did my job. Some might say I had somebody else do my job for me. Whatever the case may be, I have the scores for this season head to head. You have our head to head scores.

me and Chris Cody. Head to head. Head to head. I can already tell by Jeremy's energy that he knows the score and he's winning. I know the score and I know that the pitch clock is winning. The pitch clock is winning because guys, heading into the final month of the season,

we have a tie. Oh. Yep. It is 10. Head to head. Isn't that crazy? So if we count, if we count my Lewis win, which we do.

I'm up 11. 10. Yeah, we don't care. We're going to figure that out later. We're going to leave that win out in the ether for the time being because it wasn't against me. That's right. But it's a win. Let's figure out who's going to pick up the 11th win in this head-to-head matchup. Guys, there's this fella.

His name is Pete Crow Armstrong. I don't know if you guys have heard about him. I don't know if you guys have heard me talk about it. He has the obvious choice for National League MVP this year. There is no argument for anybody besides him. What about the guy that pitches and hits? He hasn't pitched since June. Why did you do that?

He's thrown 85. Why did you do that? There is no argument. I already did this for you on last week's episode with Danny. We went through it. Okay. Just breathe. He exists.

There is no argument. Now tell us the game. So a few weeks ago, Pete Crowe Armstrong walked off the Chicago White Sox to reach 30-30. It is his second consecutive 30-30 season. Oh, no. So what we're going to do today got me thinking about some power speed combo guys. Okay. So what we're going to do today

I go first is we're going to draft a team by position. Okay? Uh-huh. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to add up each player's highest home run total in a season and stolen base total in a season. Okay. So like, let's say you pick a guy at his highest home run total was 43.

Ever. And his highest stolen base total was 38. You add that together. That's that player's score. Love this. We're going to add them all up. Whoever has the most home runs and stolen bases combined at the end wins the game. Love this.

Yeah. Jeremy, you're going first. You won our last game. We're going to take out two people because the totals are so ridiculous. We're going to take out Barry Bonds and Ricky Hedon. Literally, those are the first two people I thought of and I despise you. I wasn't really thinking there, so good job. You can't draft Barry Bonds and you can't draft Ricky Henderson. I got some other names though.

We'll do snake draft and remember you have to have one of each position. Snake draft with two people. Okay, fine. I'll just go first and then I'll just keep getting the door. No, no, no. It was his argument. I'm gonna just keep going right and he's right though we only do it the first round though clearly right it's not two and two I've seen it done before whoever gets the first pick then the next person gets two and then and then it's just back and forth Fine Gabe shaking his head yet. Yeah. All right. It's fine. Okay

Gabe is the and it benefits me It kind of feels like garbage Gat all the strings. Can I punt can I can I can I can I can I can I give oh yeah You want to defer to the second half? Yeah, sorry. I don't want ball though I'll take I'll sit on this side Start drafting. Jeremy, your first pick. Alfonso Soriano.

That's who I wanted. And what position are you putting him at? Ooh, that's a great question. Second base. So Alfonso Soriano's career high in home runs was 46. His career high in Stolen Bases was 43. It was a bad pick. So that is 89.

It was a bad pick. That's not a bad pick. No, it is. I know the other picks. Arod. Arod. Okay. And you're playing him.

where? Short stop. Wait, wait. Third base. Third base. All right, Alex Rodriguez's career high in home runs is 57.

That's crazy. And his career high and stolen bases is 46. 103 is the total for Chris. For A-Rod. Okay, so Chris, you have the next pick now

and then we'll go back and forth. I should have been thinking. Uh, PANley. Okay. Short stop. Hanley's career high was 33 home runs and he had 51 stolen bases twice. Wow. You think I nailed that except for I thought he had a season with higher home runs.

So 33 and 51, that's going to be 84. So last week after I said Danny Alvarez was our most frequent appearance on the pitch clock. I got a text from this guy who said, I'm glad you didn't say most frequent guest, because that's me. And that's Adnan Verk. Adnan Verk of MLB Network, of his book Cineophile. He's here. He's back as our MLB expert for his monthly appearance,

which means we will get him in again before we reach the end of this MLB season. But right now we've got about 30 games to go for each team, and it's a very strange time in both leagues. But as always throughout this season, the American League is the one that's particularly, strange and tricky. That last American League wildcard spot is bizarre. We mentioned the Tigers a couple of weeks ago. We talked about the Orioles last week. And now, Adnan, I want to talk to you about the team presently at the top of that cluster playing the best baseball. It's the Cleveland Guardians that are

actually sitting in that final wildcard spot. And I want to know from you, Adnan, what is it that makes the guardians best equipped to potentially grab that final playoff spot? So first off, Jeremy, always going to be with you. I'm nothing if not competitive, so I have to listen to episodes, which I'm not a part of, because it's not that I want to necessarily listen to your excellent analysis of the great game of baseball, just to make sure what the intros are like with everybody else. So, Danny's great, but yeah, let's not get it twisted.

I am the most frequent quest here. Cleveland, I think right now is the team to beat. Now, it's funny to say, because there's seven teams for that final wildcard spot. But the reason why I like Cleveland, Jeremy, I think they've got excellent starting pitching. And to me, if you've got excellent starting pitching, you can go a long way.

When Tanner Bybee's at your number four, like I feel pretty good about them. that because they've got guys and Forrest Griffin I think was a great pickup coming over for Washington. As well, you're pairing him with Parker-Messick. Obviously, Gavin Williams has been Austin for them. So to me, that's a really good for some right there. And the bullpen is good. Clearly, Kate Smith is an outstanding closer. The whole problem has been, their offense has been feeble. And Jose Ramirez, since coming back from injury, has not been anything special. But here's the good news. They got Joey Adele. Joe Adele. Hello, it's me. And he has been a great

run producer for them. Since he's been acquired, he's basically been an RBI game. And all of a sudden, now that offense, which was atrocious, now is okay. Like Chase DeLotter is, you know, great young player, Travis Bazzana, okay, great. If Rosa Ramirez can just be a little bit better, then all of a sudden you go, you know, what, Stephen Kwan, yeah, they can score some runs. And in terms of strength of schedule, the three easiest schedules and the majors belong to the Mariners at one, the guardians at two, then the Blue Jays at three. Awesome.

For me, the competition of Cleveland's excellent starting pitching, the acquisition of Joe Adele, believing that Jose Ramirez will wake up at some point. And right now he's a league average player and an easy schedule, I think Cleveland. Cleveland gets the final wild card spot. I loved your analysis. I haven't been able to move on since you said, hello, it's me with Joe Adele.

And all that the Guardians need is for Jose Ramirez to set fire to the rain for the rest of the season. We got the red... It'll be fun. Oh, yes. This is the type of baseball analysis I like to do at it. Hey, we got the Red Sox down here this week against the Marlins. But now this weekend, they're heading to Yankee Stadium for a three-game set.

And this is a bizarre thing that started to happen here because it seems like we're headed toward yet another year of Yankees Red Sox in a wild card round. Both of these teams have had their ups, they've had their downs. But I know which of these two teams would you be like least surprised if I told you when we got to the World Series, hey, this is the team representing the American League? I think it'd be the New York Yankees because ultimately I look at their record, Jeremy,

and I'm like, they're still above 500 without Aaron Judge. They're five games above 500 without Aaron Judge. Now, one way to look at that is like, okay, but the American League is so atrocious. You should be a lot better than that. But I would say he's one of the best players in the sport. He's their best player, a three-time MVP. And not really a hold afloat, they've been above 500 to me. That's a good sign.

Now, of course, with Judge, there are, I know, 17 games above 500, whatever it might be. He was in a sim game yesterday with Max Free. So it looks like he's getting close. By close, I'm saying, I think by Labor Day, he's playing baseball. Like I think he's in the majors. And I think, let's another week of rehab, a week of, you know, some AAA games, whatever it might be. And then he's with the Yankees for three weeks until playoff time.

So if you get Judge back, they already got Bellinger back. Now, Stanton is not coming back, and that's concerning because 103 games he's out with a calf injury. He restrained his other calf while running so that happens sometimes. You know what that's like yet? One injury on one side, you favor the other side, therefore both sides go down. And Stanton's been a great postseason impact player for them. But even without G, to me, if you get Judge and Bellinger back, you know, so go to the Yankees as to number 99. And their starting pitching is outstanding.

And they've got this best starting pitching in the league. Cam Slett might win the Sion. excellent race right now at Dylan Case. Max for you'll be back at some point, but Rodon is back. Garrick Cole is looking vintage Garrick Cole. I took one of my Baltimore. It came in yards last week. And we watched Garrett Cole pitch six innings one run. Like he was

like on point, 90 mile an hour, Garrick Cole. He's got a 1-4-60 area his last five starts. So the Yankees starting pitching is great. And their bullpen has been the best since July 1st. I mean, David Bednar has been the best closer since the All-Star break. He's wrapped there with Brian Baker of the race, Louis Varlane, the Blue Jays. Like those guys have been horses for them. So to me, I know it's a wildcard team, but the Yankees could make the most damage, I think.

And even now, the three games back at Tampa, Jeremy, they're still a four games against the race. They could still win that ALE East. It's crazy to think that the ALE East can go so many different directions and that those two teams are sitting right there. You look at the American League standings. The three best teams are all in the AAL East. Like, that's just the reality at this point, is all three teams you just mentioned are the three best teams in the American League. It's a shame that two of them will have to square off in a wild card round. But so it goes in the American League this season. Centerfield, Ken Griffey Jr. So Griffey's highest career home run total. He had 56 twice,

97 and 98, and he had 24 stolen bases. That's it? So that's 80. He only ever had 24 stolen bases? That is crazy. You hate to see it. Show how it time. Show how it. This is a stupid game. This is a stupid format. I would have thought it would have been. been like one year. I thought he had. So and you took out what position are you drafting show Hey Otani? My baseball knowledge. He never played outfield? Oh, I guess my baseball knowledge. Oh, like that one. He's an outfielder. He was a pitcher and a DH when he did both of those things. Also, I just want to make it abundantly. He's never played outfield? He has. He has. He did very briefly. Yeah. I want to make it clear. Left fielder. That my baseball, no,

right field. Yeah. Okay. My baseball knowledge would have had both Barry Bonds and Ricky Henderson. and instead. So it might have. So Hey had 55. Last year. And then that year he went 50-50. He had 59 stolen bases. So it's 114 is the total.

A rough go for Jeremy right now. Jeremy, your next pick. Here's an odd one. I don't know what his max and stolen bases was, but Sammy Sosa. It's a good one. I think when he was young, he stole bases. But I don't know that he ever even

got to 30. It's good. It's good. Sammy Sosa's career high stolen bases is 36. And his career high in home runs, of course, is 66. I'll take that. 102. That's a good number, Jeremy. Okay. Back in the game. Yeah, that was patronizing. No, you're back in the game. This is closer than you think.

First base. That's going to be a tough position. This is going to be a bad answer. But it's just, I'm just drawing a blank right now. Yeah. Centerfield is such a good one. I shouldn't waste a bad answer here. Tori Hunter. Tori Hunter.

It's not bad. Nah, but he's like just mid and both. It's probably going to be 30, 30 or something. Like 60 total. Like it's not good. Tori Hunter's career high and stolen bases is 23. Oof. His career high in home runs is 31.

Oof. So that's 54 for Tori Hunter. I just let Jeremy right back in. Jose Canseco Canseco stole 40 bases one year and he popped 46 home runs in 98 That's going to be 86 for Canseco? Can any outfielder play any position?

Yes. Yeah. Okay. Do three outfielders. My three outfielers are off the board at this point. Ryan Braun. His career high and stolen bases is 33 and he popped 41 homers in 2012, probably when he was juicing. So that's going to be a total of 74 for Ryan Braun.

I'm going to go, I just had one in my head. Oh, no. Olivia, look at me and give me some power hitting second base. Shortstop? Yeah. Corey Seeger. Nice. Corey Seeger's career high and stolen bases is four.

What? Yeah. You lose her. But his career high in home runs is 33. I joke. That's good. That got me back in the game. I had some bad answers the last couple and you just...

I got way too cute. Yeah, you did. So 37 is the total for Seeger there. That was such a big mistake. All right. I'm going to go second baseman. Yeah? By the name.

And you guys are going to like this. I'm definitely not filling here. Like, I definitely know who I'm saying. saying. So I'm really just building up suspense here. Yeah. The name that I'm about to say. Yeah. Is. Uh-huh. I got Marcus Giles. Markish Jiles. He popped 21 homers in 03. That's the most and he stole 17 bases in 04. All right. I'm going to go third base, Adrian Belcher. 48 home runs in 04. I knew we had a big home run year, but did he steal any bases? And he stole 18 and 99. I'll take that. That's pretty good. I'll take that. I'll take that. I'll take that.

that and I'll put it on the board. Now we've already mentioned that the Yankees and Red Sox are playing this weekend, but we're getting to that point of the year at Dan where there's all sorts of important series when you look around. And, you know, some of them are funny because they feel like quasi-elimination series at this point in different races. So I want to, as Chris would make fun of, name three series for you here that I think are worth watching over the weekend and tell me which one that our fans should be paying

closest attention to if they're, you know, hopping around MLB.tv. So you got Mariners at Blue Jays, a couple of teams hanging around in that ugly wildcard race. You got the White Sox at the Twins, which is big with the White Sox leading the American League Central at the moment. We talked about the Guardians. You got the twins right there. Or pirates at Cardinals, pirates feel all but out of it. But the Cardinals still, I think, five games back at that last wildcard spot, they're still sort of hanging around. Which of these series should our fans be watching over the weekend? Yeah, eventually for the Pirates.

I mean, injuries just cut up to them, and it's unfortunate. O'Neill Cruz for much of the season and now, like, losing Ronald Herman's big for them. So I'm not very interested in the Pirates and Cardinals. Joshua Bayes said that great free homer game. They won an 0 for 19 hitless kids, so much for that. I think the series to watch, honestly, is the Mariners and the Blue Jays. Because if it's not Cleveland getting that final wildcard spot, I think it's the Blue Jays. Their starting pitching has been excellent.

They got Jose Seriano. They picked him up from the Angels. You know, you trade, you got Brett Babin there for Kevin Gosman. He's been helping out that offense. If Vlad can just be a good player, like he's, been below average. We can just be good for them. And the Blue Jets' offense would have a huge jolt, obviously, by him being there. So I do think because of Toronto's pitching that they'll be in the mix. And for Seattle, every single time, Jeremy, I think they're done.

I think of the great Mark Twain quote, the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. They'll lose 22-0 to the Brewers. And then when the next game is 7-5. And then they'll look bad. And then also, Kate Anderson shows up. But I go, this guy's the best pitching prospect in baseball. And he's more a command over stuff, which is so fascinating for me. This guy's not throwing 99 like every other prospect.

He actually pitches and pitches really good, and he looked awesome on Saturday. And I love it Rosarena. I think he's such an underrated player, six straight 2020 season. He's one of a handful of baseball players in history that have done that, including Barry and Bobby Bonds. The problem is Huli Rodriguez has not had his patent second half. Josh Neller has not had a great season. You know, in Cal Raleigh, besides the three-home run game, has been a massive disappointment. So I'm still curious about Mariners Blue Jays, because to me, that was the ALCS a year ago.

Both those teams are probably the two biggest underachievers in the sport. they should both make a push for that final playoff spot. You just mentioned it. The fact that those two teams were the ALCS last year, and now you're sitting here looking at the two of them, as trying to vibe for that final playoff spot, it feels like a huge series. And hey, you never know what happens in modern Major League Baseball. Both of those teams in their starting pitching could potentially make a run. That's what makes baseball so great. You have this marathon of a season and you get to this stage. But I do want to talk to you about the star of the week this week,

our golden era star of the week. And you mentioned Cal Raleigh, his three homer game. Tough not to put him up there as a nominee. Just excited for him that he finally had a good moment this season. And I saw someone say it almost felt like a like Mike scenario because PCA went up and kind of smacked him on the ass before. Is that language okay? Smacked him on the ass before the game started and all of a sudden he hits three home runs.

So it was pretty, you know, maybe he's just sort of passing off some of the powers. But then how about maybe the quietest triple crown candidate we've ever seen? in the history of baseball, Yordon Alvarez and the Astros. So Cal Raleigh in his singularly great game or Yonon-Avarez in his singularly great season, Adman. I'm with Yordaun, because every time he goes up there, I'm like, Yordaun, you're done. Like when it comes to the Triple Crown, this guy is going to do it. There's only a handful of guys sitting above 300 in the American League, so he's going to hit for average.

Home runs is a great race. I believe he's one ahead of Junior Camerero, so that one will go down the wire. And RBI says a slight edge right now. Dylan Dingler, your boy of the Tigers is in the mix as well. But in the past, you'd say, wow, a DH winning MVP, does that make sense? And in the case of Yorna Alvarez, it does. He's going to be, I think, the first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012 with the Tigers, as long as he shows a little bit more power.

He's single-handedly trying to carry this Astros team. They just parted ways with Dana Brown because they might be tied for first place in the West, but they're a sub-500 team. I can't imagine where they'll be without Jordan Alvarez. That's how valuable he's been. In terms of the second place, MVP rates, it's probably Camerero. Bobby Witt has a 6.2 war. He's in the top three war, despite the fact.

He hasn't had a great season overall when it comes to war. Bobby Woods, that guy. But to me, Yordaun's not only the MVP, but he's going to win the Triple Crown. And again, it's a remarkable achievement, Jeremy. You don't remember how great that debate was, Cabrera versus Trout back in 2012. This time there's no debate. It's like Yordon Alvarez is one of the best hitters in baseball. When he's healthy, watch out, he pulverizes the baseball.

That patience to play along with the power and driving and runners, he's had a season for the ages, no doubt about it. For those of you who don't watch enough of Yorda Alvarez, imagine if Big Poppy was Juan Soto. that's essentially what it's like to watch your art on Alvarez. You combine the best of both of those hitters and that's what you get in Alvarez. He is one of the best and another guy who is the best

is Adnan Verk. Adnan, it's always great when we can have someone like you. And we each have a first basement in a catcher that's left. And Chris is up. I have a strategy here. Yeah.

Catcher. Cowallie. It's a great strategy. It's a tremendous strategy. Tremendous. You might have won. Really smart strategy. Yeah, you might have won.

Yes. He popped 60 last year famously. Uh-huh. And sneakily stole 14 bases. All right. 74 for Riley. Wow. That's big. That's gigantic.

That's a big number. Okay. I have an answer for that I could just do the same strategy. But then I have one that I think stole some bases at some point in his career. And I just, I'm not sure if it makes up. Go with Mankovitch. I'm going, I'm just going to try to play it safe. Yeah.

And go Lou Gehrig. He played first base, right? Yeah. In 61. His career high in home runs was 49. Roger Maris popped 61. I'm an idiot. That's who you thought you were doing?

Yeah, I'm an idiot. I know I just messed up both of those. Oh my God. Lou Gehrig. What an idiot. 61. What an idiot. I was like, I think McGuire.

That's an all-time... That's an all-time flub. I'm an idiot. That was amazing. Now, Gary... No, we're not cutting that. That is staying right up. No, that is an all-time club.

No, hey. All-time, all-time flub. All-time flub. 49 home runs. Now, Jeremy, not bad, 17 stolen bases. So that's gonna be... That's gonna be... That's gonna be 66 again for Jeremy.

Oh, that's a big, big, big mistake. That's a big, big, big mistake. I lost. I think I lost. I had a 23. Oh, this is awful. Mark McGuire. Yeah.

I didn't get what you were doing here, buddy. I feel sick to my stomach in a way that I can't articulate. Like, I'm, my dad. You said Lou Gehrig and I was just like. My dad is going to watch this. And he's going to be legit. Dad, I'm sorry. Yeah.

So legitimately, I like, I feel like gross. Mr. Tashay, I can be your son. So McGuire famously in 1998. popped 70 home runs. His career high in stolen bases was three. Okay. So, 70. You're just on a roll right now.

Brother, I'm shaking up. It's good. I am, I am, I'm truly flound. He never even had a Corey Seeger stolen bases. So, all right. And I have how many? You have 526. Javi Lopez.

Wow, I thought about him. So Javi Lopez popped, oh, Yep 43. Yep. No way he had. And stole five bases. Yeah, he was incredibly slow.

So I lose. Because I didn't choose Mark McGuire. Olivia, we are back. Well, good game. Okay. All right. You just, you know what? You stay here.

I'm going to leave. I'm going to be here until next week. Goodbye, everyone. Bye, everyone.