Preview

🏆 BELTEDEEP BASEBALL (BDB) WILD CARD PREVIEW

October 12, 2025
The Commish

Madawaska Mud Hens (88–74) vs. Bristol Wicketmen (94–68)

Season Series: 6–6 Tie • First Round: Best-of-Three Wild Card Series

🧢 BRISTOL WICKETMEN: The Juggernaut with a Bullpen Built for October

The Bristol Wicketmen enter the postseason at 94–68, boasting one of the stingiest pitching staffs in Beltedeep Baseball. With only 575 runs allowed â€” second-best in the league — Bristol’s formula is simple: dominate on the mound, slug enough to win, and let their bullpen finish the job.

⚙️ Offensive Overview

Bristol’s lineup lives and dies by its star core of Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, and JosĂŠ RamĂ­rez, who combined for 112 home runs and 275 RBIBristol Hitting.

  • Shohei Ohtani was once again otherworldly: 52 HR, 112 RBI, and a .930 OPS. He accounted for nearly one-fifth of Bristol’s total run creation (136.5 RC) and led the league in total bases (372).
  • Bryce Harper (.492 SLG, 32 HR) delivered the veteran consistency Bristol needed in the middle of the order, while JosĂŠ RamĂ­rez quietly racked up 66 extra-base hits and 48 stolen bases, bringing rare power-speed balance to a slugging roster.
  • Elly De La Cruz added 17 HR and 51 steals, but also a league-leading 206 strikeouts — a boom-or-bust element that defines the bottom half of this lineup.

As a team, Bristol ranked among the league leaders in home runs (220) and slugging (.412) but struggled in on-base percentage (.300, 10th). When the long ball doesn’t drop, this offense can sputter. But if Ohtani or Harper catches fire, few teams can keep up.

🔥 Pitching Dominance

Where Bristol truly separates itself is on the moundBristol pitching.
The team’s 3.16 ERA is elite, anchored by a rotation that punches hard and a bullpen that closes the door like few in BDB history.

  • Zack Wheeler (15–8, 2.91 ERA, 210 K) and Hunter Greene (10–8, 3.10 ERA) headline a power rotation that combined for over 350 innings and strikeouts.
  • Pablo LĂłpez and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (13–4, 2.56 ERA) give Bristol enviable depth.

The bullpen is a cheat code:

  • Emmanuel Clase (0.48 ERA, 41 SV) and Devin Williams (1.02 ERA) form the best 1–2 relief punch in the league.
  • Setup men Carlos Uceta (1.76 ERA) and Jacob Junis (2.16 ERA) make late-inning leads virtually untouchable.

Bristol’s pitching staff led the BDB in WHIP (1.10) and K/BB ratio (3.2), suppressing both baserunners and big innings. Their 169 home runs allowed are among the fewest league-wide. This team simply doesn’t beat itself.

📊 Scouting Summary

Bristol is a club engineered for October â€” big arms, star power, and the best bullpen in the league. The challenge? Consistency at the plate. If the Wicketmen can find offensive rhythm behind their MVP-caliber core, their pitching depth could make a deep playoff run inevitable.

X-Factor: Shohei Ohtani’s bat — a two-game heater could end the series fast.
Hidden Key: Clase/Williams — 0.77 combined ERA in 89 appearances.
Weakness: Low team OBP (.300) and bottom-three contact rate.

🐔 MADAWASKA MUD HENS: Quietly Dangerous, Built for Chaos

The Madawaska Mud Hens (88–74) don’t overwhelm on paper, but their +80 run differential and top-five offense make them the most dangerous “underdog” in Beltedeep Baseball. They can hit for power, run aggressively, and have enough pitching to win any kind of game.

⚙️ Offensive Overview

Madawaska’s calling card is depth. They hit 238 home runs (2nd in BDB) and posted a .737 OPSMadawaska Hitting, spreading production across nearly every spot in the lineup.

  • Matt Chapman was the heart of the order: 42 HR, 108 RBI, and a .525 SLG — the classic power-corner season.
  • Ketel Marte (.351 OBP, 24 HR, 68 RBI) provided steady production and switch-hitting versatility.
  • Brandon Nimmo (.345 OBP, 27 HR, 83 RBI) set the tone at the top with disciplined at-bats.
  • Willy Adames (27 HR, 86 RBI) and Jake Burger (13 HR) added consistent middle-order thump.

The Mud Hens scored 729 runs â€” just 40 fewer than Bristol — while running wild on the basepaths with 165 steals (4th in BDB). They’re opportunistic and unpredictable, capable of stringing together rallies or breaking games open with a homer. Their only major flaw: a league-high 1,590 strikeouts. Against strikeout-heavy teams like Bristol, that’s a dangerous weakness.

⚾️ Pitching Breakdown

Madawaska’s 3.77 team ERA ranked in the league’s top thirdMadawaska pitching.
Their rotation lacks a true ace but thrives on balance and deception:

  • Michael Wacha (15–7, 3.19 ERA) and Tanner Houck (14–8, 3.64 ERA) form a reliable 1–2 with excellent command.
  • Bailey Ober (3.84 ERA) and Garrett Crochet (193 K) provide swing-and-miss stuff to offset contact pitchers like Wacha.

The bullpen is deep and sneaky effective:

  • Carlos Estevez (2.48 ERA, 24 SV) and Blake Treinen (3.26 ERA) handle high-leverage work, supported by Taylor Rogers (3.53 ERA) and Nick Pivetta (3.00 ERA in hybrid duty).

Madawaska’s pitching staff keeps the ball in play and limits damage. Their 1.2 HR/9 is top-five in the league, and their groundball rate (47%) leads all playoff teams. They don’t have Bristol’s firepower on the mound, but they win through balance and bullpen versatility.

📊 Scouting Summary

The Mud Hens are a gritty, balanced squad that thrives in chaos. They can win slugfests or grind out 3–2 games, and they rarely roll over. If Chapman and Marte are hot, and the bullpen holds firm, they can take down anyone.

X-Factor: Matt Chapman’s power — 42 HR, .849 SLG vs. lefties.
Hidden Key: Late-inning bullpen ERA (3.41).
Weakness: Strikeout rate — 9.8 per game, vulnerable to high-K arms.

⚖️ SERIES OUTLOOK: Power Meets Precision

These two teams split their 12 regular-season meetings (6–6) and enter the postseason riding identical three-game winning streaksDMB league standings. Statistically, they’re nearly twins: Bristol’s +94 run differential edges Madawaska’s +80, and both blend elite star power with structural flaws.

But the contrasts are stark:

  • Bristol is all about run prevention and strikeout pitching.
  • Madawaska is about lineup length, chaos, and clutch power.

In a best-of-three, the margin for error is microscopic — and that’s where Bristol’s bullpen dominance tilts the scales. With Clase, Williams, and Uceta combining for an ERA under 1.50, any Bristol lead after the sixth inning will be nearly insurmountable. Madawaska’s bats will make noise, but sustained rallies against that staff are rare.

🧾 Key Matchups

  • Ohtani vs. Wacha: The marquee duel — Ohtani’s .580 SLG vs RHP could decide Game 1.
  • Chapman vs. Clase: If Chapman gets one hanging slider, momentum could swing fast.
  • Strikeouts: Bristol’s 8.6 K/9 vs. Madawaska’s 9.8 K rate is the defining stat.

🏁 Prediction

The Mud Hens will push the Wicketmen to the brink. Their balanced attack and bullpen grit will steal one — but in the end, Bristol’s elite pitching depth and shutdown bullpen should carry them through.

Series Prediction:
➡️ Bristol Wicketmen win 2–1

Projected MVP: Shohei Ohtani (.400 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
Deciding Stat: Bristol bullpen ERA — 0.90 across the series

BDB Playoff Narrative:
It’s the ultimate contrast — the methodical, strike-throwing Wicketmen versus the unpredictable, power-driven Mud Hens. Both teams embody the spirit of Beltedeep Baseball: depth, drama, and data-driven design. When the dust settles, expect a heavyweight fight worthy of October glory.