The race to get into the remaining postseason spots is being keenly contested with the BaseballGB Fantasy League playoffs beginning in Week 23.

Beck’Nams gave my Cheddar Chasers an absolute thumping, dominating the week’s contest in an 11-1 victory. I was able to take the first category – Runs – but it was all down hill from there. Beck’Nams took four of the categories by a single point, so the final score could have looked a bit more respectable with a bit of luck; however there was no doubting who the better team was. The star of the week from this match-up was Shane Victorino. He has proved to be an inspired free agent signing by the Boston Red Sox this season and Beck’Nams benefited to the tune of three home runs, nine runs and ten RBIs in Week 21.

Richie’s RBI’s picked up nine category wins in their match-up against Weston-Super-Sox. Chris Carter hit three home runs and Rafael Soriano picked up three saves in a strong all-round week for the RBIs. Richie took a chance a few weeks ago on a short-term contribution from Alex Rodriguez and it paid off in this week at least as A-Rod provided a couple of homers and a stolen base. As for the Super-Sox, Chris Sale continued to rack up strike-outs with 12 on the week and Hanley Ramirez hit two long balls for the Dodgers.

The first-placed SWAT met the second-placed Norwich No II in what could be a Championship match-up preview and it was the league-leaders who came out on top. Norwich No II received their usual bundle of saves from Messrs Kimbrel, Jansen and Brothers but Aroldis Chapman’s spell on the bench gave SWAT the chance to draw that category and they’ll have to contend with Jose Fernandez due to make only two more starts the rest of the way.  The star SWAT was Alfonso Soriano who has been re-energized by his return to the Bronx. He hit three home runs on the week and stole a couple of bases too.

The Wright Stuff’s offence swept their section to help the team to a 7-4 match-up victory over Iron Men. David Ortiz drove in seven runs, Ian Desmond and Curtis Granderson both stole a pair of bases and Adrian Gonzalez went deep twice as the Wright Stuff took full advantage of a quiet week by the Iron Men’s batting lineup.  Iron Men recovered by claiming four pitching categories thanks in large part to their Japanese duo Hisashi Iwakuma (14K’s) and Koji Uehara (3 SVs).

The Orpington Isotopes edged their way past the Cardiff Redsox as R.A. Dickey showed something closer to his 2012 form than we’ve seen from him for most of 2013. He collected two wins and 12 strike-outs for the Isotopes whilst Oakland’s Sean Doolittle picked up three Holds. Yasiel Puig continues to gain plenty of headlines and the Isotopes benefited from those relating to his on-field displays, but a collective effort from the Cardiff Redsox batting lineup ensure they were able to take four of the offensive categories.

Batteries Essential won six categories to the NE Riverkings’ three in the final match-up of the week. Jacoby Ellsbury could have won the stolen base category single-handedly with his four bags although both Batteries and Boston will be concerned about the speedster’s hand injury.  The Oakland A’s pitcher A.J. Griffin has been homer-prone this season but he was able to grab two wins and 11 strike-outs for the Riverkings this week and Glen Perkins’ two saves also proved to be very useful.

Week 22 match-ups

Cheddar Chasers (12th) v SWAT (1st)

Orpington Isotopes (3rd) v Norwich No II (2nd)

Richie’s RBI’s (10th) Iron Men (4th)

The Wright Stuff (7th) v Batteries Essential (5th)

Beck ‘Nams (8th) v Weston-Super-Sox (6th)

NE Riverkings (9th) v Cardiff Redsox (11th)