2025 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #20

Fremont’s Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are among the most dangerous hitters in baseball. Ohtani’s two-way brilliance is not a factor this year though and Guerrero’s power make the Cannons a threat every inning. The big question: can the Mobsters’ pitching staff keep these MVP-caliber bats in check?

Chicago’s X-Factors: The Mobsters counter with a trio of sluggers—Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and rising star Jackson Chourio. If any of these hitters get hot, Chicago’s offense can match Fremont blow for blow.

Pitching Matchups: Both teams have playoff-caliber rotations, but the series could hinge on bullpen performance and which staff can limit the long ball.

Given the records and home-field advantage for Chicago, the Mobsters are slight favorites, but the Cannons’ star power keeps it close.
Chicago Mobsters: 55% chance to win the series
Fremont Cannons: 45% chance to win the series

Expect a hard-fought, playoff-like atmosphere with both teams looking to make a statement before October.

The Cannons initially took a 2-0 lead, highlighted by a solo home run from J. Bride in the third inning and an RBI double from Byron Buxton in the fourth. Both teams featured strong starting pitching, as T. Skubal and B. Francis delivered excellent outings but received no-decisions.

Chicago battled back in the eighth inning, tying the game 2-2 with a clutch two-RBI double by Gabriel Moreno. The game remained deadlocked until the top of the 10th, when J. Iglesias scored the decisive run for Fremont on a fielder’s choice by C. Correa. Edwin Uceta closed out the game for the Cannons, sealing the hard-fought win.

Final Score: Fremont 3 – Chicago 2 (10 Innings)

Win: Edwin Uceta 3-0 (1.86)
Loss: Griffin Jax 0-4 (3.25)

The Cannons started strong, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of a three-run home run by T. Hernandez off Mobsters starter Logan Gilbert. However, the Mobsters quickly responded, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Chicago’s offense continued to surge, securing a decisive four-run rally in the fourth inning and extending their advantage further with a two-run homer by Alex Bregman in the sixth. J. Chourio contributed significantly to the Mobsters’ attack, collecting three hits including a double and a triple. Gilbert went six innings to earn the win for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 12 – Fremont 5

Win: Logan Gilbert 18-5 (2.40)
Loss: Baily Ober 10-6 (2.94)

The Cannons initially took the lead in the 3rd inning when Shohei Ohtani hit a solo home run. However, the game turned dramatically in the bottom of the 4th. The Mobsters exploded for five runs, highlighted by Jackson Chourio‘s crucial three-run blast. A subsequent error and a sacrifice fly contributed to the significant rally.

Chicago’s starting pitcher, Hunter Brown, earned the win, delivering a strong performance by limiting Fremont to just one earned run over 6.1 innings. Fremont starter Carlos Rodon struggled in comparison, taking the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) in six innings. Alex Bregman added a solo home run in the 8th inning to cap the scoring for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Fremont 1

Win: Hunter Brown 4-5 (3.52)
Loss: Carlos Rodon 10-8 (3.44)

The Mobsters slowly chipped away at the lead, getting solo home runs from Yordan Alvarez in the first and Alex Bregman in the fourth to tie the game 3-3. The pivotal moment came in the fifth inning when the Mobsters scored three runs, highlighted by a two-run blast from Willy Adames, giving them a decisive 6-3 advantage.

The Cannons mounted a furious comeback in the seventh inning, scoring three runs on a bases-clearing double by J. Bart, narrowing the deficit to 7-6. However, Aroldis Chapman entered the game in the ninth and secured the save, preserving the Mobsters’ victory.

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Fremont 6

Win: Bryce Miller 12-5 (2.27)
Loss: Robert Suarez 8-3 (2.86)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #25

The Cannons initially took the lead in the first inning with a solo home run by Shohei Ohtani. However, the Mobsters quickly seized control in the bottom half of the inning when Willy Adames hit a pivotal three-run homer. The Mobsters extended their lead with solo home runs from Jackson Chourio in the fourth and a two-run shot by Yordan Alvarez in the fifth.

Mobsters pitcher Seth Lugo delivered a stellar performance, earning the win by holding the Cannons to just one run through 7.2 innings.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Fremont 1

Win: Seth Lugo 15-6 (2.40)
Loss: Charlie Morton 11-9 (3.77)

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Fremont 2

Win: Bowden Francis 12-2 (2.39)
Loss: Tarik Skubal 13-4 (1.47)
Save: Arolis Chapman #26

Chicago’s offense proved overwhelming, highlighted by a 12-5 rout in Game 2. The Mobsters’ predicted X-factors, including Jackson Chourio, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman, were central to their success. However, it was Willy Adames who provided some of the series’ most decisive moments, slugging a pair of critical three-run home runs.

The Mobsters’ pitching staff largely contained the dangerous Fremont lineup, with strong performances from starters like Seth Lugo and Bowden Francis. Though Fremont’s Shohei Ohtani managed two solo home runs across the series, the Cannons offense struggled to generate runs consistently against Chicago’s controlled pitching. The series finale saw Aroldis Chapman secure the win with a tense save, cementing the Mobsters’ commanding 5-1 series victory and solidifying their status as a top contender heading toward October.