The battle between the top two scoring teams in the APBL delivered exactly what fans hoped for. The New York Yankees, playing from behind nearly all week, stormed back on Sunday night with an 80-point outburst to steal the win over the Atlanta Braves, 342–315. The 27-point comeback victory reinforces New York’s reputation as the league’s most dangerous closer—and keeps them locked in at the top of the standings.
In a rematch of last year’s APBL Championship, the San Francisco Giants once again had the Cincinnati Reds’ number. The defending champs held the Reds to just 160 points, the lowest output in franchise history. Final score: Giants 241, Reds 160—an emphatic 81-point win. The Reds are now 0-3 in their last three against the Giants, their only true kryptonite in the league.
Nick Kurtz made APBL history for the Chicago Cubs, going a mind-blowing 6-for-6 with 4 home runs, 6 runs, 8 RBIs, a double, and a single. His performance led the Cubs to a narrow 326–314 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals—the closest game of the week at just +12.
Elsewhere in the league:
- The Angels took care of business with a 49-point win over the Orioles (244–195).
- The Red Sox blew out the Guardians 327–197 in the largest margin of victory of the week (+130). Cleveland has now dropped three straight.
- The Tigers extended their win streak to six games, dismantling the White Sox 328–212. Meanwhile, the South Side squad has now lost seven straight.
- The Rangers handled the Blue Jays 240–170, sending Toronto to their ninth consecutive loss.
Week 17 Preview: Postseason Stakes Are Rising
- Reds vs Blue Jays – First-time meeting. The Jays are desperate to end their losing streak, but facing a pissed-off Reds team could spell disaster.
- Braves vs Cubs – After splitting last season’s meetings, the Braves won earlier this year in Week 7. Can the Cubs even the score?
- Yankees vs Orioles – Just two weeks removed from a stunning 3-point win over the Yanks, the O’s get another shot at the league’s best.
- Cardinals vs Guardians – The Cards are a perfect 3–0 against Cleveland all-time, with an average margin of victory of 94.3 points. The Guardians need a miracle.
- Angels vs Rangers – Game of the Week. The Rangers won the first matchup in Week 5, but with playoff positioning on the line, the Angels are hungry for revenge.
- Giants vs White Sox – First-ever meeting between the reigning champs and the struggling Sox. San Francisco looks to keep momentum rolling.
- Tigers vs Red Sox – These two met back in Week 5, where the Tigers cruised to a 66-point victory (261–195). Now riding a six-game winning streak, Detroit is one of the hottest teams in the APBL. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are showing signs of life after a dominant Week 16 win, but they’ll need their best game of the season to stop this surging Tigers squad.
