The Picklr MLP Salt Lake City tournament continues Saturday at The Picklr Kaysville with eight important matches scheduled on Championship Court and Grandstand Court. Teams are battling for key playoff positions as the regular season nears its end, and every point matters.
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Texas Ranchers Look to Secure First-Round Bye
The Texas Ranchers, with a 15-9 record and 47 points, face the Atlanta Bouncers, who are 5-17 with 16 points. This is the first match of the day on Championship Court. If the Ranchers win in regulation, they will move past the Los Angeles Mad Drops, who are 18-7 with 49 points. That would give the Ranchers the No. 6 seed and a first-round bye at the Toray MLP Playoffs San Diego, happening from August 15 to 17.
The Atlanta Bouncers are also fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. On Friday, they beat the Miami Pickleball Club with a DreamBreaker win after trailing earlier in the match. This win gave them a much-needed boost heading into Saturday.
New Jersey 5s Eye Top-Three Finish
The New Jersey 5s will play two matches on Saturday—against the Chicago Slice and the Miami Pickleball Club. The 5s currently have a 17-4 record and 53 points. After winning five of six matches at MLP Dallas, they need just four more points this week to pass the Brooklyn Pickleball Team (18-7, 56 points) and claim the No. 3 spot for the postseason.
Their opponents on Saturday, the Chicago Slice and the Miami Pickleball Club, are not having strong seasons. The Slice are 5-18 with 20 points, while Miami sits at 8-15 with 22 points. Still, these matches are critical for the 5s to secure a better playoff position.
Orlando Squeeze Make Lineup Change in Mixed Doubles
The Orlando Squeeze, who hold a 13-9 record and 37 points, will play one match on Saturday against the Chicago Slice. The team is changing its mixed doubles pairs. Federico Staksrud will now team up with Milan Rane, and Dylan Frazier will partner with Lacy Schneemann.
This is a shift from the regular pairings. Up to this point, Federico Staksrud and Lacy Schneemann had played the entire season together, finishing with a 14-12 record. Milan Rane joined the Orlando Squeeze in July after a trade from the Miami Pickleball Club.
What It All Means
Saturday’s matches will help shape the playoff picture for the Major League Pickleball season. The Texas Ranchers have a chance to secure a first-round bye. The New Jersey 5s can lock in a top-three spot with just a few more points. Orlando’s lineup change may affect their momentum as the postseason approaches. With playoffs starting August 15, every team is aiming to finish strong and gain any advantage they can.
News in Brief: Picklr MLP Salt Lake City Tournament
Saturday at MLP Salt Lake City brings eight matches at The Picklr Kaysville. The Texas Ranchers aim for a top-six finish. The New Jersey 5s look to move into third place. Orlando Squeeze will test new mixed doubles pairings against the Chicago Slice as teams gear up for the playoffs.
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