Deep Impact: Cubs Cast Their Lot In The Nick Of Time

At the trade deadline the Cubs acquired Nicholas Castellanos. While I expected to see a bump in his production and counting stats, I did not foresee him going into the subway, transported to another dimension by a wizard (who strangely looks like Harry Caray), and due to the purity of his soul gets imbued with the power to become Ernie Banks. The Wisdom of Solomon also seems to have made him a philosopher, as seen HERE. Now he's taking everyone deep. On the awful Tigers Castellanos was going nowhere this year; he was barely above MLB average value and through 100 games he only had 11 home runs. Since joining the Cubs, in 20 games he already has 8. Nick is crushing it and just in time for Cubbies trying maintain their lead on the NL Central pennant, so let's dive in and take a look...

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#	MLB Starting Lineups For Wed 5/14
	ARI \| ATH \| ATL \| BAL \| BOS \| CHC \| CHW \| CIN \| CLE \| COL \| DET \| HOU \| KC \| LAA \| LAD \| MIA \| MIL \| MIN \| NYM \| NYY \| PHI \| PIT \| SD \| SEA \| SF \| STL \| TB \| TEX \| TOR \| WSH \| OAK

Baseball Podcast: Exploring the Orient with Tim McLeod

August 24, 2019 | Ditka, Tim McLeod | 2 Comments

by: Donkey Teeth

On this week's show we're joined by the world's foremost English speaking expert on Asian baseball players, Tim McLeod. Tim shares his thoughts on two guy's who might be coming over from the Orient for the 2020 baseball season: former MLB pitcher Josh Lindblom, who has now dominated the KBO for two full seasons, and 27 year old Japanese slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo. Don't miss out on some fascinating info on this two possible gems from the far east. We also discuss two more well know Asian pitchers in Yusei Kikuchi and Shohei Ohtani; find out what McLeod expects from both in 2020. Other topics featured on this show include: Jake Fraley, Aristedes Aquino, buy low prospect targets, Acuna vs. Trout vs. Yelich for 2020, and MLB playoff predictions. Open your ear holes and enjoy the wise Canadian's knowledge!

Two Start Pitchers, Week 22: This Justin For H2H Playoffs

August 24, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Two Start Fantasy Starters | 4 Comments

by: B_Don

No Doubt

Name	Team	Opp. 1	Opp. 2
Justin Verlander	HOU	TB	@TOR
Walker Buehler	LAD	@SD	@ARI
Aaron Nola	PHI	@MIA	NYM

I met him at 9:30 club in Washington DC Where you drink a cold beer and it tastes just like a hoppy ale N O L A Nola He walked a batter every now and then But the 3.02 2nd half ERA and 27% K rate had me wanting Nola N O L A Nola la-la-la-la Nola

FanDuel: Clobber With Clevinger & Value

August 24, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: Thomas Howland

Usually readers know my Saturday posts are all about value on the mound. Sometimes it's just not there. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and recommend the most expensive pitcher on the board, Mike Clevinger ($11,200). There are just too many positives: He's at home, where he's gone 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA. The Royals only hit .238 with a .594 OPS against him. If that's not enough, the wind is howling in at Progressive Field in Cleveland. But if you think you won't find value here you're wrong. Using the powerful tool of ISO over the past two weeks, along with the usual Razzball insight, we present Saturday's all value team after a quick word from our sponsor. New to FanDuel? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Bear or Bull: Will Smith Working the Summertime Once Again

August 24, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Buy/Sell | 9 Comments

by: Son

That was the jam back in the day. Yes, I'm an old fart. If your head is bobbing front to back right now, salud. For those of you shaking your head from side to side, with the frown making you look like a clown....I kid. It's an older song, so many may not have had the pleasure of experiencing it. No prob, but I know everyone is familiar with Will Smith, aka The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, aka Mr. Bad Boy, aka Mr. Independence Day, aka Mr. Man in Black, aka Mr. Enemy of the State, aka....woooo saaaaah, wooooo saaaaah. Mr. I've grossed $100 million in eight straight movies, Mr. I'm the most powerful actor in Hollywood.....Translation: Will Smith is/has/and will continue to be straight fire. No different than what Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers is doing. You know we hate talking about catchers here at Razzball, but 12 homers in 28 games needs to be addressed. I was shocked to see that he was 0% owned on the Razzball Player Rater. Can it continue and is he worth the pickup?

Drive-Buy Tucker

August 23, 2019 | Fantasy Baseball Buy/Sell | 250 Comments

by: Grey

[brid autoplay="true" video="454428" player="10951" title="FantasyBaseball2019BuySellHold21"] At 22 years old, Kyle Tucker is nearly a 30/30 guy in Triple-A. There's some other problems with baseball, but this should be the number one thing that is fixed. This is just about everything that's wrong with baseball. No one should go 30/30 in the minor leagues. The last player to do that (who I remember) was Joc Pederson in 2014. The reason why it's so rare and should be extinct? If you're going 30/30 in the minor leagues, you should be in the major leagues! I don't have a solution. I'm a problem spotter, not a problem solver. How many titles you want me to hold? Imagine another sport where one of your best players was artificially held down in an instructional league for a year or more. You can't and it's not a failure of imagination. Though, still fantasizing about an 18-year-old Alyssa Milano could lead one to that conclusion. The Astros have said Tucker will be called up in September. Will he play? Not 100% sure, but I'd guess he will most days because the Astros have room to play him over Reddick and will clinch a playoff berth. Now is the time to stash him in all leagues. Yes, the Astros will be going from a Reddick to a Tucker like Jame Gumb. Anyway, here's some more players to Buy or Sell this week in fantasy baseball:

Rolling In The Deep: Murphy’s Law Strikes Again

August 23, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball | 2 Comments

by: Laura Holt

There’s usually a several-week lull between the MLB trade deadline and September call-ups where things on the deep-league waiver wire are extra, extra dire. I feel like that’s been true again over the last few weeks this season, though it also seems like we are getting a slow trickle of potential new talent joining major league rosters a little earlier than usual this year. Perhaps it’s because of the elimination of the second MLB trade deadline since teams know that they can’t add anyone outside of the organization via trade -- or maybe it’s just my imagination -- but I do feel like there are a few new interesting names to look at. Hopefully this will be even more true over the next five weeks, and for now, let’s do what we do here and take a look at some players that might be on the radar of NL-only, AL-only, and other deep-leaguers.

FanDuel: Bunches Of Berrios

August 23, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: Richardo

Welcome to the start of the weekend DFSers! We have a 13-game slate on FanDuel this Friday. The Twins send their ace, Jose Berrios ($8,800), to the mound where he gets one of the best matchups a pitcher could ask for in the Tigers. In the second half, the Tigers have just a 70 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, which is good for 28th best in the league. They also have the highest strikeout rate against righties at 28.2%. Jose Berrios has always had better numbers at home, and this year is more of the same (3.27 ERA vs. 3.45). Berrios should have no problem cruising through the declawed Tigers. My only worry with this pick is at this price, Berrios is likely to be heavily owned. Let's take a look at the rest of FanDuel's slate to see if we can find a decent pivot. New to FanDuel? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Abraham Ready To Grab Toro By The Herns

August 23, 2019 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 113 Comments

by: Grey

[brid autoplay="true" video="453175" player="10951" title="2019 Razzball Fantasy Football Draft Kit Quarterbacks"] Yesterday, Abraham Toro-Hernandez (0-for-4) was called up by the Astros. Funny, I thought Abraham Toro-Hernandez was one of those special sushi rolls. "It's got lox for the Jews, toro because it's sushi and it's served in a giant tostada. You want?" That's the sushi restaurant waitress who is always annoyed. For Toro-Hernandez, I did a google (which is similar to when a baby says 'I did a doo-doo,' because you don't do nothing but sh*t for 20 minutes), and I've come to realize the most overused expression of the last five years is "The Most Interesting Man." Saw one article talk about how Toro was "The Most Interesting Man" because he spoke multiple languages and grew up in Montreal. That doesn't make him interesting, that makes him from Montreal. Why does this infuriate me? He looks like a batting average-forward guy (.306 in Double-A) with some power (16 HRs in 98 games), and more speed than he's shown in the minors (4 SBs). Appears to be a bit raw and maybe just a bench guy, but major league pitching and Double-A might not be that different, so Shruggy the Emoji shrugs. With Correa needing a giant bubble to stay healthy, Toro could see everyday starts at 3rd, and I could see grabbing him for the flier and upside. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Bullpen Report: Hand Stuff

August 22, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Closers | 8 Comments

by: Roto-Wan

What a disaster major league pitching has been this year. With the juiced ball on top of mounting injuries, we're all plugging holes faster than Captain Ahab. If you're in good shape in your pitching categories I recommend a conservative approach using a stopgap reliever until you can sort out something more permanent. Protect those ratios, maybe grab a few strikeouts, and figure out your fringe solution on your bench.

FanDuel: Over the Pence

August 22, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: Butters

In this age of prospects and chasing the hot new thing we can sometimes forget about the veterans such as Hunter Pence (OF: $4,000) What a steal he’s been for the Rangers. He’s been so much better than they could have possibly hoped when invited him to camp. Today’s matchup should give him another opportunity to keep doing what he’s been doing all season. I’m still sad he’s no longer a Giant, but it's great to see him thriving. He’s not a cheap option but the way he’s been playing, he certainly earned it. Best not to overlook him. New to FanDuel? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Twins Can’t Defeat-o Lucas Giolito

August 22, 2019 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 158 Comments

by: Grey

[brid autoplay="true" video="453878" player="10951" title="2019 Razzball Fantasy Football Draft Kit Wide Receivers"] Throwing a 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 12 Ks game against the 1927 Twins by Lucas Giolito can mean only one thing, today, we celebrate Lucas Giolito's Star Mitzvah! Mazel tov! Here's a check for $18. Many blessings from your bubbeleh. But, oy, it's hot in here, can we turn on the fan? Forget the electric bill for one day, it's a Star Mitzvah! Your uncle, Shlomo, didn't retire to Boca Raton and leave me with the money he won from scratch-off tickets so I can't turn on the fan once in a while. Guys and five girl readers, Giolito is a legend. Who isn't a Giolito fan? (Besides the Streamonator; why the long face, tin can head?) I've already given you my Lucas Giolito 2020 fantasy too, that's what a legend he is. This is his 2nd insane game this month, and, brucely, it's more fun to revel in great pitching performances this year than the 400th three-homer game. Last time, I said Giolito would be a top 15 starter. Now I'm starting to think I was being too low. Dude's so lit he's got that shizz in his last name! Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball: