Top 100 Hitters, Week 18: Cruz is the Zodiac Thriller

Who else got victimized by Nelson Cruz last week? In his last 75 ABs here's his line: 19/14/26/0/.333. That's more than some guys had in the entire first-half. Oh wait -- that's almost more than the 16 Cruz put up the first half. The Twins are going to be battling for the AL Central with the Indians until the bitter end and clutch Cruz should keep them afloat the rest of the way.

Learn more about our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Subscriptions!

The best daily/weekly player rankings/projections (hitters, starters, and relievers) for each of the next 7-10 days + next calendar week starting Friday. Kick-ass DFS lineup optimizer and projections for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo!.

I don’t have enough spam, give me the Razzball email newsletter!

Weekly Razzball news delivered straight to your inbox.

See all of today’s starting lineups

#	MLB Starting Lineups For Mon 6/16
	ATH \| BAL \| BOS \| COL \| HOU \| LAA \| LAD \| MIA \| NYY \| PHI \| SD \| SEA \| TB \| WSH \| ARI \| ATL \| CHC \| CHW \| CIN \| CLE \| DET \| KC \| MIL \| MIN \| NYM \| OAK \| PIT \| SF \| STL \| TEX \| TOR

RCL Update: The Week That Was, Week 18, 2019

August 6, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball | 13 Comments

by: MattTruss

Well kids, we made it. The Razzball Commenter Leagues trade deadline has come and gone and it went out with a bang! RCLers completed twenty-two trades this past week as everyone was looking to make one final push. It was interesting having the MLB trade deadline basically at the same time as our fantasy baseball trade deadline. Those that traded for Luke Jackson might not have enjoyed that very much (although the way Shane Greene has pitched to start his Braves career, maybe he’ll get another shot) but I think it was exciting for everyone else. There were plenty of closers exchanging hands this week with Felipe Vazquez seeming to get the most attention. Maybe because he had the fewest trade rumors swirling around him for a fairly reliable closer. Either way, we’ll break down a few of these trades and catch-up on two weeks worth of RCL data in the week that was, week 18.

FanDuel: Wheel and Deal

August 6, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: TroyKlauder

While his overall results haven't been ideal, Mets starter Zack Wheeler ($10,700) has been on fire this season. His 3.50 FIP and 3.24 Deserved Run Average suggest that he's pitched much better than his ERA, and his 26.0% K-rate and 6.1% walk-rate are both career bests. Wheeler dominated the White Sox for seven scoreless innings his last time out, and should have another big performance tonight at home against the Marlins. Miami has been the worst offense in baseball against right-handed pitching according to their awful .281 wOBA, and their 25.3% strikeout-rate is extremely high. Wheeler is well worth the investment as your ace tonight. 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!

Castillo Strikes Out Ten And a Trio

August 6, 2019 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 304 Comments

by: Grey

[brid autoplay="true" video="442583" player="10951" title="FantasyBaseball2019BuySellHold18"] It's never too early to turn the page towards 2020. Which is what Hugh Downs used to say while wearing a smoking jacket and flipping through a script. By the way, Hugh Downs missed his porn actor calling. "Oh my God, that's an Orca in your pants!" "Well, I ain't Churchill Downs." Fun Fact! Hugh Downs only wore slippers. Okay, okay, OKAY, enough about freakin' Hugh Downs. This is like when Seinfeld was telling Bania to ease up on the Ovaltine jokes. Grey, you've got fifteen minutes of Hugh Downs! Let him go! I'd love to but he goes Downs so easy! So, Luis Castillo pitched another gem in a season of them (7 IP, 2 ER, 4 baserunners, 13 Ks, ERA at 2.63). His peripherals are equally gorge like Barbara Walters fluffing Hugh--I'll stop! Castillo's has a 10.8 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 3.71 FIP and his fastball velocity is up and he's throwing his change a lot more (26% to 32%). He kinda reminds me of another Reds pitcher, Trevor Bauer. Castillo's ERA could easily be near-4 vs. near 2.50. Still like him, not saying make a chump dump like when Hugh Downs used to spend 30 minutes in the bathroom and blame Mike Wallace, but Castillo looks a lot better than Bauer in ERA, but for 2020 I don't see a ton of difference. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

SAGNOF: Bo Goes For Big Bucks

August 5, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, SAGNOF | 6 Comments

by: Roto-Wan

If you need speed you're in luck of late. New options for steals chasers having been popping up. Don't fret if you don't have the budget left for Bo Bichette. There are some lesser names that can help boost the category for you.

The last of the Wunderkind got the call as Bo Bichette joined the Blue Jays major league team. Speed is certainly part of his profile, though the power may translate to the majors easier if he isn't given that many green lights. You'd better have some FAAB squirreled away. He won't come cheap.
Josh VanMeter swiped three bases last week. That's a healthy amount for someone without an elite speed profile. It's interesting to see the steals flow as JVM was moved more into the heart of the Reds order.
Two Braves, Ender Inciarte and Johan Camargo, have found themselves with more playing time lately. Inciarte is the better bet for steals, though Camargo can sprinkle in a little bit of everything if he gets going with regular at-bats.
The newest Cleveland Indian Yasiel Puig has already stolen two bases in four games. It could be somewhat coincidental. It could also signal the Tribe's intentions for their newest toy.
Roman Quinn has always offered tools, the greatest of which is his 80-grade speed. His challenges have always been finding at-bats and staying healthy. Let's see if the Phillies can find ways to keep their sparkplug involved.
Scott Oberg notched his first save since Wade Davis was demoted. You won't get elite ratios or an exceptional K/9. They aren't going to be detrimental, though. Let's face it, you'll take saves from any avenue at this point.

FanDuel: Morton’s Monday

August 5, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: wander34

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Charlie Morton ($10,100) has an excellent numbers (2.78 ERA and 30.1% K%) on the season, and should improve on those numbers in this one. The right-hander finds himself in a nice spot today. The Toronto lineup potentially should include just two left-handed batters. Lefties tend to give Morton fits more so than righties because he can’t throw his best pitch (the slider) to them. He has thrown three times as many sliders to righties than lefties this season. Right-handed batters own a .197 batting average against his slider in 2019 so you can see why this a great matchup for the Rays’ starter. 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!

Aaron Sanchez Cooks Up 6 No-Hit IP After Astros Chopped His Sinker

August 5, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball | 408 Comments

by: Grey

[brid autoplay="true" video="442583" player="10951" title="FantasyBaseball2019BuySellHold18"] A reporter, ducked behind chairs, yells at Aaron Sanchez at his no-hitter, post-game press conference. All we hear is the reporter's disembodied voice, "Isn't it true your four-seam spin rate went from 2,300 rpm to 2,565 rpm overnight?" Some reporters move out of the way for the reporter, who is crouched behind the chairs. One reporter recognizes him, asking, "Trevor Bauer, is that you?" What are the Astros feeding their pitchers? Pine tar and they're being told to eat with their hands. Aaron Sanchez (6 IP, 0 ER, 0 hits, 2 walks, 6 Ks, ERA at 5.76) had a 6.07 ERA before this game! I get it, it was the Mariners, but this is crazy. Sanchez wasn't usable at all in Toronto. The Astros' coaching vs. cheating argument: Sanchez did kibosh his sinker, which was by far his worst pitch. Could it have been that easy? How could the Jays not figure this out? I could've figured this out! I guess Sanchez's worth the flier. If he's fixed, he's too valuable to ignore. Anyway, here's what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Fantasy Baseball Streamers, Week 18: Ride the Wave

August 4, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Streamers | 14 Comments

by: The Real Joey Bart

We told you that last week was going to be bizarre with our streamers and it was just that. It was so strange that we actually have two of the same two-start streamers this week! No, this isn't the Twilight Zone but it’s close. Both of those guys pitched well, thanks to my recommendations, so let’s go right back to the well. Now that we have the trade deadline out of the way, we shouldn’t deal with pitchers being pushed back or any crap like that.

FanDuel: Just In: Just Justin

August 4, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: NichFields

Justin Verlander, SP: $12,000, is locked in. He is so locked in he is our super-duper, locked and loaded, slam dunk, touchdown goal of the week. He transcends sports. He will win you a NASCAR tournament. He will make your burrito taste better and your skies less cloudy. That's how good he is right now. Not that Justin Verlander needs factors in his favor to dominate – so don’t mistake the intention here, no disrespect, ever – but there are reasons to believe he could treat this Mariner lineup like a little league B-lineup. Worse than the no-hit performance they’re coming off yesterday. They might quit baseball after this, and here’s why: • Park factor: Minute Maid Park is usually neutral, but today is the most pitcher-friendly park on the slate for a right-handed pitcher. • Weather: There is no rain risk, as they have a roof, but air density still affects the travel of the baseball, and today the conditions in Houston are the best of the slate for pitching. Higher air density provides more resistance to a baseball traveling through the air, which increases spin rate and movement (at the expense of a little velocity, yes, but it’s worth the tradeoff), and decreases the distance a batted ball travels. It’s science. • Visual Memory Index: This is a Razzball Premium feature that measures the change in conditions from one game to the next. The exact same pitch will move differently depending on the density of the air in which it is thrown. How much differently is what VMI aims to quantify for us. Negative numbers are worse for hitting and better for pitching, and just the opposite for positive numbers. Today, the Mariners have the most negative VMI number of the slate, so we should expect their hitters to require the greatest adjustment compared to recent conditions. Uphill battle against Verlander. • Strikeouts: The Mariners strike out a lot, more than any other team in baseball. • Caveats: The way this could go wrong is pretty clear. The Mariners are top 5 in the league in team ISO and team walk rate, and Justin Verlander gives up the majority of his runs allowed through home runs, and also walks about 2 hitters per 9 innings pitched. If things fall apart, this is the likeliest reason why. Enough said. Play him in a crazy percent of your lineups today and enjoy. And guess what? There’s more! Read on for our top picks of the day. Have a great one! 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!

Prospect News: Marco Leaves The Parko

August 4, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 41 Comments

by: Mike

Giants prospect Marco Luciano went yard for the tenth time Friday night. He's now slashing .344/.458/.680 through 33 games in rookie ball. Typically it's tough to get excited about 17-year-olds (I used to refer to them as Long Shot Lolitas back in the day). But times are a changing, and some 17-year-olds are special. SIT DOWN Billie Eilish! I'm not referring to you. This is about Luciano, who cracked my Midseason Top 50 at number 24. Luciano has everything you want in a prospect - big projectable power, patience, defense up the middle, a bit o' the old speed, and a hit tool that rounds everything out into one impressive package. Could he be next year's Wander Franco? I won't be here to find out so I get to make whatever nutty claims I want over the next four weeks! Here's what else is happening around the minor leagues...

Wood Solid, Nails Down First Win

August 3, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 18 Comments

by: Dan Pants

Alex Wood looked solid as oak in his second start of the year since coming off the IL with back issues and pitched six and two thirds innings allowing just four hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out five to notch his first win the year. Welcome back, Alex! Also, me. For those of you who follow my career closely (hi mom), I missed a few weeks there due to some mandatory volunteer work aboard the Sea Org. Turns out I'm starting the third level of my bridge in the church of Scientology and they recommended a full disconnect from fantasy baseball. But I'm back and stronger than ever before. My thetans have never been clearer and I'm pretty sure I can tell players to homer with my mind now. That's right I told Mike Trout to do that. But back to Alex Wood! After an underwhelming debut versus Colorado last week (4.2, 7 hits, 2 ER, BB, 4 K), Wood returned looking like the pitcher the Reds have waited four months for with the 6.2 inning gem against his former team. Revenge game! Wood must have had an axe to grind. Outside of a couple solo homers surrendered, Alex limited the damage in a tough road assignment against one of the leagues best offensive teams. I'm buying Wood! It's cherry, you guys! Is that enough wood puns for you, or wood you like more? Oak-key dokey, Alex gets the Cubs next week and I'd go out on a limb and pick up Wood if he's still available! Here's what else I saw Friday night in fantasy baseball:

FanDuel: Stephen Strasburg Stifling Snakes

August 3, 2019 | 2019 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel | 2 Comments

by: MattTruss

Welcome back weekend DFSers! I’m here for a back to back and I hope everyone had a profitable night last evening. We’ve got a massive 13 game main FanDuel slate to tackle tonight and I can’t wait. It’s rare the Saturday main slate is larger than the Friday night slate, but that’s MLB’s scheduling for you. Without further ado, let’s dive into my top pitching play of the night, Stephen Strasburg ($11,000). I typically don’t love recommending a starting pitcher on the road as my top play, but I’ll make an exception tonight. Strasburg will be facing off against the Diamondbacks in Arizona tonight. Grey pointed out the other day that post-humidor Chase Field is a pitcher’s paradise, ranking in the bottom third in Park Factors. That would explain why the D-Backs are bottom third in team OPS at home as well. Combine that with Strasburg’s near 11 K/9, 2 BB/9 and his 2.93 FIP and I’d say we’re in for points aplenty! 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!