From this post, life emerges. *toadstool morphs into frog, frog morphs into person, person types up this post* See! Darwinism at its most basic, and ‘basic’ like your girl who just wants a pumpkin spice latte and to play Candy Crush. It’s how basic is defined, yo. For these pitcher pairings, I’m going to be using our (my) 2020 fantasy baseball rankings. Notably, the top 20 starters for 2020 fantasy baseball, top 40 starters for 2020, top 60 starters for 2020, the top 80 starters for 2020 and top 100 starters. You can also just get Rudy’s downloadable War Room by signing up for the Razzball Subscriptions. Okay, formalities out of the way. *rolls up sleeves, makes farting noise with hand under armpit, rolls down sleeve* Let’s get busy! Now, what is a pitcher pairing? It’s your plan for putting together a fantasy staff. A course of action, of course — of acoursion, naturally. If you have A pitcher, which B, C, D, E and F pitcher goes with him? Which is different than ‘F this pitcher,’ that’s what you say by end of April about at least one of your starters. You should have six starters. The sixth starter is Pablo Lopez or take whoever you want. I suggest an upside pick. Mitch Keller comes to mind. Or Dustin May. Kevin Gausman also comes to mind. Chris Bassitt anyone? I’m going to assume you’re in a 12 team, 5×5 and some variation of 9 pitcher leagues like the Razzball Commenter Leagues, which begin signups on Monday. Put on your pants and look presentable! (NOTE: What you are about to read is massively confusing. If it were found scribbled in a notebook, the FBI would be watching me. If Ed Kemper stood up and read this at the next prison Meet N’ Greet, no one would blink an eye.) Anyway, here’s pitcher pairings for pitching staffs for 2020 fantasy baseball drafts:
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “Let’s be very, very, VERY, very, vewy, berry, berry clear.”
These tiers are from Cole to Bieber. If you draft someone from these tiers, you’ll probably lose your league or get lucky with your hitters. If you do draft one, I wouldn’t take another pitcher until the tiers, “Upgraded out of the bathroom into economy” and “Hugh Jackman’s marriage.” Take one pitcher from one of those two tiers, then grab another starter from one of those two tiers or, “Sideways bosom.” Then grab another starter from, “Sideways Bosom,” “Nirvinyl,” or “Fourcast starring Rainn Wilson and Dew Barrymore'” or “Dollar Store condoms.” Then one starter from Condoms or “Getting a microwave tan.” Finally, draft one more starter from a microwave tan. So, you’d have a rotation something like Jack Flaherty, Lance Lynn, Brandon Woodruff, Frankie Montas, Ryan Yarbrough and Pablo Lopez. Or you could have Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Andrew Heaney, Yonny Chirinos, Chris Bassitt. Either of those staffs will probably net you 13’s in every pitching category in a 12 team league.
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “Fill my holes with dry rice to reduce moistness?”
This tier goes from Lucas Giolito to Chris Paddack. I’d pair any of them with anyone in their same tier or the tier, “Eat your ideal lover’s weight in cookie dough,” “Upgraded out of the bathroom into economy” and “Hugh Jackman’s marriage,” but it’s not mandatory you grab two in the first two tiers. In other words, if I drafted Lucas Giolito, I could see taking Luis Castillo or Patrick Corbin or anyone from any of those tiers, but I wouldn’t reach either. If you do take two guys from those first two tiers, then move to”Upgraded out of the bathroom into economy” and “Hugh Jackman’s marriage,” and take one guy. You will also be fine taking Giolito and moving right to Economy or the Jackmans’ marriage. If you skip a 2nd starter in Cookie Dough and Moistness, then draft two guys in the Economy and/or the Jackmans’ marriage. So, you could have either something like Giolito, Castillo and Woodruff or Giolito, Lance Lynn and Wheeler. Either way, you then move along to Sideways bosom, Nirvinyl and a Fourcast and grab a guy, then onto another Fourcast, condom or a microwave tan. Finally, one guy from the microwave tan. So, you’ll have something like Giolito, Luis Castillo, Jake Odorizzi, Max Fried, Yarbrough, and Pablo Lopez. Don’t mind if I do! Or you could have something like Giolito, Odorizzi, Lynn, Fried, Yarbrough, and Keller. That’s straight gorge. As in engorged.
If your first pitcher is from the tiers: “Eat your ideal lover’s weight in cookie dough.”
This tier goes from Yu Darvish to Aaron Nola. This is likely the way I’m going in 12-team leagues and shallower. This would be ideal (and just as convoluted. Anyone that actually reads AND understands this post deserves a gold star and a head exam. “You, sir, are fit for the looney bin.”) My first pitcher will be from Cookie Dough, then two starters upgrading out of the bathroom or Hugh Jackman’s marriage, then one starter from Sideways bosom, Nirvinyl, a Fourcast and one starter from a Fourcast, condoms and microwave tan. Finally, a microwave tan. So, you could have something like Darvish, Jose Berrios, Wheeler, Montas, Yarbrough and Zach Eflin. You just won your league and games haven’t even started. You’re welcome. Could this post become more confusing? Short answer: no. Long answer: nooooooooooo. But let’s try…
Overall Thoughts
You can’t go wrong with a lot of different sets of pitchers. Shoot (not you, deranged white man), you probably could do fine with drafting only 3 starters and 3 great relievers and streaming. (Razzball Subscriptions are now open with the Streamonator.) If you stick to the pitchers I like, then you’ll do well matching them up any way you see fit. For unstints, I could see a lot of people saying Woodruff is being drafted close to Darvish, so do I reach for him? Sure. If you draft only pitchers that I like, then I have no quarrel with you. Wanna reach for Woodruff in the area when the cookie doughs are coming off the board? That’s cool with me. Just know you’re adding risk to your rotation.
TROUBLE AREAS
WHIP Issues – For every pitcher who is projected over a 1.23 WHIP, take one below. The quicker you do this, the better off you’ll be. For unstints, if you take Eduardo Rodriguez, who I have projected for 1.24, you need to pair him with someone I have projected below a 1.23. Don’t pair Ed-Rod with Odorizzi. Pair him with someone like Ryu. Remember, the further you get into the rankings, the harder it becomes to find lower WHIPs. Side note: WHIP can be helped by closers and MRs… Or hurt by them.
What about the tier “160 IP and one, two, three bazingas!,” or any starter listed in the top 100 starters who are in tiers not listed above. They are 7th starters or IL, minors or bullpen-bound. I wouldn’t count on any of them for anything. I like me some Matt Manning or a bunch of those guys, but are you really starting any of them every time out in April and risking a huge blow up or them just not being in the rotation, which would lead to a crushing April that leaves you in your fantasy baseball basement and a chance to start trading for keepers in May? You take a flyer on someone like Alex Wood, hope he works out and if he doesn’t, you decide whether to drop him in redraft leagues. He’s not your 6th starter.
K ISSUES – For drafters who follow my lead, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. You’re shooting for around 150/starter.
Overall Pitching Issues – Just about everyone, including yours truly, drops at least one of their starters by May 1st. Obviously, you want the best team coming out the draft, but it’s a marathon not a sprint. Starters always come out of nowhere on waivers to become productive. Always. Even in deep leagues.
BONUS FEATURE
Because we both know everything above this point was the gibberish of a mad mind, here’s an easy to use shortcut. Just click the pitcher you draft, then you’ll get a short list of the next pitcher you’re supposed to draft. Frank Voila, snitches! Now, have at it:
Thanks for the pairing tool Grey! For my keeper league I have Flaherty in the 7th round and Giolito in the 12th round. Would you grab your 3rd from cookie dough or go straight to 2 from bathroom/Jackman? Thanks!
How many teams in the league, Jason?
No problem! See DT’s question — but prolly Bathroom/Jackman
12 team
So you have two aces in a 12 teamer? Jackman or Sideways bosom, prolly latter
Great tool Boss. Thanks for all the work
Thanks, AL!
Great stuff, Grey! In an AL Only 5×5 Roto league that uses QS instead of Wins, please rank the following SPs who may frequently be 5 inning guys for various reasons:
K Maeda
R Stripling
G Canning
J Luzardo
H Ryu
Thanks!
Check out Grey’s top 500 from yesterday, easily sortable by position: https://razzball.com/top-500-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
It’s pretty easily Ryu #1 on the list for me. The maeda, luzardo, canning, Stripling for me.
Thanks! Agree with DT on where to look
Excellent work Grey!
THANK YOU!!
No problem
In a h2h league would you trade deGrom for Castillo and Yu? It’s. Keeper league, keep your best 8 forever. Yu would be the first pick of the draft, so it’s more of a depth vs better player in a h2h. If it was Roto I think I’d hold but h2h is a crapshoot with SP sometimes.
It’s fair but think I’d hold degrom
Agree with DT
Looks good. Great tool! So far all three of my teams check out fine. I’m glad you’re also in on Yamamoto and Eflin.
But where is Bartolo Colon on your list!!!???
Thanks! Colon’s good for bowels
Thanks for this Grey! Random question, on Bieber…are you worried much about his hard contact (allowed some of the most hard contact last year, esp on fastball l) or nah?
I’m not very concerned. He’s a smart pitcher with pinpoint command.
No problem!
Agree with DT, though I’m not drafting him at his price
Thanks for this. My question: If you happen to be in a shallower league, lets say 10 teams, would you wait even longer to draft pitching or is it smart to start at the same tier you are suggesting for 12 team leagues?
same here…but I am in some 6 team and 8 team!!
In shallower roto leagues you’ll need better ratio stats to contend so I’d actually lean towards moving a little sooner on an arm. Just my philosophy.
You can wait longer in shallower leagues as long as it’s a daily league…There will be an abundance of SPs on waivers
Related question to above…
Bieber ($16) and Franmil ($13)
or
Scherzer ($34) and Villar ($8)
Keep forever, I’ve got Acuna Yelich Story (so Villar’s extra speed isn’t essential and if anything, I will trade him mid season once I bank extra SB cushion).
Hey Duda,
These two for me, in a keep 4 ever
Bieber ($16) and Franmil ($13)
First two in a keep forever seems a no-brainer. I’d venture that Grey’s #5 ranking of Bieber tells you how worried he is about the hard contact rate.
Agree with Cram and MP
Thanks guys! Much appreciated.
This owner originally offered me Biebs + Rendon ($22) for my Scherzer and Eloy ($7), which I’m still thinking hard about . . . trying to find alternatives in the meantime.
My hangup with the Rendon version is that I don’t want to miss out on what I think will be a huge Eloy year (plus, besides Eloy, my other keepers are elite bats but pretty pricey in the aggregate, so a $25 rendon in 2021 is great much less attractive to me than a $10 Eloy).
Agree with Cram
Hi GREY…love your Top 500. You are the best and most prolific expert in fantasy sports. And the most entertaining. I have a couple keeper questions fora 12 team auction roto where you can keep 8.
Will Smith at $10 for two years OR
Yasmani Grandal at $3 for one year
Trevor Bauer at $16 for one year OR
Mike Soroka at $10 for two years OR
Zac Gallen at$10 for two years
George Springer at $33 for two years OR
Eduardo Escobar at $2 for two years
Thanks. Lots of titles in recent years thanks to you.
Grandal and Soroka for me.
The last one depends on your leagues inflation, but probably Springer if you think that’s a discount.
Thanks! Appreciate it!
Grandal…Hmm, tough for 2nd one, I’m leaning Gallen, but not sure you can go wrong
Agree with DT, prolly Springer
Playing in a 6×6 10 team shallow keeper with OPS as additional category. Entertaining 2 offers for Mike Trout
1: Trout and Nola for Bieber and Sexy Dr. Pepper
2: Trout and Verlander for Mookie and Gerrit Cole
Thoughts from the community?
1. Trout side
2. Trout side
Both fair deals.
I’d actually take the Soto side in #1, Trout in #2.
FWIW, I like Soto side in the top as well. Soto is more similar to Trout’s expected line than not (Trout still wins of course), but Biebs is a big win over Nola.
Soto
Trout
Pitching pairings, very cool. Very helpful, with so much uncertainty surrounding pitching.
Red bull baseballs, they have wings!, flyin out of park near you!
Thanks! Haha, we think at least…No one knows what the baseballs will be
Member, they changed in the postseason
I think Manfraud is just messin with us fantasy baseballers.
Haha, Manfraud is good, I hadn’t heard that before
Lol, thanks. I say Manfraud on Twitter all the time. Feel free to use it, spread the word!
Haha, I just might!
Love this post!
In a 14 team standard scoring 4 player keeper yahoo H2H league
I have been offered Yordan Alvarez and matt olson for FTJ
Or mondesi and olson for story
Thinking seriously about both. Thoughts?
I’d pass on both but they’re pretty fair.
Thanks!
Agree with DT
depending who u are not keeping the mondesi olson one looks great in a 14 teamer
Keeper league 25 man rosters and you have to carry 7 starters.
The starters that I am keeping are Clevinger, Paddack, Greinke, Berrios, Montas.
Any ideas on who I should target for the last two slots?
Who’s available?
Keepers haven’t been declared yet, but it is not hard to figure who is going to keep who (regardless if it is position players or pitchers). To discuss this in general terms, assume the top 54 starters are off of the board
You have two aces, two #2s, and a #4 — How many teams? Because in most that’s fine to just fill up backend — Say Stripling types
12 team league
So, yeah, Stripling types
Thanks Grey & DonkeyT.
Grey!!
Fantastic post as always. Was looking forward to this post and not that I’ve seen it am very happy.
a. Sorry, missed the show yesterday. Got up at 03h46 to travel for a test at 09h00 (had to take a cab to get to the place where I take the bus to get to the city where the test was, the bus left at 06h00 arriving in the test town 08h25). Took the test, hopefully I scored well enough for the next stage. I arrived home at 14h30, took the dog out for a long walk, ate and then went to sleep for 90 minutes but I swear it felt like 900 years. Saw the top 500 was posted and creamed my pants. Thanks, I’ll send you the cleaning bill.
b. Now the perennial question that begs asking as always. You dig Olson, I get it. And when he does well, that’ll be great for the rosters of all those who drafted him in the first 3 rounds. As of right now in mock drafts in CBS and yahoo roto 5X5, you can have Olson just before Chapman in the 10th or maybe a little earlier. So, the questions.
1. My yahoo mock draft scores are bad because your rankings don’t jive with yahoo’s rankings. Ditto for CBS. This should not disturb us right?
2. When drafting Olson, should I draft him in the 3rd, 4th or 5th rounds or should I take a guy like Springer or Hader who is a commodity for sure but won’t be there in the 5th round because of their name brand whereas Olson will be? Do you get me? It goes for other players too who you’ve ranked way ahead of the field. Do you wait a couple of rounds and grab what won’t be there in those same 2 rounds because of name recognition and 3-year average or do you follow the Bible according to Grey?
c. Am watching the following tv series and love them all.
1. Hanna 2019
2. The Act 2019
3. Black Monday 2019
4. Jett 2019
5. The Hot Zone 2019
6. Dublin Murders 2019
7. City on a Hill 2019
8. Catch-22 2019
I got the tip from watching I am the Night with Chris Pine as Executive Producer and lead actor. Pretty good.
d. MLB quote of the day for July 10 2006
‘I’m always looking to improve and every year I want to do better than the year before.’
The immortal David Allen Wright
e. Have a Greyt weekend.
Cheers,
Ante
Thanks!
A. Rooting for you to do well!
B.
1. Not at all
2. You can prolly wait to 4th or 5th and grab Springer bc of reasons you said
C. Never even heard of these except 8, which I watched
D. Ha!
E. You too!
Grey!!!
a. Thanks, man. Am already winning with your vote of confidence.
b. Thanks, message received.
c. Yeah, me neither. Some are on Hulu, some on Showtime, some on AmazonPrime etc. None of these are available on netflix.
d. Yes, the Captain. I’m sure frequent commenter ‘MetsLol’ is happy now.
Cheers,
Ante
A. Yes!
B. No problem
C. I need more streaming services! (I don’t.)
D. Haha
Loved Jett and City on a Hill.
Loved Bad Boys !
14 team league. I’m keeping Beiber at $14 and Corbin at $9. Where should I jump back in on drafting arms?
You have two aces, you can go in at Sideways bosom
12 team league,
Keep 4 out of 5:
Verlander/Lynn/Ray/Maeda/Stroman/Alcantra
Throw back Sandy.
Agree with MP
Agree with others
Hi Grey and all. Looking for keeper help. Yahoo 10 team league 5×5 H2H $260. Can keep 5 of the following.
Trevor Story $18
Nolan Arenado $33
Anthony Rendon $26
Freddie Freeman $33
Adalberto Mondesi $10
Xander Bogaerts $23
Mike Clevinger $13
Luis Castillo $13
Vlad Guerrero Jr $10
Sonny Gray $6
Luis Robert $5
Brandon Woodruff $6
Off the top thinking I have to Keep Story, Mondesi, and Clevinger. Wondering how to fill out the other 2. Thanks for your insight!
So many good ones…
Arenado, Freeman
Thanks Grey, I love Arenado and Freeman too but they are close to their draft dollar amounts. If you had to pick 2 others for more $ value who would you go with? Thanks as always. Love the input!!!
Really? They seem like $40+ players — okay, Vlad, Castillo
Yeah, our league only tends to spend $40 plus on the first 5 or so picks. The middle gets a little bloated. Thanks for your recommendations. Truly appreciate you and love the site.
No problem
And thanks for kind words!
No question just a comment…You guys mentioned a show called The Kingdom { MMA}. WOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!! Amazing show.. Glad I saw that on your post…
Ha, nice! Have you watched The Last Kingdom? No relation, but also good
I made the mistake of watching Vikings before Last Kingdom….LK is a little slow for me compared to Vikings
I ended up watching Vikings this year, I liked it more than I thought I would…I think I have download the last season off Apple tho, so don’t say anything
They all die. Dinosaurs or something.
Don’t ruin stuff!
Did you get to the time machine part yet?
Haha, I see what you did to me!
I’m in a 12team league. I have 4 pitchers kept….Paddock, Gallen, Lamet and Glasnow………..No matter what order I put the first three in order of which taken first, Glasnow doesnt come up, am I missing something??
He’s not an SP I recommend…SPs I don’t want aren’t listed
You’re breaking hearts by directing minds to saner pastures, Mr. Grey, Shepard of the fantasy flocks.
Haha, look at Baby Seal’s question below about NFBC
hey, baby seal doesn’t capitalize that shiz!
lowercase it baby seal yeah
lol the order you list the pitchers on here isn’t going to make him change his opinion on GLASSnow.
He’s great, as the blurb he wrote said, just an IP thing.
Might be worth keeping depending how long you can hold him and at what price. W/o more context, just going to be a pass, bro. Think that’s what you’re missing.
Cheers!
TJS coming. Greyis saving the a$$es of those who listen, at least on Glas(s-pipe)now.
10th round keep, I’ll roll the dice
You see that PECOTA had Maeda as SP #24, 24! ergo, borderline SP2 in 12 teamers. encouraging. (we’ll ignore the goofiness in the rest of the top 24 like Thor) stay positive!
Haha, I hadn’t seen…Not surprising tho, his peripherals are insane…Like I was saying in sleeper posts, he showed up in top 15 for so many eye-popping stats
I think Maeda will likely be great in MIN until mid-August when the workload catches up to him, then bench or drop. That is unless you discount why the Dodgers didn’t let him start in stretch run last few years…
Oh, yeah, he’s not going well past 150 IP no matter if he has a rotation spot or not
Also, MIN has like 12 SP now (including Maeda and Hill), so they could be wearing a Dodgers costume for the Halloween Party. “Do the Shuffle!”
Haha, yeah, Maeda will be great, just not in 175+ IP
Here’s a dumb question that I probably know the answer to but am going to ask anyway.
I play in a Yahoo 12 team roto 6×6 (with R/HR/RBI/AVG/SB/OPS; W/K/ERA/WHIP/QS/SV+H). The league allows 3 keepers to be kept for max 3 years. My obvious best players are Acuna, Story, and Mookie. However, each of them can only be kept through this year, so I will need an entirely new set of keepers for 2021. Since everyone keeps 3, probably 2/3 – 3/4 of the top players are off the board to begin the draft and I’m expecting to go from having 3 top 10 players to probably 3 top 50 players.
But I’m guessing you’d agree it would be stupid to toss back one of those three to keep a different option I can control for 2 more years. My best choices are Rizzo, Mondesi, Rosario, and Soler, and I guess Fried and Wheeler. Incidentally, I drafted Rizzo, Mondesi, and Rosario in the first 3 non keeper rounds last year (unfortunately my pitching ratios and QS were awful), but it also shows if I had to keep from there I’m not getting a top 10-20 player, likely. Granted, none of those 3 are top 10-20 (borderline, at least).
So yes, TL;DR, I should just keep those 3, even though I have to lose all 3 next year, and hope I strike it rich on some picks this year, right?
You have to keep them
$120 keeper cap
Give Woodruff($7) and Hampson ($1)
Get Donaldson($13)
Thoughts?
Nah
Not sure if this has been covered or not.
What do people think of Yoenis Cespedes making impact this year?
I have a feeling in my stomach and not sure if it because he is going to rock it or is it just something I ate last night??
I projected him in my top 100 OFs, not great, Bob
Cespedes has a better chancing making a splash in the rodeo this year than MLB IMO. Giddy up Cowboy!
Haha
Hey Grey
Thanks for all you do!! Won my league last year as a first time razzballer – thanks to you.
One question I have that prolly doesn’t have a simple answer is what draft strategy to implement in two catcher leagues? Reach for a top 3 C (around when I’d be drafting SP2-3) or just pick up two basement dudes at the very end of 12-team 5×5 roto draft?
Thanks!
Nice! Get that repeat!
I usually grab a catcher between 150-200 overall in a 2 catcher league, then punt last catcher until towards end while getting a catcher with a full-time job
Thanks for another great post! Quick keeper trade question for a 16 team auction league (5×5 obp).
I’d be giving up Juan Soto ($15)
For
Giolito ($10)
Hader ($13)
Bregman ($35)
Am I giving up too much Soto value?
Thanks!
Seems fine if you can keep all three and makes sense with other keepers…It’s fair, for sure
In a league without steals that uses walks instead (so R, HR, RBI, BB, AVG), how would you rank Trea Turner, Muncy, Hiura, and Rizzo?
Without steals? Been a while since I’ve seen one of those…Rizzo, Muncy, Hiura
Yo G!
Nice stuff as usual. Perfect timing on this article for me! You’re so kind to the seal. You get the baby seal of approval, once again.
Draft update:
– (1.7) Story
– (2.24) Bogaerts
– (3.37) Ketel 1
– (4.54) Darvish
Some tough choices there. Passed on Alonso in round 2. JD went right before, which is who I wanted. Couldn’t pull the trigger on my boy Judge.
Could’ve had Altuve or Albies in round 3. But I’m loving the Ketel this year. Baez was still there, which made me feel like that was a missed opp, but no one even in their wrong mind (even you, yes you, after reading this *insane* post, lol) would go triple SS to start a draft.
I like your point on SS having deceiving depth this year. SO LOADED at the top, and then after about 20, it’s bad–real bad.
Pitcher: had choice between Darvish, Paddack, Severino, Morton, (and Kershaw, who I’m out on). I fully did not expect to go Darvish, but that upside was too yummy to pass up once I dug in there.
Paddack just went 64. Sale went 49. Severino still on the board at 65, and my next pick is 67. Some slides on the pitching side for sure.
So sad Olsen and Moncada went. F-ing love those guys.
Q1: 2 picks in front of me here. Severino avail now, but not sure I should double up pitcher here — or that he’ll be avail — what do u think if he is?
Q2: Then it’s between Eloy, (no thanks, Suarez), Machado, Laureano, maybe Soler as next best on my board. Leaning Laureano here to keep up w/ the power/speed combos. You think I need to lean into anything specifically here yet?
Q3: Thinking pitcher pair (see, I bring it back to the OP!), will be Lynn / Gallen, or both. But depends on answer to Q1!
Not sure if this link will work for you, but here’s the board: https://draft.shgn.com/nfc/plain/dp/352/grid
Later G!
PS. Bonus Q4! What do u think about that SS pair up top? Know it’s unconventional, but I really love those guys. Age, floor, upside, lineup — give it all to me! Almost went Mondesi, but I prefer a more balanced approach.
PPS. Feels like there are some sharp players in this room, but IDK.
Would love to hear from any other commenters. This is my first NFBC, and 15-team draft. Open to any and all opinions!
Seal, baby, seal!
I love Ketel too, solid foundation so far!
Also love Bogaerts…Don’t mind the double SS, they’re both good
I’d go Eloy, then pitcher next time…Lynn, prolly…Bit safer for a deep league than Gallen
Word, just got on the clock and Sevy is still there. Also didn’t mention Abreu.
But Eloy at 67 seems too good to pass up. You think he bats 6th like Roster Resource has it?? Hoping 4th!
Was sort of leaning Laureano before, but this works.
Not sure you can go wrong with any, but I’d go Abreu or Eloy…I like Eloy a lot, worth the gamble and you look like you could use an OF, so you can use Ketel at 2B…You will need an 1B too tho, but I like Walker section of draft for 1B
Yeah, absolutely loving that positional flexibility on Ketel. I was sort of thinking: *fingers crossed* might’ve been able to do Laureano, then Soler, where I feel like Soler & Eloy have pretty similar profiles. I do love how Eloy closed the season last year. I’m happy it wasn’t too nutty, or else this price would’ve never happened.
Laureano feels like the last 30/20 upside kind of guy (within a reasonable probability). I guess injury risk is what helped me get off his D. Hehe. Maybe Tim Anderson could too, but that’d be 3 SS!
Love the Walker sleeper. Also, Cron is a guy I’d jump ADP on if things at first went really south for some reason. Or Renato–I got some great AVG to work with right now. Kinda not worried about first.
Watching someone take Syndergaard, as you’d say, *chef’s kiss*
Chef’s kiss, indeed…Woofy Woofystein, don’t like that, not one bit
I like all of those guys, Eloy is sexiest
Sex appeal is key!
Soler was still there at 84, Donaldson too which was hard to pass (but injuries), Ozuna, Rosario, Anderson (ahhhh, I want him!), but I took a visit to the…
Supermercado!!!
My next 3 picks likely SP, RP, SP — in some order.
Recap:
– Story
– Xander
– Ketel
– Yuuuuu
– Eloy
– Mercado
Since you haven’t released RP yet, lmk what u like before you enjoy your weekend!
I LOVE Rogers. Value is unbelievable. I see Giles is the end of the tier for you? And you’re way ahead on Jansen and Kimbrel (no ty Kimmy, next). Kinda w/ you on Diaz, but that’s harsh haha. Market moving up fast on Workman.
Anything I’m missing or off on?
Mercado! Nice! Love it!
Yeah, now you need arms — Rogers is great, value is there big time… Giles is okay, Jansen and Kimbrel look fine, not sure why everyone’s scared…Kimbrel had one bad year and Kenley wasn’t even bad last year
Word, thanks for the comments my man!!
No problem
I got Gray at 97. Was a tough choice, but I’m trusting your rank!
My notes said: “Grey likes, but I still have PTSD”
Donaldson was still sitting there–very unhappy I didn’t take him. Don’t blame him!
Awesome! Great pick!
Thanks G!
Added Hand and …
Got Lynn at 127!
Went Lynn over Gallen–mostly because of the format. Also, side note (didn’t impact the pick), but that report outta Arizona on Gallen having to earn the 5th spot was kinda weird. Prob just lip service.
Pretty happy w/ the staff — lotta capital invested.
Time to pound hitting again.
Appreciate your help!
I like it, but if you ask Rudy, he’s gonna say no, Grey’s dumb
Actually, baby seal, try to lure Rudy into saying terrible things about my love for Sonny Gray
Yeah, Rudy doesn’t like him btw — trust in me
Haha, he gave me shit on reaching for Mercado!
And didn’t love Sonny LOL — “such a Grey pick” — but think he agreed the value there was fine
Not sure if you’ll see this post, so will update you on the squad w/ your post tomorrow. But REALLY happy with it. Got a bunch of your sleepers
My rotation in a keeper league is deep. We keep 14 players and of those I am keeping clevinger, bieber, giolito, Snell, and woodruff as well as Lamet possibly. I asked yesterday and was told clevinger had alot more value than Matt Olson. As I would like another bat to my keeper list does offering Giolito for Olson seem fair?
Sounds good to me
Thank you. Trade is a done deal. Appreciate your advice.
No problem
I actually have a staff almost identical to 1 that you mentioned. Bieber (instead of Castillo), Giolito, Fried, Odorizzi, Yarbrough, and Lopez, Chirinos as a bonus.
If you draft all guys I like, you’re gonna be golden…I love those guys you have, except Reynaldo scares me
Pablo.
He’s on your final list. I tried Reynaldo last year. Pablo has some upside. Plus Pablo and Chirinos and Kelly as 6th s.p. strayers should work well.
Oh, Pablo! Right…I like him a lot…I thought Lopez was Reynaldo
Grey,
I am in 5×5, 8 keeper, AL-only league with 9 teams. $260 budget. I’m thinking about going SP heavy with my staff. Besides Roark who I have to keep-, what do you think of this staff?
Clevinger$18
Heaney $10
McKay $8
Bassitt $8
Yarborough $6
Roark (Must Keep) $1
Looks decent…I have some issues with McKay but it’s a decent price and it’s AL Only
This is in a 20 team H2H points, I know, I hate H2H, did this as a favour for a guy joining my dynasty league. Anyhoo.
Dude offered me Noah for Villar and Matt Manning.
Pick two…
Keep Corbin 17th Rd (1 more year keeper eligibility after)
Keep Paddack 21st Rd (2 more years keeper eligibility after)
Keep Luis Robert 25th Rd (2 more years keeper eligibility after)
H2H OPS / QS 6×6, 10 team
Corbin and Paddack this late is a result of using these rankings the past two years, so…. nice job!
Nice! Corbin and Paddack
I kinda like Paddack and Lou Bob.
I know tough call… my brain says Paddack, Corbin. My heart says Paddack and Louie Bobby. I mean, 30/30 is on the table, right?
FOMO for sure.
Roll the dice on the lotto ticket!
If league is shallow with not that many keepers, you can just get Lou Bob back
NL only roto
Bauer $8
Or
Nola $17
Bauer for me.
Bauer
This is in a 20 team H2H points, I know, I hate H2H too, did this as a favour for a guy joining my dynasty league. Anyhoo.
Dude offered me Noah for Villar and Matt Manning.
Villar side
What up Grey?
Just looking at the end of my roster in my 12 team 25 keeper dynasty team, wanted to get your thoughts on my last couple keepers. Here is my for sure keepers as it sits now, pretty standard except we start 2 catchers (ugh)
C R Perez, F Mejia
1B P Albombso
2B K Hiura
SS M Machado
3B J McNeil
CI C Santana
MI J Polanco
OF M Betts
OF L Robert
OF L Cain
OF A Santander
OF A Hays
UTIL K Davis
UTIL Y Alvarez
SP’s MadBum, Odorizzi, Urias, Keller, Stroman, Lucchesi
Bench: J Mateo, M Yastrzemski, G Urshela, K Lewis
We have 10 man minor league rosters, and I had to promote Kyle Lewis this offseason, and in this format I can guarantee he will get snatched up early if I leave him unprotected. I have some big time talent on my MiLB roster, but they are all further out (Kelenic and Andrew Vaughn highlight the roster).
2 questions for you, one how terrible is my pitching, and two do you like any of La Stella, Jose Martinez, Daviid Fletcher or AJ Pollock better than any of the guys I’ve kept? Thinking the Pence signing will at least lower Yaz’ ceiling a bit, and was thinking of swapping him out. Thoughts?
What’s up?
Pitching looks pretty terrible — Pollock over Yaz
Sorry, terrible is harsh, but you are missing a #1 and maybe #2
Yeah I have been trying to get a stud or at least a #2, but no one wants to trade with me. Moved JD Davis for Stroman, but have not been able to secure more quality pitching.
I agree that it is terrible. I basically need Urias or Keller to turn into a stud. Which could be years out if ever.
I do have the 3rd pick overall, and knowing the two dudes who pick before me they will go with theoretical upside, and Maeda will likely be my 1,3. Boring but helpful lol.
My keeper league has been going for >10 years, but we find ourselves in need of 3 new players this year. It’s a money league (hundred bucks), with some pretty interesting rules — for example, we have an allotment draft before each season, where you can steal other people’s keepers, if they don’t adequately protect them. It’s SUPER interesting. Anyway, we need 3 more. It’s a 7×7 roto, 12-team mixed. It’s awesome If interested in learning more, hit me up at liftapint at yahoo dot com.
Eat it Stanley Decker that is how you build a tool
Give it to Stanley Decker that hack!
2 roto 12 Teamers, wonder if I waited too long on SP
Berrios Berrios
Woodruff Montas
E Rodriguez Odorizzi
Ray Ray
Lucchesi Lucchesi
Houser Ryu
Bassitt Bassitt
Eflin Eflin
Davies Stroman
Plesac
Kinda like the 1st draft better, got sniped on Woody in 2nd.
Yeah but too long…you don’t have a #1
Top 500, #210 I don’t believe you when it says Will Smith is catching for ATL.
I don’t either, Rudy can’t figure out how to make the Will Smiths separate, they’ve broken us
Hah! Couple of draft questions before everything gets reset early March! Yahoo 12-team roto…
I can’t tell, but it appears you like Villar where you have him. I am typically getting him in round 4 if Mondesi is gone (and he’s been 90% gone). I usually hit 3 of your top 20 and mostly Olson as well. Just want to make sure Villar is not on the schmohawk or bust lists.
Also, they have Ohtani SP ranked 500+ which sometimes leaves him on the board, but you’re saying leave that headache for someone else, right, or can I grab him in the DeSlafani tier? I don’t love or hate him, just wondering if you think there is better upside with him that late, or not.
Nah, I don’t love Villar https://razzball.com/top-20-2nd-basemen-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
But I don’t hate him either, kinda indifferent
Sure, grab Ohtani in DeSclafani tier if you can, that’s decent value
Trade question in a 10-team H2H keeper. I’ve been offered Eloy and Hiura for Betts. Betts is the best player, but the future looks so good with the other two (and the present isn’t horrible).
Which side would you take?
Betts
We still high on Gattis?!
Ashley Gattis, the star of adult cinema?
Ha! Nice. You just Gave me something to do this afternoon. Albeit by myself.
Just thinking about how some folks had Evan in their top echelon last year.
Haha
Grey, i got 6 th pick in my 12 teamer
If i grab Story whats a better pairing with him?
Story/Tatis or Story/Ramirez
Jo-Ram
Thank u
No problem
Sox can’t even trade away their best player right! Lol! (Re twins backing out of the trade)
Haha, I know, it’s so ridiculous
Based off of your various projected rotations, I can guess what part of the pairing tool will look like for your drafts:
Who was the third pitcher you drafted?
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn
Haha, pretty much… you don’t like Lynn?
I’m just amused picturing a Lynn face taped onto your Giancarlo poster…
Lynn is solid. I owned him last year, and drafted him with OTS several years ago when he was still a Cardinal. I remember those discussions centering around being careful starting him in road and tough matchups since he basically just had a fastball. All of his secondary stuff was meh. At least he’s improved his slider.
Don’t like his division at all this year though. The Astros, A’s, and Angels are all tough matchups. Think I’d rather have someone like Fried around his ADP if I’m looking for a SP, but I’m not necessarily out on him. Just a bit wary.
Makes sense, I was surprised how much I liked him once I dug in on him…
Grey! Which side do you like in these keeper league trades?
1. My $8 Villar and $7 Chapman for his $11 Meadows and $4 Julio urias
2. $4 urias or $12 Glasnow?
Let’s assume dodgers do ship strip and maeda fur these purposes…
Thanks!!
1. Villar 2. Urias
BOS is out of it’s mind asking for graterol AND another top 10 MIN prospect when they already agreed on graterol alone. i get that if they don’t like his medicals pulling out, but then just ask for a DIFFERENT top 10 MIN prospect and leave graterol alone, not “oh we don’t like something in his med profile so we’ll keep him per agreement PLUS another top guy”.
Yeah, it’s nuts
Should I watch the outsider?
Yeah, it’s not terrible
Ha ringing endorsement l!
Haha, it’s not THAT bad
Are you guys still doing the 15 team slow NFBC drafts like last year? Or were they replaced with the 12 team best ball format?
Yeah, we’ll do a few NFBC leagues too
Grey,
Would you trade Adam Ottavino ($30) for Ken Giles ($30)
Yes
Betts deal is just about done. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports the trade sending OF Mookie Betts from the Red Sox to the Dodgers has been agreed upon.
Passan says outfielder Alex Verdugo and shortstop prospect Jeter Downs are among the players going back to the Red Sox in the deal, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports David Price will be going to the Dodgers in this iteration of the deal. Verdugo has been part of the reported trade from the beginning, but Downs’ inclusion is new and adds an interesting wrinkle. No other details of the trade were immediately available, including possible follow-up deals sending players to other clubs. Stay tuned.
Cool
I need closers and he said no to that. He asked for Yuli Gurriel, Which I said no to, What would be fair value to acquire Giles.
Try trade analyzer https://razzball.com/trade_analyzer_mlb/
how does it work
Find Giles on my top 500 and find players who ranked nearby https://razzball.com/top-500-for-2020-fantasy-baseball/
16 team roto. keep 4 per year at last year’s end of season ADP’s. rosters:
1 of each hitting spot + a CI, MI, 4th OF, 3 utils, 5 SP, 5 RP, 1 P (max innings 1800, max starts 170)
scoring: 5×5 stuff with OBP over AVG, slugging, OPS, total bases, hits, steals % for hitters, and holds, K/BB, K/9, QS, holds and net saves + holds.
possible keepers:
bregman (1)
mookie (1, so can’t keep both of him and bregman)
soto (2)
gallo (7)
hiura (28)
laureano (28)
otani (hitter, 11)
mostsuckass (9)
hampson (13)
h.dozier (28)
degrom (1)
bieber (10)
corbin (3)
ed rod (10)
gallen (28)
same keeper settings, but NL only and only keep 3 and it’s 10 team h2h.
rosters: 1 of each + a CI a MI, 4th OF, 1 util, 5 SP, 4 RP
scoring: 5×5 except OBP over AVG, net steals over steals, total bases added for hitters, QS over wins, holds added for pitchers
possible keepers:
edman (25)
freeman (2)
harper (1)
hoskins (3)
stressbird (4)
lux (25)
conforto (7)
mcneil (16)
l.castillo (8)
j.urias (15)
lucchesi (11)
in the 1st league laureano is a 14th round keeper, not 28th.
Drafted yesterday in an NFBC 12 teamer.
Had 5th slot and to be honest, was excited about finally drafting Cole. Nope, dude w/ 2nd pick plucks Cole.
(5) Bellinger
(20) Flaherty (I know, I could have waited, but s.p.’s going early in these drafts)
(29) Mondesi
(44) Giolito
(53) Springer (1st draft I didn’t get Olson- taken @37).
(68) Machado
(77) Rizzo
(92) Woodruff
(101) Soler
(116) Nick Anderson- All I needed was a push, and saw you ranked him 126 after the trade, and assuming he’s the man, I like him more than a few of the guys you listed ahead of him.
(125) Nelso Cruz- Never owned him before . Never owned him before or a 39 yr. old. Hope I don’t break him.
(140) Contreras
(149) Robles (r.p.)
(164) A. Rosario
(173) Kennedy
(188) Newman
(197) Odorizzi
(212) Verdugo
(221) Alfaro
(236) B. Anderson
(245) Heaney
(260) Lucchesi
(269 Akiyama
(284) Desclafani
(293) Swanson
(308) Chirinos
(317) Kiermaier
(332) Happ
(341) Dubon
(356) P. Lopez
Hope Anderson can get me around 30 saves and a bunch of k’s along with stellar ratios.
10 team espn category league 8×7 offense adds total bases and pitching adds holds. In this scenario I’ve been waiting til the 5th to grab a starter. Since mine is more reliever heavy do you come back 6 and try and grab a top closer or wait? Also some let the holds category go completely. I usually draft 3 Sp 3 holds and 3 closers. Thinking I could get away with 2 Sp and fill the rest as need be throughout the season. Thoughts??
No, closers are less valuable in your league