Under the arch in St. Louis, the weather is heating up and so are the bats of two Nolans. Between Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman, the Cardinals boast two of the hottest bats in recent weeks. Over the last 14 days, a total of 12 home runs, 19 runs and 33 RBI has turned the disaster of a season for the Cardinals into some form of senseless hope that the NL Central loves to foster. Between a potential future hall of farmer in Arenado and a young 23-year-old bat figuring things out at the major league level, our Top 100 hitters see the law firm of Nolan and Nolan moving on up. Who else is gaining value for the rest of the season? Read on as we dive into the Top 100 hitters for the rest of the 2023 fantasy baseball season.
Monthly Archives: May 2023
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Last week was full of mixed results. That will sometimes happen, but we were pleased with the bats. What’s funny is that we’re seeing all of the regression monsters bite back on these teams. The Cardinals and Cubs were two of the biggest surprises through the opening months, but the inevitable flip-flop has hit these teams like a brick wall over the last week. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Prospect News: If You’re Gladney And You Know It
May 21, 2023 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Featured | 39 Commentsby: The Itch
With Jorge Polanco going to the injured list, Twins SS Royce Lewis has a window to step into the limelight. He won’t get the first chance with 2B Edouard Julien slashing .333/.471/.537 with two home runs in 16 May games at Triple-A. Doesn’t much matter if Lewis gets the first chance or not; he’s a must-add in just about every sized league while we wait for the Polanco fallout. Wouldn’t hurt to make room for Julien either if you have the chance, especially in OBP leagues.
FAAB Week 8: Are You Not Entertained?
May 20, 2023 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 2 Commentsby: Mike Couillard
As we peruse the waiver wires again this weekend, it’s hard not to feel like you are sucked right into watching Russell Crowe duke it out in an arena, fighting to the death and hacking off limbs, when you examine the available pitchers. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Top Dynasty Keepers – Nolan Gorman
May 20, 2023 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Keepers, Keeper Leagues |by: Jakkers
Every year there are rookies everyone is looking forward to see make their major league debut. Some of these top prospects immediately live up to expectations. Julio Rodriguez, for example, is one of those prospects who have lived up to the hype.
Other top prospects, however, don't immediately hit the ground running upon their arrival in the majors. Sometimes they need a little more seasoning before they really start to produce for their team.
One player who appears to have fallen into that category is Nolan Gorman of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Looking the Part
Gorman was one of the top power-hitting high school players in the country ahead of the 2018 draft. When he was still on the board when the Cardinals were selecting in the 19th spot, St. Louis jumped at the chance to add him to their organization. After signing, Gorman immediately showed everyone why the Cardinals drafted him as he hit 17 home runs in 63 combined games at Rookie ball and Class A.
The rankings services took note of Gorman's production. Baseball America ranked Gorman 75th on its prospect list ahead of the 2019 season while MLB.com had him ranked 61st and Baseball Prospectus 34th. In 2019 and 2021, Gorman combined to hit 40 home runs and drive in 137 runs in 244 games. By the start of the 2022 season, Gorman appeared in two Futures Games and was ranked 34th by Baseball America, 33rd by MLB.com and 28th by Baseball Prospectus.
In 2022, Gorman would finally get his chance to show what he could do on the major league level.
James Paxton impressed again Friday night pitching six innings of one-run baseball, allowing seven base runners (five hits, two walks) and striking out five for his first win since August 2020! If you understand that headline you probably smoke way too much weed, stoner! More importantly, after dealing to the Cards last week (5.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, BB, 9 K), Pax did it again mostly silencing the Padres at home. Never mind that it had been almost two years since his last start, Paxton's marching out there like he's been doing this all season, providing stability to a Boston rotation that badly needs some of that. His command wasn't as sharp as last week, but his only real blemish was a shot to Tatis, and c'mon, there's really no stopping that guy. James had four strikeouts through the first three innings and while the 98 mph gas is obviously impressive its the fact that he's mixing it up that makes me think he could be a serviceable starter going forward. We saw some first pitch curves, he kept hitters off balance mixing the fastball with the cutter, knuckle curve, change and got out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth. I held my breathe when he came out for the sixth but he ended the night retiring the last seven in order. Again, unlike last week, Paxton did not have his best stuff Friday night, he struggled with command and still managed to battle through six innings and that's what really gives me hope. He threw 107 pitches (66 for strikes) the most he's thrown in a game since 2019 as a Yankee (versus the Red Sox no less!). You'd think Manager Cora would be a bit more conservative with the pitch counts for his oft-injured starter but nay, they need James to be this guy and he was Friday night. He was Him. And as much as I hate that smug look on Chaim Bloom's face, James now sports a pretty 2.46 ERA with a 14/3 K/BB in two starts since his return from Tommy John. Rafael Devers said of James through a translator, "He's awesome." Well said Raffy, and no rush on learning English any time soon--it's only been seven years, you take your sweet time and focus on hitting dongs. As for the Big Maple James Paxton, with this line up behind him, he's looking like he could be a useful fantasy starter in the right match ups, and hopefully these massive Pax rips are more than just smoke cause this new (old) game James Pax a real punch!
Here's what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Howdy Razzkin!
First, the title is outsourced this week. My predecessor JKJ casually dropped “Anthony Rendoff” in the Razzball chat I am not supposed to talk about, and there was no way I was not going to use it for this edition of Ambulance Chasers. Please, blog, may I have some more?
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(NOTE: THIS POST WAS RELEASED EARLY THIS WEEK ON OUR PATREON. IT’S $10/MONTH)
Standing in front of the Reds' GM office, whistling as I push a mop past the open door. Cleaning up a pile of spaghetti and chili that someone dropped earlier that day in their rush to get to the cafeteria to get a new plate of spaghetti and chili. I say to myself in a low whisper, "Hmm, I'm just a janitor for the Reds. Living my best life. Been a lifelong Cincy guy. What a shame someone dropped this beautiful spaghetti and chili. Just a real shame. I'm not pretending to be a janitor so I can overhear when the Reds' GM calls up a new prospect. That's silly to even consider. It wasn't me, early this morning, breaking into the building to spill spaghetti and chili in the most opportune spot so I could carry out this ruse. Not me. That's just very silly." I carefully sidestep the pile of spaghetti-chili, and lean my ear towards the GM. Drats! He's calling up...Skyline?! For more spaghetti and chili?! Oh, these people are incorrigible! So, I don't know who the next Reds' prospect will be called up. My guess is it's Christian Encanracion-Strand, but we don't need to worry about that, we have one already called up, Matt McLain, who sounds like a pro athlete, only not for baseball. For like bowling. Does he wanna bowl with Mookie Betts? Speaking of Betts, no, I won't compare him to Betts, but McLain does have power and speed. Cincy plays so well for power too, that you almost have to be a negative to not take advantage of Great American Smallpark. While McLain's power can produce 15-ish homers, the speed is even better. He could go 12/20 in only four months of the season, and has solid contact. I'd grab him in all leagues. Oh, wait a second, someone just called the GM about a pickup, let's listen in...Oh, forget it, it was David Bell asking if someone could pick up the spaghetti and chili in the hallway, and put it on a plate for him. Anyway, here's some more players to Buy or Sell this week in fantasy baseball:
Hello friends, and I hope your fantasy baseball week is going better than mine is. I’ve had some particularly brutal Sonavabench! moments, and what on earth is going on with the horrible, horrible pitching?! I feel like not a day goes by where I don’t have a bad-to-vomit-inducing start from at least one SP plus a reliever blowup or two in most of my leagues. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Hello again, fake baseball fans! After a brief hiatus last week to take the fam on a much-needed vacation, I’m back with your weekly dose of fantasy baseball analytics here at Razzball.
Are you an owner who looks to jump on the exciting youngsters who get the call to The Show? Please, blog, may I have some more?
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After the game, the Cards' front office called Willson Contreras in. He just went 2-for-5, 6 RBIs and notched his 4th and 5th homers -- two three-run homers. They wanted to have a word with him. Congratulations, Contreras thought. They could just send a bottle of champagne back to his room, he figured. Maybe they wanted to give it to him in-person. A gesture, that would be welcome. Contreras sat down in front of Oli Marmol and John Mozeliak. "Willson," they started, "You had a big game today. Do you have any idea how that made Adam Wainwright feel? He's got a 5.74 ERA, and you're out scoring that many runs? That's gotta take a toll on him. Jack Flaherty was in that dugout, and every time you crossed the plate, you could hear him mutter, 'I give up runs like that.' Steven Matz looked on the verge of tears! Poor Matzy! This is why Yadi knew best! He knew not to hit home runs. It's too much showboating. That's not the Cardinals' way." With that, they dismissed Contreras to go back and apologize to his teammates for performing so well. Hopefully he learns his lesson. Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
One Man’s Trash: Sell Morel
May 18, 2023 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball, One Man's Trash | 38 Commentsby: Son
Usually I try and write up a funny intro filled with anecdotes. I'm strictly about the business today. This may or may not be due to some lady cutting me off big time while I was driving my kids to school. Anyways, Christopher Morel has been all the rage this past week. And for good reason, as he smashed four home runs in seven games and has batted 3rd, leadoff, and leadoff in the last three contests. This has prompted people to make it rain at the Club de FAAB. Don't mind the scraggly looking guy with the sign outside Club de FAAB that reads: The World is Ending. Find Jesus. That's just me bringing doom and gloom to the party.
