Players Weekend Features The Best of Waldrep

It’s Players’ Weekend everyone! You know what that means! No? You don’t know? Wait, you’re asking me? Uhh, it’s all weekend, and it’s for the players. What’s to know? They get to wear whatever they want, as long as it’s within reason, and it’s not flashy, or political, controversial, contentious or interesting in any way. I don’t think they can alter their uniforms either. Players get to show off their personality, in the form of mandatory forms of expression. Remember when they wore nicknames on their jerseys? What happened to that? Too fun? This is baseball after all, not Banana ball. It’s just bats and cleats now. Oh, and dripppppp. So much drip! Shin guards and on-base gloves. Belts and, well I guess that’s really it. Still, Tim Gunn taught me the importance of accessories and players showed their 6-7 aura bringing the drip, but no one was more drippy than Atlanta Braves starter slash aspiring Indonesian boat kid Hurston Waldrep. The rookie right hander grabbed his third win of the year Friday night going six innings allowinh just four base runners, two hits, two walks and striking out seven. He’s now rocking a 1.02 ERA through three starts, 17.2 innings pitched, with a 17/6 K/BB. Okay, I’m intrigued, tell me more. How about the 0.79 WHIP, or the .148 average against? A new cutter sinker combo seemed to unlock something in Hurston and the splitter looks untouchable. It seems the Braves have finally found their 2025 Touki. He’s had some prime matchups but the early results are still encouraging, and the advanced metrics (3.40 xFIP, 25.8 K%) suggest he could keep it up! At the very least he’s making an excellent case for a 2025 rotation spot. He might not have a personalized Professor Chaos bat like Zack Neto or Bluey cleats like Bailey Ober but he does have another juicy start next week versus the White Sox and I’d add him everywhere while the Waldrep is still dripping wet.

Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:

Brandon Young – 8.0  IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 6 K. LGB! For Brandon, the O’s night was Young and almost perfect. He was so close to your lede, folks, four outs from perfect then made a costly throwing error to blow his chance at history. The Houston native, was pitching in front of his parents and no doubt brought his best stuff for the fam, but he rushed his throw to first when if he planted his feet could have possibly made the play and kept the perfecto intact. Ho hum. I suppose it’s for the best, as I was going to have a tough time convincing you to add a pitcher with a 1-6 record on a losing team along with a 5.68 ERA. Have a day tho, rook!

Framber Valdez – 6.2 IP, 9 hits, 3 ER, BB, 6 K, 6th L. Framber alert! August has not been kind to Valdez, he’s got a 5.89 ERA and opponents are batting .338 off him. He’s getting hit, hard. And his next matchup versus Detroit is not the best get-right matchup you could dream up. But look on the bright side, Taylor and Travis look super happy together. We love their love!

Pete Crow-Armstrong – 3-for-3, run, RBI. PCA, along with the Cubs, have had a miserable August as well and he’s slashing just .136/.174/.182 with zero home runs this month. Maybe this is the start of some streak? Or maybe not, they did lose to the Pirates.

Braxton Ashcraft – 5.0 IP, 3 hits, ER, 4 K, ERA at 3.02. He threw just 60 pitches in his five innings. Yeah this guy, Braxton, who hasn’t pitched more than four innings in a game his entire MLB career, shut down the Cubs at Wrigley on a Friday afternoon. What’s the opposite of a wagon?

MacKenzie Gore – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Gore has mainly served as my Ace on many of my teams so his fun little two start 14 run, 20 hit detour had me sweating in my Louboutins a bit, but he’s rebounded nicely over his past two starts allowing just two earned over 12 innings with a 17/3 K/BB. You have held onto my trust Mac, and if you’re lucky I may even draft you again next year.

Zack Wheeler – 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Wheeler has looked slightly off lately, and he needed 97 pitches to get through five innings here. Still, off for Zack Wheeler is the best starter on most MLB teams and certainly enough to take down the Nats.

Kyle Schwarber – 1-for-4, 2 runs, HR (43), 3 RBI. Schwarbomb as he goes back-2-back with Bryce. Schwarbs notched his 101st RBI with the 3-run bomb and if it wasn’t for this Ohtani guy he might be an MVP lock. If we were ever to villainize Brohei, this would be a good way to start. Both with 43 homers, Kyle has the edge with 20 more RBI, but Shohei smokes him in just about every other stat, including 30+ more runs scored, and 30+ points on batting average. Shohei also pitches. Grrrr, see this was a Schwarber blurb that ended up discussing Ohtani’s greatness. He can’t be stopped!

Bryce Harper – 2-for-5, HR (19), 2 RBI. Figure I’d mention him since I already linked his back-2-backer above. A down year of sorts but he did tell Manfred to GFY, and Harps is heating up a bit at just the right time with his fourth homer in August. Phils are very much a wagon, y’all! This looks like a World Series team, internet friends and stalker.

Jhoan Duran – Took a comebacker off the ankle and left on a cart so peeps be worried y’all. It’s the Phils closer curse and a cart be mad dramatic tho. Good news is x-rays were negative and he will be further evaluated this weekend. He got hit by a line drive but at least he dodged a bullet.

Jacob deGrom – 5.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, ERA at 2.86. He looked untouchable against the “best” teams in the AL. Just the ease with which he throws this cheese makes me sqeeee! Jays got no chance. I’m not going to complain about Bochy pulling him after 80 pitches/five innings because deGrom has this well-earned glass man reputation, but I will say this Rangers bullpen is a disaster.

Phil Maton – 1.0 IP, 1 hit, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, L. It’s funny, try not to laugh too hard, I thought it was the end of the world when I didn’t win my FAAB for Phil Maton last week. Like, how could my team possibly continue on without this guy on it. Last week at this time, Phil Maton was the key to unlocking my fantasy championship run. Two blown saves later. Things change quick in baseball.

Alejandro Kirk – 2-for-4, HR (8), 4 RBI, hitting .296. This game was all AK. Along with the game-winning single, Kirko hit this 2-run bomb to bring the Jays within one, but it was ALEJANDRO stealing his first base in 530 games that got the biggest roar from the Toro crowd. They even let him keep it! This is what players weekend is all about.

Sandy Alcantara – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, BB, 7 K. Vintage Sandy here. He had the off-speed pitches working and velocity of the fastball was 97-98 and he was able spot his pitches effectively, in particular the changeup. Boston’s line up is not scary but Fenway Park can be so credit where credit is due. If someone has bailed I could see using him versus St Louis next week.

Lucas Giolito – 6.1 IP, 7 hits, ER, BB, 5 K. The line doesn’t quite show how hard he was hit, or how much he was sweating, because it was a lot. Dude nearly ruined his Fenway Green CityConnect.

Trevor Story – 2-for-4, RBI, SB (20). This is the Story of a walk-off hero. Speaking of the Fenway Greenies, the Red Sox have now been a part of 21 walk-offs this year, they are 10-11 in these games but incredibly five of those wins have come on Friday night in the Fenway Green unis. It’s the drip! It’s always been the drip!

Sean Manaea – 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, BB, 7 K. Mets making me feel like I might be the problem here. Am I doing something wrong? Running out of people to blame. How is this happening? Y’all really about to let the Reds make the playoffs? The orange era is coming, start acting like it!

Ryan Helsley – 0.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 ER. Is he broken? His third straight blown save and now holds a 5.40 ERA in his seven appearances as a Met. Maybe stop bringing him in with the game on the line or something? Seems like obvious Mr. Managing I don’t know.

Francisco Lindor – 3-for-5, 2 HR (24), 4 RBI. Started off the first with a bomb then went back-2-back with Juan Soto in the fourth. His third home run and eighth hit in the past three games and it still wasn’t enough to get the Mets out of their funk. Maybe this dugout photo was premature.

Francisco Alvarez – 2-for-4, HR (7), 4 RBI. He’s slashing .304/.418/.630 with eight extra base hits include this tank to bring the game within two runs in the eighth. He’s been hotter than an American Eagle ad, and he’s got the genes to keep performing at this level. His genes are bluh!

Cal Raleigh – 3-for-5, 3 runs, HR (46), 2 RBI. Another big dump for the porcelain prince! This one got him to the 100 RBI mark. He’s just three homers from the catcher record and just a struggling Aaron Judge away from an AL MVP. Besides gyat, I’ve run out of adjectives to describe his year, but it’s without a doubt the greatest fantasy season for a catcher in ever. How’s that for praise? Now can we make the Big Dumper Bobble-Butt a thing? For Players Weekend!

Noah Cameron – 5.1 IP, 6 hits, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 7th win. The 78/28 K/BB makes me sleepier than the TikTok videos telling me to stop scrolling at 2am, but he’s got a 2.47 ERA so don’t ask me if he should be owned. He definitely should.

Lenyn Sosa – 1-for-4, HR (15). He was a BUY and this Sosa might have a little Sammy in him!

Salvador Perez – 2-for-4, HR (22). His 13th dinger since the start of July. Whenever I look at you you’re always homering. Some dude’s just like summer, I guess.

Luis Gil – 5.0 IP, 4 hits, ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1st win. He looks…fine. The velocity is there for sure, the walks are problematic, but he was able to induce three inning-ending double plays in this one to keep him out of trouble. I’d be scared to start him versus Boston next week, but I’m still holding.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. –  1-for-3, HR (21), SB (18). A little of this. Hitting .294, with two homers and four steals in the past week. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago. And all that Jazz!

Charlie Morton – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 8th win. The ratios are frightening but the Ks (122/53 K/BB) are there. Start pitchers against the Twinks. Got it. Ez!

Hunter Goodman – 1-for-3, HR (25). I can’t stress enough how low I’d be in the standings if it weren’t for Hunter Goodman. Slashing .277/.325/.526 and .851 OPS, and all that on one of the worst teams of all time and being inexplicably benched twice a week. Thank you for changing my life, Hunter. You’re a Goodman.

Brandon Pfaadt – 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 8th L. I mean Coors gonna Coors, sure, but he’s given up 34 hits over his past four starts. If you let this guy anywhere near your fantasy team you’re asking for a big Pfaadt L.

Victor Vodnik – 1.0 IP, 2 K, SV (5). With James Gunn relaunching DCU and Feige doing I don’t know what, Victor couldn’t get a good gig as a super villain despite his amazing name so he decided to do the next most villainous thing: Close games for the Rockies.

Clayton Kershaw – 6.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, BB, 3 K, 7th win. Ol’ reliable!

Ramon Laureano – 1-for-3, HR (18). Batting .368 with two homers and a steal in the past week. Seriously how is this guy still available everywhere?

Jack Perkins – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2nd win. StreamONator loved this start and SoN does know Jack because Perkins proved worthy of the robot’s trust. This is like when ChatGPT tells me how good a job I’m doing. The numbers are passable, if a little underwhelming, and I’m watching him closer than a Tayvis podcast. I can find all the otter videos and Easter Eggs and Perkins does get the lowly Twinks next week. I could see considering the prospect of maybe thinking about mulling over the possibility of contemplating whether or not I should review the option of potentially picking him up. I still don’t know for sure though!

Yusei Kikuchi – 4.0 IP, 5 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. Yusei Lisa Loeb never anticipated baseball games in such a wittle bitty ballpawk? You don’t say!

Shea Langeliers – 1-for-4, HR (25). Friday Shea strikes again! I feel like I’m always mentioning Sia or spelling his name wrong and that could only happen if he was always homering on Friday, which he kind of is? He’s got five this year alone, and four in the past month (!), batting .279 with 19 hits and 12 RBI in 17 Friday games this year. TGIF!

Colby Thomas – 3-for-3, 2 runs, HR (2), 3 RBI. We call this one a Colby jack with extra sauce! He’s the new Lawrence Butler, but only against lefties. Condolences to all the Butler owners (me). He’s hitting .360 in the past two weeks with two homers and two steals.

Junior Caminero – 1-for-4, 2 run, HR (35). AND ANOTHER ONE! We’re at the point where I just expect he’s going to hit one out every night. That’s his seventh in the past nine games and 12th since the All Star break! Sweet sassy molassy! He’s five away from 40 and he’s just 21 years old. Being 35+ homer 21 year old puts you in some pretty elite company. Let’s see Roman Anthony do that!

Chandler Simpson – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB (34). Don’t have a cow but he’s batting .500 with two steals in the past week leading off. Why you little! Angel. A perfectly cromulent player. How is he available in so many leagues? That’s unpossible! AM I so out of touch? No, it’s the children who are wrong! I’m not crazy. Or am I crazy like a fox!?

Willy Adames – 1-for-4, 2 runs, HR (19), SB (5). I can’t believe the Giants are this bad. Remember after the Devers trade we though they were going places? Me niether. Devers had four Ks Friday night bee tee dubs, but at least he played first.

Randy Rodriguez – 1.0 IP, 2 hits, ER, 2 K. BUY. Sure the trade deadline can be a excellent and or sneaky way to add some saves for the stretch run, just know that they’re going to [expletive deleted] up your [expletive deleted] and there’s basically no exceptions, just varying levels of failure along with a few saves. But hey, SAGNOF!

Jacob Misiorowski – 1.1 IP, 4 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. Miserable-iorowski for those who started him yesterday. Rip. I’m going to go re-watch a two hour football podcast with no football related content to make me feel better again. It’s my orange era! The Life of a Fantasy Blogger.

Andrew Vaughn – 2-for-5, HR (14), 3 RBI.  The Andrew Vaughn resurgence should be studied. The former third pick hit his ninth home run for his new team last night, he’s batting .343 with Milwaukee, with 32 RBI, and last and most importantly, the Brew Crew is 23-4 since he joined the squad. Welcome back to relevance, Andrew. Here’s hoping you’re a cheese head for life.

Christian Yelich – 4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 HR (25), 5 RBI. The Brewers trailed 8-1 in the third in this one after Misiorowski’s Misiorows-cue, but the thing about winning team is that they more often than not, WIN. Especially against bad teams. Sorry Cincinnati—but not on Bob Uecker tribute night! Yelich got the comeback started with a solo homer in the second, then added a run scoring double in the third, a two run single in the fourth and all of a sudden the game is tied. What the Yelli-ante! That’s when Yelli pulled a little magic from his Uecker tribute bat, “Get up, get outta here, gone!” His second home run to give the Brewers their first lead of the night en route to their fourteenth straight win! Anyone got goosies? That’s a special moment, y’all! For Uecks! Christian’s hitting .351 with five homers and a 1.088 OPS over the past two weeks, and I must be in the front row because I feel like I’m talking about a special run right now! But don’t worry, nobody’s listening anyway.

Thanks for reading! Questions? Problems? Complaints to management? Advice, small gifts, or large bribes? Please leave it in the comments below. Join us next Saturday for another Friday recap as fantasy baseball continues next week, all week long!