A creepy guy in a long trench coat, “Hey, wanna see something?” He flashes open his coat and inside the coat is dozens of corner infielders. That’s the Reds. They are the horniest anyone’s ever been for a corner infielder. Honestly, I didn’t even know that was a fetish, but I am not here to yuck anyone’s yum. Not while you’re getting ready to enjoy a nice Labor Day BBQ with friends and family. Put aside a hot dog on a plate for me. No bun, I’m doing a Keto thing. So, the Reds brought up Sal Stewart. Guess what he is? A cornerman! Here’s what Itch said a few days ago, “Reds have long enjoyed a plethora of options for infield spots, but it’s starting to look like they should narrow that down and give 3B Sal Stewart (21, AAA) a good long look. His path got complicated when the Reds acquired Ke’Brayan Hayes and then further complicated by the fact that Hayes has hit the ground running in his new home, a much cozier spot for right-handed hitters than Pittsburgh. Stewart’s slashing .323/.399/.653 with nine home runs and four steals through 33 Triple-A games, and his plate skills have been excellent: an 11.2-to-16.1 percent walk to strikeout rate. Spencer Steer has turned in a pretty poor performance at first base, so perhaps that’s the path for Stewart. This Labor Day I will dream of skewering Grey on a grill.” What? Stewart looks like an excellent flyer for all leagues, as he went 20/17/.309, but that’s contingent on him getting ABs. We’ve been down this road before with Reds’ cornermen: Jeimer, Noelvi, Ke’Bryan, Steer, Andujar, CES, Connor Joe, Lux, and that’s just this year. Close your trench coat, Reds, ya perv! Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Brady Singer – 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 hits, zero walks, 8 Ks, ERA at 4.08. Was an excellent Streamonator call, and it doesn’t like his next one, so I’d move on.
Austin Hays – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 12th homer, 2nd homer in a week, hitting .264. Hays does tend to get hot for a week or so, which invariably ends with him on the IL for something.
Matt McLain – 1-for-2 and his 13th homer, 2nd homer in two games, hitting .222. Looks like a hot schmotato, but can we take a moment to RIP his overall fantasy value? He hits 9th, behind Will Banfield, a catcher that sounds like a DH.
Jimmy Crooks – 1-for-4 and his 1st homer as he made his first MLB start with his readymade mafia name. Jimmy Crooks doesn’t frame pitches, he gets a five-finger discount on strikes. He flexed some power in the minors (moving hot TVs out the back door), but I don’t know his playing time. This gives the Cards what, four catchers? I say get rid of the other players and have the first all-catcher lineup.
Chris Sale – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 2.45 as he was activated from the IL on Saturday. Kevin from ESPN’s “Get Him In Your Lineup” Department said, “Wait, why does everyone else have off and I’m working?”
Hurston Waldrep – 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 1.01. I can’t afford to not take flyers on pitchers with a 1.01 ERA. If you can, then praise be.
Cristopher Sanchez – 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 hits, zero walks, 8 Ks, ERA at 2.66. Just chuckled thinking about how he didn’t make the All-Star Game.
Jesus Luzardo – 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.05. Very sneakily, “Go ahead, trust me.” Oh, okay, Luzardo, that sounds like a good idea. Luzardo laughs maniacally.
Walker Buehler – Signed with the Phils. Phils are going to go to a six-man rotation in two weeks with Buehler starting on the 12th. If he lines up right after Nola [rubbing hands together] ooh, stack opposing hitters.
MacKenzie Gore – Hit the IL with shoulder inflammation. That Ineffective List stint was “37 innings and a 7.54 ERA since the break” overdue.
Brandon Lowe – 1-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 28th homer, and 3rd homer in four games. Thinking Lowe might be the most hot or nothing player in the majors. When he starts getting hot, he’s a fire emoji on the sun. When cold, he’s got a sore oblique.
Luis Garcia – Is returning today for his first since May, 2023. Wouldn’t touch him with a nine-foot pole and another foot-long plastic straw attached.
Spencer Arrighetti – 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 5 walks, 8 Ks, ERA at 5.35. Five walks is so goofy bad that it offsets an otherwise solid outing. It’s the butter face of pitcher lines.
Hunter Brown – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 2.34. He’s solid, you know that, I did want to point out how he had Lance McCullers Jr. following him, and it’s so weird seeing him as a middle reliever.
Jose Soriano – 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 hit, 3 BBs, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.68. Streamonator likes his next one, but all I’ll say is if you pick him up, he will give up 4 ER in 3 IP.
Taylor Ward – Ran face-first into the metal fence, and why is there metal on an outfield fence players can run into? Was it designed by Rob Manfred?
Joc Pederson – 2-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 8th homer, 6th homer in August while hitting around .280 this month. Well, that month. Hot schmotato alert!
Josh Jung – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 13th homer. Had three straight games of three hits and a hitting streak going back to previous Saturday with three homers in August, so yeah, that’s a schmotato.
Jacob deGrom – 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 2.69. Actually don’t mind him only throwing 79 pitches. DeGrom’s arm says For Kid Gloves Only.
Aaron Judge – 3-for-5, 2 runs and his 43rd homer, he tied Yogi Berra on the Yankees’ all-time home run list at 5th. As Yogi once said, “Tie goes to the runner, which is why I wear a clip-on when on base.”
Luis Gil – 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners (2 BBs), 7 Ks, ERA at 3.68. He has a 5.8 BB/9. In related news, he needs a larger barn to hit the broadside of it.
Colson Montgomery – 1-for-4 and his 15th homer. All 15 homers are in the 2nd half! Are we computing what’s going on here? It’s a star mitzvah!
Lenyn Sosa – 2-for-4 and his 18th homer. [checking how many homers Gunnar has, sighing loud enough to wake the dead]
Carlos Santana – Signed with the Cubs. I was rooting for him to end up in Philly to be reunited with Rob Thomson.
Ian Happ – 1-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 18th homer, and 2nd homer in three games. Confirming what we all thought, Happ would be a 75-homer hitter if he called Coors home.
David Peterson – 2 IP, 8 ER, ERA at 3.61. Diabolical. Vs. the Marlins? Dastardly! Wish MLB would tell us when they’re using the ball that’s got a sonar to fall in right in front or behind outfielders. You know you’re dealing with some extreme Regression Fairies shizz when you look at the opposing team’s lineup and there’s not even one good hitting line and somehow the pitcher was rocked.
Kodai Senga – 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 3.02. Funny thing about regression (not funny at all) is now you look at Senga’s 3.02 ERA and you’re like, yes, that seems about right, but it’s never a linear, uh, line.
Edward Cabrera – 4 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 3.57. Brutal Saturday to start A Man Da. Peterson and EdCab. Like the end of Can’t Buy Me Love, but instead of riding off on a lawnmower, the riding lawnmower goes over them.
Sandy Alcantara – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 5.66. Four straight Quality Starts, and just like that Sandy’s fixed, which sounds like your neighbor talking about his Labradoodle.
Agustin Ramirez – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 19th homer, hitting .233. I know he’s been a bit on the Struggle Bus lately, but he also is a rookie catcher, who’s gonna end up with 20+ homers. You’ll take it and like it!
Jeff Hoffman – 1 IP, 0 ER, ERA at 5.02, and 2/3 IP, 3 ER on Saturday. Jays are full committed to Hoffman as their closer, apparently. Ya know where else manager John Schneider needs to be committed?
Kevin Gausman – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, zero walks, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.75 vs. Quinn Priester – 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 hits, zero walks, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.28. This matchup was billed as, “Oh, boy, here goes Grey pointing out how one guy went around 140 overall in drafts and other guy was undrafted and is about as valuable.”
Max Scherzer – 4 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 4.11vs. Brandon Woodruff – 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 3.69. This matchup was billed as, “Woof, ‘ruff, oof.”
Brice Turang – 2-for-5 and his 16th homer. From 7/50 last year to 20/25 this year. Both are valuable but really hard to draft that because what are you going to get next year: 25/50? 25/25? 10/25? 10/50?
Jackson Chourio – 4-for-5, 2 runs on Sunday, and his 18th homer on Saturday, as he was activated from the IL. Kevin from ESPN’s “Get Him In Your Lineup” Department said, “Is it called Labor Day because I have to freakin’ work?”
William Contreras – 2-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 17th homer, 3rd homer in a week. Show you how fast you can turn a season around, and have an overall valuable year at catcher. Contreras hit nine homers in August, and is now near top three on the Player Rater for catchers with a totally respectable year. Also: Yesterday a catcher was at the top of the Player Rater, latest in the year that I can remember. Maybe Joe Mauer in 2009 last time? I’m guessing.
Jarren Duran – 2-for-2, 3 RBIs and his 14th homer, an inside-the-parker, which was so hilariously misplayed, that it instigated me to look up fielding stats to see if Oneil Cruz is as bad on paper as he appears to the eye. He’s mid for centerfielders for range, which is better than I expected, while leading league in errors by a wide margin for CFs. Only thing stopping Duran’s HR from being a three-base error was Cruz getting a glove on it.
Lucas Giolito – 6 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.38. On a real note, it’s cool to see him bounce back this year. He seemed as lost as Dustin May and Walker Buehler. Where’s Bobby Miller? Red Sox are .333 fixing broke starters.
Mitch Keller – 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.21. Is it encouraging when there was four unearned runs? Narrator: It is not.
Alexander Canario – 2-for-4 and his 5th homer, 2nd homer in ten days, but his last five games, because he doesn’t play. [looking into the future] Canario, you are the runner-up for the KBO MVP!
Gavin Williams – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.26. Somehow, I’ve only started Gavin for his bad starts and have missed all his good ones. Considering he’s only had, like, four bad starts and 18 good ones, I’m not sure how I pulled it off.
Tanner Bibee – 6 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 8 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.77. Continues to cruise through mediocrity like it’s his true calling. Pathetic. Taking no prisoners, this is Real Grey! Spitting truth! Oops, just gleeked on my laptop, crap.
Logan Gilbert – 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.73. If you have any hope of drafting Gilbert next year, and you should absolutely want to, you should be hoping he’s the unluckiest pitcher ever for ERA this final month.
Bryce Miller – 6 IP, 2 ER, 2 hits, 1 walk, 3 Ks, ERA at 5.71. His stats are some of the least encouraging I’ve seen, and Daddy’s eyes have seen some shizz.
Randy Arozarena -1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 26th homer. We wrote off The Rice Bowl way too quickly. He riceth again!
Jac Caglianone – Activated by the Royals from the IL, and:
Carter Jensen – Was called up by the Royals. With rosters expanding, a lot of guys will be called up, but will they get playing time? Not philosophically asking, I’m truly wondering. Caglianone’s got the power and Carter Jensen has catcher eligibility and went 20/10/.290 in 492 plate appearances in the minors. Kauffman kills power, but I’m intrigued with both of them.
Jack Flaherty – 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.74. Speaking of pitchers you should hope bad things happen to their ERA this final month (I was with Logan Gilbert), we should be wishing ill to Flaherty’s ERA in September.
Tarik Skubal – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 2.18. Doesn’t it feel like there’s three insanely great starters, then everyone else? Maybe it’s always like this but it feels more so.
Taj Bradley – 5 IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 3 walks, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.82. He said, he studied scouting reports for the first time before the game. Like you have to disclose a health condition to insurance, a pitcher should have disclose to his fantasy owners that he’s never cared to read a scouting report before.
Joe Ryan – 7 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.08. Prior to the game, did he speak to new Twins’ pitching coach, Taj Bradley, who just discovered scouting reports?
Byron Buxton – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2n RBIs and his 29th homer, a new career high. I inadvertently drafted Buxton in one auction league this year, after not rostering him anywhere for his entire career. Better to be lucky than good, which is what I whisper to my fantasy team that is in 5th, trying to nudge it up.
Trevor Rogers – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 hits, zero walks, 5 Ks, ERA at 1.39. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m going back to my preseason bold predictions, editing it now to read, “Trevor Rogers will have a negative something ERA.” Then pointing it out to everyone for the next seven months.
Rafael Devers – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 28th homer. The hot August (9 HRs, .280-ish) has me appreciating Devers more than I have. If goes Septacular, I might even be interested next year. Price has to be right, though.
Justin Verlander – 5 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 4.29. He threw 121 pitches, which is elder abuse.
Randy Rodriguez – Needs Tommy John surgery. Here’s hoping Randy-Rod can regain his stroke. Giants will now turn to Ryan Walker, who sounds like the subject of a true crime doc. Was Ryan Walker ever adducted only later to be found in the back of a roadside bar doing tattoos?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, zero walks, 10 Ks, ERA at 2.82. Hey, that reminds me, whatever happened to Roki Sasaki?
Tanner Scott – 1 IP, 3 ER, ERA at 4.44. I have a polyp on colon that reads, “Dodgers’ pen.”
Corbin Carroll – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 29th homer, hitting .258. Thinking about the person who drafted Corbin and Turang and was like, “I’m so good in steals, they’re all gonna be chasing me!” and is now in 8th place in steals.
Jordan Lawlar – 0-for-4 as he was recalled this weekend. Here’s how that went:
“Should we bring up Lawlar?”
“Who?”
“Our top prospect.”
“Literally have never heard of him. Are you making up names now? How about I make up a name, McJangle Tweetybird? You don’t like it much when I do it, do you?” Assistant to the GM shows the GM the scouting report. “Oh, so he’s a real person. Okay, bring him up.”
So, Jordan Lawlar was recalled but will the DBags play him? Or better yet, whoever Lawlar pissed off in that organization how much pull do they have to continue to anchor his value? Lawlar has definitely struggled with injuries, but it’s plenty crazy that he was called up originally in 2023 (triple exclamation mark), has done nothing but hit in the minors, and is only now being recalled to seemingly only face lefties. Free this man!
Lost last week, out of playoffs,
Someone else just grabbed G. Cole.
Are there any IL / rookie phenoms who might be woeth keeping to be had?
Justin Crawford
Is it past the deadline for fellas to be discarded by one team and picked up by another? If not, I’d like to see the Rangers dump JOC, a contender pick him up and for him to be the World Series MVP.
Today is cutoff
Gotcha.
While I have you, in light of all the moaning and whining I do here, it seems only fair to pass on that I finished first in the regular season in the ol’ H2H and have a first round bye and the No.1 seed. I guess complaining works?
Very nice! LFG!
LFG! Looks like Shelby Miller won’t be part of the fun, though.
Nope! ha
Nelson home vs Tex or
Gallen home vs Tex?
Nelson
Rotoworld says Robbie Ray is pitching Weds @ COL. Rotowire says Fri @ STL. Yahoo says… both. Any idea? Streamonator and MLB.com say he’s got the Rockies.
Related, streamonator says to stay far away because Coors. And his fastball’s been on a decline. But it’s the Rockies?
Rockies is my guess…Robbie’s been awful for about a month
I think I’ve aged 10 years after having Sonny Gray on multiple teams this year.
It’s been brutal
Hey Grey. Thanks for the Labor Day post!
I added Sheehan last week before it was announced he’ll be skipped this turn through the rotation. This is a limited moves league and I have 9 player adds left, so I need to make them count. I’m on-pace with the innings usage cap (1400). I’m currently rostering only 4 SPs (Gilbert, Glasnow, Suarez, and Sheehan). I have a full boat of RPs that will be using innings as I chase Holds, but QS is also a race. I saw you recommended holding Sheehan to someone else but that seemed to be a playoff format. I’m in a roto 6×6, QS instead of Wins.
Hold Sheehan or grab one of:
Zebby (v CHW, @ LAA) SON loves Zebby at $24.6 and $22
Darvish (v Bal, v CIN) SON also loves these at $21 and $16.9
Somewhat related note: When will MLB rule on Willson’s 6-game suspension appeal? I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet; the suspension was about his actions in last Monday’s game! I added Teel as a backup for when Willson’s suspension hits. After that is in the rear view, I will likely drop Teel and could look to add a SP with that spot at that time.
Thank you!
No problem! I’d imagine they rule by Wednesday and prolly reduced to 3-4 games…I don’t trust Zebby or Yu enough to use a move…Zebby over Yu tho if you want to
I’ll hold on a move for now. Thank you, sir!
No problem
I picked up Ober today for his start against the Sux. Fingers crossed. I plan to drop him for Tong who comes off waivers tomorrow if I can get him. Good idea? Also, worth dropping Gil for Tolle?
Yes and meh, I’d hold Gil
Got it. Thanks! I have Pablo hopefully coming off IL next weekend anyway, so Gil will probably be odd man out then. Have a great rest of your holiday weekend!
You too!
Hi Grey,
Re: 10 team Yahoo points
After starting Rodan, Fried, Valdez, Tong and Bello, I have only one SP left.
1. Which of these would you select with the most confidence to start?
Ryne Nelson vs Texas – home
Zach Matthews vs CWS – home
Seth Lugo vs LAA – home
David Peterson at Cinn
Can Schlittler vs Tor – home
2. Would you start Tong at Cinn?
Thanks so much!!!
Nelson…tong seems fine
Thanks!!
No problem
How you feeling about starting Mis vs PHI, Bradish at SD, and/or Nelson vs TEX?
I’d start them all in most leagues
Yoo Grey i miss the raps bro from your alter ego
Is it safe to start ober at home vs white sox
Quality starts League
B. Fire!
Ober is not safe
Got kind of a doozy of a question. Naturally of my 3 leagues, I go the furthest with the weakest squad and it happens to be my only dynasty (18 teamer 6×6 25 man roster 30 minors spots) league.
I have a full IL, we only get 6 spots and still have Seager eating a regular roster spot. I have Burnes, Ragans, Wheeler, Edman, Riley, ECab on IL. Would you drop any with the knowledge he will be picked up to chase holds? Or just ride it out and keep the talent? *we used to have unlimited IL not sure why league voted 12-6 for the change*
Would you drop Boyle even with his wicked stuff with no location for a RP/H?
Would you drop Mullins, Steer, Caballero, and Keith from my bench to add some hot streamers? Triolo, Yaz, Joc, maybe Helman or Higa.
I know if I drop any of those someone will pick them up as we play LF/CF/RF. I could at minimum get a late rounder come spring for them going into our draft.
Kind of an odd balancing act as my rebuild worked faster than I anticipated but dont want to give away freebies either.
Unrelated but did you see the report Steer is getting a couple days off….for a leg injury……that has bothered him the past 2 months?!?!?!?
Thanks!
I’d lose Boyle, but not the bats unless desperate, if desperate, I’d lose Caballero 1st and Mullins 2nd…I saw on Steer, nutty
Gotcha thanks!
Are there no rules on reporting injuries for MLB or are the rules just not enforced? I get the “phantom” injury IL stint, but not the other way and NOT reporting an injury. What is the advantage? Generally isnt permitted in…I think in all other American sports.
NFL you had guys with the “probable” tag when it existed and coaches would put their whole dang roster on it because hurt.
NHL you say “lower body injury” or “upper body” if you dont want to be specific.
Same with NBA as far as I know.
Whether that is due to betting, rules, or whatever, they seem to report it a lot more accurately.
Last year Rooker was hurt in May and played all day.
Tucker “bruised” his leg.
Tucker this year “bruised” his wrist.
Yordan with whatever.
Steer has a leg issue since before ASB.
As much as I hate betting and its crazy prevelance, I would be highly annoyed if I DID make a wager on Steer getting X steals at the ASB, and dude was a lame pony at the time.
Instead it just hurts my $350 fantasy team haha.
Haha, yeah, I know, there’s supposed to be rules, but it’s hilarious Mets’ Eppler was suspended for making up injuries since there’s literally no way of knowing…A player would have to say, they told me to say my oblique hurt and it did not
Oh man I just checked that out since you mentioned. I missed that whole fiasco.
I cant wait for realignment and what Manfred does and somehow botches it all. Throws away all the history and makes up weird named divisions, “The Legends”, “The Heros”, etc.
Haha, The Legends! lmao
Is bibee a drop now ? Could add offense for the week. His next start is the rays
Yes
Starting Pitching questions, weekly league, ESPN, 12 team head to head. Need 3 of the follwoing 5, thanks
Tong @ Cin
Gallen vs TEX
Ober vs Chw/ @KC
Bradish @SD (maybe vs LAD)
Nelson vs TEx /vs bos
Not Ober or Bradish
Last one, which 3 RP’s would you start this week;
Iglesius – 3 @ CHC/3 vs Sea
Cade Smith – 3 @ bos/4 @ TB
Uribe – 3 vs Phil/3 @ Pitt
R. walker – 3 @ Col/3 @ SL
Not Raisel
Happy Labor Day Grey! Funny how it’s called that yet no gets off their keister today – HA!
So I snuck into our Yahoo 12 Team H2H Playoffs, and now I have a SP question for my pathetic team.
Bryce Miller at Atlanta or Wacha at home against Minn. Like I said, pathetic!
Thanks much Grey and enjoy the day.
Haha, Wacha, you too!
Thanks much Grey. I had Miller in, but just switched him for Wacha as you replied. Glad we are on the same page.
And really appreciate the quick response.
No problem
Hey Grey!
Fighting for a playoff bye this week.
Woodruff @ PIT
or
Rodon @ HOU
Thanks!!!
Rodon
Do you see any of these other guys getting called up today as potentially useful? There’s so many moves it’s hard to track them all.
Have to see how things shake out, but most guys being called up are bench pieces as a reward for them doing well
What’s up Grey
First week of playoffs and I lost 2 starters in EdCab and Eovaldi.
Looking ahead at streaming options
Manaea (@DET)
Garcia (LAA)
Cavalli (MIA)
Lorenzen (LAA)
Woods Richardson (CWS)
These are my options over next 2 days that are position values on SoN
Manaea, Lorenzen
Happy Monday! H2h scoring
Not best matchups for my SP for 1st week of playoffs (or quantity).. start Ober at home vs White Sox? Sit strider @CHC?
I’m leaning towards starting Ober and benching strider. If regular season I’d bench both.
What you think?
Thankyou
That makes sense
Hey Grey,
Lining up H2H playoff starts like many others – thanks for getting us this far!
A. Which are the top 3 starts of the following:
Soriano vs ATH
Bergert vs LAA
Seymour vs CLE
Bello @ARI
Zebby vs CHW
Brax Ashcraft vs LAD (I know it’s the Dodgers, but he’s dealing so well)
Waldrep vs SEA
Tolle vs CLE or @ARI (pained me to drop him but had to make room and I don’t like @ARI as much as vs CLE, which seems to be where things are trending)
B. Which are the safest starts out of the above, if different from your picks for A.
A. Zebby, Soriano, Waldrep
Hi Grey,
My opponent this week is going one SP and all RPs and middle relievers. He obviously wins saves and is quite good in ratios most weeks in our 10 team H2H. I have Estevez and Santana but for my final P spot I can go Ferrer to try and compete on saves and ratios or roll out Ohtani (SP) in the P slot. What should I do?
Ohtani
Darvish home vs Baltimore or
Zebby home vs WhiteSox ?
Zebby
Ivan Herrera or Jeffers this week ?
Ivan
Looking to add offense this week. Who to grab?
Brooks Lee (7 games and multiple positions)
Wallner (7 games against righties )
Jo adell (7 games )
Tovar (Colorado)
Matos
Adolis Garcia
Tovar
Morning Grey! A couple quick ones;
Thanks for the help!
1. Yes, both 2 Sandy
Thanks!
My first base/second base combo is a wasteland!! Who’s the best option from each of these steaming piles of garbage?
First base:
N. Lowe – 3 vs Clev/3 @ Ariz
manzardo – 3 @ Bos/4@TB
Mountcastle – 3@SD/3vs LAD
Horowitz – 3 vs LAD/3 vs Mil
Second Base:
Horowitz – 3 vs LAD/3 vs Mil
Durbin – 3 vs Phil/3 @ Pitt
Mcclain – 3 vs Tor/3 vs Nym
Manzardo
Durbin
Oh great Grey,
please rank these CL:
Abreu, Bednar, Iglesias, Munoz
Munoz, Bednar, Abreu
Grey, Hoerner 3 vs ATL 3 vs Hou or Romy Gonzalez 3 vs CLE 3 @ AZ
Pivetta @ Col or Tolle vs Cle or Ginn @ LAA
Thanks in advance…
Nico
Pivetta
Would you start Tolle over Flaherty vs CHW or Luzardo @ MIA?
Tolle over Flaherty is a coin flip to me, I wouldn’t tho…Luzardo in MIA sounds fine, but who knows…i’d rank them Flaherty, Luzardo, Tolle
Thanks again. BTW…your last minute advice to go Roman over Grisham last week saved me OPS and BA. My post season would be over.
Nice!
Augustin or Kirk ROS pts league?
Agustin
Would you take Baldwin over Augustin?
No
@Grey: weekly roto. Need to start two of these guys, who do you like?
Rodon – @ Hou
Ranger Suarez – @ Mil
Mis- vs mil, @ pit
Thanks!
Not Suarez
Waldrep is doing well and I will take it but man he has been dealing with some traffic on the bases in his last couple of turns. He has 93% strand rate now. He is pitching about 2 runs better than his peripherals. He also has given up just 1 hr in 35.2 ip. Regression is coming, but can it wait until next year?
Oh, yeah, it’s not sustainable, but ride while hot
Happy Labor Day Grey!
Would you start Luis Castillo today? He’s been awful lately. Although is last good start was vs TB.
Semifinal matchup, hate to start off poorly!
Thank you for your advice
I wouldn’t
Hey Grey, can you please rank the order that you trust these rookies this week? If not at all, please leave them out.
McLean (@DET)
Messick (@BOS, @TB)
Zebby (CHW)
Tolle (CLE)
Zebby, Tolle, McLean
Thanks Grey! With ed cab hurt, would you go messick (@BOS, @TB) or G Williams (@TB)?
Or if we include McLean, pick two of them.
McLean, Gavin
Gavin
12 team redraft h/h points
O Cruz or Vientos
Cruz
Hey Grey
Need to start 3 RPs, so who’s the sit this week?
Suarez (6, BAL, @COL)
Pagan (6, TOR, NYM)
Vest (6, NYM, CHW)
Romero (6, ATH, SF)
Romero
Morning Grey,
Which 4 of these guys to start this week? ERA in particular is really tight, but also can’t afford to lose much on the k front.
Mize, NYM
Messick, @BOS, @TB
Zebby, CHW
Flaherty, CHW
G. Williams, @TB
Tolle, CLE
EdCab, PHI
Lugo, LAA
EdCab, Flaherty, Zebby, Tolle
12 team dynasty 5×5 was offered Josh Jung for Jasson Dominguez…thoughts…thank you have a great Holiday…thanks for laboring on Labor Day!
I’d hold Jasson… Thanks!
Thanks! Who would you start?
Ray @ col
Lodolo v Tor
Bradish @ sd
All 3
H2H playoffs start today. I have to get 6 pitchers out of these 10 matchups… Sonny 2(OAK,SF) Sale (SEA) Pivetta (@Col) Priester (@ Pitt) Brown (@Tex) Chapman (Cle, @ AZ) Schlittler (TOR) Ray (@ Col) Morales 2 (@ Stl, @ Angels, Warren (@Hou) a. We can start any 6. Chapman has been getting me 2 to 3 saves every week, thats as good as a win. Starters blowing up are week killers with our scoring. Other team also will have 6 starts and a closer FWIW so I dont’ need to jam in Morales unless we love him. Im pretty good at watching pitchers, I have not watched this one. Thank you in advance.
Sonny, Sale, Pivetta, Aroldis, Brown, Priester
Grey, knowing that the Rockies are at home all week, would you start Tyler Freeman over any of YELICH 3 vs Phily, 3@Pit, Acuna 3 @CHC, 3 vs SEA, JROD 3@TB, 3@Atl, ROMAN 3 vs CLE, 3@ATL, or YORDAN 1vs LAA, 3 vs NYY, 3 @Tex ?
Tough for me to see it, even as bad as Acuna was last week. Maybe for Roman or Yordan?
Nah, go with your stars
Traded Devers for Frambar in a Keeper H2H points league thinking this would be the year Frambar runs out of Tiger’s Blood. Their values have been about the same all year, but Devers hot August has shot him past Frambar. Hopefully he can settle into a solid top 5 1B option for 2-3 season in SF.
Need a streamer for the same league today. SON like Lorenzen vs LAA over Darvish vs BAL and I’d say that’s the safe play as well. Would you go Darvish over Lorenzen for upside? Two week matchup so not desperate for upside yet. Just looking to stack some points.
Neither are good, I’d go Darvish
AUGUST RCL TEAM OF THE MONTH
Blow Jobes or Rosterbation? ( RCL #34)
(.265) 240 Runs/77 HR/226 RBI/30 SB
316 K/3.37/1.169/25 Wins/12 Saves
Our old friend joed1414 actually had the top 2 teams for August. Plus a couple other top 20 teams. He’s having a charmed season!
Ha, wow, that’s amazing
Happy Labor Day, Grey!
Your Monday breakdown is even sweeter this morning where I can wake up slowly.
Playoffs start today, and thanks to your regular guidance, I’m in first with a bye. With that said, playoff rosters lock for our league and only injury replacements are allowed once they lock.
Would you add Sal Stewart in this situation? He is eligible at 2B and my other 2Bs are Xavier Edwards and Polanco. Other options for this last bench spot are: Brooks Lee, Triolo, McNeil, Blaze.
Also, I have Taylor Ward- early reports are that he only has a facial cut that needed stitches, no fractures, no concussion. Would you roll the dice and hold him as an OF option in the playoffs, since I wouldn’t even need to start him until next week at the earliest? Other OF options are: Stanton, Reynolds (top 30 bat over last 3 weeks in my OBP league), Matos, Jung, or Josh Lowe.
Finally, I have Sheehan, don’t need to start him this week, but would you hold him to potentially use later in the playoffs over: Martin Perez, Ashcraft, or Morton? QS league.
Thanks again for all your hard work and wisdom this year!
No, we don’t know his playing time…I’d go Lee, Reynolds (forget Ward)…Hold Sheehan…No problem
Thank you! Someone just dropped Lenyn Sosa- Lee over Sosa? Thanks again and have a great rest of your day!
Sure
Itch: The Reds have put many beautiful infielders on the team, each of them filled with little surprises.Grey: Many infielders?Itch: Oh yes, many!Grey: Would you say they have a plethora of infielders?Itch: A what?Grey: A *plethora*.Itch: Oh yes, you have a plethora.Grey: Jefe, what is a plethora?Itch: Why, El Guapo?Grey: Well, you told me they have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone that someone has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
Haha
Happy Labor Day Grey. Wondering what you think of Torkelson for next season as a keeper. We got him in the 25th round this year. I was looking to activate Caglianone off the IL for playoffs and drop Tork, but not sure if dropping Tork is in our best interest if we can just get him as our 25th pick next year. Thanks for your help!
You too! Kinda boring power guy, 27-32 HRs, .230…I don’t think much of Tork
Morning & Happy Acne Positivity Day!
I missed the #2 seed and a first round bye in one league by the smallest of pimples! Now I gotta pop my way to the title!
Looks like Shane Baz is on the wire and SON likes him today. Would you cut Bryce miller for Baz?
Also, we holding onto Matt Shaw or cutting for a hot schmotato?
Thanks as always!
Haha, I wouldn’t start Baz — cut Shaw
No Baz, got it. Even tho it’s playoff time, semi-decent SP’s seem to be hard to come by.
Sadly, “best” options (in addition to Baz):
Why can’t some Ace just magically appear, huh? is that too much to ask?
Ha, I guess it is Baz
Haha, yeah slim pickings.
I know it’s like comparing a shiny penny to a dull one (both still only $0.01), but you like Baz over Bryce Miller?
Not really
Seager hitting the IL right before the playoffs is brutal — I need to fill his spot quickly.
Who here would you pick up for the final stretch: Nimmo (I have Shaw so I need a 2B or a SS), Colson Montgomery, Triolo?
Who is the drop for one of the above: Seiya (my only bench bat), Bradish, Tong, McLean (can’t be, right?), or one B. Abreu/K. Finnegan/R. Iglesias/D. Palencia (SVHD league with a 4 reliever cap)?
Thanks
Colson
Finnegan
12 team keep forever H2H points
bibee or strider
thanks
Strider
In an AL only keeper league is there any hope a $1 Arrhgetti can be fixed over the offseason
I think so
12 team h/h points redraft
2nd of playoffs
Do I chance Kurtz or pick one of Keaschall..Frelick …Vientos .. Adell
Vientos
Need to pick Kurtz or S. Suzuki for a utl spot in a pts league ROS, thanks.
Seiya
Cut Teoscar time ? I feel like I’d rather want to stream that OF spot (ie pick up Heliot for the Coors series) instead of continuing getting zeros
I just swapped Teoscar for Wallner
Yes
Great weekend roundup Grey!
Last week of the regular season and I’m trying to hold my playoff spot in a 10 team H2H.
1) Which one you like this week?
Grisham 6 games @HOU/TOR
Adell 7 games @HOU/@KC/ ATH
2) my pitching has been good but need the top 4 of this group:
Skenes LAD
Woo@TB
Snell @ PIT
Ohtani @PIT
Christopher Sanchez @MIA
Thanks!
LG
Soriano snuck onto the 100 Best Fantasy Starts list with the Angels third entry (Yusei Kikuchi has the other 2). There are 22 August performances in the top 100:
11 Jacob Lopez ( ATH ) Aug 7 @WSH
12 Jack Leiter ( TEX ) Aug 23 vs CLE
13 Brandon Young ( BAL ) Aug 15 @HOU
14 Nathan Eovaldi ( TEX ) Aug 5 vs NYY
18 Edward Cabrera ( MIA ) Aug 8 @ATL
19 Ranger Suarez ( PHI ) Aug 24 vs WSH
25 Edward Cabrera ( MIA ) Aug 25 vs ATL
26 Emmet Sheehan ( LAD ) Aug 25 vs CIN
40 Patrick Corbin ( TEX ) Aug 26 vs LAA
45 Bryan Woo ( SEA ) Aug 5 vs CHW
64 Jack Flaherty ( DET ) Aug 18 vs HOU
66 Jacob Lopez ( ATH ) Aug 12 vs TB
67 Lucas Giolito ( BOS ) Aug 26 @BAL
69 Freddy Peralta ( MIL ) Aug 29 @TOR
73 Logan Webb ( SF ) Aug 17 vs TB
74 George Kirby ( SEA ) Aug 12 @BAL
75 Paul Skenes ( PIT ) Aug 24 vs COL
77 Jesus Luzardo ( PHI ) Aug 20 vs SEA
78 David Peterson ( NYM ) Aug 19 @WSH
80 Nolan McLean ( NYM ) Aug 27 vs PHI
94 Jose Soriano ( LAA ) Aug 31 @HOU
98 Aaron Civale ( CHC ) Aug 2 @LAA
The Rangers led with 3; Washington and Houston were each victimized 3 times. Cabrera and Lopez each appear twice.
Some season numbers:
Tarik Skubal, not surprisingly, has the most top 100 starts with 5. Next, with 3 each, are
Sonny Gray, Garrett Crochet, Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, and Zack Wheeler. Texas is the top team:
TEX 9
CIN 7
DET 7
PHI 7
SEA 6
The Rockies are the only team without a top start. They have been the opponents the most times, though:
COL 10
BAL 8
TEX 7
WSH 7
CLE 6
The Cardinals have never been the losers (for this list, anyway).
Every park has witnessed at least 1 pitching gem, with Comerica Park in Detroit hosting 9. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia), Globe Life Field (Texas), and Nationals Park (Washington) have each had 7 of the top 100 starts.
April is still the month with the most:
3 March (134 games) 2.24 %
25 April (782 games) 3.2 %
17 May (822 games) 2.07 %
21 June (794 games) 2.64 %
12 July (738 games) 1.63 %
22 August (842 games) 2.61 %
This is awesome!
Great stuff, Vin!
Which of these players should I NOT play: Colson Montgomery, Brett Baty, Keaschall or Matt Shaw?
Shaw
Hi Grey ,
Luis Gil or Braxton Ashcraft SP : ROS / Dynasty ?
Gil
Fast one: I signed up for Parreon to get posts and articles (the one for $10/month)- do I access what you post early there by going to Patreon or I’ll just pop up in my Razzball feed sooner? Never had Patreon before today
Mine is set up for an email.
Did it setup that way automatically?
Should go automatically to your email…if not, you go to Patreon and they’re there with a link
Grey!!!!
Awesome!!
Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for September 1, 2025
To all you graduates, as you go out into the world, my advice to you is don’t go. It’s rough out there. Move back with your parents. Let them worry about it.
– Back to School (1986)
Cheers,
Ante
Back to School! Perfect timing! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’n
Jeff!!!1
Amazing!!!n!
LOL
Thanks!
I was kind of gaga about Tong until I saw this…
I’m no pitching coach, doctor or physical therapist, but that arm and shoulder angle? Yikes! I don’t want to sound like the angel of death, but how soon should we expect shoulder surgery?
I kept thinking Lincecum when I saw that. Now I just found something posted by Lance Brozdowski about it. I tried to capture an image of the video. It’s not quite in sync so I took a couple of pics.
https://x.com/LanceBroz/status/1961611033224614147?t=2w579b7_fTn82viqDLDLtA&s=19
That tong ta tong tong tong! Ride it till the wheels fall off. Lincecum won Cys till they fell off
That whip can’t be good for longevity, but I guess it’s like a freshly baked cheesecake – savor and enjoy it today because it doesn’t make sense to worry about how good it’ll be if you try to save it for 3 years from now.
(For the record, that analogy made a lot more sense in my head than it did when I read it on the page here).
Yeah, thinking that
Haha! This is the clip I sent Truss Saturday morning after I edited the Friday night notes. I was going to put it in there, but saved it for today instead.
It’s WILD! Tong’s head whip is even more pronounced than Lincecum’s, but the frame-by-frame is unreal.
It’s a Razzball alum celebration in this afternoon’s Top 100 Starting Pitchers. Lance’s video, and another one with a familiar face talking about Nolan McLean.
I’ll be sure to check it out.
I am looking forward to that.
Yeah, I don’t know how long he can last, but Lincecum was great for what? 6 years?
I know. Was the freak just a freak that he lasted that long?
Yeah, likely, but even if he’s good for 3 years, worry about him breaking down when he does
Oddly enough, it was Lincecum’s hips that failed him…but he did have a very long stride for his 5’11” frame. I read that Jonah modeled his pitching 100% after Timmy (he was a huge fan growing up). Here’s to Jonah winning 3 Cys…and 3 Jonah Tongs (in 2029 they rename the trophy after him)!
Haha, yes!
After seeing that are you going to price in more risk into his next year ranking? I know all pitchers are inherently risky
They’re all risky
Not that the Dbags have helped the situation but Lawler is now hitting a blistering .000 in the bigs this year. His “slightly” elevated K rate (47%) perfectly compliments that 0 for 30.
Ha, yeah
Need some hitting: Blaze Alexander, Jeremiah Jackson, Baty or Wallner?
Wallner
Hey hey Mr. Grey!
So this week is the final week of the regular season and I’m mathematically locked into third place, here comes the playoff slugfest. I’ll list the lineup and pitching and have some questions along with things I’m gonna change with a moment to breathe before things get going
C- Langeliers
1B- Harper
2B- (vacant)
3B- CWS Sosa
SS- SF Adames
OF- DET Greene
OF- COL Doyle
OF- LAD Teoscar (aiming to replace with Wallner)
UTIL- Ohtani
UTIL- Kurtz
SP- Yamamoto
SP- Woodruff
RP- NYM Diaz
RP- MIL Uribe
P: Gil, Bubba, Pfaadt, Wacha, Eury Perez, McGreevy, TEX Kelly, Zebby, Bieber, Messick, Framber, As Morales
IL: HOU Luis Garcia, As Sevy, CIN Burns
NA: Painter
1) planning to ditch Pfaadt asap (just kept to try and win this week)
2) planning to drop Teoscar for Wallner (I read your thoughts and him being on the most recent Sell list)
3) if you’re saying not to start Luis Garcia, should I at least activate to start instead of Pfaadt so I can hold if he does well, or just outright LG and not take any chance with him?
4) Sevy comes back on Tues, how much can he be trusted going forward?
5) figure Kurtz will be okay for not this week, but weeks 23-25 which is my playoff run?
6) should I drop a pitcher to reclaim my 2B spot with NYM Baty? If so, would names like Zebby be ones to consider since he’s clocking QS often?
7) figure Bubba finally gets starts down the line or is he going to be on this bulk relief thing down the line ROS?
8) are there any outstanding troubles in the lineup or pitching that need be gone now that I didn’t already mention above?
I could really use the help and haven’t had to scrap for a title win since my first one.
Thanks!
How would you rank Messick, Shane Smith, Lugo and Nestor Cortes?
Thanks gray!
Messick, Lugo, Nestor