Grey joins Donkey Teeth and B_Don to discuss ideas for 2020 fantasy baseball on the Goin’ Deep Razzcast. They debate whether Ronald Acuna or Mike Trout should be taken #1 overall next year, or maybe dark horse Christian Yelich? The changing landscape of Major League Baseball and fantasy baseball is at the forefront of the discussion.
- Last week of the regular season. Playoff teams may decide to adjust or sit their starters as they lock up their position and start getting ready for the playoffs. Did my best to recognize the 2 starters as best I could here.
- There’s still some questions about who will start, but the situations I couldn’t nail down were:
- Baltimore: Dylan Bundy is in line to start, but there’s a chance that Chandler Sheperd gets a chance in that spot instead.
- Mariners have Marco Gonzales down to pitch both Sunday and Tuesday. It could be Tommy Milone or Justin Dunn if Marco goes Sunday.
- The Reds could throw Kevin Gausman as an opener or could let Sonny Gray take the spot on Tuesday.
- Oakland and San Diego are likely running a 6 man rotation.
- Cincinnati may run a 6 man rotation, but have to monitor that situation.
No Doubt
Player | Team | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 | Player Rater | ERA 2nd Half | FIP 2nd Half |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Justin Verlander | HOU | TEX | LAA | 39.3 | 1.93 | 1.94 |
Stephen Strasburg | WSH | @STL | @MIA | 23.9 | 3.25 | 3.27 |
Yu Darvish | CHC | CIN | STL | 8.3 | 2.44 | 3.06 |
Raise your hand if you passed up a Darvish trade, or even waiver wire pickup, earlier in the season. *Raises hand and puts head down in shame.* K rate is over 36% in the 2nd half and the walk rate down at 2.4%; it’s like I don’t even know who Yu are Darvish.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Donkey Teeth and B_Don are Goin’ Deep on their freshly rebranded Razzball Fantasy Baseball podcast! This week the guys go deep once again with the new head prospect writer at Razzball, The Itch, talking September call ups. B_Don and DT rattle off a bunch of interesting names for The Itch to expound on, including Nico Hoerner, Kean Wong, […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Starter Notes for Week 24…
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- The Padres and Athletics are both throwing a 6-man rotation this week.
- The Dodgers are giving Hyun-Jin Ryu a pass on his next start, but haven’t announced when he will make the next one yet, or how the rotation will work this week. While Ryu will be skipped, the Dodgers are also getting Rich Hill back this week, which could maintain the 6 man rotation.
- How the Dodgers handle the rotation means that Walker Buehler may or may not have 2 starts this week. The good news, of course you’re starting Walker Buehler. The bad news, not sure that he’s getting 2 starts, but he’d be a ‘No Doubt’ guy if he does.
- The Yankees Tuesday starter has yet to be announced, but should be a 2 start option whoever they throw. My best guess right now is that it’s a bullpen game with Chad Green starting. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Trying to track rotations in September is similar to watching the Cha-Cha Slide at a wedding. Pitchers slide to the right…slide to the left…criss cross…CHARLIE BROWN. September brings so much rotational uncertainty with call-ups, 4 man, 6 man and even 7 man rotations utilized with spot starts out of the blue.
Here are my best guesses and some 2 start notes to help you find 2 start options this week.
Please, blog, may I have some more?No Doubt
Name | Team | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Justin Verlander | HOU | TB | @TOR |
Walker Buehler | LAD | @SD | @ARI |
Aaron Nola | PHI | @MIA | NYM |
I met him at 9:30 club in Washington DC
Where you drink a cold beer and it tastes just like a hoppy ale
N O L A Nola
He walked a batter every now and then
But the 3.02 2nd half ERA and 27% K rate had me wanting Nola
N O L A Nola la-la-la-la Nola
No Doubt
Name | Team | 1st Opp. | 2nd Opp. |
---|---|---|---|
Shane Bieber | CLE | @NYM | KC |
Clayton Kershaw | LAD | TOR | NYY |
For the second straight year, the Topps card company struggled to remember which Bieber plays baseball and which one is a pop star. At least Shane seems to take it all in stride, just look at his uniform from last year.
Please, blog, may I have some more?No Doubt
Player | Team | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Gerrit Cole | HOU | @CHW | @OAK |
Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @MIA | @ATL |
It wasn’t worth the effort to paste Gerrit Cole’s head on the GIF, but you get it, Cole is about to dive straight into a pile of money as he enters free agency next season.
After getting off to a rough start, Cole keeps cruising with a 1.98 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 36% K rate along with a 6.3% BB rate since his May 27th start. He may be getting a little lucky, but you have bigger concerns than whether he should be in your lineup.
Clayton Kershaw has been great this season as well, and performing even better since July started. 1.66 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 32% K rate. As Mark Twain was famously quoted as saying, “Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The back has held up this season and we’re getting a (potentially last) look at vintage Kershaw down the stretch.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Only hours after the MLB trade deadline, Donkey Teeth and B_Don are joined by Razzball’s new head prospect writer The Itch (starting Sept 1st). The gang breaks down the fantasy implications of the most impactful deadline deals including the Bauer, Greinke, Stroman, Castellanos, and Gallen trades. Guest Itch also gives his thoughts on the most relevant of the prospects involved in each deal.
Trade deadline is fast approaching Wednesday, July 31, at 4 PM ET. There is no waiver deadline this year, so, the next few days could contain a number of closer changes. It’s time to take your shots on potential closer changes and see what happens.
Please, blog, may I have some more?No Doubt
Name | Team | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Justin Verlander | HOU | @CLE | SEA |
Shane Bieber | CLE | HOU | LAA |
Patrick Corbin | WSH | ATL | @ARI |
The Biebs has been getting plenty of attention since throwing his complete game shutout that was almost a perfecto. Let’s take a look at the ridiculous stuff that Patrick Corbin has been doing though.
He had a bit of a rough patch at the end of May/start of June, but has pulled it together since then, and has only allowed more than one ER in 2 out of his previous 7 starts, and only gave up 2 ERs and 3 ERs in each. He’s gone at least 6 innings and all but one of those starts to the tun of a 1.60 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 6.3% BB rate, and a b-e-a-utiful 32.8% K rate.
It’s not some crazy lucky streak either as we’re looking at a .317 BABIP, 2.00 FIP, and only 3 of the starts against below average offenses.
Here’s how the rest of the tiers look…
Please, blog, may I have some more?