Buy This Sizzling Barger While He’s Cookin’

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder slash infielder slash slugger slash heart throb Addison Barger hit his seventh home run Friday night, a 2-run shot in the fourth inning to bring the Jays within one run. Well done! Just like I like my Bargers. Well, not really. I prefer a medium rare. Or rare like finding this kind of power on waivers this late into the fantasy season. The home run was Addison’s fifth in the past week (!) and third in the month of June. Over that stretch he’s rocking a 1.263 OPS with 10 runs batted inning and seven runs scored. For the year, the .271/.331/.511 slash is nice and the .842 OPS is even nicer. Yes, that’s a Good Barger, right Ed? Ed predictably said, “Uhh, no,” but he’s kind of an idiot. I mentioned last week that Barger’s power metrics are some of the tops in all of baseball. I won’t bore you with too many numbers (n3rd!) but the Hard Hit%, Barrel %, bat speed, it’s all *chef’s kiss*. However, I gotta call out the exit velo specifically, folks! The MLB’s 2025 average exit velocity leaders are Oneil Cruz first at 97.4 mph, then Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Addison Barger fourth at 94.8 mph! How’s that for a list! I’d love to be on it, and in it, if you know what I mean *smirk*. Both of Addison’s hits Friday night were 105.5 mph off the bat, the second one went in the stands. Natch. The knock against Barger has been that he’s a platoon player, but he’s started three of the last four games against lefties and is now batting third behind Vlad Guerrero. He has arrived, and methinks he’s got the bat speed, launch angle, plate discipline and contact skills to be a fantasy ally. He could hit 20 homers going forward! Add Addison! Buy Barger! AB demands your attention, he was a BUY and this sizzling Barger is hotter than the Memorial Day weekend grill. I’d add him everywhere as this flame broiled Barger satisfy your fantasy appetite!

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

Trevor Larnach – 1-for-4, HR (10). The Larnach Attack! He’s hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and is hitting close to .300 over the past week with two homers. He’s boring but that’s Minnesota beisbol, baby! Don’t come at me Mini Sodans, I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. And I love the CityConnects! The textured look is very tres chic. Let’s go Twinks!

Edward Cabrera – 4.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 63 pitches. EdCab scuffled early in this one giving up an RBI single in the first, then came two unearned runs in the third innings (those we can blame on the defense). Mr. Manager McCollough was tossed for arguing a weird interference call otherwise maybe Eddie would have thrown more than 60 pitches? I’m still in on EdCab, and his new slider/sinker approach. Rays are so hot right now and that park is for tiny wittle babies, so Cabrera gets a pass and he gets the Pirates next week and you definitely want in for that.

Zack Littell – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, ER, 4 K, 6th win. Little by Littel he’s building his market value so he can get traded in a few short weeks. He’s personally hoping for the Dodgers. Aren’t we all? But wait, I have to tell you something I’ve never told anyone before. Come hither, close enough to feel my breathe..shhh, “the Rays might be a wagon, ya’ll!”

Otto Lopez – 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI. His name is Otto, he likes to get blotto!

Agustin Ramirez – 3-for-4, HR (8). Saint Agustin! Bless you! I told you to buy him way back when he debuted and while he certainly cooled off from hitting an extra base hit every day, but he still bats (nearly every day) in the heart of one of the worst line ups in all of baseball. That was pretty okay-ish advice I gave that one time!

Trea Turner – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB (17). I was watching the box score for this one closely, which is something I do now because cable is expensive and anyway I witnessed the exact moment when Treat stole that base or more acurately, when the stat when officially logged and I said out loud “good boy,” and I swear not only do I think I turned myself on but I really think Turner heard me.

Bryan Reynolds – 2-for-4, HR (8), 2 RBI. BR with the HR! He’s the Pirates hottest hitter which is more of an indictment of the Pirates than anything else, but he’s hitting over .300 in the past week.

Henry Davis – 2-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI. HD with the HR! Oh, Henry! They should make an anti-Dream team, (nightmare team?) of all the Pittsburgh failed prospects in the same line up. Or wait, is that already just the Pirates line up? Still with power like that, there’s still gotta be hope for this guy, right? Bucs fan(s)? You dere?

Jordan Romano – 0.2 IP, 3 hits, ER, K. At least he didn’t walk anyone? In all honestly, Jordan of the Locatelli Pecorino Romano’s is a an easy target because he takes a loss or blown save every other day, but this one seemed like bad luck. Just take a look at this BUNT! Perfection. How many fantasy points is that!? Props to Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who was a BUY), because that might be one of the best bunts I’ve ever seen and certainly one of the only bunts I’ve ever linked, too.

David Bednar – 1.0 IP, 3 K, W. In the battle of two of the best heart attack closers this league has ever seen, wet the Bednar came through with the big dub. He actually notched a Kimbrel (another heart attack closer hall of famer) in this one. His first perfect 3 K inning in over three years.

Patrick Corbin – 8.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 2 K, complete game, 5th L battled Michael Soroka (6.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, BB, 7 K, 3rd win) in a battle of most mediocre. I kid because I love, of course. But seriously what year is it that the pitching duel of the year is P-Cor v. S-Cor in a game that lasted all but an hour and 50 minutes. Corbin/Soroka circa 2019! There were just eight total base runners in this one, seven hits, including a 7th inning home run by Alex Call that ended up deciding the game. Corbin pitches his first complete game since 2022 but misses out on his sweet, sweet revenge win. Perhaps he went easy on the Nats because they are still paying him deferred money from his massive contract. Also, Patrick’s 3.52 ERA has got to be one of 2025’s more surprising revelations. As for Soroka, he’s now pitched into the sixth inning in four straight starts, winning three of four of those starts but things won’t get easier for him next week as he’s headed to Queens and they hate outsiders.

Kyle Finnegan – 1.0 IP, K, SV (18). 18 saves is impressive but as a Tanner Scott, Jordan Romano owner I can tell you blowing 18 saves is a lot more impressive and arguably harder to do. I just keep telling myself this.

Tarik Skubal – 7.2 IP, 8 hits, ER, 6 K, 6th win, ERA at 2.16. He’s got a sub-1 WHIP but it’s the 105/7 K/BB that makes me sweet sassy all over my molassy. The Cubs hit left handers better than any team in baseball and Skubal is the best left handed starter in baseball. Who will win out?? This changeup.

Ben Brown – 7.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, BB, 7 K, 4th L. Take me to Brown town! The 5.37 ERA is scary but that 78/20 K/BB keeps him roster-able. I’m not as impressed with the Tigers o-fence as some, which makes that start at Philadelphia even more daunting.

Spencer Torkelson – 2-for-4, HR (15). Tork with torque! He leads all AL first baseman in home runs and RBI. It seems hard to believe but it’s true! Vlad or Spencer, who you got? Not as easy an answer as it should be is it?

David Fry – 2-for-3, HR (1). We call this just putting the Fry in the bag, bro. David was a fantasy darling in 2024 and who says he can’t do it again? He’s hitting .300 with a homer and steal in five games since being activated from the IL. Is it me or is there an abundance of roster-able catchers this year? It almost makes me want to roster two of them. Almost!

Jeremy Pena – 3-for-5, run, SB (12), slashing .324/.382/.494. He’s hitting .542 with 2 homers and 3 steals in the past week. He is one of the hottest little potatoes in all of Potato land and has a 12 game hitting streak with 8 multi-hit games in that stretch. Maybe I wrote off the Astros too soon.

Colton Gordon – 5.0 IP, 7 hits, ER, 5 K, 1st win. The 25/3 K/BB is impressive, the ratios…not-so-much. He’s got excellent command of multiple pitches and he rocked some spicy strikeout numbers in the minors despite his 90 mph fastball. I will leave him right there, but watch him closely, confused like a Wes Anderson movie, wondering whether I not I like this but it all looks very aesthetically pleasing and hey I love that actor!

Mike Tauchman – 1-for-4, HR (3) as he led off. BUY. Fantasy managers know Tauchman, and lead off hitters are hard to find on waivers. He’s hitting .320 in the past week with two bombs including this one. The most impressive thing about that clip is the crowd the White Sox drew. Is it the Teel call up? Or the fact that their owner is finally selling the team and putting an end to their misery? Maybe both? As for Tauchman, he’s schmotatoing and if you add him I promise I won’t tell anyone.

Kyle Teel – 1-for-2, 2 BB. I remember when Red Sox legend Jackie Bradley Jr. had two walks in his debut back in ought-13, and look at him now! Teel was part of the Red Sox big three but when they flipped him for Crochet management tried to convince us Kristian Campbell was the third of the big three. But Sons of Sam Horn remember! Teel was a BUY, he’s got that coveted power speed combo and breezed through AAA. Just another catcher I have to control myself not to roster.

Maikel Garcia – 1-for-4, HR (7). Vinnie Pasquantino also homered (9). Two homers and three steals in the past week for Maikel, including this one, in Spanish for mi amigos south of the border. I was actually a little shocked, absolutely ratted even, by how low the steal total was, considering he stole almost 40 last year, but when a guy’s slashing .310/.373/.487 you can’t really complain. Not to mention the .860 OPS. Why is Jonathan India leading off and not this guy?

Chad Patrick – 6.0 IP, 4 hits, ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 5th L. That’s four straight starts with 6+ Ks and the ratios (2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) twinkle like the skin of a Pacific Northwest vampire. I was upset with the Brewers for sending down Logan Henderson but they clearly know what they’re doing with their pitchers. Chad’s a real Chad with his pinpoint command and you gotta love that confidence. He leads all rookies pitchers in fWAR. He gets the Braves next week and I don’t know, but perhaps 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!

Manny Machado – 1-for-4, HR (9). Macho Manny Machado from the top turnbuckle! Saved all his power for his June surge with his third this month. Earlier this week he became the 10th third baseman in MLB history to hit 350 home runs! Fantasy wise he’s about as consistent as they come. I chose Riley over Machado in my draft this year and immediately regretted it.

Francisco Lindor – 1-for-1, 2 RBI. Lindo sat out the start of this game with a bwoken wittle pinky toe but came up huge with a go-ahead double in the 9th inning to put the Mets up. If you’re a Mets fan, the love you should have for this absolute king of men must be untamed. So many first borns named Francisco incoming.  Juan Soto (3-for-4, 2 runs) must be so jelly, absolutely fuming. Even when he doesn’t play, Lindy’s winning the game for the Mets. That’s a captain right there. Aye, aye!

Mickey Moniak – 2-for-3, HR (6). Coors power! He’s a Moniak, Moniak! That’s for sure! And he hits at home like he’s never hit befooooreee! Seriously he’s slashing .241/.315/.456 at Coors with nine XBH! Pick him up if you hate yourself.

Robert Suarez – 1.0 IP, K, BB, SV (20). It makes me angry that the Suarez’s and the Finnegan’s of the world exist while I’m literally sweating out every Jordan Romano and Tanner Scott appearance literally praying the manager doesn’t put them in the game.

Kodai Senga – 6.0 IP, 5 hits, ER, 2 BB, 6 K, ERA at 1.59. Was actually in line for the win despite leaving the game tied but the bullpen blew his chance. Francisco Lindor probably should have pitched the 7th inning to secure Kodai’s win.

Sonny Gray – 6.1 IP, 8 hits, 0 ER, 5 K, 7th win. SG, dominated the Dodgers. I don’t type that much. Ohtani’s almost always the dom. It was Sonny’s fourth start this year where he allowed no runs and pitched at least six innings. Only Skubal has done that this year. That’s some pretty good company. He’s also allowed just three runs over his past 25.1 innings, with a 30/2 K/BB in that stretch! Goodness Gray-scious! If he looks like and Ace and throws like an Ace. He might just be an Ace, Jeff Foxworthy. Sonny Gray makes grey skies sunny!

Bryce Miller – 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER, BB, 2 K, 5th L. What happened to you man? We used to be so chill! Lived for New Year’s Eve. Sloppy steaks at Truffoni’s. Now you’re kind of being a POS. He gets the Dbags next week, can someone give me a reason why I shouldn’t drop him?

Travis d’Arnaud – 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI. Hitting .417 in the past week with the bomb. Just another roster-able catcher to make your decision making absolutely brutal.

Jackson Holliday – 3-for-5, HR (8). With this kind of power to center field it’s no wonder this kiddo was top prospect in beisbol. As soon as I typed that I realized they are in that wittle baby bawpawk. But I’m gonna allow it, kid is figuring it out and second base is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. I’m saying outside of Jazz and Ketel he might be the second baseman I’d want ROS! I know, crazy! But I’ll double down and say he could even start the all star game!

Lawrence Butler – 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI. My entire season is resting on you getting insanely hot and staying insanely hot. Like hot enough to sell your bath water Sydney Sweeney hot. Batting .400 over the past week, it’s a start! But it’s not bathwater hot, yet!

Jacob Wilson – 3-for-4, run, 2 RBI. OK, now here’s a guy who’s bathwater I would definitely purchase. He’s hitting close to .600 in the past week. He has 22 hits in his past 10 games and seems like the ROY lock. If you added him in April, are you really telling me you wouldn’t buy his bathwater?

JP Sears – 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 5th win. I’m not saying you have to drink it or anything! I’m not some kind of psycho!

Spencer Schwellenbach – 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, ERA at 3.24. After striking out 22 over his past two starts this was a bit of a comedown from my Schwellenbach high but the periphs are still gorge and he’s got a favorable match up next week. You’re still my Ace, Spencer.

Matt Olson – 1-for-2, HR (13), 2 RBI. Hasn’t homered in two weeks but never underestimate a player going against me in a H2H match up. It feels like when they’re playing my team head-to-head in fantasy Mickey Moniak becomes Mickey Mantle.

Will Warren – 5.1 IP, 3 hits, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 4th win, ERA at 5.34. The 75/28 is swoon worthy. Go ahead, swoon. I Will Warren you though, the third time through the line up seems shaky. Perhaps his leash would have been shorter if not for his seven run lead, but he walked the bases loaded in the sixth and this almost turned ugly. Still I like him next week versus the Royals.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.  – 3-for-4, HR (9), 4 RBI, 2 SB (9). This. That. And all that Jazz! Batting .500 since returning from the IL with 2 homers and 3 steals. Smooth Jazz is right!

Aaron Judge – 3-for-5, 2 runs, SB (5). Yankees scored nine runs on 14 hits. There was a point, many moons again, that this Sox/Yanks thing was an actual rivalry and not a opportunity for Boston fans to feel sorry about themselves.

Rafael Devers – 1-for-4, HR (13), 2 RBI. Wow! He REALLY doesn’t want to play first base. Fair enough! You do you, Raffy! All the way to last place.

Marcelo Mayer – 1-for-2, HR (1). His first major league home run! In Yankee Stadium no less, that’s gotta be extra sweet. Here’s a video of top prospect and Mayer’s bestie Roman Anthony watching the home run from the stands not the dugout, just in case Boston fans didn’t feel sorry enough about themselves. You can admire the homer, while you add Mayer in all leagues. This kid’s gonna be a star! Ha-cha-cha!

Walker Buehler – 2.0 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 4th L. New York fans might remember the last time Walker Buehler was pitching at Yankee stadium he was closing out the Dodgers win in the World Series and if you didn’t remember, you’re welcome for reintroducing that trauma. Well, what a 180 this was! So there was clearly some pent up aggression from the Yankees here on full display in the first. REVENGE. Mmhm. Even if it was against this poor defenseless (literally), pathetic (literally) Red Sox team and not the Dodgers, the actual champs. Walker was actually so upset with his first inning performance he shaved his mustache in between innings, and returned clean-shaven in the second inning. Unclear if it was for luck or he was attempting to switch dugouts.

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!