At the Vatican, staring at the Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. Because I’ve been staring at so long, Adam morphs from bare-chested to having a Cardinals’ jersey. His, uh, lower half grows into a bat and God is not touching his finger anymore, but tossing him a meatball. An Italian man next to man yells, “Mama mia, God is throwing Joshua Baez a meatball!” I turn and ask, “You see it too?” And the Italian man says, “Of course I see! I am in your dream with you!” I wake in a sweat. That was the weirdest dream, I dreamt Joshua Baez was called up and all he did was start hitting home runs off God. Wait, I am not talking metaphorically! He was called up and he did start hitting dongs! As I said in my Buy column featuring Joshua Baez about a month ago, “Joshua Baez could be the best rookie, in general. Basically, Murakami, a top 20 player when he was healthy, or Joshua Baez? That’s pretty good company.” And that’s me quoting me! That’s still true. There’s only six weeks left, but Joshua Baez could lead the majors in homers from now until the end of the season. Could he also lead the majors in strikeouts? Yes, it’s possible. In the minors this year, he went 34/21/.256 with a 29.5 K%. If he comes close to that in the majors, he’s a top 20 player for a decade. If the Ks balloon, he might hit .180. Oh, yeah, and he hit three homers in his first game and 0-for-4 yesterday. The best and worst of both outcomes. Not bad for someone I created out of a dream. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
Michael McGreevy – 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.48. It’s all coming up McGreevy! Streamonator doesn’t like his next one, and I don’t trust him, but I haven’t trusted him all year and he’s been a solid so [blows kazoo].
Alec Burleson – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and his 21st homer. Twenty-one homers? Baez can do that in a week.
Jordan Walker – 3-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 24th homer. Walker was like Santa’s Little Helper when he was trying to get attention back by walking on his hind legs after the Simpsons get new puppies (Baez).
Matthew Boyd – 5 1/3 IP, 7 ER, ERA at 4.02. I realize in my metaphor in the opening Boyd would be God in this scenario, but I thought of it like this, “You have to be very pedantic to argue with nonsense on a fantasy baseball site,” so I left it.
Edward Cabrera – 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER, ERA at 5.68 as he was activated from the IL. Wild to think I’d prefer an Uber driven by Randy Dobnak than EdCab.
Pete Crow-Armstrong – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 28th homer. I’m ready to crown him NL MVP. Is this the only way to jinx him? Ha, don’t be ridiculous! (Possibly.)
Dansby Swanson – Will go on the IL with an oblique injury. He swung the bat, missed a pitch and seemed to hurt himself. A non-contact injuries are always the worst. Well, besides contact injuries.
Cam Schlittler – 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 2.19. One mistake the Yankees are making is not going to the Dodgers’ playbook and pretending Schlittler has an injury to throttle his innings. Opening up Dodgers’ playbook, “Um, Schlittler has a green thumb. Might be a Chia pet. Needs two weeks off.”
Ben Rice – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 33rd homer. Rice-a-HRoni!
Ryan Weathers – 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 3.56. Went through an early summer fade (5.55 ERA in June), but has bounced back nicely. 1.00 ERA in 18 IP in August and was 3.71 ERA in July, but excellent for last five starts.
Dylan Cease – 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 2.42. AL Cy Young preview this weekend in Toronto, and I just looked at ESPN’s Cy Young predictor for AL, and had to double check I wasn’t holding my computer upside down:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Hit the 7-day concussion IL. He started showing signs, feeling woozy, when he looked at his season-long stats.
Troy Melton – 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, ERA at 1.71. Don’t you dare regress now. I have too much on the line!
Colt Keith – 2-for-2, 2 runs and his 9th homer, hitting .269. He has two more homers than Vlad Jr. [applies Joker makeup]
Drew Anderson – 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.01. Streamonator loved this start, and I also secretly like Anderson. He’s one of the few starters currently out-pitching his ERA.
Munetaka Murakami – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 28th homer, 2nd homer in three games. Get hot, you ess oh bee!
Miguel Vargas – 1-for-4 and his 28th homer, and his third homer in three games. All Vargas, no brakes!
Sean Burke – 4 1/3 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 3.15. Similar to what I said for Anderson, Burke has shockingly solid underlying numbers — 9.9 K.9, 2.7 BB/9, though he does allow a decent amount of hard contact and fly balls.
Logan Webb – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, zero walks, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.50. Webb gem!
Rafael Devers – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 25th homer. Devers delivers!
Adael Amador – 1-for-1, 3 runs, 3 RBIs and his 1st homer. Oh, look who it is, a Rockies rookie who we were excited about three years ago! Hey, Rockies rookie who we were excited about three years ago, say hello to your mother for me! He went 11/11/.266 this year with a 11.2 K% in the minors, and I don’t know what his playing time will be for the Rockies.
Brett Sullivan – 1-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 7th homer, and 3rd homer this week, and the Rockies are home all week and Goodman is banged up. Picking up what I’m putting down? No, that’s a rock. I didn’t put that down.
Freddy Peralta – 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, ERA at 5.27. If I were the Mets’ pitching coach, I’d be conveniently showing replays of FreddyKBB on the Rays in the Mets’ front office. “Oh, what’s this? Freddy still stinks? Huh, weird. I thought it was me, guess not!”
Ian Seymour – 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 4.11 vs. Kyle Bradish – 6 IP, 2 ER, 11 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.65. This matchup was billed as, “Seymour by the seashore vs. Bradish ran away with the spoon.” (Working the 12 and under crowd.)
Trevor Rogers – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.15. He had a 1.81 ERA last year. I don’t know why I just thought of that. Guess I just wanted a laugh. Jokey Smurf’ing people this year with expectations.
Colton Cowser – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 11th homer, and his 2nd in three games and 3rd homer in a week. Everyone in the O’s system has generational fall-offsies and Cowser is no different (hitting .217 with 11 HRs, oof), but Cowser seems like a schmotato, if nothing else.
Eury Perez – 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners (5 BBs), 5 Ks, ERA at 3.23. Like Ted says about my walks that go about fifty feet and last three minutes, don’t love those walks.
Heriberto Hernandez – 1-for-3, 2 runs and his 18th homer, 2nd homer in four games. More of that! Her-Her! Though, Her-Her seems to be becoming a bit of a donkey with the strikeouts.
Nick Lodolo – 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 4.52. Wow, what a delight, one straight solid start.
Joey Cantillo – 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 3 walks, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.80. If he ever unlocks his command, he’s going to be a 2.70 ERA, Cy Young contender with the most mediocre of stuff. Well, his change is good. Though, he throws it with a 91 MPH fastball, which is a bit of a head scratcher.
Luis Rengifo – 2-for-4 and his 4th homer, 2nd homer in a week. Is it too early to talk about Rengifo for the Hall of Fame? No? Hmm, tough audience. Also, in this game, Jake Cronenworth (1-for-5) hit his 4th homer; Gavin Sheets (1-for-3) hit his 16th homer and Jase Bowen (1-for-1) hit his 2nd homer. Elias Sports Bureau said, “This home run parlay was worth a billion dollars because no one in the right mind would ever guess these four would ever home run in the same game.”
Casey Mize – 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.18. Still seems a little off from when he was on the Tigers, but can’t argue with the results in this game, otherwise you are a lunatic yelling at a box score.
Jake Burger – 3-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 21st homer. Burger’s gonna eat!
Tyler Soderstrom – Hit the IL with a hip impingement. Oh no, my beautiful A’s. [camera pulls back to see I’m looking at my ass] They recalled Darell Hernaiz, one of the least interesting emulsifications. Mayonnaise, hollandaise, Hernaiz. That order.
Lawrence Butler – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 11th homer, and four homers this week. Just had a thought because Burger and Butler both homered in this game. A dumb waiter but for burgers! Is that something? Hmm, will think on it. Any hoo! Butler’s clearly a hot schmotato.
Zack Gelof – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 14th homer, and 3rd homer this week, and now playing left. Can’t the A’s play every game in Bing Bong? Home and away? Please?
Tommy White – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 1st homer. I like Tommy White for average, and he’s now playing 1st for the A’s, so I can’t spend much time on him because he’ll remind me too much of Kurtz. I’m weeped out!
Reid Detmers – 8 IP, 0 ER, 2 hits, zero walks, 11 Ks, ERA at 3.78. Yeah, eff off, Mike Maddux!
Michael Massey – 3-for-4 and his 11th homer, 2nd homer of the weekend. Hot schmotato alert!
Bobby Witt Jr. – 1-for-5 and his 14th homer. I love the joys de Witt and the Ropers!
Noah Cameron – 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 hit, 1 walk, 8 Ks, ERA at 4.16. That’s a pretty good start. I kid, it’s amazing! I wrote a Noah Cameron sleeper this past offseason, I love him. Again for emphasis: I love him! He’s so underrated. With all of that said, one hit, and one walk and eight strikeouts, how many pitches do you think he threw? Under 100, of course, right? But how many? 85? 90? 95? I’m rope-and/or-doping you! He threw 115 pitches! Did Denzer Guzman foul off 30 pitches? What the heck? Is that the most pitches thrown for someone who only allowed two baserunners?
Hayden Wesneski – 4 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 5.16. Good news is he only allowed one walk. Bad news is everything else. Call him Hayden Wasbadnewski.
Hunter Brown – 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.67. Ya know where we’re headed here, right? See Hunter Greene’s 2026 for Brown’s 2027.
Emerson Hancock – 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.30. Hancock feels under-appreciated. If you have him, you picked him up off waivers and got around a top 40 starter for free. Hancock the original freebie.
Cal Raleigh – 1-for-3 and his 13th homer. Watching this game, and all I can think is why is Yordan in left field? Do they really want him to get hurt again? Raleigh’s home run ball just cleared the fence and there was Yordan banging into the wall. Put him at DH. For the love of Giancarlo, put him at DH.
Randy Arozarena – 2-for-5 and his 17th homer, third homer this week. The Rice Bowl runneth over!
Bryan Woo – 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.10, but pulled with shoulder soreness. Woo with a boo-boo.
Justin Wrobleski – 6 IP, 4 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.56, and hit the IL with a made-up injury. When Wrobleski heard he was injured, he asked, “Why does my locker say Glasnow?”
Max Muncy – 1-for-3 and his 24th homer. Max the Munciest!
Tarik Skubal – 6 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 2.85. As a winner of the Skub-stakes in an NL-Only league, is this. Dot dot dot. excellence?
Jacob Misiorowski – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 1.75. They’re not going to get easily rolled in the playoffs. It’s going to take some work. But the Dodgers look very beatable. Misiorowski multiple times in a playoff series is going to be trouble.
Logan Henderson – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 2.70. I cannot wait to draft Brew Rasmussen next year. I’m gonna draft both Rassmussens. Watch me now! [does a dance move and hurts back] I’m good! Just let me sit.
Luis Torrens – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 6th homer, and 2nd homer in three games, and was in Friday’s Buy column. What a flex!
Kodai Senga – 1 IP, 0 ER, ERA at 7.79, and his 3rd save. Shruggy the Emoji with an over-exaggerated shrug. SAGNOF, I suppose.
Abimelec Ortiz – 1-for-4 and his 5th homer, and he was in Friday’s Buy too. That’s five homers in 14 games. That’s pretty good! Yes, he’s going to pass Vlad Jr. in homers by next week. So what!
Kody Clemens – 2-for-4, 2 runs and his 21st homer, 2nd homer in a week. Rocket Jr. sounds like Jimmy Neutron’s best friend, and the Neutron Dance was The Pointer Sisters, which was written by Allee Willis, whose house I was over once and said, “Whatchu talkin’ about Willis?” and she said, “Wow, I haven’t heard that in a while.”
Brooks Lee – 1-for-4, 4 RBIs and his 18th homer. Be Water be sneaky valuable.
Alec Bohm – 2-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and his 14th homer, and a five-hit game on Saturday, and a cease and desist on Friday from his mom to stop spending his money so she could steal more of it.
Patrick Sandoval – 4 IP, 7 ER, ERA at 4.76. Patrick bait, man, and murdered my ratios. At one point, he grimaced and was visited by the trainer, but seemed fine. I mean, besides the awful line.
Jared Jones – 5 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.78. Streamonator actually liked this start of his, which is something I didn’t think I’d see, but hates his next one, and I wouldn’t touch him.
Eduardo Rodriguez – 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, zero walks, 5 Ks, ERA at 2.71. EdRod’s nickname should be, “Wallace Shawn saying inconceivable.”
Gabriel Moreno – 1-for-4 and his 9th homer, and a ten-game hitting streak. We have time to decide if it should carry over to 2027 to break Joe D.’s record.
Michael Soroka – 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 2.93. You know that candy, Almond Roca? It’s delicious. I call it Michael Soroka. If you don’t know Almond Roca, then cool, you’re our one reader under the age of 25.
Nolan Arenado – Out with trunk discomfort. Doctors were looking at his trunk like:
Matt Olson – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs and a slam (36) and legs (3). Negative one homer to go!
Bryce Elder – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.92. Deserved the win. Not him. Well, maybe him, but I was talking about me. Though, I guess he would’ve needed to get the win for me to get it. By the way, Tommy John, owner of 288 wins, passed away this weekend. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Incredibly dumb that he’s not. Again, he has 288 wins! No one may ever get 200 wins again! He threw 4710 1/3 IP with an ERA of 3.34. 200 IP in a season of that would be solid, he did that for like 24 seasons! What are we doing here? Stupid! Anyway, RIP, and the John family asked that in lieu flowers, send your ulnar collateral ligament.
Grant Holmes – 3 2/3 IP, 6 ER, ERA at 3.82. To do that to a guy with Holmes’s hair should be illegal. Do you have no shame with how you mistreat the Holmes jheri curl? Rick James is rolling over in his grave (from all the coke he did; common side effect is rolling over in a grave 20+ years after dying. Seriously, if you put your ear to the ground by his grave you can hear him spinning.)
Johnny Bowlan goes 1IP 2ER but strikes out 2 and gets a HLD
So thanks I guess
Trying to stabilize my OF with every day players until Soto gets back (hoping!). Been batty calling Tawa, Butler, Rengifo only to miss their HRs. Playoff spot secured. Aug. 31st the fun begins. Average, singles, doubles and SBs are areas of focus. I have J Walker, Bux, Merrill, Butler and Rengifo now. Lawlar, Tawa, Bleday, available. Hold or swap?
Hold
Hi Grey –
ROS points league, pick 3: Detmers. Mikze, Soroka, Soriano.
Thanks
If I add May, which 4 do you like.
Not may
Not Soriano
Thank you, Grey
Senga
Montgomery
Or Joyce?
Thanks Grey
Joyce
Drop teoscar for lawler?
Meh
Hi Grey
Which one to jettison:
Boyd
Mcclanahan
Rogers
Mize
Boyd
Javier at home v LAA tomorrow doesn’t seem terrible? Or would yo prefer Leahy @CIN?
SON prefers Javier…
Javier, but I wouldn’t do either if I could avoid
My best starters are Taj and Hunter Brown so I’m not sure I can afford to be picky lol
Ha, I hear ya
Grey,
Play Snell @ COL or too risky? If playing, I need to drop either Scott or Boyd; who’s the drop?
Thanks!
Seems ok
Boyd
Edman or Butler ros?
Butler
Thanks!
No problem
Grey
Head to head points league 10 teams
Maikel Garcia was activated off of the IL
Who would you drop
Garcia
Stott
Ezequiel Duran
Duran
I think you meant ‘significantly’ pedantic.
Haha
Hiya Grey. Ok, don’t laugh. Desperate for saves. Drop Cano, Dylan Smith or Steven Cruz for Joyce?
Smith
Christopher Morel back in the majors after hitting 12 home runs in only 30 games for the Mets AAA team. Mushroom alert!
Haha
He hit 60 home runs for the Cubs in his age 23, 24 and 25 seasons. But awful since then and now on MLB team #4. Surely the Mets can fix him.
Naturally!
Afternoon & Happy National Thrift Shop Day!
And in true observation of this holiday, I’m trying to find some cheap saves as my closers all seem to have lost their job.
How would you rank the following RP’s for saves:
Thanks as always!
Haha, Joyce, Mason, Scott, Brandyn
Thank you.
Just got word that Justin Martinez is back with the DBacks & I assume “should” become the defacto closer.
does that change your ranking at all or still a meh situation in the desert?
Not really and I wouldn’t count on Martinez — at least at first
Critical week, need to get this right. Pick two:
Baz, home vs yanks and TB (velo was down last start)
Boyd @SEA
Sandy @ PHI
Castillo @ Cub @ Mets
Rogers home vs TB
Baz, Rogers
Noah Cameron and Emerson Hancock are on the wire.
We are in the last week of regular season. H2H Category Yahoo 10 tm league. I will be making the playoffs
Here are my pitchers
Chris Sale
Drew Rasmussen
Matthew Boyd
Ian Seymour
Clay Holmes
Blake Snell
Casey Mize
Jared Jones
I don’t necessarily need an arm, but do you see anyone on my starters that you would drop and add either Cameron or Hancock? Or both?
Cameron looks really good right now, but I did look and he basically sucks when he pitches at home.
Thank you for your input
Cameron over Boyd
LAte to the party but what do you think of Hunter Dobbins? Good buy ros? DOn’t depend on him?
Seems to be good most of the season when called upon.
I wouldn’t depend on him. Seems good based on matchups.
Start or sit Imanaga vs White Sox tonight?
Start
10 Team Keep 14 forever
Scoring-
Batting: R, HR, TB, RBI, OBP and DPT
Pitching: IP, K, QS, ERA, WHIP, K/BB and SVHD
I am 5 points behind 1st place.
11 HR behind 1st
Tied for 1st in SB
Can gain a point in IP
Can gain possible point in K
Can gain maybe 2 points in QS
6 SVHD behind 1st
Can always use help in ERA, WHIP and K/BB
C-Moreno
1B- Alonso
2B- Wetherholt
3B- Miguel Vargas
SS- Elly
2B/SS- Lindor
1B/3B- Busch
LF- Yordan
CF- Jackson Merrill
RF- Joshua Baez
OF- Veen
UTIL- Cags
UTIL- Royce Lewis
Bench: Jarren Duran, Gelof, Carrigg, Frankilin Arias, Abimelec Ortiz
IL: Rooker, Vinnie P and Mead
SP: McLean, Gavin Williams, Cease, Kirby, Tolle, Mize, Cavalli and Burke
(only 33 GS remaining)
RP: Tyler Rogers, Headrick, Cano, Dodd, Trevor Megil and Bradgley Rodriguez
IL: Whitlock, Santillian, Jason Adam, Justin Martinez and Ben Brown
Do you see any guys that are a drop now for someone like Ben Joyce or AJ Minter or Michael Peterson or Tyler Holton or Senga. Do any of these guys make a big enough difference in ratios, IP, K’s or SVHDs to help push for the title?
I guess Abimelec for Joyce is about it, but I don’t know if you have room to play Joyce or Ortiz
We have 8 pitching spots so I could potentially have 8 RP going per day. There would be room for Joyce. Abimelec just keeps hitting homers and I did t know if it was with it to drop him for Joyce’s 4-6 saves the rest of the season. And Ortiz could swap out with Busch as long as he keeps playing first
Ortiz is a platoon player who just happens to be hot
not sure if this makes me feel better or worse, but in my H2H league, I missed the playoffs by 2.5 points (7th out of 12th) but based on roto scoring would have finished 3rd. and the 4th place team would have finished 10th in roto. it’s fine! everything is fine! haaha
Haha, ouch
Are you starting Snell at Coors today? 12 team roto
Sure
Don’t do it. It’s hot again.
Totally agree about Tommy John being in the HOF. I wonder if he gets in after he passed away. That’s not how it should ever happen.
Beyond his numbers, I don’t understand how he doesn’t get in for essentially being a test dummy for a surgery that changed game. Isn’t that what the HOF is about? People who changed or left a lasting impact on the game?
It’s one of the all-time dumbest things…he has 288 wins! that alone should get him in…a guy should be able to excel in one category…and he was clearly much more
He averaged 3+ WAR per season over 26 years. I’m not huge accumulator guy, but that consistent good performance for over a quarter century is beyond impressive.
It’s crazy
I see the Cy Young predictor values Wins overly high. Just for grins, I asked Gemini these two questions: How would the rankings change if they de-valued wins? Where would Dylan Cease fit into this new model? and this is what it said: If we drop Cease into our win-neutral Top 5, he instantly vaults to either #1 or #2 overall, battling neck-and-neck with Cam Schlittler for the top spot.
“Yeah, he does” — me who is not gemini
Oh great Grey:
Perez v. WAS or Williams v. SF this week?
Gavin
Hey Grey,
Any faith left in Kyle Tucker ROS? Would you trade him for either Pages, Michael Harris, Burleson or Rafaela? Or hold?
Redraft 5×5 cats league
Zero faith…You’re able to trade Kyle Tucker for Michael Harris, Burleson or Rafaela?
@Grey: weekly roto. Who do you like this week?
Bleday – 4 vs stl, 3 @ ari
Veen – 3 vs lad, 3 vs cle
Thanks!
Veen
H2H week 21
Stott v MIA v STL or Otto v Wash @Phil
Marsh v MIA vSTL or Reynolds v Det @ LAD
Otto
Marsh
Please rank
Weathers
Seymour
Detmers
Weathers, Detmers
Thoughts on Eovaldi for ROS? I have more guys on the IL than IL slots.
Lose him
Thanks! Do you think he makes it back in any impactful way this season?
No
Got it. Thanks!
No problem
Great weekend roundup!
1) Looks like Maikel is being activated. Would you start him this week or wait and see? Does him start over guys like Ceddanne, Neto, Cags or Wilyer Abreu?
2) start Weathers TOR or Ben Joyce @HOU/@TEX as your last P/RP spot?
I could see starting him over Neto
would you take one start from either of these over 2 starts from Perez (@MIN, @MIL)…weekly points. DeGrom (?WAS), Henderson (ATL), Melton (@KC)
Nah, Perez has been good all year
What about any of those solo over two from Brice Miller (@MIL, CHC)
Henderson
I need to help picking my starters for my 12 team, H2H playoffs. I need to start 4:
I’ve currently got the following in my lineup:
McLean vs SD (Buehler) @CHW (TBA)
Melton @KC (Cameron)
Eury vs WAS (Irvin)
Tolle vs ARI (Pfaadt)
My bench:
Braxton Ashcraft vs DET (Montero) * I could see starting him but prior to that last outing he was very iffy.
Emerson Hancock vs CHC (Boyd)
Logan Henderson vs ATL (Mahle) * Another strong option
Clay Holmes vs CHW (TBA) * I’d ideally like to see one more good start from him.
Mike Soroka vs CIN (Lowder)
Bryan Woo vs CHC (Cabrera) *Don’t trust due to injury concern
Jacob DeGrom vs WAS (Cavalli) *Don’t trust due to injury concern
and in another H2H points league I need to replace Woo with one of the following:
Emerson Hancock vs CHC (Boyd)
George Kirby @ MIL (Gasser) * Don’t trust him and @MIL
Nick Lodolo @ ARI (Rodriguez) * Don’t trust him
Ian Seymour vs TOR (Bieber) * I’m leaning here
Will Warren @BAL (Baz) @TOR (Soriano) * I wish I could trust him for this two start week but don’t think I have the cojones
Henderson over Melton
Seymour
Would you take a chance on Luis Castillo’s 2-start week (at Cubs and vs. Mets) or go with Christian Scott at White Sox or Gausman vs. white Sox?
I’d risk it with Castillo, but it could blow up
Grey!
Can you rank these guys rest of season?
Tim Tawa
Abimelec Ortiz
Caleb Durbin
Jacob Young
Thank you!!
Durbin, Tawa
“joys de Witt and the Ropers” is phenomenal.
OBP/SLG keeper league, please rank these OF for ROS:
Lawrence Butler
Colton Cowser
Luis Rengifo
Jacob Young
Jung Hoo Lee
Henry Bolte
Butler, Lee, Bolte
Grey,
I need to rest one of these guys in a pts league. Who do I sit this week?
Sale @Min
Williams SF
Perez WAS
Snell is at COL and may have a 2nd start at home v. PIT. Is that possibility worth starting over any of these guys? You never know with the Dodgers.
Snell
Going red hot Classy Michael Massey against the A’s in KC over the ice cold Tommy Edman at Coors. Should I go with Edman, though?
Edman
Unsurprisingly, he was gone. Age old battle of playing the streak vs.matchup.
Outside of his parents, I guess I’m Massey’s biggest fan now, at least for the next few days.
Haha, sounds like Maikel’s back so might be less than a few days
Ugh, I forgot about that. He is now almost certain to sit against Jump on Wednesday, though I think Loftin is going to suffer a much more significant loss of playing time overall.
Sorry to deflate
No worries. Debating between Michael Massey and Tommy Edman is already deflating enough.
Haha
Edman in Coors!
Haha, true. Every time I’m in this situation, I have the voice of Fred Gwynne’s character in Pet Sematary pop in my head saying, “Cold is cold. Even in Coors.” Note, this is the only time Fred Gwynne’s voice pops into my because otherwise it would be weird.
HAHA
Re the Cy Young tracker: I played in a league for a while with a long time baseball writer. Judging by his moves, statements, and lack of success; that tracks. This is the same group that gave Rick Porcello the Cy over Justin Verlander.
Haha, yup
Hey Grey, Diaz still be sucking. In a SV only league, which one RP would you run with this week out of these guys?
Luke Weaver (6, DET, @LAD)
Tanner Scott (6, PIT, @COL)
Yennier Cano (7, NYY, TB, @TB)
Scott
Time to drop Wrobleski?
what about next season for Wrobeski
Meh, his type are dime a dozen
It’s always ugly when a glove finder stops finding gloves.
Yeah, or opposite on Otto, a grass finder finds glove
Haha. Well put.
“Somebody trying to find grass?” -Cody Bellinger
HAHA
Yes
Hey Grey,
It’s make or break this week, whether I make it through to the playoffs, after a heartbreaker last week. I was the second highest scoring team by just 6 points (sigh, Harrison blowup really doomed me) but lost to the highest, who also happens to be the team nipping at my heels. Now I face the team right above me in the rankings.
Here are my potential starts, I need 8 – which two should I sit/avoid? Need to avoid blowups!
Skubal vs PIT
Henderson vs ATL
Burke vs NYM
Harrison vs SEA
Tolle vs ARI
Scott @CHW
Pfaadt @BOS
May vs SEA
Mahle @MIL
Lopez @HOU
Mahle, then I’m between Pfaadt or Scott…I’d prolly sit Scott
Dynasty conundrum:
I’m competing in a dynasty Fangraphs points league. I just lost a $1×2 Dansby, and Willy Adames just got dropped. Would you drop Swanson and add Adames for $1? He could very well go on the IL and possibly get shut down for the season if it lingers. Speed doesn’t matter as much in this league, but it’s nothing. Swanson will be 33 next year, and while Adames turns 31 in a few weeks, that’s still two years. I just wonder if he succeeded when playing for a contract and has been coasting ever since….or if he’s been playing through an injury.
Yes, I’d go Adames
Hi Grey,
Would you pick up Warren for his start at Baltimore?
Thanks!!
No
Only 2 additions to the 100 Best Fantasy Starts list on the weekend, but they were both top 10. Cameron earned his 2nd August entry, while Detmers threw his 2nd-best game of the year, but this time he got the win to land near the top. A glitch has removed Reid for now, but when it is corrected I believe it will push Cameron’s start out of the top 5.
Wow, Cameron’s wasn’t top five?
It is shown at #5 right now, but I believe Detmers’ start will be ahead of it.
Ah, gotcha
It is all corrected, Detmers #5, Cameron #6.
The line to beat at #100 is now:
Justin Wrobleski Apr 13 vs NYM 8 IP/0 ER/2 BR/2 K.
The value of that line is $176.20. Paul Skenes duplicates that line except with 7 strikeouts, which is valued at $206.10 at #22.
Wow, that’s a huge difference in ranks for Skenes and Wrob
Good morning Grey would you start Turang this week at home( supposedly starting this week after not playing after missing last 4 games) against Seatle and and Atl( 2 good pitching staffs) or Rengifo (who has been on a heater last week,2 hrs,316 ba) against Minn(home) and@ nym, with only 1 good sp between the 2 teams). The other thing to consider is Milw manager seems inconsistent with injury updates.
appreciate your help
Rengifo
I’ve been desperately waiting for a Mike “Tennessee Tarzan” Massey joke.
11th ball, corner pocket!
Haha, you’ll never get it!
Rocket called his son “The Missile “
Guess it’s better than Kody
Damn. That was ruthless good.
Hehe
Joey Cantillo is the Hawaiian Cliff Lee. We shall call him Cliff Lei
HAHAHA
HA!
hello grey been having trouble with my pitching but noticed some decent options on the waivers this week. i have bryce miller and matthew boyd. would you drop either for tyler mahle, emerson hancock, jose soriano, casey mize, jacob lopez, christian scott?
also what do you think about joe musgrove coming back from injury? thank you as always
Mize over Miller…forget Musgrove if you can pick up Mize, Scott and others
you should just be looking at matchups
that’s what i have been doing i currently have martin perez @ min as my streamer today. but bryce miller has really sucked after like the first month. was holding out hope for a while because he looked so good initially. will grab mize thank you
No problem
Gotta pick one start, Foster griffin vs the Giants or Snell @ Rockies?
Snell
In an RCL though, would you start or sit Snell @ COL ?
I’d start Snell every time out until further notice
Quinn Mathews or Jacob Lopez ROS? H2H points
Thanks
Lopez
ESPN points, Playoff week, pitching staff in shambles with injuries…..Two-part question
1) please rank this week only, top 3
DeGrom vs Wash (is DTD with triceps, responded “really well” to playing catch Sunday…obviously want him in lineup but not sure whether to chance it)
Baz vs NYY , Vs TB (2 starts)
Mahle @Minn, @ Milw (2 starts)
Martin Perez @Minn, @Milw (2 starts)
Manaea @ChiWS
2) RP slot…
a) go with Edwin Diaz (shaky but had save Fri) @Colo (3), vs Pitt (3)
b) insert Manaea (vs ChiWS) who has RP eligibility…this would affect answer to #1 above
thanks and good luck in playoffs
Before I would accept that other Jordan Walker trade, I was offered a $13 Elly de la Cruz plus one of $4 Leo de Vries or Sebastian Walcott for my $7 Jordan Walker and $4 Jesus Made.
Thoughts?
EDC > JWalk for 2026 and also 2027?
Thanks again!
Elly and either top prospect seems better; Leo over Walcott
Someone dropped Tucker in my 10 Team H2H league. I dropped Nimmo to snag him for at the very least the series at Colorado. Good idea? No waiver time. So I got him right away.
Also, would you stream Framber for his 2 start week? I’m in 3rd with 2 weeks until playoffs
Thanks!!
Seems fine
I don’t know who Framber is starting vs
Three’s Company was such a good show.
Classic
Hi Grey,
Of course, I sat Grant Holmes and Christian Scott.
Would you start Framber Valdez at Pitt?
Thanks!!
Framber seems fine there
Thanks!
1. Would you start or sit Mahle at Minn?
2. would you start or sit Sasaki at CO?
Thanks!
Both sits
Thanks!!
No problem
Ben Joyce or Mason Montgomery ( saves)
Is the ottto lopez ride over?
And I think the Matt Boyd rugs about to get pulled from under us. His k rate was what kept me interested but thats slipping and everything else is insanely bad.
As a Marlins fan Otto is making contact but getting unlucky, I don’t know what actual metrics say but I watch a ton of Marlins games. I personally wouldn’t write a player off after 3 up and down weeks.
Joyce
Yeah, Boyd looks ugly suddenly…really sorta broke all at once…Wind blowing out doesn’t help either
I like Otto still but depends on options
Hey grey,
pick 2 to start this week-
Bradish @NYY, J Lo @HOU, Kay @ATL, Lauer @(gasp!)COL
Second league, pick 2 to start-
Thornton vs SD, Wesnecki vs ATH, Kirby @MIL, deGrom @WAS
(crazy that those last two are potential benches at this point)
Thanks!
Bradish @NYY, J Lo
Thornton vs SD, Wesnecki
Hi Grey,
I have the chance to acquire Joshua Baez in my NL-only 5×5 keeper league. I’m playing for next year (will that be 2027 or 2028???).
We keep 4 mlb and 2 minor leaguers.
The deal is –
I get Kyle Schwarber, Christopher Sanchez, Joshua Baez
I trade – Ohtani and Nolan McLean
I could keep Baez as a minor leaguer.
I know Ohtani is Ohtani, but he is 32 and if there’s no baseball in ‘27 he’ll be 34 in ‘28.
Currently, my keepers are
Ohtani, Sal Stewart, Wetherholt, McLean, Jesus Made, Edward Florentino
If I made the deal, keepers would be Sal, Wetherholt, Schwarber, Sanchez, Made and Baez
Do I take the deal?
Thanks!
I’d imagine Ohtani will still be better than Baez in ’28 but Schwarber and Sanchez and Baez is solid…seems like a fair deal…I don’t think you’re getting better or worse side, it’s even…McLean vs. Sanchez is what it comes down to and how quickly Schwarber falls off…i’d prolly hold but not unreasonable
I had to Google the word pedantic, lol.
haha
Lol’d at the Vlad blurb!
Ugh, ha
Has the ESPN Cy Predictor been accurate in the past? 6 out of 10 are closers. Crazy. If Toronto was in first, Varland would be on top. Surely voters don’t still value wins enough to actually crown Gray. I’d be fine with it, but can’t imagine it would ever happen.
I think that ESPN Cy Predictor is garbage. Much better (or bettor?) to go with the betting markets. E.g., Bet MGM has Cam as the AL favorite at -165, Cease at second favorite at +130, and Sonny G way down there at +3500. Those seem much more accurate odds.
That seems spot on
I wonder if it was ever good tbh…It was built by Rob Neyer and doesn’t seem to make any sense
For ROS in an OBP league, how would you rank the following: Joshua Báez, Veen, Carrigg, and Gelof?
Baez, Gelof, Carrigg
[deleting comment about Boyd/God.]
Lol that good huh?
I was anticipating that negative HR count for Olson for weeks, and I’m very gratified by it.
Haha
“Monday, Monday”
Bah-da bah-da-da-da
Bah-da bah-da-da-da
Bah-da bah-da-da-da
which 2 players here that you almost like- keeper league – I already have 9 that I like – this would be number 10 and one back up– just want to find out your favorite 2 here
Dylan Crews
Zac Veen
Dominic Canzone
Kristian Campbell
Endy Rodríguez
Jordan Lawlar
TJ Rumfield
Brandon Young
Clarke Schmidt
Justin Wrobleski
Runs (R), Doubles (2B), Triples (3B), Home Runs (HR), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB), Batting Average (AVG), On-base + Slugging Percentage (OPS)
Wins (W), Saves (SV), Strikeouts (K), Holds (HLD), Earned Run Average (ERA), (Walks + Hits)/ Innings Pitched (WHIP), Strikeouts per Walk Ratio (K/BB), Quality Starts (QS)
THANK YOU
These are my 9 keepers – draft will be 16 more rounds after 10 keepers
Kyle Schwarber
Joshua Baez
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Shea Langeliers
Brent Rooker
Michael Soroka
Ian Seymour
Ryan Pepiot
Shane Baz
16 teams
C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF, Util, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, IL, IL, IL, IL, NA
Jordan Lawlar – “You’re no daisy.”
just added off waivers Tim Tawa
Veen, Canzone
I’ve had Skubal for cheap in my 7×7 keeper league the past few years, although he’s up to $21 now. My intuition is barking at me that he’s going to be poor and/or injured next year – massive contract incoming, he had that radical experimental surgery, and has not looked great since joining LAD.
Might this be the best time to trade Skubal for the big bat needed to possibly win my home league? I’m 1/2 a point behind 1st place, dominating in pitching, but bats have been middling in AVG/OPS, in large part to Kurtz on the DL.
Other pitchers in my rotation: Sale, Rasmussen, Henderson, Melton, Ryan, Bibee. QS – I do need to rack up, so Skubal is handy.
Could do a Skubal for Wood keeper trade in the offseason as well.
Alternately, I think I could get a Soto (risky if doesn’t come back) or Yandy Diaz for a Henderson, Roman Anthony, etc, from one of the bottom teams who needs keepers.
Thoughts? This has been my dilemma all year.
Ah other league context. $3 annual inflation (Skubal will be $24 next year), keep up to 6 keepers. Sale is $12, Henderson $2, Rasmussen $8, but will likely keep Kurtz @ $4, Anthony @ $4, Stewart @ $4, Eldridge @ $2.
If you can get Wood, I’d take him and run in a keeper
“If you can get Wood” is always the start of a good sentence.
HAHA
Hi Grey –
Hope you had a great weekend and you didn’t see Boyd or Brown pitch
Jensen, Campusano or Agustin?
Drop two from the following:
Snell, Skubal, Henderson, Rodon, Boyd, Alcantara, Cameron, Brown (Put him last because I’m dying to drop him)
Rank 3 from Hoerner, Neto, Gelof, Pena, Altuve, Lewis, Keaschall
Pray with me that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t a train!
HAHA, not great on Boyd and Brown! Agustin
Boyd and Brown (or Rodon, I guess)
Pena, Neto, Gelof — haha