Real baseball is weird. Â Real sportswriters are even weirder. Â From Sportsnet.ca, “Donaldson trade marks abrupt split from Blue Jays after promising start.” Â Abrupt? Â Maybe I’m just heartless, but why would the Blue Jays be salty about getting rid of Josh Donaldson? Â If he would’ve stayed with the club, he could’ve opted into a $18 million contract and been back next year in Toronto insanely overpaid and blocking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Â Then, from Sportsnet.ca, “But trading the star third baseman and cash to the Cleveland Indians, who visit Toronto next week, of all places? Â Even the New York Yankees would have been a more palatable destination.” Â I’m sorry, what? Â Why are the Indians worse than the Yankees? Â Because Edwin is there? Â Because the Jays’ GM used to be in Cleveland? Â Is this just bad writing? Â Or is real baseball just odd. Â I seriously have no idea. Â Elsewhere, other sportswriters were talking about what a great move this was. Â No wonder people come here and get floored when I say something about a guy like Josh Donaldson being overrated. Â They’re being lied to everywhere else. Â This was not a great move by the Indians. Â Donaldson can’t stay healthy and has no place to play. Â Maybe he can give them a solid at-bat off the bench, but Curtis Granderson might’ve been able to do that too. Â Don’t worry, will get to him and all the other September roster news. Â As they say at gang initiation, after the jump. Â Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:
C.J. Cron – 2-for-5 and his 26th homer, and 2nd homer in the last three games. Â So, schmotato, sure, but I wanted to quickly mention the Rays’ opener. Â No, not how Nickelback opened for Ray Romano, but the reliever pitching one inning, then someone else coming in from 2nd thru 6th inning. Â Are we sure this is any different than the starter pitching the 1st thru 5th and a reliever pitching the 6th? Â I’m honestly not trying to be daft.
Brandon Lowe – 3-for-5 and his 3rd homer, and all three homers in the last four games. Â Lowe hit 14 homers in only 46 games of Triple-A, and was fairly high in Prospect Ralph’s top 500 fantasy baseball prospects. Â For now, he’s hitting, and, in redrafts, that’s all that matters. Â Of course, I wouldn’t expect anything but a rake from Lowe’s.
Jose Alvarado – 2/3 IP, and his 7th save, ERA at 2.20. Â If anyone sees Sergio Romo, who last pitched on August 25th, give him Razzball’s company credit card number and tell him to book a flight to the next Rays game, it’s on us.
Eloy Jimenez – Won’t be called up because the MLB’s system for rookies is broke. Â Face it, it’s broke. Â You can argue teams are screwing over players or they’re doing the right thing to keep a guy for longer under control. Â Neither of those points matter to my point. Â The system that allows teams to do what they’re doing is broken. Â If I were the White Sox, I’d do the same thing. Â I’d be exploiting Eloy and the system, but I’d do it because it’s legal. Â MLB needs to change system.
Tim Anderson – 3-for-5, 2 runs and his 18th homer.  In my Tim Anderson sleeper post from last December, I projected him for 83/21/68/.260/25 in 593 ABs.  He’s on pace for 83/21/70/.250/30 in 578 ABs.  Damn, so far off!
Chris Sale – Will return next weekend as an opener, throwing a few innings for a few starts until he’s up to speed. Â Price should return next weekend too, so, mark it down, we might get a Sale/Price.
Aroldis Chapman – May not return in 2018. Â Wow, he’s knocked out longer than the woman he unsuspectingly handcuffed to his hotel bed.
Masahiro Tanaka – 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.83. Â I own this piece of schmohawk pie and I’ll say this, with all honesty, I have no idea how his ERA is that low. Â Was there a scoring error on his months of April thru June starts and then again in August?
Lance Lynn – 3 2/3 IP, 6 ER, ERA at 5.10.  There is a reason that his name isn’t Wance Wynn.
Luke Voit – 2-for-5 and his 5th homer, and 1st mention since my Friday Buy when I told you to, uh, buy him. Â You don’t have to wear an ascot like Jon Voight to see they’re related.
Nicholas Castellanos – 3-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 20th homer, hitting .294. Â I wonder if the The Greek God of Hard Contact every gets confused for Baker Mayfield, The Greek God of Hard Knocks. Â Look at Grey working in football! (Terrible segue alert!) Â If you want to check out our fantasy football projections, they’re all there. Â Or simply there there. Â Or our fantasy football trade analyzer.
Victor Reyes – 4-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 1st homer, hitting .228. Â That was his 1st career homer in his 82nd game. Â Over the course of a 162 game season, he’s on pace for 1.9999999999 homers. Â So, that’s two homers, but, on the 2nd, he forgets to touch home.
Anthony Rizzo – 2-for-2, 3 runs, 2 RBIs and his 23rd homer. Â HR to the Rizzo!
Javier Baez – 2-for-5, 2 runs and his 30th homer, hitting .299, and knocked in his 100th RBI. Â The narrative of anyone can manage a good team vs. Joe Maddon is a great manager is a TKO with Baez being a potential MVP and has 133 ABs batting 6th or lower in the lineup. Â Or how about Gabe Kapler batting Jose Bautista 3rd?
Aaron Nola – 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA up to 2.23. Â What a bum!
Josh James – 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners, 9 Ks as he was called up and started on Saturday. Â He was also in Prospect Ralph’s top 500 fantasy baseball prospects, if barely. Â Or bearly, if an actual bear is reading.
Shohei Ohtani – 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, ERA at 3.31. Â The other day when it was announced he would return to the mound, I predicted a 2 IP, 2 ER start. Â You got me, Ohtani! Â You got me!
Jeff Brigham – 3 IP, 3 ER as he was called up for the Marlins. Â Fun fact! Â When the Marlins called him up, Mattingly said, “Brigham to me.” Â Less fun fact! Â He’s a Marlins prospect who looks like he might be a career minor leaguer.
Wei-Yin Chen – 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.64, but a 1.54 ERA in August in 4 starts, and, holy crap, I’m going back in on Wei-Yin. Â September baseball, you are weird, but I love you! Â By the way, make sure to point to this blurb if anyone dares comment next March something like, “Do you think I should draft (fill-in player name) because the (team name) have a good September schedule?”
Sean Reid-Foley – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 5.51. Â Stream-o-Nator pointed out how obvious of a stream Reid-Foley was yesterday, and how much of an avoid he is next time out.
Teoscar Hernandez – 1-for-2, 3 RBIs and his 19th homer, hitting .242. Â …and the Teoscar for Supporting Player On My Fantasy Team Who I Dropped Six Weeks Ago Without Looking Back goes to…Teoscar! Â Announcer voice, “This is Teoscar’s first Teoscar after being nominated previously for Mama Mia 3: These Cougars Are Hot.”
Felix Hernandez – 5 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 5.55. Â F-Her is putting on a clinic this year. Â That clinic’s title, “Should You Be Excited About Kershaw In A Dynasty League?”
Edwin Jackson – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 2.91. Â As I say, the 17th team a guy plays for is always the charm!
Stephen Piscotty – 2-for-3, 5 RBIs and his 20th and 21st homer, and his 2nd and 3rd homer in the last three games and hitting near-.333 in that time. Â Hot schmotato? Â Piscotty does know!
Steven Matz – 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 4.20. Â His ERA is a gateway drug! Â Stream-o-Nator loved this start by Matz and likes his next one even more, so giddy up while the horse is horny, as they say.
Michael Conforto – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 20th homer, hitting .233, and 2nd homer this week. Â Supremely uncool move if he puts together a huge final month to drive up his 2019 draft day price. Â C’mon, man, take a dive for your fantasy baseball value!
Noah Syndergaard – 9 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 3.33. Â His opponents, the Giants, well, their lineup is better as a rallying cry for the alt-right because it starts with Blanco/Panik.
Derek Holland – 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.56. Â I told you to stream Holland like I was Peter Stuyvesant, but his next start isn’t favorable so put your two lips together and blow away Holland.
Chris Shaw – 0-for-3 as he was called up by the Giants. Â His brother, Rick, toils in Asia. Â Chris Shaw was in Prospect Ralph’s top 500 fantasy baseball prospects. Â Shaw had power in Triple-A (24 HRs in 101 games), but has to play in San Fran. Â We saw how well that turned out for Mac Williamson, Pence, McCutchen, etc.
Nick Kingham – 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.70, as he started in place of Ivan Nova. Â Fun fact! Â When I won the New Jersey State Checkers Championship, they called me Kingham. Â As for fantasy, I like Kingham, but obviously depends on his matchups at this point.
Touki Toussaint – Was called up to start today vs. the Red Sox. Â In an NL-Only league, I’m doing it all for the Touki. Â In mixed leagues, I don’t know how many starts Touki’s getting. Â I do like me some Touki though, and, yes, I like saying Touki…Touki! Â Plus, his full name sounds like he’s a character in Angel Heart. Â Also, Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright were called up. Â Love, love and lurve these guys, but unless the Braves decide to rest one of their five starters, I don’t see how they get IP.
Ronald Acuna Jr. – 3-for-4, 2 runs and his 23rd homer. Â Tildaddy tells us to go to sleep!
Kevin Gausman – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 1.66 on the Braves vs. Chris Archer – 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 5.40 on the Pirates. Â This matchup was billed as, “Here, let me show you something: *Gausman reveals to Archer they now pitch in the NL, Archer’s eyes go wide* Â Oh, I get it!”
Blake Snell – 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 2.02. Â If he were pitching in the NL East, his ERA would be 0.01.
Jonathan Villar – 1-for-4 and his 11th homer, and now batting third. Â He hit .261 on the Brewers and, on the O’s, he’s hitting .261. Â Yo, Villar’s got OCD!
Eduardo Rodriguez – 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 12 Ks, ERA at 3.34. Â As I said last week when it was announced Ed-Rod would be returning, it is totally fine to own and start him because he was out with a non-arm-related injury. Â I will now say, “Well, yeah!”
Sean Doolittle – Nats are hopeful he returns this week. Â That makes two of us! Â *counting on fingers* Â Three of us? Â I don’t know, but I’m happy too! (Three?)
Wilmer Difo – 1-for-4 and 6th homer. Â I want to see Wilmer Difo in a platoon more! Â *turns on TCM* Â This is better!
Gio Gonzalez – Acquired by the Brewers. The Gio Gonzalez with a 4.57 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, declining K/9, walk rate and velocity?  That Gio?  Go to sleep, Brewers, you’re drunk.
Curtis Granderson – 0-for-1, 1 run as he was acquired by the Brewers. Â The Streets once said, “A Grand Don’t Come for Free,” but in this case he nearly did. Â I look at the Brewers but don’t think, “Ya know what they need? Â An outfielder vet whose best years are behind him who can platoon with someone, but I’m not sure who.”
Keon Broxton – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 3rd homer. Â He’s the best 9th outfielder in the majors! Â Though, most teams only carry five.
James Paxton – 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 baserunners (4 BBs), 10 Ks, ERA at 3.74, as he returned from the DL. Â He’s now officially thrown more IP this year than any other of his career. Â Terrific! Â Super! Â Adjective! Â Unfortch, it’s still not even 150 IP.
Jon Gray – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 1 K, ERA at 4.70. Â This start was vs. the Padres and it’s the 2nd start in a row with only one strikeout. Â Gray does not understand what Grey wants at all. Â Practically like Gray is from Mars, and Grey is from Venus. Â I hope the minor league manager didn’t feed Gray some malarkey about pitching to contact instead of getting Ks.
David Freese – Dodgers acquired him. Â Wanna hear something hilarious? Â Of course you do, you love hilarious. Â I checked our MLB Optimizer for the first time yesterday. Â Holy crap, that shizz is amazing! Â This is hilarious because it’s been on the site for five years. Â El oh freakin’ el. Â I’m so dumb! Â Is there any reason why I’m mentioning this in David Freese’s blurb? Â About as much reason as the Dodgers had in trading for him. Â ‘Natch!
Walker Buehler – 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 2.92. Â I love that; I love him, which is why I say from the bottom of my heart, please shut him down. Â Please, Dave Roberts, stop talking about stolen base in the playoffs, do basic math and shut Buehler down. Â Please.
David Dahl – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs and his 8th homer. Â That’s nice, but the only way he can guarantee playing time is if he changes his name to Hollidahl.
Luis Castillo – 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 4.83. Â Don’t you dare now ruin your draft day price for 2019!
Eugenio Suarez – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 31st homer, hitting .295. Â Will be interesting to see where he’s ranked next year, because I’m not getting an overwhelming sense that people love him like they should. Â He’s having a better year than Kris Bryant’s had in two seasons, and it would not shock me to see people want Bryant first.
Elvis Andrus – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .265. Â Too bad no one told you this preseason to avoid him. Â Wait! Â I did do exactly that. Â Damn, forgot about that.
Nomar Mazara – 3-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 19th and 20th homer, and four homers in three games. Â He hasn’t been amazing all year, as some of us might’ve hoped, but hasn’t been bad, per se. Â Or Percy, if your Latin’s trying to assimilate.
Robinson Chirinos – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 17th homer. Â Uh-oh, Chirinos!
Jurickson Profar – 4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs and his 15th homer. Â Profar! Â Profar! Â Jurickson hit one over!
Jose Berrios – 4 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 3.92. Â Take notes, Luis Castillo, that’s how you lower your draft day price for 2019! Â On the fo’reals, I wouldn’t start Berrios anywhere right now. Â Maybe he has a dead arm — Hey, Berrios, you doing Weekend at Bernie’s cosplay?
Byron Buxton – Won’t be called up with rosters expanding. Â Twins’ Triple-A manager is Harry S. Truman III, declaring, “The Buxton stops here.”
Voit or Austin?
and—Barnhart, Chirinos, Garver, Zunino, Pina, Hedges—top 2.
Thank you.
@dau: Voit — Tucker, Hedges
In the Gausman blurb, the first “Pirates” should be “Braves” and “NL East” should just be “NL.”
I did not use Stream-o-Nator and thus counted 6 IP, 11 ER, 22 baserunners, 4 Ks from Brian Johnson and Jefry Rodriguez rather than Sean Reid-Foley’s – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 10 Ks.
@VinWins: not sure on johnson (it did like him a bit in his previous start to yesterday’s, and he was ok in that one), but it hated jerfy’s. i did chicken out on reid foley’s myself, albeit knowing the SON numbers. i streamed others.
@VinWins: SON liked Johnson’s start. Pretty sure it had him higher up than Reid-Foley.
@VinWins: Oops, thanks Vin! Sorry you got Jefry/Johnson’d
14 team h2h (playoffs next week, i’m locked into making it, now can try to get bye seed) with OBP over AVG, total bases added.
C hedges
1B rizzo (2B)
2B odor
SS machado (3B)
3B chapman
OF (3) yelich, o’neill, whit (1B/2B)
util (2) urias, puig
BN pillar, rosario (the 1st of what will later be many guys who don’t get DL’d and we don’t even get real updates on, and we’re left guessing exactly when we should drop them)
pillar clearly, and maybe others drop for which of these: mancini (CLEARLY he’s an add over somebody, gotta use some FAAB tomorrow night though), laureano, grichuk, b.lowe.
@Better Call Limehouse: Mancini over Pillar, Grichuk over Rosario
Grey!!!!
Great write-up.
a. In a 5×5 RCL where I really need wins, would you start Trevor Williams tonight versus Cincinnati (Harvey)?
b. Mark Twain quote of the day for September 3
When you fish for love, bait with your heart not your brain.
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante Galic: A. I am B. Nice
16 teamer with OPS and hits added. semien (in one of 2 utils) or urias drop for any of: franmil, quinn, cave? have one BN bat that i rotate as well.
@Better Call Limehouse: Urias for Franmil for OPS
Would you start Godley vs Goldy today? Need QS/ERA/WHIP to win this year. thanks.
Typo,
* vs SD
@Wilson: I am
What are your thoughts on starting hot players over your established guys in September? I have a hot renfro and franmil reyes, and am considering starting them over Choo and Markakis. Both have had a cold August. I could even take it to the extreme and bench Correa for Semien. What do you think?
@Mad Don: I go with hot players in Sept, can bench Correa
@Mad Don: And yes lose Choo and Markakis
Lowe, Voit or Mondesi ROS?
@Ciwa: Voit, different things with Mondesi tho
@Grey:
That’s my H2H league category:
HR
RBI
AVG
OBP
SLG
NSB
Voit
Pick two to bench today. Thanks.
Melky Cabrera, vs KC (Junis)
Adam Eaton, vs STL (Flaherty)
Trey Mancini, @SEA (Ramirez)
Hunter Renfroe, @ ARI (Godley)
Jonathan Villar, @SEA (Ramirez)
Cody Bellinger, vs NYM (deGrom)
@Wilson: Melky, Eaton
Still hold Guerrero in a redraft?
@JC: Can lose him
What’s up Grey?
One of my H2H leagues had the championship conclude last night and I went back 2 back like the Griffeys!! Acuna was an absolute unit during these playoffs for me. Is he top 15 next year?
Thanks again for all the advice this season. Tron and SoN are some of the best fantasy tools in the game!
@here comes the pizza: Nice! Congrats! Acuna’s def top 25, maybe top 15, I will have to see…
Hey Grey,
Purely for average and rbi this week, Tron says DJ L. in Colorado for 6 games, but he’s been pretty cold comparatively and faces Bumgarner , Kershaw, Buehler, Wood, Etc. (DJ is positive in the 15-20s+ every day).
Would you bench DJ for Camargo (who tron hasn’t caught up to yet)? Camargo has 7 games, against Boston and @Arz, including Price, Grienke, Corbin…
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: I’d go DJ
I’m back on the Mazara train. Had a shot at 30 homers if not injured. I will be happy with 25-27 which was most of his projections this year. I want to see him slug .500, which is doable, but that will take a monstrous finish.
Tanaka is so interesting. He can look like an ace and dominate the Red Sox or get decimated by the White Sox. But I think the Yankees care only for his playoff performances, which are always stellar.
@Vash: Agreed on both, I want more from both tho too
Thoughts on Ronaldo Guzman. He has more power this year than expected at least in my opinion. I am ready to give up on Greg Bird in my keeper and move onto Guzman or Matt Davidson.
Would you drop Bird for Guzman or Davidson in a H2H keeper, of keep Bird?
@Vash: I’m in practically the same predicament with my h2h keeper team.
Post all-star game I picked up Guzman and then dropped him, but have been able to grab him one more time about a week ago …
The thing with Guzman is that the Rangers paid a ton to sign him, which means he’ll play. Add to the fact his defense is plus, which adds to the length of time the Rangers will give him to “figure it out”.
I’m going to do my best to head into the off-season with both Bird and Guzman on my roster, then see what the Yankees do with Bird and their 1B situation.
@Vash: No faith in Bird, so can try Guzman
Rank Bryan Dozier, Daniel Murphy and Travis Shaw ROS.
@Fantasy Freak: Murphy, Dozier
Hey Grey,
for bench option this week…
stay with Maikel Franco… or
Piscoty vs NYY and vs TEX… or
Lowe @TOR and vs BAL
thanks!
@Chris: Piscotty
Stream Heaney vs TEX or Minor vs LAA tomorrow?
@Balke: Heaney
Ha! Love the Wilmer Difo TCM snark! I believe he also danced with Ginger Rogers and was romanced by Caesar Romero.
Robert Osborne aside, who do you like better as my third keeper in an auction league next year: Bauer ($13) or Koepach ($6)? Already have Acuna ($15) and G. Torres ($5).
@Doc Samson: Haha, Bauer
Who’s really buried in that coffin in the Arizona State house, John McCain or AJ Pollock?
@Chucky: Haha
Buxton, Broxton, Brinson…beware of the 5 tool prospect whose last name starts with B and ends with ON. Caucasians named Blackmon are ok…
@Uno Mas Cerveza: Very true!
@Uno Mas Cerveza: And Michael Taylor…to boot!
For the 1st time in three years I am going to the playoffs in my thanks to your advice. 10 team h2h redraft league : hold OZUNA or drop him for Pham or Piscotty?
T. Ward or Chirinos, Pina, Garver?
@Robert: Piscotty – Chirinos or Pina, depending on matchups
Hi Grey, I’m having trouble deciding whether to start Archer (vs. MIA) or Boxberger this week (6 games vs. SD, ATL). It’s a points league. Archer has a nice matchup but Boxberger could always go off for 4 saves or something and get a ton of points. Or, you know, he may have lost his closer job, who knows. It’s round 1 of the playoffs–any particular way you lean? Thanks
@asdfasdf: Archer
@Grey: Do you think Hirano or Bradley if Box loses his job?
Hirano, but I doubt he loses the job
Dozier stinks!!! how muh longer do i hold this schmohawk
@Shitwolf: Ugh, I know, I’d prolly hold but guess depends on options
@Grey:
im planning on giving it this week my other options are lemaheui profar moncada
DJ in Coors
Grey, I started 24 games this past week, won a whopping 3 of them. Not all bad, either!
Anyway, would you do any of the following in a redraft:
Add Kinsler or Lowe over Cano
Add Mancini or OZUNA over Choo or Pollock
Add Matz or Tehran over Anibal, Fiers, or Ryu?
Thanks!
or Muncy over Cano.
@Phil: And Venters won 2 games in the last 2 days.
@Phil: Damn… Lowe…Mancini over Pollock…These depend on matchups, but Matz likely over Anibal
Thank you Byron Buxton for burning many fantasy owners that wasted a ridiculously early pick to acquire your services. Sometimes you have to applaud duds like Buxton, the damage they do to your competition is priceless.
@Tom: Haha, yup
Looking for some trade advice. This is a 10 team Roto dynasty keeper league where we can keep 10. The trade analyzer says yes but it doesnt really take dynasty into account.
Its 6 X 6 with OPS and QS as the extra cats. For deeper details here is my roster. I asrerisked who I am probably keeping:
C – Zunino
1B – Hoskins*
2B – Rizzo*
3B – Bregman*
SS – Trea*
OF – Rosario*
OF – Haniger
OF – Merrifield*
UT – Votto
UT – Pollock*
UT – Springer*
BN – Dahl
BN – Segura*
SP – Nola*
SP – Paxton
SP – Mikolas
Trade ask is I was offered Kris Bryant for Aaron Nola straight up.
@Cyler: I’d take Bryant, but it’s totally fair, could go either way…
Who’s in line to get the most save opps ROS: Britton, Alvarado, Fry, Givens
@Gonzo: Givens, but SAGNOF
Tim Anderson vDET(3) vLAA(3)
or
Marwin Gonzalez vMIN(3) @BOS(3)
Need BA, HR, and SB in that order
@Fogimon: or Travis Shaw vCHC(3) all lefties vSF(3)
He’s only hit 1 HR vs Lefties all year and BA is worse than Anderson’s. SMH
@Fogimon: Marwin
Good morning,
J. A. Happ at Oakland this week or Matz at home vs Phillies?
@Boomer19: Morning! Matz
Hey Grey,
Start Flaherty tonight? SON has him at -3.9 @ WSH
thanks
@Los Mets: I think you have to start him everywhere at this point
Pollock absolutely killing my ratios and counting stats last week with a 1 for 26. Bench him for Franmil?
Pick 2;
Pollock vSD(2) vATL(4)
Franmil @AZ(2) @CIN(4)
Conforto @LAD(3) all lefties vPHI(3)
Polanco vMIA(3) vCIN(3)
Need BA, HR, SB in that order
@Fogimon: Conforto, Polanco
H/H points league….if you need a closer do you advoid the NYY RPers or pick one one of these up Robertson,Britton or Betances
@Cable: Betances
Profar seems to have figured things out the past 3 months. A top 75 for 2019?
@Gator: Maybe 125-50
Grey! Thanks as always for your help throughout the season. Made the playoffs in my h2h points league. Somehow had most total points by a lot, but finished as the 5 seed and no first round bye… Reasons why Roto is better!
Anyways need to pick 2 of the following –
Giolito vs Det -$16
Pivetta @Mia – $20.6
Gausman @ Ari – $.9
Chen @ PIT – (-$2.7)
Leaning Pivetta or Giolito since their matchups are great but don’t trust either at all. Thanks!
@Wass: Pivetta, Giolito
Playoffs beginning in 10 team HTH points League. Who is the drop of these 3?
M. Cabrera
Bader
Cano
Thanks Grey!!
@nitro: Melky
Hey all, A guy just dumped his sqaud after getting eliminated this week. I have when they do that he put out some pretty good players so it could definitely impact the playoffs. I think i have better at most already any guy you would pick up out of the dump?
12 team h2h points league
My team:
ramos, goldschmidt, gleybor torres, muchado, trae turner, bryce harper, starling marte, Juan soto, bellinger, dee gordon, bryant,encarnacio
nola, archer, bumgarner, wood, flaherty, heaney, paxton, diaz, hand
Available from the purge:
rich hill, robbie ray, stasburg, freeland, hanninger, reynaldo lopez, zack godley, keuchel, palanco, moustakas, votto, choo choo shin , cody allen, jesus aguilar, salvador perez, andrelton simmons
@LennyDykstraIsJustMisunderstood: Stras over Heaney
@Grey:
Thanks Grey. ……..Phillies are brutal with the base running Quinn in the 2nd trying to stretch a double. baseball 101 dont make the first out at 3rd base
Ha, I know
Grey,
Who do you like ROS – RyZi, B.Lowe, or Voit?
And would you go with one start out of Gomber this week or two from Reynaldo?
@Rocky: Voit – I don’t know their matchups
Grey – great column as usual.
1) Voit or White as my 1B? Or Mancini?
2) are you going to post any playoff edition of fantasy baseball? Ie teams with best schedule, playoff tactics, players that do we’ll end of season etc. That would be super helpful.
Thanks!
@Jumponit: Mancini 2. I won’t be
I seriously don’t get how people could be upset about Donaldson . We’re lucky to have gotten anything for him, and there’s no way we want him on the team next season. Its a bummer his stock crashed, bit that’s the gamble hoping to offload a veteran at the deadline.
It is unfortunate the Jays failed to cash in with Bautista, Encarnacion, Donaldson, and Osuna gone with nothing much to show for it.
@BillieJak: Yeah, agreed
Hello Grey,
Well I snuck in both of my Playoffs in 6th Place, so many thanks for all you have done with the advice. You have certainly convinced this guy that you are the best at what you do.
So I am going to bench Buehler this week and start Gomber instead (both are SP,RPs in Yahoo) in our 10 Team H2H Points League, but I am not sure if that is the best move. What do we think?
Thanks again Grey and Happy Labor Day!
@Yankee My Wanky!: Thanks! I don’t know their matchups
I seriously don’t get how people could be upset about Donaldson . We’re lucky to have gotten anything for him, and there’s no way we want him on the team next season. Its a bummer his stock crashed, bit that’s the gamble hoping to offload a veteran at the deadline.
It is unfortunate the Jays failed to cash in with Bautista, Encarnacion, Donaldson, and Osuna gone with nothing much to show for it.
@BillieJak: Agreed
With all the lefties ahead for the Brewers, I just dropped Shaw for Semien. Let round 1 of the playoffs begin!
Here are some of my newly added team saviors that WILL propel me to victory:
Matz, Mancini, Semien, Justin Miller
@Alex: Haha, nice!
Hi Grey,
Are you starting any of these SON darlings today?
R. Lopez vs DET ($11.9)
E. Ramirez vs BAL ($12.6)
Plutko vs KC ($7.7)
QS and Wins league.
Thanks
@pb&j: I am starting Erasmo
@pb&j: For full disclosure, I just dropped Erasmo, would start Reynaldo
You liking Piscotty or Lowe more in the short term?
@pb&j: Piscotty
@Grey: watch it turn out (this could be verifiably wrong since he might’ve been SEEN on TV sitting in bullpen) that romo has kidnapped somebody and is holding her for ransom since aug 25th and TB simply can’t comment due to the legal process.
@Mordacious Levator: this could be the case with e.rosario as well (but only since thursday). rotoworld now hooking us on rosario “will be held out till next series”. what’s the chances they come back when “next series” starts saying “he’s been ruled out of this one too” as if they shouldn’t have known that to be the assumption in the first place. 78% or so
HA!
Bench bat – Pisdcotty or Adames?
Saves – Yates or Alvarado?
Piscotty — Yates
Would you start Bumgarner @ COL today? SON very negative.
Don’t see any upside to starting him
Grey! I snuck into the playoffs in my 12T mixed H2H after beating the guy in 7th place 8-2 last week. Now the fun begins! I’ve got a head start on pitching this week with 3 two-start options in Scherzer, Cole, Wood. At the moment, we each have 6 moves remaining for the week and I have 2 extra starts looking ahead. One of those is Jon Gray at home against LAD. Would you use a move to drop him for any of the below options? There are other decent streamers later in the week but these guys go Tuesday-Wednesday so I could make more moves after.
Heaney v. TEX
Quintana @ MIL
Pivetta @ MIA
Thanks as always! Good luck in your playoffs as well!
Sure, Pivetta
Morning Grey, H2H QS and SVs:
– Flaherty @ Was and maybe @ Det
-TWilliams vs Cin vs Mia
– Wood vs Mets and maybe @Coors
– Archer vs Mia
– Pivetta @ Mi
– Kopech vs Det
Bench 1 or 2 if I throw an extra RP in a slot (Betances @Oak @Sea)
They all seem decent unless Wood does go in Coors… Prolly would just bench Archer, but there’s no obvious one here to bench
Grey, i see earlier post u dropped Erasmo. I was going to pick him up. Bad idea to start him. Im already starting Cahill vs Yanks
I got cold feet, he got bombed out last time out
Got some September decisions to make… How would you rank these guys for this month Mancini, Comfort, Mallex Smith (got him coming off DL, do u believe he’ll be ready to pick up where he left off for some serious sagnof?), Rhysus, and carlos Correa (last two have rough of late, should I drop them for some schmotato action?)… Danke son
Rhysus, Mancini, Conforto, Correa
H2H 5×5 playoffs, weekly lock.
I’m looking to win SV, ERA, WHIP
My P: Folty, Lucchesi, Glasnow, C Allen, S Romo, S Greene
Debating b/w Trevor Williams or Josh Hader?
Opponent has K’s and Win’s
Thanks!
Hader
Grey, follow up streamer questions
Pick top 3 streamers please
Giolito at home vs Det
Leblanc at home vs Balt
Heaney at Tex
Musgrove at home vs Cin
Gaviglio at home vs Tamp
Pivetta at Mia
SON likes them
I like them too… Musgrove, Pivetta, Giolito
@Grey: thank u
No problem
In a redraft is it time to lose Hosmer for Mancini? (Or really anyone else?)
It’s H2H crunch time with four teams vying for the last two spots, and the commissioner has set it up as rivalry week to add to the drama- got to battle my brother for one of the spots. I think I’m really going to enjoy the new wrinkle that’s added to the playoff season.
I could do without this Justin Upton concussion though.
Yes, Mancini
NL only and other deep leagues, drop urias for robles, the rotoworld note unlike urias doesn’t claim he’ll be starting. also what other levels of players would we be willing to drop here (i know i know, should probably go down the leagues one by one and give exact referent for that one, hard to answer otherwise)
Sure, grab Robles
@Grey: well not in NL only (owned, was likely), but for others, unlike urias in SD i doubt they BN harper, want soda or eaton.
Sorry, I thought you meant Julio Urias… Luis Urias will play more than Robles
@Grey: sorry, yeah, LAD urias just recently had a rotoworld note that he might not be coming up at all.
Ah, okay
Grey, sorry to bother you again but im starting Cahill against Yanks. Im very nervous starting him and SON doesnt particularly like it. U still confident he will pitch well at home?0
I’d pitch him at home
@Grey: good enough for me thanks
No problem
Still waiting for Coddy Bellinger. Should I drop him for White? Voit?
I’d hold
Dump Elvis for Semien or Adalberto Mondesi for the playoffs? 5X% + OBP
@Dave: 5X5 plus OBP
Meh, you’re dumping him after he has a good game?
Start junis at cleveland?
Nah
My H2H team was in 7th at the AS break, one spot out of the playoffs. Things were bleak. Grey expected my offense to turn it around behind Rizzo, Hoskins, and Turner though and counseled me to remain calm. That proved to be correct as I went 60-18, including 12-0 last week move from 4th into the top seed and playoff bye.
Grey, 3b has continued to be a weak spot as I was formerly starting Devers. I grabbed Wendle a few days ago. Do you like him for the playoff run over Eduardo Nunez or Yolmer Sanchez?
I don’t think any of those guys are the answer, but I’d go Devers
@Grey:
It doesn’t sound like Devers will be starting when he comes off the DL. I didn’t have DL room for him so I dropped him last week. I’ll keep on eye on the situation when he comes off to see if he is showing signs of life and getting everyday ABs. Have the bye this week so I don’t have to decide on a 3b for next week yet. Any 3b hot schmatatoes I should be looking at?
Camargo maybe? Depends who’s available in your league…
Speaking of worrying about Kershaw in dynasty leagues, what kind of return would you be looking to get for him at this point?
Top 25 bat
Hi Grey, h2h pts – Lucas Giolito lines up for 2 starts next week (1st rd playoffs), vs Duffy kc and Cobb bal, worth grabbing? – Thanks!
Sounds decent
WTF when did rechavarria get picked up by NYY. it’s not cool when torreyes is a better hitter than somebody but that’s the case here (although did torreyes only play 2B and not SS maybe)
He was released a few weeks ago, didn’t remember Yanks grabbing him tho
@Grey: yeah i think he’s so inconsequential that rotoworld didn’t even put out a blurb about it. that’s hilarious, that should be the demarcation line, you are SO useless in fantasy that they don’t even mention it when you get picked up by a team (esp the NYY and their media dominance)
Ha, totally!
The Wandy line, as Wandy’s not even playing anymore
Morning, Grey!
Why can’t I stay away from Valasquez in juicy matchups? WHY?
This guy’s horrible. He’s even research proof: Miami is the one team he’s always been good against. Crazy. Even Lewis Brinson’s breaking off a little something against him. His methodical march from upsidy K-machine to absolutely unstreamable has been mystifying. Do we even like him next year? Is he a borderline top 100 SP?
Thanks!
PS: Make sense to drop LeMahieu for Mondesi down the stretch? Looking for more crooked counting stats. Too early to simply play matchups from now on?
He’s a top 80 SP, good stuff, never puts it together… Sure, Mondesi has been great
So, I don’t know the actual answer to the Rays relief for an inning and then whamo here’s some guy pitching five innings daft thing.
But…. Ryan Yarbourough who pitched yesterday innings 2-6 has been on a tear and I have been riding him on my bench and slotting him in when he hasn’t pitched in 4-5 days. Since 8/12 He has thrown 21 1/3 innings with 12 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 15 K and scored 3 Wins because the beauty of it is because he doesn’t start even if he only goes 3 or 4 innings he is in line for the win if he is leading. Somethng to look at.
Yeah, he’s been great, but couldn’t he be great from the 1st thru 5th inning… Maybe not, maybe that’s the problem, but that seems mental over anything
@Grey: Maybe he doesn’t have the starter mentality. Plus I like it better with the odds of him picking up a win coming in during the 2nd inning since he doesnt always go 5.
I guess, but sounds anecdotal
Replace Dahl with either Conforto, Lowe, Frazier, K.Calhoun, Grichuk, Goodrum, F. Reyes or McKinney? this is for ROS, playoffs start next week.
I also have a free spot to pick up a bat. Who would you grab second?
Conforto, Grichuk
Ah Labor Day. A day, much like Memorial Day, where the narrow, winding roads around me become congested with revelers headed to and from the lake a short distance from my house, and adding a degree of peril to my running. Why it was only a few years ago that I narrowly averted being abducted by a minivan full of rubenesque cougars.
HA, Rubenesque Cougars sounds like a solid fantasy team name to me!
Kershaw @Col or Ryu vs NYM this week?
Kershaw
I struggle to understand how The Nats do not score runs (unless it is against a fifth starter). That lineup seems more potent than their results. We made fun of the Toothpick but hard to see improvement here
Yeah, agreed… Bryce has been pretty bleh and everything works off that
I agree with you that Donaldson is oft injured and overrated…but they are not intending on using him as a bench bat. Whether or not it is the right decision, he will start at 3rd base moving Jram to 2nd
That sounds even worse… moving a guy off his position all year who has been in a great groove…
Is there a bigger mystery out there than why Sergio Romo hasn’t gotten into a game for a week while no injury has been reported?
Someone said he might’ve been kidnapped, that’s about the only thing I’ve heard that makes any sense
Drop E. Rosario for Franmil? In first week of playoffs.
Yes
What’s the deal with this O’Hearn kid? He’s making my whole team look bad by comparison.
Thanks!
Ha, not much to him just got into Plutko
@Grey: Gotcha. At least Plutko’s living up to his dwarf star status, cause guys are hitting moonshots off him.
HA, yup
Picked up Gregory Polanco today – hoping this hot streak lasts through the end of the season
Hopefully!
@Grey: I had him back in 2016 when he put up good-ish numbers but it looks like at the end of this season, this is going to end up being his best year so far.
Yeah, easily, I think, definitely for power at least
Whats up Grey,
Shaw pinch hit for Schoop in the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded in a tie game, Schoop finished 0/2. Is it time to move on from him as a bench bat? Second week of the semi finals in an OPS league…currently have Merrifield at 2b and Wendle at MI…Mallex coming off the DL today and need to lose someone.
Thanks man
Yes, lose Schoop
White or Piscotty for HR/RBI in a standard roto (redraft)?
Also, why do you prefer Mancini over White? White’s stats have been better than Mancini over the last few weeks to a month and is in a better lineup.
I’d rather gamble on White…
50-50 streaming today. Junis and Williams on the good side; CC and Velazquez on the negative. And, of course, Greene (3 ER/0 IP), on many teams.
streaming is a tough life Vin
@mrbaseball: Yeah, and I can’t quit it.
Streamlife!
Wow, can’t believe you went with Junis, that was a scary matchup
@Grey: Was it? I remember a short streak where Cleveland couldn’t score. Now I always think that might happen.
Ha, hey, it worked!
How about that Trevor Williams, tho, huh?
@Grey: It’s a beautiful thing you did for us.
@VinWins: Since the ASB, only 31 Ks (49 and 2/3 IP) but 5 wins and 0.72/1.03.
Mazel!
what to do with Jonathan Schoop – the only good thing is that he will play SS AND 2nd base next year – he been a long time keeper for me – I am running out of patience with him – I am afraid if I hang on to him I might just wast one of my 10 keepers with him in a deep 16 team 10 keeper league – so this is the other choice – gamble on Kolby Allard who I doubt will make my top 10 keepers at the moment – that you sir
Can’t imagine Allard is a keeper for you, Schoop over him
Jonathan Schoop what to do – long time keeper for me but I am running out of patience in 16 team 10 player keeper league – Kolby Allard Atl – would be the add to replace him and I am not saying he would still make the cut next year but some solid pitching from him I might consider him – pitching is tough to come by every day in this league – thanks man enjoy labor day
I was thinking – schoop hitting 25 plus homeruns and 275 ave might work at short next year
Yeah, better gamble than Allard at this point
sorry for double post it did not show
No problem
Apparently Velasquez like to have an ‘s’ in his name.
On my FCL team, Zimmerman was 2 for 4 today. The rest of the team was 1 for 33.
I love playing teams that go 1 for 33
@mrbaseball: Hey, come on. It totaled 3 for 37!
Didn’t get much in the way of offense on any of my teams, sadly
Hi Grey..Lowe, Muncy or Healy for Util spot? Thanks buddy
Muncy
Would you drop any of Kendrys, K.Calhoun, Berrios, Cobb, D-Holland, or R.Lopez for any of the following: Davidson, Piscotty, Smoak, Chen, Gant, Heaney, Lucchesi, Stroman? I get 4 adds a week, and I also need at least one drop to activate Mallex unless I drop him. .
C – Ramos, 1B – Kendrys, 2B – Carp, 3B – Suarez, SS – Machado, OF – Stanton, Cain, Mancini Util – Rendon, Bench – K.Calhoun, DL – Mallex, Abreu
SP – Berrios, Buehler, Cobb, Corbin, D.Holland, D-Rodriguez, R.Lopez, Wheeler
RP – Davis, Giles, Jeffress, Hildenberger
14 teamer with OPS, hits added. keep 5 hitters a year (2 OF max, 1 each from 3 other positions)
C wieters (getting a replacement here soon too)
1B goldy
2B gone varnish (SS)
SS anderson
3B andujar
MI lowe (SS/LF)
CI rhysus (1B/LF)
LF brantley
CF mallex
RF stanton
OF puig
util muncy (1B/2B/3B)
BN (max 12 SP starts per week is why this many bench bats): schoop (2B/SS), otani (espn so both hitter/pitcher), a.jones, mcclutchin’
to activate mallex i have to drop one of jones or mcclutchin’ (jones i added when mallex got sick)
Jones
Apologies if this is a re-post from somewhere; not sure if my post went through. I’m in my last week before playoffs.
Question: Would you drop any of: Kendrys, K.Calhoun, Berrios, Buehler, Cobb, Hildenberger, or D.Holland for any of the following: Davidson, Piscotty, Smoak, Chen, Gant, Heaney, or Lucchesi? I get 4 adds per week, and I also need to make at least one drop to activate Mallex.
C – Ramos, 1B – Mancini, 2B – Carp, 3B – Eugenio, SS – Machado, OF – Stanton, Cain, K.Calhoun, Util – Rendon, Bench – Kendrys, DL – Mallex, Abreu
SP – Berrios, Buehler, Cobb, Corbin, D.Holland, D-Rodriguez, Wheeler
RP – Davis, Giles, Jeffress, Hildenberger
Sorry, not sure why this didn’t go through before… Kendrys for Piscotty
Lose Rondon for Alvarado?
Also, Chapman is in DL spot, but Jose Abreu is a FA…Drop Chapman for Abreu as DL stash?
Yes, grab Alvarado
Don’t think Abreu’s doing much of anything this year, but sure you can try it
20 teamer h2h redraft. team has been top 3 all year, but is slipping from 1 down to 3 lately. playoffs next week. i’ve always gotten at least 2 in this league every year (had stanton pretty much all years too). OPS, hits, slugging, total bases added
C hedges
1B cron (too much off time)
2B jedong (SS)
SS anderson
3B box wine (1B/OF)
OF (3) stanton, rhysus (1B), pollock
util o’neill
BN rosario
rosario i see is a drop, and o’neill has to be too, ozuna starting twice in a row. here’s options: quinn, melky, cave, frazier (PIT), mullins, ronny rod (DET), teoSCAR
Agreed, Frazier, Teoscar, but depends on needs
@Grey: figured frazier was the 1st (plus that would help be a backup for dejong/anderson) was between quinn (but he doesn’t play everyday either, but most)/teoSCAR maybe cave were my guesses.
Yeah don’t mind Quinn but runs and PT
JUpton hit the ww—drop Puiggy for him?
Sure, but Upton may not play for a week
SON likes Leake at $20 on Wednesday with a home start v. BAL.
Two things giving me pause:
1) Orioles have been one of the hottest teams recently
2) Leake has been bad his last two times out (@OAK, @ARI)
SON usually doesn’t spit out high numbers like this, but I’m in the playoffs and I tend to overanalyze every start.
I wouldn’t mess with Leake
@Grey:
Looking ahead to next week, in a weekly H2H format where your lineup is locked for the full week, would you rather roll with :
Dahl (4 @COL, 3 @SF)
Souza (4 @COL, 3 @HOU)
Souza
Grey, Vizcaino was dropped in my league. I have Minter and Winker. Would u drop Winker for Vizcaino or hold?
I’d drop Winker for Vizcaino
Yo Grey, How many fantasy championships you goin’ for in these final weeks? Rooting for you!
A. Norris has had two straight blowups, but he’s actually bounced back nicely before. I think I’m going to pick up Hicks and put him in an SP slot – think he gets some save chances in these final weeks?
B. Would you take Alvarado or Fry over Norris for the final stretch?
D. My SPs are Clevinger, Ryu, Marquez, Gray, Eflin, Velasquez, and Holland. I have Morton and Stripling on the DL. Would you take any of the following pitchers over those on my staff currently: Giolito (@KC and @Bal next week), Matz (vs MIA and @Phi next week), or Peralta (not sure about his starts since he got demoted). I guess the short way to ask this is who would be the bottom 2-3 out of all of these guys? (Sorry for not listing the matchups for everyone – I’m too lazy)
E. I’m thinking about picking up Yarbrough – his non-starts have been pretty good. However, over the next couple of weeks, the Rays will be vs CLE, vs As, @Tex, and @Tor. Would you roll the dice on him? Could be some tricky matchups…
I’m competing for 6 leagues, all very close… Need all help I can get!
A. Yes, I grabbed Hicks
B. Fry
D. Giolito and Matz over Holland and Eflin
E. Wouldn’t mess with him
@Grey: A billion thanks to you, Grey.
A+B. So just to confirm, drop Norris and pick up Hicks and Fry?
D. Does Eflin vs WSH, vs NYM, and @ATL or Holland vs ATL and @SD change your mind at all?
E. Gotcha
A/B, Yeah
D. Those sound decent, no way of really knowing without matchups
@Grey: One more clarification on B. Would you also take Alvarado over Norris or nah?
Nah
How would you rank Bader,Souza,Dahl and Franmil for ROS? Thanks to the Master Fantasy Lothario.
Souza, Bader, Dahl
Do we like Freddy Reyes, mondesi, or Brandon Lowe to replace makiel Franco, I only have 3 moves for the rest of season…
Freddy? Mondesi’s solid if you need SBs, but I’d hold my moves
Who you banking on for a playoff run? Trey Mancini or Wil Myers?
Mancini