[brid autoplay=”true” video=”454428″ player=”10951″ title=”FantasyBaseball2019BuySellHold21″]

America’s greatest Indian was Sitting Bull. Maybe Pocahontas. Possibly Bob Feller. I’d accept Apu even. But on the list of great Indians, Jose Ramirez and the service he provided this year does not go unnoticed because I am here noticing it. First, he did awful to make me look like a genius for telling you to avoid him in drafts, then he did well after I told you to buy him in June. Jo-Ram did what others thought impossible:  made me look brilliant. Stop throwing roses at my feet, I’m allergic. Now, Jo-Ram’s gone for the year with a hamate bone injury. If he’s anything like Matt Olson, he’ll return in October and hit 35 homers in ten games. Glory be. He’s droppable in redraft leagues though, and Yu Chang will replace him. He was David Bowie’s favorite player. Time may Chang Yu, but Yu can’t Chang time. Prospect Mike just gave you a Yu Chang fantasy, and I didn’t run out to grab him, but, in deep enough leagues, I could see it. Prospect Mike did mention Aristides Aquino in relation to Chang, and I had to Chang my underwear. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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See all of today’s starting lineups

# MLB Starting Lineups For Mon 8/4
ARI | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHC | CIN | CLE | COL | DET | HOU | KC | LAA | LAD | MIA | MIL | MIN | NYM | NYY | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | TB | TEX | TOR | ATH | CHW | OAK | SEA | WSH

Brendan McKay has been taking a big crap on my last two articles and I’m learning that it’s hard to trust these kids. While they may have the spectacular minor league numbers, I want to see some production at this level before recommending them as streamers. That’s why everyone in this article will be prior streamers, as I really want to get back on track for you guys. With that in mind, let’s start with one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

With an 11-game Main Slate on FanDuel this afternoon we should have plenty of options from which to choose, yet one play stands out above the others. His name is Aaron. Aaron Nola, SP: $10,700. King of the wild frontier. As good as he has been and can be, Nola as our top play today is far more about his opponent than him.

Nola goes for the Phillies in Miami today, against the historically bad Marlins lineup. We usually want to start any pitcher facing the Marlins because, as hitters, the Marlins are a unique combination of bad this game has not seen in a very long time. They strike often. They do not walk often. They do not hit for power. They do not like green eggs and ham. All told, they are a dream matchup for opposing pitchers. Today is no exception with a far better than average Nola on the mound. We want to take full advantage of this ideal matchup.

I will personally have Nola in about half of my lineups, knowing full well it means giving up exposure to the more expensive stacks today. I’ll take my chances.

May the winds blow your hit balls out and keep your pitched balls in. Best of luck today, and keep reading below for additional picks of the day.

New to FanDuel? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The minor league season is winding down and so is my time here at Razzball. Indians prospect Yu Chang (3-for-5) blasted a pair of homers Friday night – his eighth and ninth dingers on the season. It’s been a disappointing year for Chang, mainly because he has above average power and yet hasn’t taken advantage of the homer happy Triple-A environment. You’re probably asking why I’m leading with him. Here’s why – prospect fatigue. Chances are a guy in your dynasty league is sick of Chang and is willing to sell him at a discount – believing he won’t amount to anything but a Quad-A type. But Chang is just two years removed from a 24-homer, 11-steal season at Double-A and his plate discipline is in line with his other MiLB years. Chang is now 24, and that’s another reason owners might be ready to give up. I’d be willing to take a flyer on him at the right price and hope I run into another Aquino or something even remotely similar. Here’s what else is happening around the minor leagues…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

At the trade deadline the Cubs acquired Nicholas Castellanos. While I expected to see a bump in his production and counting stats, I did not foresee him going into the subway, transported to another dimension by a wizard (who strangely looks like Harry Caray), and due to the purity of his soul gets imbued with the power to become Ernie Banks. The Wisdom of Solomon also seems to have made him a philosopher, as seen HERE. Now he’s taking everyone deep. On the awful Tigers Castellanos was going nowhere this year; he was barely above MLB average value and through 100 games he only had 11 home runs. Since joining the Cubs, in 20 games he already has 8. Nick is crushing it and just in time for Cubbies trying maintain their lead on the NL Central pennant, so let’s dive in and take a look…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

On this week’s show we’re joined by the world’s foremost English speaking expert on Asian baseball players, Tim McLeod. Tim shares his thoughts on two guy’s who might be coming over from the Orient for the 2020 baseball season: former MLB pitcher Josh Lindblom, who has now dominated the KBO for two full seasons, and 27 year old Japanese slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo. Don’t miss out on some fascinating info on this two possible gems from the far east.

We also discuss two more well know Asian pitchers in Yusei Kikuchi and Shohei Ohtani; find out what McLeod expects from both in 2020. Other topics featured on this show include: Jake Fraley, Aristedes Aquino, buy low prospect targets, Acuna vs. Trout vs. Yelich for 2020, and MLB playoff predictions. Open your ear holes and enjoy the wise Canadian’s knowledge!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

No Doubt

Name Team Opp. 1 Opp. 2
Justin Verlander HOU TB @TOR
Walker Buehler LAD @SD @ARI
Aaron Nola PHI @MIA NYM

I met him at 9:30 club in Washington DC
Where you drink a cold beer and it tastes just like a hoppy ale
N O L A Nola

He walked a batter every now and then
But the 3.02 2nd half ERA and 27% K rate had me wanting Nola
N O L A Nola la-la-la-la Nola

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Usually readers know my Saturday posts are all about value on the mound.  Sometimes it’s just not there.  Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and recommend the most expensive pitcher on the board, Mike Clevinger ($11,200).  There are just too many positives: He’s at home, where he’s gone 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA.  The Royals only hit .238 with a .594 OPS against him.  If that’s not enough, the wind is howling in at Progressive Field in Cleveland.  But if you think you won’t find value here you’re wrong.  Using the powerful tool of ISO over the past two weeks, along with the usual Razzball insight, we present Saturday’s all value team after a quick word from our sponsor.

New to FanDuel? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

That was the jam back in the day. Yes, I’m an old fart. If your head is bobbing front to back right now, salud. For those of you shaking your head from side to side, with the frown making you look like a clown….I kid. It’s an older song, so many may not have had the pleasure of experiencing it. No prob, but I know everyone is familiar with Will Smith, aka The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, aka Mr. Bad Boy, aka Mr. Independence Day, aka Mr. Man in Black, aka Mr. Enemy of the State, aka….woooo saaaaah, wooooo saaaaah. Mr. I’ve grossed $100 million in eight straight movies, Mr. I’m the most powerful actor in Hollywood…..Translation: Will Smith is/has/and will continue to be straight fire. No different than what Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers is doing. You know we hate talking about catchers here at Razzball, but 12 homers in 28 games needs to be addressed. I was shocked to see that he was 0% owned on the Razzball Player Rater. Can it continue and is he worth the pickup?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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At 22 years old, Kyle Tucker is nearly a 30/30 guy in Triple-A. There’s some other problems with baseball, but this should be the number one thing that is fixed. This is just about everything that’s wrong with baseball. No one should go 30/30 in the minor leagues. The last player to do that (who I remember) was Joc Pederson in 2014. The reason why it’s so rare and should be extinct? If you’re going 30/30 in the minor leagues, you should be in the major leagues! I don’t have a solution. I’m a problem spotter, not a problem solver. How many titles you want me to hold? Imagine another sport where one of your best players was artificially held down in an instructional league for a year or more. You can’t and it’s not a failure of imagination. Though, still fantasizing about an 18-year-old Alyssa Milano could lead one to that conclusion. The Astros have said Tucker will be called up in September. Will he play? Not 100% sure, but I’d guess he will most days because the Astros have room to play him over Reddick and will clinch a playoff berth. Now is the time to stash him in all leagues. Yes, the Astros will be going from a Reddick to a Tucker like Jame Gumb. Anyway, here’s some more players to Buy or Sell this week in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

There’s usually a several-week lull between the MLB trade deadline and September call-ups where things on the deep-league waiver wire are extra, extra dire.  I feel like that’s been true again over the last few weeks this season, though it also seems like we are getting a slow trickle of potential new talent joining major league rosters a little earlier than usual this year. Perhaps it’s because of the elimination of the second MLB trade deadline since teams know that they can’t add anyone outside of the organization via trade — or maybe it’s just my imagination — but I do feel like there are a few new interesting names to look at.  Hopefully this will be even more true over the next five weeks, and for now, let’s do what we do here and take a look at some players that might be on the radar of NL-only, AL-only, and other deep-leaguers.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Welcome to the start of the weekend DFSers! We have a 13-game slate on FanDuel this Friday. The Twins send their ace, Jose Berrios ($8,800), to the mound where he gets one of the best matchups a pitcher could ask for in the Tigers. In the second half, the Tigers have just a 70 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, which is good for 28th best in the league. They also have the highest strikeout rate against righties at 28.2%. Jose Berrios has always had better numbers at home, and this year is more of the same (3.27 ERA vs. 3.45). Berrios should have no problem cruising through the declawed Tigers. My only worry with this pick is at this price, Berrios is likely to be heavily owned. Let’s take a look at the rest of FanDuel’s slate to see if we can find a decent pivot.

New to FanDuelScared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray. It’s how we know you care!

Please, blog, may I have some more?