No Cracks In This Win Shields

May 13, 2016 | Uncategorized | 327 Comments

Big Game James went into Milwaukee and clinched at least a 16 win season for the Padres. Clutch!

This was a flashback Shields start – 7 IP, 9 K, 1 BB, 0 HR. I thought the NL would extend his fantasy acehood a little longer – like it did for Jon Lester and his fried chicken and beer buddy, John Lackey – but Shields’ BB and HR rates spiked insanely last year.

The HR rate (a near league-leading 1.47 HR/9 IP) was due to regress a bit (now around 1 HR/9 IP) but his BB rate is still 3.6/9 which relegates him to streaming in shallow leagues and an Ian Kennedy-like SP4/SP5 in 15-team leagues. If he could regain his control, he has a shot at a 3rd act as a KaBoB.

So Grey handed me the roundup keys on a short slate Thursday. I’m so excited. I’m so scared. I’m so tired (I’m shocked Grey hasn’t moved to Hawaii yet so he doesn’t have to write at night). I asked him to return the favor and give me a title and all he came up with was, “Brooke Shields Is Handsome” and “The Shields Start Was RiChiklis”. Oy.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Learn more about our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Subscriptions!

The best daily/weekly player rankings/projections (hitters, starters, and relievers) for each of the next 7-10 days + next calendar week starting Friday. Kick-ass DFS lineup optimizer and projections for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo!.

I don’t have enough spam, give me the Razzball email newsletter!

Weekly Razzball news delivered straight to your inbox.

See all of today’s starting lineups

#	MLB Starting Lineups For Sat 8/9
	ARI \| ATH \| ATL \| BAL \| BOS \| CHC \| CHW \| CIN \| CLE \| COL \| DET \| HOU \| KC \| LAA \| LAD \| MIA \| MIL \| MIN \| NYM \| NYY \| PHI \| PIT \| SD \| SEA \| SF \| STL \| TB \| TEX \| TOR \| WSH \| OAK

Bear or Bull: Is the Reign of King Felix Coming to an End?

May 12, 2016 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 25 Comments

by: Big Magoo

Felix Hernandez has unquestionably been one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball in recent memory. His accomplishments over his 11+ MLB seasons are astounding. Six-time All-Star. AL Cy Young Award winner (2010) and two-time runner-up (2009, 2014). Led MLB in wins (2009) and ERA (2010, 2014). Threw the first perfect game in Seattle Mariners franchise history. On April 23rd of this season, he logged his 2,163rd strikeout as a Mariner to become the franchise’s all-time leader in career strikeouts (surpassing Randy Johnson). All of this from a player who just turned 30 years old a little over a month ago. This season, he’s come roaring out of the gates once again with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through seven starts. He looks to be steadily advancing onto the path to Cooperstown. But is he still the same dominant pitcher that he’s proven to be throughout the majority of his career?

Let’s take a look at King Felix’s profile to determine if his dominant run is likely to continue throughout the 2016 season. Here are a few observations:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Guess Who, The Fantasy Baseball Guessing Game: Round 4

May 12, 2016 | Y to Z | 39 Comments

by: malamoney

It was Professor Plum with a baseball in the visitors locker room. Clue was a pretty sweet game back in the day. I say “back in the day” because I haven’t played it in over twenty years. I guess it’s still the same game, but I just don’t play it anymore. And if I did, I probably wouldn’t admit it. This game is a bit different. However, the goal is somewhat similar. Guess the players I am about to describe. For those of you that missed out on the first three rounds you can find out how this game works by clicking here.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

2016 REL Dynasty League Update: Week 6

May 12, 2016 | Razzball Elite League | 10 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

I’m going to rename this season the “Fury” year. As in, it’s a full-blown tank for me! What a good movie… Anyway, the REL keeps trucking along with some big FAAB buys in the AL that is still being dominated by the Orange Birds. Bird of Prey! Although the pair of Sox teams are clippin’ at their talons… In the NL, it’s all Nats and Cubs with the Nats getting 20 Ks from one player last night. Yeesh. Here’s how week six went down in the 2016 REL League:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Play the Ker-sure Thing

May 12, 2016 | DraftKings, Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 1 Comment

by: wheyen3

Last week I advocated a Jacob deGrom start against the Padres. I ensured all of you that playing the sure thing ace on the day was worth the price. Any of you who played him know I was wrong, as he struggled. Guess what I’m going to do this week? Advocate playing the stud again. One guy has been in a class of his own the last few years, and his name rhymes with Blayton Jershaw. There is simply no reason to leave him out of your DraftKings lineups on Thursday, as there are enough lower priced hitters to make his high price totally workable. It’ll be a lot more regrettable to leave Blayton’s twin out of your lineup than to have him in it; this choice should be the easiest one you make on Thursday. Clayton Kershaw has basically been in a league of his own the last few years. Many people will be turned off by his exorbitant price of $13,300, but you should not be. There is no better option on this slate, and he faces a Mets lineup that isn’t exactly a powerhouse and Clayton should continue to show just how good he is.

New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 10 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Showtime For Skin ‘Em Max

May 12, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 625 Comments

by: Grey

Owning Max Scherzer last night was like watching the Showtime classic, Emmanuelle, the erotic thriller starring Emmanuel Lewis as Webster Schlong and Alex Karras as George Papadopepuss. Through 6 IP, Scherzer had 13 Ks and was only 77 pitches. On the Tigers broadcast, Jimmy Leyland said, “(Scherzer) looks spent.” Who’s a better judge of that than his ex-manager? If only the Nationals had Jose Valverde to come in. But then Scherzer went out in the 7th and had a 1-2-3 inning with two Ks and it was if Shannon Tweed had appeared next to Emmanuel Lewis and this erotic thriller became more elaborate, convoluted and spectacular! Then Scherzer came out in the 8th and struck out three more guys to put his total at 18 Ks. Then, came the ninth. Now, no guy has a shorter hook than Emmanuel Lewis, but no manager has a longer hook than Dusty. Scherzer could’ve been on pitch 175 and he would’ve been out there to finish it, and finish the Tigers he did. Final line: 9 IP, 2 ER, 5 baserunners, 20 Ks. He is still giving up homers though…. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

One Man’s Trash: Drury Slithers His Way Into Relevance

May 11, 2016 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 48 Comments

by: Big Magoo

Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Brandon Drury (62.0% owned; +41.5% over the past week) is this week’s most added player in ESPN leagues. If you thought that the DBacks traded all of their promising prospects to the Braves in the Shelby Miller trade earlier this offseason, well, it’s understandable. Dave Stewart might have given up his firstborn child and Curt Schilling’s World Series ring in that deal, but Drury survived the exodus to make the big league roster and platoon with incumbent Jake Lamb at third base for the snakes this season. At least, that was the initial plan. Drury impressed so much in the early going that he quickly forced himself into the everyday lineup and has done everything in his power to stay there. Since April 17th (19 games), Drury has produced 13 runs, 6 homers, 11 RBI, and a .329/.354/.671 triple slash line in 82 plate appearances. Not too shabby. To keep his hot bat in the lineup as well as get Lamb some playing time against right-handed pitching, the DBacks have moved Drury all over the diamond (2B/3B/LF/RF) this season, which should make for some nice positional versatility (though he might not get enough starts at 2B to qualify there). Those are the positives. The negatives (for fantasy purposes) are that he doesn’t have much speed (0 SBs in his last 111 games between AAA and MLB), has limited on-base skills (3 walks in 109 PA this season; 2 walks in 59 MLB PA last season), and is more of a LD/GB hitter than a fly ball one (27.3% FB% in MLB). Drury’s ability to make solid contact should keep his average respectable (.270ish range), but he’s better served as a flexible bench piece in the Brock Holt mold rather than counted on as a fantasy cornerstone.

Here are a couple of other interesting adds/drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

2016 Fantasy Prospect: The Mighty Mighty Kevin Maitan

May 11, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 48 Comments

by: Geoff

If you were to refer to Kevin Maitan as the LeBron James of international baseball prospects you wouldn’t be wrong. How many 13 year old’s pop up on the prospect radar, and not only that, but inspire gushing articles almost immediately. To say he’s the buzziest July 2nd signing since Miguel Sano would be an understatement. This is the world we live in, a place where a 13 year old from Venezuela can demand the kind of attention reserved for AAU basketball standouts. All this to say the time has arrived , and the age of the Mighty Maitan is almost upon us. That’s right the July 2nd date is right around the corner, and a juicy crop of internationals look to test the water. Chief among them is Maitan, the 16 year old shortstop with the big power and even bigger reputation. Let’s jump into why he matters, and what sort of resources you should allocate to land him.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Oh Danny Boy

May 11, 2016 | DraftKings | 1 Comment

by: AskRotoBaseball

If there is one thing that rarely scares me in DFS, it is ace pitchers facing off against a high-powered offense. Clayton Kershaw against Toronto; so what? Noah Syndergaard against the Cubs–big deal. Outside of a road start at Coors Field, I don’t ever overthink using an ace. The question that needs to be answered is whether or not Danny Salazar is an ace. In some folks’ eyes, he certainly is. From other viewpoints, he’s a solid number two with upside. There is probably a third group that says he’s totally overachieving, but they’re wrong and their opinion doesn’t count. This brings us to Wednesday’s split slate. The Houston Astros have a very good offense with a ton of power. On the flip side, they lead the league with 318 strikeouts. It’s either boom or bust for the Astros and with a strikeout specialist like Salazar on the mound, I’m willing to bet on bust. Salazar is holding opponents to a .142 average and has struck out 43 batters in 37.2 innings pitched. Walks are still a problem for Salazar (3.8 BB/9), but he has negated that by allowing a league low 4.3 H/9. He is the best pitching option on the board with the most upside and it isn’t even close. Use him in both GPPs and cash games.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Triplorenzo Bombas

May 11, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 755 Comments

by: Grey

*walks into a Moroccan marketplace* I got me some Marra-CASH to spend! Hoo-ah! Wow, I sound a little like Al Pacino in my own head. Okay, I’m going to go over to that table that is filled with players to buy low. “Hello…*reads name tag* Djibooti, I see you’re selling slow-starting hitters for a deal.” “Good deal! Good deal!” “Well, I’ll be the judge of that.” *picks up Justin Upton* “This smells like skunk.” “No skunk! Good deal!” *goes through crates filled with albums that have a player’s face on them, lifts Lorenzo Cain* “How much?” “Djibooti need to check MLB Statcast.” Djibooti looks at his iPad, looks up and snatches Cain out of my hands. “No longer for sale!” “Damn, Djibooti, don’t put your emotions in a tagine and get them all heated.” So, Lorenzo Cain obviously was struggling mightily going into yesterday’s game, and, now, not so much — 3-for-5, 5 RBIs with 3 HRs (3, 4, 5). This is why I rarely sell low on struggling top 50 hitters. There was a reason they were drafted there in the first place. Now the buy low is going to be much more difficult too. “Djibooti, how much for David Price?” “You take for free! He’s yours!” Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

No Whammies!, Week 6: (:)

May 10, 2016 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 34 Comments

by: Son

According to the internet, a black hole forms when “any object reaches a certain critical density, and its gravity causes it to collapse to an almost infinitely small pinpoint.” We almost experienced such an event this past week when…

Bartolo Colon home run called by the Mets Spanish station WEPN: pic.twitter.com/eRdyvgI13U

— In Mets We Trust (@InMetsWeTrust) May 8, 2016

The internet almost broke from the amount of tweets and likes. The earth almost crumbled from the weight and time it took Colon to run around the bases. The jet stream was altered by the jiggles caused by Colon’s stomach. The euphoria and joy made the Grinch like Christmas. It’s curious that there were few mentions of PEDs. I mean, he did get suspended for 50 games in 2012 due to PED use and he just hit his first career homerun at the ripe old age of 42. I’m just saying. Anyways, I’m not here to be a pooper. I loved it. It was fantastic. Plus, there’s always this.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

RCL Update: The Week That Was, Week 5

May 10, 2016 | Our Leagues, Razzball Commenters League | 57 Comments

by: MattTruss

Welcome to the recap of week five. Week five already, that doesn’t seem possible. Five, as in the number of feet tall Jose Altuve is. The numbers this little man is putting up don’t seem possible either. After the 5th week of the season Altuve has 30 Runs (tied for first), 9 HRs (tied for 9th), 19 RBIs (still pretty amazing for a leadoff hitter), 13 stolen bases (most in the league), and a .325 batting average. In week 5 alone his drafters got 2 HRs and 4 SBs. I mentioned how Bryce Harper was a roto wet dream a few weeks back, but Altuve is making his 10 HRs/5 SBs look like pocket change. The best part for his drafters is they didn’t need a top 3 pick to nab him. Altuve had an RCL ADP of 10.79. He was taken as high as 4th overall by the *ahem* “Goat F*ckers” of Albright’s ECougarHarmony.com (great league name, questionable team name) and fell to as low as 18 where “cardinals # !” nabbed him in Razzballero2. Grabbing Altuve around pick 11 likely meant you could pair him with a power hitter such as Miggy, Abreu, Bautista, Chris Davis, or is you were lucky, Kris Bryant. That sure seems like a pretty nice start right about now. It got me to thinking, I wonder what impact drafting Altuve has had on the standings position. So, employing the help of the ever helpful VinWins we set about figuring out the average standings position of those teams that drafted Jose Altuve. The result? Glad you asked! Those teams that drafted Jose Altuve are currently on average in 5.88th place, we’ll call it 6th. They are also averaging about 68.5 standings points. Not too shabby, you certainly could be doing worse. By comparison, Mike Trout drafters are averaging 6.34th place and 65.84 points. As luck would have it our brand spanking new #1 team in all the RCL land was a drafter of Jose Altuve themselves, at #13 overall. They paired him with…Clayton Kershaw of course! Want to find out more about our new #1 team? Then come on down and check out the rest of the week that was, week 5.

Please, blog, may I have some more?