One Man’s Trash: A Hill in Beantown

September 29, 2015 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 24 Comments

One of the most unlikely stories of the 2015 season has been the surprising renaissance of 35-year-old southpaw Rich Hill (+30.9%), who was ESPN’s most added player over the past week. In three September starts, Hill is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 30/2 K/BB ratio over 23 innings. He’s logged 10 strikeouts in each of those outings, which represent his first MLB starts since 2009 due to injuries and control issues (5.95 BB/9 from 2010-14). In terms of impressive comebacks, this one has to rank somewhere between that of Super Mario (the hockey player, not the plumber) and Kim Kardashian. Hill is scheduled to pitch once more this season on Thursday in The House Next to the House That Ruth Built in what appears to be a tough matchup for the comeback kid. However, the Yankees have the 4th worst team wOBA (.303) in MLB during the month of September thanks to a pedestrian .232/.302/.394 triple slash line which places them in the bottom four in each of those individual statistical categories during that span. I think that the Bombers will have some trouble with the curve. I know that Clint Eastwood baffles me these days.

Here are a few other significant adds and drops in fantasy baseball over the past week:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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See all of today’s starting lineups

#	MLB Starting Lineups For Sat 8/16
	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

RCL Update, Week 26: Are You High On Windex?

September 29, 2015 | Our Leagues | 67 Comments

by: J-FOH

I usually talk about the top-10 below, but I had to make it the lede today. This week it’s about Winning, and the High Index leagues smoking everyone in the standings. That includes our FML Grey… who will be in here to gloat in 3… 2… go. You are the champ of the perts and to be honest, it’s been one of the hardest stretch run battle I’ve played in a long time. I tip my cap to you tough. Enough about Grey, this is about you. Six of the top-ten come from leagues with an index of 109 or higher, including three from the FCL, two from the ECFBL, and one from the Champions League. Way to go guys. Hey, has anyone caught Narcos on Netflix? I watch that show with the anticipation of a kid for Christmas. *feels tap on shoulder* Hey, what’s up Octavio? Sorry guys, Octavio is my new intern I got from the local adult night school. I don’t care if it looks weird to just change topics like that. I’ve written enough about these guys all year and I want to squeeze in my love of Narcos before my last post. If you do anything this off-season, besides read Razzball everyday, you should watch Narcos on Netflix. [Jay’s Note: It stars Oberyn Martell for Godsakes!] If a well done in depth dramatization about the rise of Pablo Escobar strikes your fancy then I suggest you check it out. Until then, let us get to the update…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Come Sail A Ray With Me

September 29, 2015 | DraftKings | 21 Comments

by: MattTruss

I said it last week and I’ll say it again, if you’re still reading our DFS content at this point in the game, then you most likely had yourself a profitable season. Congrats and come on into the comments and brag about your successes. Let’s see if we can finish off the season on a high note and maybe win a little extra spending money before the holidays. Also, if you’ve done well this season (Over $600 in winnings) you’ll need to set a little aside for taxes, you know, if you’re into paying those.

Now, come sail away with me to Arizona. Don’t worry, it’s a “dry” heat. Once we’re there, we’re going to check out Robbie Ray. Ray checks in with a very affordable $6,900. Let’s face it, he’s affordable because he isn’t really that great, but, and it’s a big but, he’s got a couple things going for him. Well, he’s got one thing going for him and that’s his opponent. The Rockies are such a beautiful disaster away from Coors field, that they can make even make the most mediocre pitcher look amazing. Away from home, the Rockies have the lowest team OPS in the majors, about 50 points below league average as a matter of fact. Even more in Ray’s favor is his handedness. The Rocks are bottom five in team OPS vs. Lefties. Add this up and you can see a lefty on the road is death on the Coors crew. It makes sense really, their only scary RHB is Arenado. Does DJ LeMahieu strike fear in your heart? Wilin Rosario maybe? I thought not. Ray’s been fairly respectable in his own right. His 3.53 ERA is right in line with his 3.55 FIP and his 8.3 K/9 is nothing to sneeze at. Ray’s biggest issue is being a little WHIP-y at times and that can get him into trouble. I think this match-up really sets up well for him though and he can be a low-priced star for tonight’s slate. Let’s look at a few more potential stars tonight:

New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 7 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?

N-n-n-n-n-n-Nats All, Chokes!

September 29, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 186 Comments

by: Grey

“Hello, and welcome to the Izod Center in downtown East Rutherford, New Jersey! We’re only 35 minutes from New York! On tonight’s fight card, we have everyone vs. George Zimmerman and, our main event, Bryce Harper vs. Jonathan Papelbon! Harper has him on height by a good six inches, if you count his mohawk. They’re both tipping the scales like heavyweights, if you count their egos, but Papelbon has the reach by three and a quarter inches since Harper will be fighting off his heels, as he’s been known to do his whole career. The Loafer vs. The Soft Shoe! The Cock vs. The Guy With A Haircut That Makes Him Look Like A Cock! The Veteran Who Plays The Game The Right Way vs. The Upstart Who Just Plays The Game Better Than Anyone Else. Hosting this event is Donald Trump. Making this country great again like he did in Atlantic City!” Yesterday, I said, these two mix like vinegar and douche, and then the Nationals made sure they wouldn’t have to mix at all. Papelbon was suspended for the rest of the regular season, which opens the door for Blake Treinen, Matt Thornton and/or Casey Janssen. That’s the order I’d grab them for saves, but like a carrot in minestrone, it’s real dicey. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Pitcher Profile Does Some Deep League, Late-September Scouting

September 28, 2015 | Pitcher Profiles | 10 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Sure there’s roto leagues wrapping up, some final H2H matchups, but the Pitcher Profile isn’t going to help too many owners scout for the remaining 6 days of this season. We are doing a little more looking ahead! Progressive scouting is my term for this edition – makes me feel all front-office-y!

So I decided to find another off-the-map “prospect” to break down – Rays maybe long-term long-relief/maybe full-time starter next year, Matt Andriese. I know what you’re thinking… Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! But what really intrigued me was his AAA numbers this year. In 12 starts (13 app.), 3-3 with a 2.35 ERA and 69 K in 65 innings. He did have a 1.15 WHIP, but then in the deeper numbers it’s even more intriguing – 9.55:1.38 K:BB and all with a .344 BABIP, giving him – wait for it – a 1.94 FIP. Whoa! Given it’s a pretty small sample, but he’s been decent in 62.2 innings in the Majors as well. I don’t really remember seeing any of those innings this year in the Majors (and I don’t think I saw him the few Durham Bulls games I’ve been to this year), so I decided to break down his spot start yesterday to see if there’s some deep league sleeper appeal for 2016:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

SAGNOF Special, Week 26: Sprechen Sie SAGNOF? aka Razzball and Me

September 28, 2015 | Closers, Steals | 3 Comments

by: RotoLance

I don’t have a long history with Razzball. I either found the site for the first time or became truly interested in them for the first time (I don’t remember which, the latter I think) when I found this old Rudy post on rating different baseball projection systems via Google search heading into the 2013 baseball season. I quickly decided to make Steamer projections my goto, which led me to targeting Anthony Rizzo and Paul Goldschmidt in my 2013 home league (a H2H OBP league) auction. (Goldy had a great year, Rizzo not so much, I only ended up with one of them.. guess which one).

Here’s how I came to write for Razzball…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Draftkings: Cards Get Clipped By The Happ Slapp…

September 28, 2015 | DraftKings | 3 Comments

by: Teddy Heater

I’m not sure if DK has been monitoring what J.A. Happ has done since being traded to Pittsburgh, but he’s at the bargain price of $7,600 for tonight. How about we keep it a secret between us Razzballers? Since being traded in early August, Happ is 6-2 with a 2.43 ERA while striking out 58 batters in 48.1ings. His first start as a Pirate he let up 4er and Tuesday night, in Coors, he gave up 3er, but he still K’d 8 over 5.1ings. Throw out those two games and dude looks like Greinke with a sparkling 1.39 ERA and 44K’s over 38.9ings. Happ gets the Cards tonight which may seem like a bad matchup, but they’re only batting .232 and they’re the NL’s numero uno in strikeouts versus LHP. Happ’s resurgence after making the move isn’t a surprise as the Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage is a friggin genius whisperer on a whole different level. This guy is so great that instead of buying him a few beers, a brewery named a beer after him; for realsies, check out the Bucco Blonde. At a relatively low sticker price of $7,600 you can match up Happ with Mad Max at $12,000 or the aforementioned Greinke at $13,100. Let’s keep the good times rolling and raise our pints to Ray Searage and The Happ Slapp!

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?

Homer Aura Bourealis

September 28, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 422 Comments

by: Grey

The other day I made the best purchase of my life (okay, of the last week). I bought a thermometer that has a laser beam on it. You shoot the laser on the object and it tells you its exact temperature. It’s meant–Actually, I don’t know what it’s meant for. I bought it because our oven seems to be about 100 degrees off. Though, I got it five days ago and I haven’t used it for the oven once, but have measured the temperature of about twelve hundred other things. The coldest drinking water I’ve had was 49 degrees at this pizzeria around the corner from my house. Oh, yeah, I’ve been taking this out with me. I’ll go up to people on the street, shoot their temperature and be like, “You have a fever, you might want to take an aspirin.” I like to put on my flip flops when they’re between 68 to 71 degrees. Any colder and it stiffens my toes, any warmer and it raises my body temperature a full .4 degrees. I know this because I have a thermometer with a frickin laser on it! So, how does this relate to fantasy baseball? I was watching Justin Bour slug his 23rd homer yesterday, his 2nd of two homers in the game, and I shot his temperature. A blistering 109 degrees! Doode’s fahrenhot! Doode is straight butter that a professional hibachi chef puts on a sizzling lobster tail! Doode’s Kurt Russell in Backdraft! Yes, you should own him. In fact (Grey’s gonna say more!), you should’ve owned him for the last few months. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Creeper of the Week: No Mas Quiero Creepers

September 27, 2015 | Creeper of the Week | 61 Comments

by: J-FOH

This is it, no mas quiero creepers. I’ve been pondering today’s post all week as we get to the most unpredictable week for playing time. As teams clinch, guys will get days off, all willy-nilly. Any little ding, bruise, ouchie or pending surgery will be a first class ticket to the bench. Yeah I’m looking at you Brauny, you are dead to me for making me drop you everywhere. I’ll throw a few names that could be good to grab but saying their playing time is secure can turn into a fools errand. If you are in a weekly league, then I hope to God you make the right choices and I will do everything in my power to help you. If you are in a daily league, then you got a chance. And if you are in a moves limit league, you can go tell your commish to f*ck themselves courtesy of Jack Full of Hate. I hate moves limits leagues more than H2H. *Intern taps me on shoulder and whispers into ear* Oh… I see, H2H and moves limits are usually linked together. Thanks Octavio. Sorry guys, Octavio is my gardener-slash-intern that is trying to break into a new career. He also makes a mean Cadillac Margarita. Okay enough about Octavio, let’s get to creepin…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ambulance Report, Week 26: The Final Countdown

September 27, 2015 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 4 Comments

by: Davidwiers

Perhaps it’s my inner Gob Bluth, but with just a week’s worth of games to be played, this truly is the final days of the season. Already the Royals, Blue Jays, Cubs, Pirates and Cardinals have wrapped up a piece of the postseason, yet four of those five teams are still jostling for position with only the Royals able to rest some of their players without fear of slipping to the Wild Card games. Today’s Ambulance Report will first focus on the teams in the postseason.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings: Fly Little Birdie, Fly

September 27, 2015 | DraftKings | 2 Comments

by: Bigfoot Paul

With just over 1 week to go in the regular season it is important to keep a close eye on starting lineups. Many playoff contenders are playing their regulars, but it’s the non-contenders that you really have to watch. Luckily for us, DraftKings lets you switch out players up until each player’s game time. However, with today’s slate, I have my eyes focused on the first game of the day between the White Sox and Yankees in New York. The Yankees are 4 games back behind the Blue Jays in the A.L. East, so we know they’ll have their regulars out there. The visitors are sending a rookie pitcher to the mound who was formerly their top pitching prospect last season. Of today’s 15 games, he is the least expensive pitcher. Take a hint, DraftKings thinks he’ll get destroyed, and so do I. Today’s most confusing and interesting player is Greg Bird. Out of all the hitters on the Yankees, he’s the most expensive at $4,400 and that is $300 more than the second most expensive Yankee, Alex Rodriguez. The three Yankees’ outfielders are all under $4,000. Bird had hit a home run in three straight games last week, but hasn’t done much since. So does that really warrant him being the most expensive Yankees’ hitter? Certainly not. I don’t think Bird is necessarily a bad play, but knowing that information, I may shy away. I will stack Yankees in an entry though, mostly consisting of the three other infielders, and an outfielder, not to mention their perfectly priced pitcher. I really like the matchup. Read on and check out some of my other DraftKings picks for today.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Breakout Prospects: NL Central

September 27, 2015 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 16 Comments

by: Mike

There are just two divisions left to cover in our breakout prospects series. These are players who “broke out” statistically in 2015 and were either ranked in the bottom half of their team’s preseason top ten list or didn’t make their team’s list at all. Some of these names will look familiar and have already been scooped up in many dynasty formats. Others may still be flying low enough that their big performances have gone undetected. Today we’ll look at five breakout prospects from the NL Central.

Please, blog, may I have some more?