Carmen Mlodzinski optioned to the minors, and the Pirates called up Mike Burrows, which is a bizarre way to spell Bubba Chandler. MLB teams are so goofy with how they don’t promote their best players. Can you imagine any other sport being like this? “He’s our best running back, so he’s going to spend a year in the minors.” “You’d love to see that point guard lead this team? So, would we in 2028!” “Check out how this guy does ice skating with a puck (I don’t even know what hockey players are called). He’s the best ice skater with a puck, right? We think so too, so he’s gonna be doing it in the minor leagues for three years!” There was a report that the Pirates weren’t in the market to trade Skenes, they were building around him. Oh really? By signing Tommy Pham? Ridiculous. Oh, the Pirates tied the modern-era record yesterday by scoring four runs or fewer in 26 consecutive games. Great stuff all around. Any hoo! Mike Burrows is not terrible in his own right, 11.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 3.82 xFIP in 32 1/3 IP, but the command is ugly enough where I’d be careful in mixed leagues. He’s mostly slider and change without that sexy eh-eff fastball. He’s definitely no Bubba Chandler! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Jared Jones – Will undergo elbow surgery. That sucks, but he’ll be back in 10-12 months, or before we see Bubba Chandler.
Andrew Heaney – 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 2.91. Got too cute and benched Heaney in one league where I have him for Shane Smith. Number one pitfall all fantasy baseballers fall into is “being too cute,” second most popular pitfall is “thinking other people care about their fantasy teams.”
Dennis Santana – 1 IP, 0 ER, ERA at 1.77 saved this one, after Bednar saved Tuesday. A true timeshare, like the one your parents had in Puerto Vallerta that they traded one year for to be in Aruba and you went there and got kidnapped. Wait, I might be thinking of Natalee Holloway.
Brady Singer – 5 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners (4 BBs), 3 Ks, ERA at 4.88. Streamonator hates Singer’s next one like it’s a judge on The Voice.
Max Meyer – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 4.15. Has the prettiest peripherals you’ll ever see. Just immaculate. Like Madonna’s 1990 Word Tour. Does that mean everything? No, but if you can acquire Meyer, it’s not a terrible idea.
Cade Horton – 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 9 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 4.40, in 92 pitches. I’d like to see the only requirement for a pitcher to get drafted by an MLB team is they can get to the 7th inning if they throw 90 pitches. You don’t need to do a Maddux, I don’t need to see complete games. Just get to the 7th. You don’t even need to get an out in the 7th. Just get through the gee-dee sixth inning.
Daniel Palencia – 1 IP, 0 ER, ERA at 2.16, and his 1st save, after he attempted the previous one and blew it. That makes him the closer now. What’s that? Did I see how he converted this save? Yes, let’s not talk about that.
Kyle Tucker – 3-for-4 and his 12th homer, 2nd homer in two games. Tucker’s gonna need his own Brink’s truck after this season.
Carlos Santana – 3-for-7, 4 runs and his 5th and 6th homer. Oh wow, I forgot the Guardians and Twins still played baseball.
Gavin Williams – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.94. His walk rate is so bad. Audience refrain, “How bad is his walk rate?!” The only guy who walks less is on My 600-Pound Life.
Joe Ryan – 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 2.68. What was he doing following Ober when there was another game right after? Does this makes sense to anyone? Keep guys on schedule? An extra day of rest is that bad for Chris Paddack (5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 baserunners, 2 Ks, ERA at 3.98)? Swear I could manage some of these teams better.
Rhys Hoskins – 2-for-5, and his 7th homer, and 2nd homer in two games. I called him a schmotato yesterday, but I must offer a retraction. I don’t think he’s rostered in few enough leagues to get the schmotato tag. There’s no official cut-off for the schmotato tag, but it should be a guy readily available, and he’s not. This shizz keeps me up at night!
Chad Patrick – 4 2/3 IP, 1 ER, ERA at 3.23. I’m just glad Misiorowski wasn’t called up (it’s reverse psychology, shush yo’ fuss).
Adley Rutschman – 2-for-6, 3 RBIs and his 5th homer, hitting .213. Damn, he was worth the top 100 overall draft pick in your league. Good call. Nice work by your brains.
Tomoyuki Sugano – 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.07. Ks are only one category, but his Ks are so hilariously bad they give me giggle-fits. His K/9 is under 5! Josh Hader has the same number of Ks as him. Sugano has 52 2/3 IP, Hader has 21!
Tylor Megill – 4 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 10 Ks, ERA at 3.56. Hey, man, go easy on the strikeouts, would ya? Trying to keep you in the game for a win. Look at Sugano and do half. Do a Tomo Suga.
Francisco Lindor – 2-for-5 and a slam (10) and double legs (8, 9), hitting .283. Man, I wish I had a 1st rounder that just turned it on, rather than Gunnar who’s doing doodies in his diapers.
Garrett Crochet – 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 1.98. He struck out Soto three times, twice just looking at each pitch, which I respect. It’s like when you’re at a job where the boss is giving you crap about “hustling” and you’re like, “Okay, I will hustle, but I just won’t swing to have to hustle.” Only you’re getting paid $765 million in this scenario. It’s actually not like your job at all.
Nathan Lukes – 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer, 2nd homer in a week. Lukes, you are my waiver wire fodder? Nah, not really. This was his first hit since that homer last week.
Daulton Varsho – 1-for-5, 4 RBIs and his 7th homer. That’s in 16 games. Just thought you should know.
Kevin Gausman – 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 hits, zero walks, 9 Ks, ERA at 4.03. Because y’all clamoring for the info! “Ooh, Grey, handsome online person, give me the info!” I hear ya! Gausman is pitching slightly better than his ERA suggests and is showing incredible command, which is a big plus. He’s not pitching like an ace, if that’s what you were wondering.
Bryce Harper – 2-for-5, 2 runs and a slam (8) and legs (8). Look who got OCD!
Trea Turner – 2-for-5, 2 runs and a slam (3) and legs (11). About time Treat Urner was less woof and more dawg.
Nick Kurtz – 2-for-5 and his 3rd and 4th homer. Are you going to tell me he wasn’t washed after two weeks in the majors? He wasn’t completely finished? He was not the. Dot dot dot. Wurtz?
Lawrence Butler – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs and a slam (7) and legs (8). Drafted him for what he did in the 2nd half last year. Let that start now! Please!
Logan O’Hoppe – 2-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs and his 12th and 13th homer. Playing in Bing Bong Stadium and the balls go Bing Bong.
Zach Neto – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and a slam (8) and legs (8), 2nd homer in four games. It feels like we’re here every night talking about Neto doing something great. He’s played about half as many games as everyone else, and he’s nearing top 10 at shortstop on the Player Rater.
Jo Adell – 1-for-4 and his 6th homer. He must’ve felt at home in a minor league park.
Teoscar Hernandez – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs and his 10th homer, hitting .307. He missed time and he’s still on pace for 120 RBIs and 35 HRs. Teoscar is now slouch.
Dustin May – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 4.09. Heard recently that he missed last year because he need surgery on his throat, because he got a piece of lettuce stuck. Thought I’d pass that along in case anyone needs an excuse to not eat salad.
Ketel Marte – 1-for-4 and his 7th homer, 2nd homer in four games. Ketel Skelter! [makes devil horns with fingers]
Corbin Burnes – 7 IP, 3 ER, 5 baserunners, 8 Ks, ERA at 2.73. With how he’s pitching recently, he should’ve hurt his shoulder a while ago.
Ryan Yarbrough – 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 hits, zero walks, 8 Ks, ERA at 3.38. Of course, the Yanks are getting something out of him. If I were the Yanks, I’d be like, “Cheat to be on our team, and if you’re successful doing a ‘cheat-a-roo,’ then we will let you stay with us, and we will pay you gobs of money.”
Cody Bellinger – 2-for-4 and his 8th homer, 3rd homer in four games. Ever think about how his name is so close to Bellringer? Hmm, maybe it’s me.
Jasson Dominguez– 1-for-4 and his 6th homer. That it was a walk-off likely means nothing, but a little confidence in him from the team and in himself can’t hurt.
Jake Burger – 3-for-4, and a double slam (5, 6) and legs (1), 3rd homer since he returned from the minors last week, and 2nd homer since I gave you my Friday Buy column about him.
Jacob deGrom – 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 2.33. His last five starts: 31 IP, 36 Ks, 1.45 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and healthy. The last point the most important. By the way, as soon as he left the game, I knew he wasn’t getting the win. Now, it can seem like hindsight, but I promise you. Everything I know of deGrom was telling me there’s no way he wins.
Sam Haggerty – 2-for-5 and his 1st homer. Is that Yosemite Sam Haggerty? I know it’s not, but is it? Gosh, I haven’t seen him in some time. Thought he gave up baseball to raise alpacas.
Lenyn Sosa – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 4th homer. Launch angle on his homer was 43. It looked like he was using a driver. He hit the ball and the ball, and this is a technical term, loopity-looped. First time I’ve seen a real-life loopity-loop. An incredible feat.
Joshua Palacios – 1-for-3 and his 2nd homer. Joshua should be saying 100% of the time, “I’m sorry, I’m not my brother, Dick Palace.”
Tim Elko – 1-for-4, 2 runs and his 3rd homer. That’s on only 10 games. Shame he can’t make any contact otherwise, or walk. A two true outcome.
Shane Smith – 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at…Guess. You know he’s on the White Sux. You know you’d ignore Streamonator even if it suggested him. So, guess! Bzzt, wrongo! It’s a 2.36 ERA.
Logan Evans – 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.33. George Kirby’s returning today, so. Dot dot dot. I’m not sure that matters for Evans’s rotation spot, but, outside of AL-Only, I’m not sure you should care.
Leody Taveras – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs and a slam (2) and legs (8), hitting .220. Surprising numbers from Leody in his limited time? He has 40 Ks in 123 ABs. How’s that for more surprises? He was released by the Rangers. You’d think that alone would have the Mariners skeptical, but he’s now a starter for them.
Julio Rodriguez – 1-for-5, 3 RBIs and his 9th homer, hitting .231. A JRod homer before August is like finding a twenty in a pocket of pants you haven’t worn in a while.
Cal Raleigh – 2-for-3 and his 16th homer, hitting .249. Maybe because of the NBA playoffs happening right now, but I want to call him, Mo Cheeks.
Logan Webb – 4 IP, 3 ER, ERA at 2.67, but a huge ticker shock as the Royals scored a bunch of runs, but Webb had three more that were unearned. Lucky SOB. I want my opponents to get those runs!
Justin Verlander – Hit the IL with a pec injury. Weird, figured a 54-year-old would stay healthy all year. Shucks.
Heliot Ramos – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 9th homer, hitting .296. Quietly becoming a superstar. Trying to raise his profile, make him Helium Ramos.
Matt Chapman – 1-for-4 and his 9th homer, hitting .217. He’s a top 10 3rd baseman on the Player Rater. I’m talking to the people who keep asking about dropping him.
Patrick Bailey – 1-for-3 and his 1st homer, hitting .183. Giants now have produced another catcher that sucks, call him Busted Posey.
Salvador Perez – 3-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 3rd homer, hitting .223. “Hey, is it against FAA regulations if we slide a body out at 30,000 feet–Hold on! He moved! Perez is alive!”
Curtis Mead – 2-for-3, 2 runs and his 1st homer. Fun fact! Curtis Mead’s full name is Courtesy Mead after his dad’s first gratis drink at a Ren Faire.
Yandy Diaz – 2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and his 7th homer, hitting .254. Tying Gunnar Henderson in homers, which is a freakin’ embarrassment! I slept in my uniform last night! And you can’t show up?! C’mon! (Uniform is a pair of shorts and t-shirt.)
Josh Lowe – 2-for-4 and his 2nd homer. Also, in this game, Brandon Lowe (1-for-4) hit his 8th homer. Ah, back-to-back Lowe homers. Ain’t that cute. You ready for my bi-yearly rant about xBA? Brandon Lowe’s homer had an xBA of .010. This is the number one thing affecting society: xBA is dumb. If a ball goes out of the stadium for a homer, just make it a 1.000 xBA and cancel out everything else. They hit it out, it’s not catchable, how hard is this? It’s the easiest fix ever! I know why they don’t do it, it doesn’t mean I agree. It’s the opposite of agreeing! I don’t agree!
Taj Bradley – 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 4.61. Something to take into consideration with the Rays’ starters that will likely hurt them. Because of the summer rain and heat, they played 19 of their first 22 games at home and 47 of their 1st 59 games, then 64 of their final 104 on the road. That sucks. Road games are just never as good.
Hunter Brown – 5 IP, 5 ER, ERA at 2.04. I was wearing my camo brown, laying in wait, behind my couch, sneaking peaks at my TV, when someone came up behind me and f**ked me! Damn you, Regression Fairies!
Isaac Paredes – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs and his 9th and 10th homer, 2nd and 3rd homer in two games, and third and fourth homer in four games. Now I know why Ethel Merman was always raving about a Paredes.
Ronel Blanco – Has elbow soreness and flew back to Houston. That can’t be good for his elbow.
Someone dropped Yandy Diaz in my 12team points league? Do I find a place for him? My lowest droppable dudes are Volpe, c. Simpson, V. Scott II, heliot Ramos.
Thanks!
Got offered Vlad for my Teoscar. Is that close? Feel like I’d want more, Vlad can’t lift the ball!
In a keeper league, after netos 20/30 year, and now this, how high up would you rank Neto moving forward – top 5 SS?
Can you rank treat urner, PCA, chourio, Gunnar, Neto and caminero for future
How do you feel trading Adames for S. Gray in 6×6 dynasty? Struggling with this one. I would just roll with Cabellero/Seager at SS. I wanted to move Seager but then he got hurt.
With acuna coming back need help with who to drop. Larnach, Manzardo, or Tovar. Deep in those positions but don’t know who
Larnach
You mentioned how good Neto has been in about half of the time of other SS’s. He had shoulder surgery too. As far as I’m concerned, his doc should qualify for the Nobel prize.
Hahaha
Somebody offered me Yordan. Do you think he’s a good buy low candidate?
If he’s healthy
How low? His knees scared me in offseason when they talked about them. Now Im hearing he has issues gripping the bat.
Astros were so straight forward about Tucker we are all scared of whatever they say is x10 worse.
Mookie or riley and jung hoo lee
also would you want bryce for riley and jung hoo lee if mookie owner doesnt want to part with mookie ?
Riley side, it’s fair
Gavin Lux or Luis Garcia, Jr?
Garcia
Kurtz’s Statcast page is starting to change colour in an encouraging way. He’s done his share of swinging and missing but man, when he gets one he can handle he hits the ball beautifully.
We likey
@Grey: weekly roto redraft. who do you like between albies and b donovan?
Albies
Need to drop one ROS
Pages
Doyle
J Lowe
Thanks!
Pages
In a 10 team pts league, would go Burger or M.Shaw ros? Thanks
Shaw
Embarrased to ask: Util. Schneermannn or Willi Castro?
Castro
It’s amazing how visiting pitchers at Coors now feel like kids going to Disneyland
Ha, I know, so sad
Need speed
Drop Dominguez,Noot,Wynn or Kurtz to activate Lane Thomas?
Is that Austin Wynns? Prolly drop Dominguez
Ramos or Pages ROS?
Ramos
This week I started 3 SP in Coors without hesitation and got great results and now my mind is blown.
Ha, yup!
Exactly!
Grey, 12-team redraft, would you drop either Rice or Burger to pick up Taylor Ward? Or would you rather stay put? Thanks.
Rice
Man, am I glad my Severino stream is in a QS league…
Ha
You trading away Santander and Vest for Bellinger?
Yes
oak jr is a big gavin sheets guy. when i pick him up at school we do a recap. usually he sneaks looks at day box scores even though he’s not supposed to. he’s gonna be geeked. it’s on his good team, too.
Hitting the Sheets out of the ball — I have him on one team, I benched him on Monday for Moises Ballesteros, an emoji that melts into a puddle
sheets is having the season i wanted ohearn to have last year. .584 slug vs rhp, good power.
Yeah, I got goofy reaching for upside, Sheets has been solid
Not quite so exciting for the Hoffman owners though it looked like he went down and got a pretty good pitch.
been tough to get closers right this year
Please rank:
Will Benson
Jake Myers
Eli White
Benson….meyers
Saw you have Warren over Wacha in an earlier comment. In a QS league, would the order be Warren, Wacha, L. Henderson? Close?
Also, Mo Cheeks for Cal was well played.
Ha
No, close
Okay, I’ll guess. Wacha, Warren, Henderson?
Yup
Baty or Tyler Fitzgerald
Fitz
Is Ryan Pressly droppable at this point or would he get the next chance?
I wouldn’t mess with him
Redraft
Please rank Acuna, Julio, Mookie ROS
Thanks
Mookie, Jrod
Start Bibee @Detroit?
Sure
This is probably the first time people have paid more attention to Verlander’s pecs than his wife’s.
HA! nice
@Grey: weekly roto redraft. need a 2b as i traded away gleyber. pfaadt for brendan donovan or albies? both?
Either
1. Caballero or Gleyber at 2B?
2. Who are two most likely to hold value ROS of: Beck, Hoskins, Simpson, Stowers, Torkelson
Gleyber
Hoskins, Tork
Drop Schmidt or Gausman to activate Kirby?
Schmidt
Hey Grey,
3B
Junior Caminero or Jake Burger?
Thanks!
Junior
Kurtz worth an add in 12 team h2h
Drop varsho?
Sure
Hi Grey,
On Saturday, i have an intriguing matchup in that I have both pitchers against each other.
Arizona’s Merrill Kelly at St. louis against Matt Liberatore
1.Would you start or sit Kelly?
2. Would you start or sit Liberatore?
Thanks so much!!
Martin
Start Lib
Thank you!
No problem
Ronel Blanco – traded for him before I knew he was hurt – maybe Tommy John – I traded away Brandon Pfaadt for him – am I still better off with Blanco even if he is done for the year
Yeah
Hi Grey,
1.Would you offer Yelich plus Baz for Logan Henderson or just one?
Thanks
No
Thanks!
No problem
Not sure what is going on with Francis. Tipping pitches maybe? Fiddling with his grip? Every pitch is being tattooed other than his fastball which still gets hammered for HR.
For example: He has thrown 16 sinkers this year. EVERY one was a base hit. 1.000 BA against his sinker.
He threw 46 last year and they batted .182 against it. Every pitch is worse this year which seems pretty impossible to not be able to throw anything.
As I was writing this Sheets took him for another HR.
https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/a847b773-d877-486e-ab80-13a38b5884cf.mp4
Yeah, not sure, prolly a little bit of him just not being that good too
H2H points league ros:
Wilson Contreras, Adley, or Salvy?
RGreene, Butler, Ramos?
Willson…Greene
McLain for Soderstrom x Chase Burns in 6×6 OPS dynasty league?
Soder
in a 12 team keeper league would you drop vientos or caminero to pick up jake burger?
Vientos
12 team Roto with QS and OBP. Worth a flyer on Luis Gil, dropping time-shared Bednar? Drop slumping Gabe Arias for the returning Thairo Estrada? Thinking he might leadoff for Rockies and at least give me some steals.
Sure…and yes
Fernando Tatis with two multi hit games in the month of May….just sayin….
I like—I mean damn
Great update Grey – I had Neto and JDom going last night. That walk off was a bomb!
I’m in a 10 team H2H and there is so good arms available. Who are your top 3 from this group?
Warren, Birdsong, Gausman, Meyer, Lugo, Lodolo, Pfaadt
Thanks!
LG
Gausman, Lugo, Warren
I need to activate Happ. I activated Lowe and put Happ on the IL last week. Who is the cut in obp format jung hoo lee, manzardo, kurtz. I’ve tried to hold on to Kurtz in this league but have not started him. Manzardo has more hr this year, but his hr/fb rate has basically doubled. Hes been pretty much the same though outside of more walks and more barrels. EV has not changed. Not sure he keeps up the hr. Thanks
Manzardo
Hey Grey, better stream–thanks!
Dobbins at home vs Balt.
Soriano at home vs Miami
Soriano
Getting to the point where my batting average is a problem
Would you move Robert Jr/Vinnie for Yandy/Kwan ?
Quickly though you had Robert Irvine….I’d take Kwan side
Has the force abondoned Luke in Texas and is now with Armstrong? hold or drop Jackson?
Haha, I wouldn’t hold Jackson
Grey, where would Pfaadt slot in with these guys moving forward? Ranger, Warren, Wacha, Meyer
Last
Currently holding 5 IL guys (this after dropping Jones, Blanco, & Wesneski in the past few days). Who’s my next drop, if/when I need to stream a starter?
-Bryce Miller
-Spencer Arrighetti
-Reese Olson
-Dylan Crews
-Acuna Jr.
Arrighetti, Miller
Baty or Beck?
Beck
Bring back Bud Black! New manager keeps sitting Toglia at home. Toglia hits 277 with 840 OPS at home! Don’t they know I streamed him for the week?
Haha, I know
Need a closer so planning to pick up Palencia. Drop Nimmo or Crews or Zebby for him? (12 team keeper)
Zebby
Meirdoth or David Hamilton?
Meidroth
16 Team Dynasty, OPS, QS, K/9
A: Juan Soto
B: Devers, Crochet
Devers/Crochet, it’s fair
Thank for all the replies!
No problem
Doyle or Hays ROS?
Doyle
Who’s the drop to make room for Kirby, Tanner Bibee, Bubba, or Brady Singer?
Thank you sir
Singer
McLain continues to struggle and dropped in the order. Bench in favor of Meidroth, Caballero, KClemens, McNeil, ColtKeith?
Meidroth
Did you watch Survivor finale? Even though I was sick of a couple of the contestants by the end, I thought this was the most entertaining season in a while.
I liked it a lot more than I had liked past seasons, I thought it was fascinating how Joe and Eva thought it was between them, and it was clearly not about them…Few things did bug me, Mitch suddenly thinking he could play the game on the next to last day, Mary giving Eva a vote only because I liked Mary early on and felt like she’d respect game play more, and Shaunhin was a little histrionic on the jury — I think Kamilia prolly sold Kyle’s case to the jury at the Ponderosa more than we saw, because I’m not sure he really sold anyone the night of…overall tho, I did like ha
I liked that it showed that being nice and loyal and honest can get you far, but being nice-ish but way smarter and more clever can get you even farther ; ) The whole season it felt like we were seeing more true human interaction and decision making (for better or worse) w/o producer manipulation than usual. Final tribal also seemed edited to me like you said, like when someone asked that “secret move” question, why wouldn’t Kyle have immediately explained how he and Kamilla were controlling the game from the start rather than waiting for Kamilla to bring it up later? I loved how Shauhin was appreciating their gameplay and realizing how brilliant the move to get him out was, while Joe and Eva just looked confused as hell the whole time. Plus, I have a couple teams where almost every one of my starters is hurt so I was forced to play Heaney yesterday… so it was a pretty exciting Wednesday for me all the way around.
Haha, yes, agree with all of that…It did def. feel like there was less producer manipulation, like Joe and Eva were ride and die and they let them and Kyle and Kamilia were pulling strings and they let them…I do wish they had to pull more strings, but it felt like this was the easiest road to the end for any winner
Like Kristie and Mary were trying to get people to play, and everyone was like, nah, we’re good
Grey, should I throw the towel in and plan for 2026 or be patient and start to deal?
Slid from 9th place to dead last, 12th in the past 3 weeks, my team has caused me to take up smoking and drinking.
What to do? Damn league WILL NOT TRADE closers unless you give up HUGE bats!!!
12 Team draft 5×5
C- Ryan Jeffers
1B- Pete Alonso
2B- Matt McClain
SS- Trea Turner
3B- Isaac Paredes
OF- JROD
OF- Brent Rooker
OF- Jun Hoo Lee
U- Bo Bichette
U- Jacob Wilson
DL- Ronald Acuna Jr
Bench- Bryson Stott, Mark Vientos
SP- Michael King, Hunter Brown, Logan Webb, Jesus Luzardo, Brandon Pfaadt
RP- Trevor Megill, Robert Garcia
Bench – Griffin Canning, Yusei Kikuchi, David Bednar
DL- Bryce Miller
Not having closers would seem to be the least of your worries…your pitching looks pretty solid, and your hitting looks weak on everything…trade arms for bats?
TY will have to go for that. I just keep waiting for guys to turn into “what I thought” they would be but maybe waited too late I guess
If/when McClain,JROD, Rooker, Acuna start tearing it up can that help big time or am I just too late to the party?
Haha, JROD, Rooker, Acuna — yes, they will be something
McLain I don’t know
Thanks bro lova ya. Bdon has my back with McClain LOL take care
HAHA
“Re-faab-gurtation “. Dropping someone and FAABing them a week later
Haha
Grey
Burger or Austin Hays
Thanks
Hays
Thanks
Would you drop Adolis Garcia for Hays
10 team league
No
thank you
No problem
@Grey: re: Kurtz, is there a glossary term for dropping someone and then having to spend FAAB to pick them back up the following week? Seems like there should be.
Haha, yeah, there should
Hey Grey Awesome write up!
Butler or Heliot Ramos? Butler was rage dropped by someone a few weeks ago but I think Ramos is a stud! (limited moves league which is why they are still on WW)
Thanks,
Butler
Hi Grey. Sorry for the double post. Not sure why my previous post was cut off ? Anyway looking to fill a pitching spot. Civale ,Dobbins, or a reach with Brandon Walter in houston ? In the hitting side : sheets, baty, or barger ?? Thanks for the help
Dobbins, why does that seem like an AL-Only choice of SPs?
Baty
Coincidental. Just not much to choose from in my league. Not AL only. I’ll grab Dobbins and Baty. Thanks again.
Gotcha
Toglia is on the bench again. So much for a week of games at home. Would you cut him for any of these guys?
B. Lowe
Barger
Larnach
Simpson
I just need someone who will accumulate stats.
Sure, Lowe
Good morning Grey!
Ward continues the heater with 3 hits including 2XBH. Brenton Doyle continues to struggle- I’m worried his mental state has taken a big hit from his personal tragedy. His peripherals outside of his walk and K rate are very underwhelming. Plus the Rockies are god awful.
Trade robot now has Ward above Doyle. What say you?
My next question is, whether I should be holding Ward/Doyle as a bench bat over picking up Will Warren? I’ve already got another bench bat in Volpe who is behind Elly and Neto. Starting OF is Duran, Noot, Teoscar with Tork in my U spot. My pitching rotation is Webb, Joe Ryan, Castillo, Strider, Framber, Ranger Suarez, start 5. 10 tm QS OBP H2H.
Thanks so much!
Just looked at the Trade Analyzer because that didn’t sound rigth and it has Doyle ahead
Are you looking at the OBP sort? Ward is ahead there and OBP is my league.
Ah wasn’t looking at OBP
Do you also like Ward over Doyle in OBP then? And prefer Ward as a bench bat over Warren as an add to my rotation? Thanks again!
Nope…Ward over Warren is apples/oranges, don’t see the point of a bench bat
Hey Grey! Ive got Lawler not even playing 4 days a week… burger is available, should I make the switch? You see a bounce back? Thanks for the great articles!
Ten team mixed h2h
Yes, switch
Yes, why wait
Hi Grey. I have an open pitching spot . Civale coming off dl today ? Dobbins ? Or maybe
Burger over Arenado in a 12 team H2H Points League right Grey?
Burger
Hey Grey, working on a trade for H. Ramos. Do you believe he’ll remain a top bat ROS and is Yamamoto too much to give up? I’m pretty set on pitching but the optics of that deal seems like I’m overpaying.
Yamamoto is too much
Could use a little help in the pitching dept.
Drop Steer or Robert Jr for Max Meyer?
Steer
Morning Grey, can you rank these guys in a vacuum plz? W Warren, Ranger Suarez, M Meyer, Wacha
Ranger, Warren, Wacha
Thanks Grey! 1 more…where would Pfaadt slot in here?
Bryan Reynolds was dropped lose Trent Grisham, Luis Garcia, or hold?
Thanks as always
Garcia
Burger or Aranda?
Burger
16 Team OPS Dynasty League:
A: Juan Soto
B: Betts, Devers
Betts
Good morning Grey,
Yahoo h2h points 10 man, which side would you prefer
PCA and James wood
Or
Vlad and Sonny gray.
PCA
So in my dynasty league, the team that has Ohtani has entered a rebuild mode trading off some older players and picking up several prospects. How steep is too steep if I was going to attempt a trade for Ohtani? Start with Skubal as the main piece, add a young bat, and a prospect? I’d probably start with Skubal and two prospects, but I don’t think that will get it done. I’m flush with RF. Judge, Carroll, Acuna. I don’t have a lot of pitching as I try to trade guys away for hitters. Luzardo and Bubic would be the attractive guys behind Skubal. Any thoughts in general?
Skubal/Acuna would be great if I were rebuilding
That’s what I was thinking. Thanks
No problem
I’d like to pry Grisham away from his owner in my 12 team dynasty league. Hitters use OBP/SLG instead of AVG. Pitchers use IP, QS, ERA, WHIP, SV+HLD, and Kper9.
Which of my pitchers would be a fair offer?
George Kirby
Joe Ryan
Brandon Woodruff
Andrew Abbott
Nick Lodolo
Matthew Liberatore
Ranger Suarez
Griffin Canning
Max Meyer
Zach Eflin
Woodruff, Lib, Canning, Eflin
10 team, keep 6, H2H cats with K’s, OBP, QS, & K/9. Which side on the trade below:
A. O’Neil & Julio
Or
B. Elly & Yamamoto
Elly
O’Neil Cruz that is…if that wasn’t clear. Super tough call for me.
Would do you like better for saves: Luke Jackson or Palencia?
Palencia
Hey Grey!
I just noticed CJ Abrams was dropped in my league, claim him fast right?
Yes
Now that he can’t get at bats, deGrom’s W total will suffer….
Fun fact: when he first joined Mets, they had to use an upside down P for his last name on the jersey! Wow!
Haha
Been holding on Roman Anthony and Bubba chandler for about a month or so now in a redraft league, is it time to give up on the waiting game on either of them and open a roster spot or keep holding? Team is currently middle of the pack and am not in dire need of anything especially with a waiver wire that does not have many quality players.
They both could be up within 2 weeks
Yeah might as well keep holding if I’ve already waited this long, thanks for the reassurance
No problem
Please rank Toglia, Bohm, and Burger ROS (Yum!)
Burger, Bohm
Which C to add? Murphy, Naylor, Narvaez, Austin Wells, Jeffers, Kirk, Amaya, Dingler…
This league is standard offensive categories. Just looking to replace Heim if he hits the IL.
Murphy
As soon as I saw it was 90 degrees, with some wind blowing out in that little league stadium in Tampa, I had a bad feeling about Hunter Brown. Not to make excuses, he wasn’t sharp, but it’s gotta be deflating when the batter throws his bat down in disgust as the ball drifts over the fence. Playing in a stadium with no 2nd deck means nothing gets in the way of that wind. The Rays should never play a day game in that place, at night at least the wind blows in. Of course it didn’t really hurt Bradley so maybe Brown just wasn’t good. hey could be worse, not like I’m a Knicks fan for 30 years. I picked up Brett Baty. He started against Crochet last night, mostly to get his glove in the lineup (says all you need to know about Vientos’ D) but he wound up with an RBI single, and later a nice opposite field double off another lefty out of the pen. Baty is a way better athlete than Vientos,he’s playing very good defense, so if he hits, and they decide to start him at 3rd vs lefty’s, its good for him, and it means Vientos is now the DH most of the time. DH’s who don’t hit become bad fantasy baseball players. I’m hanging on because I think he will eventually hit homers, but thats also based on hopium. People talk about his BABIP last year,thats fair, but that didn’t have anything to do with the 26 homers in 117 games.
I hear ya
When Winker returns, vientos might find himself on the short side of a DH platoon.
Based on what you were saying on the podcast do you have Altuve below Sodestrom?
Yes
Can keep players for three years and this is the last year I can keep Judge. Would you trade Judge and Volpe for Ramos and Witt?
Yes
Hey hey Mr. Grey
Looking at the lineup, pitching is about figured out for the week:
I dropped Burger to activate Teoscar and happy I did but then a little remorse to Burger cooking some in the last couple days, while also noting Pages is slowing down
If I’m considering my OF of Heliot, Riley Greene, Pages and Teoscar in my UTIL for now, how much should I consider adding back Burger for Pages drop or maybe add Bellinger instead for Pages drop?
should I consider adding back Burger for Pages drop or maybe add Bellinger instead for Pages drop?
what?
Pages is slipping some of late.
Should I consider dropping Pages and readd Burger,
or drop Pages and add Bellinger,
or just hold Pages
Add Cody
Bet you won’t believe Bellinger got added some five min before I could recheck after my last comment
Guess I’ll figure if it’s worth adding Burger back as he’s heating up and Pages is cooling off
Appreciate ya Grey
No problem
drop, drop, droppity doo
Re: xBA, the one the really bugs me is the homer that would go out of 30/30 stadiums but has an xBA below 1.000. That’s a no doubter being converted into a doubter
Any homer should be 1.000, they’re not in a metaphorical stadium, they’re in an actual one where the ball left the field of play, drives me nuts
I have a different take on the TB starters. I think getting out of that band box in the second half is going to improve their ratios and I’m looking to pick up one or two of them soon.
Maybe but starters in general are not as good on the road
Simply put, hockey players can be forwards, defensemen, and goalies. And similar to outfielders, forwards can be right wingers, centers and left wingers.
CBS Cares
Ha
Also, no can confirm no running back in NFL history has been sent to the minors
Bo Jackson was! He played 50+ games in AA in 1986.
Do you prefer Lux or Baty at 2B in an NL-only?
We count OBP, by the way, instead of AVG.
Baty
Drop Vientos or Altuve for Max Meyer? It’s a 10 team H2H and the Albies, Altuve and Vientos IF is killing me.
Vientos
Good morning. Agree with you about most pitchers, even ones with good ERAs, not lasting 6 innings. Hurts QS obviously, but also Ws.
Feeling good about my trade of Semien for Burnes so far.
Question time (redraft, 12team, H2H-QS,K,ERA,Whip,SV,HLD):
Thanks.
Is Cam Smith worthy of a roster spot in 12 teamer 5×5 obp vs avg? Would you drop Yaz for him?
No, drop
@Grey: weekly roto redraft. Gleyber and Noot for Chris Sanchez and Grisham? Which side? Fair-ish?
Sanchez it’s fair
start the following?
R Suarez @ COL
J Flaherty vs CLE
Yes
Yes, yes
Neto or Tovar?
Neto
12 team, 5×5 roto
1) Would you make any swaps on offense? Notable FA: Bryan Reynolds, Nootbaar, Kurtz, Josh Smith
C- Goodman
1B- Naylor
2B- Luis Garcia Jr.
3B- Riley
SS- Gunnar
OF- Carroll
OF- Duran
OF- Cruz
UTIL- Rooker
BN- Altuve, Doyle
2) Would you make any swaps to pitching? Notable FA: Ranger, Bassitt, Wacha, Meyer, Peterson.
SP- King, Woo, Ray, Liberatore, Abbott, Zebby
IL- Lugo
3) Is Bryce Miller worth an IL stash once Lugo is activated?
11 team 5X5 OBP. Butler was dropped. Drop will benson for him or hold?
Yes
drop
Varsho or Vinny P ros ops league
Vinny for OPS
Vinny
HttH, G!
Start Flaherty tonight V CLE (21.3)?
Also, the reason Kurtz couldn’t get the power going until a few days ago is obvious: I HAD NOT YET DROPPED HIM!!!
luuuuuuurvyas!
Yeah, start…Haha, lurves
And take ONE GUESS what I did this morning before posting this comment that’s going to make him go cold as ice?
Hahaha
Weather report from the South Bronx: It’s raining now, supposed to rain most of the day, with narrow window in mid afternoon. Which sucks for my lunchtime running plans. But might be enough for Yanks-Rangers to get in some innings.
Also – Grey and RB Nation – we rolling with Ranger in Coors today?
Yes
Look at how bad the Rockies have been
Run indoors? — I’m starting Ranger S.
Hey Grey,
12-team points league that heavily favors SPs.
Gotta drop someone to make roster space for Teoscar coming off IL.
Which of these dudes should get the boot? FYI they were all supposed to be streamers but kept pitching too damn well!
JP Sears
Chris Paddack
Andrew Heaney
Thanks!
Sears
Randy Johnson threw 271 2/3 innings one year. Excluding post season, he threw 200+ innings 14 times!
Roger Clemens threw 281 2/3 innings one year. Excluding post season, he threw 200+ innings 15 times.
Nolan Ryan 332 innings. Geez! 200+ 14 times. Twice over 300 innings pitched.
Maddux 18 times over 200
Point. Very simple. Innings and pitch count are stupid. Either you can get through the order more than twice, or ya can’t. Tommy John problem is not innings or pitch count….. 5 and a third!? HA. These guys were just getting warmed up!
Agreed
Would you stream Irvin at home vs SFG?
Yes
Since I drafted Bubba and put a 3-year contract on him, I am hopeful the Pirates will call him up before my contract on his $0 salary expires. In other news, my team is struggling and a major reason is Yordan is playing like YourDone. Someone offered me a 2nd round pick for him. Is it too early to trade him? I know his production, when he is producing, is nowhere else on my roster but I did just get Spencer Steer off waivers so I think that things are looking up for my team in an upside(down) kind of way.
Stick with Yordan or trade him for next year’s glory?
I’d want Yordan
I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I am sorry for the length of these questions. Gavin Williams excellent start tonight prompted a decision whether to pick him up.
In addition to Shane McClanahan who is on my one allotted IL slot. I have three pitchers below on IL list:
1. Casey Mize is scheduled to come off the IL slot and pitch against Cleveland. Detroit is ranked 7th on ESPN offensive list vs Cleveland is ranked 22nd. I think that it is interesting that Mamosdad give Mize an SP ranking of 36.
1 A. Do you consider him a keeper?
1B. Would you start or sit him against Cleveland?
2. Reese Olson. I would consider him a keeper. Thoughts?
3. Seth Lugo who is “scheduled” to come off the IL list on 5/29.
Gavin Williams had a great performance tonight against the Twins allowing one ER, 2 hits and struck out 6 in 6 innings of work. His next two starts are home vs the Dodgers and Angels.
3A. Does he have the potential to be more than a streamer ?
3B. Would you pick him up or pass? If yes, who would you drop among Casey Mize, Olson or Lugo?
Besides these three, other possible options to drop from my staff include Warren or AJSS
or just hold?
Thanks as always for your assistance and time!!!!!!
Streamer only
1A. I don’t know how big the league is 2. I don’t know where it is 2. A guy is a keeper in a 12-team AL Only league and not in an 8 team mixed league 3A Who’s he? Gavin? Streamer
3B: Josh Jung or Javier Baez?
Coin flip
You’ll drop either one for somebody else within the week
Jung
Hey Grey! Harris 2 is on waivers. Him or Doyle in OBP? Or – Hot Varsho? Mostly kidding. Ok, maybe a little not kidding. Also- another steal for Meidroth! He’s leading off and presumably can run whenever he wants – it is the white sux after all …
Doyle
Do you really have confidence in Harris II at this point?
Doyle
Best streamer? Looking for k’s and QS
kikuchi home vs marlins
shmidt at rockies
cameron at twins
Rasmussen vs blue jays
Kikuchi
Couple reactionary questions:
Has Ward’s recent surge put him above Noot?
Has Kurtz’ two-game HR streak significantly changed your opinion?
Yes
No
Agree with Bard
The Top 25 on the RAZZBALL PLAYER RATER with their RCL ADP March17-26 (24 drafts):
1 Aaron Judge 3.5
2 Shohei Ohtani 1.5
3 Pete Crow-Armstrong 122
4 Corbin Carroll 10
5 Kyle Tucker 8
6 Kyle Schwarber 43
7 Cal Raleigh 111
8 Fernando Tatis Jr. 12
9 Max Fried 103
10 Andres Munoz 106.5
11 Hunter Brown 109
12 Nathan Eovaldi 206 (23)
13 James Wood 39
14 Zack Wheeler 28
15 Elly De La Cruz 4
16 Yoshinobu Yamamoto 62
17 Bobby Witt Jr. 2
18 Alex Bregman 78
19 Freddie Freeman 29
20 Geraldo Perdomo ND
21 Francisco Lindor 11
22 Rafael Devers 35.5
23 Riley Greene 86
24 Spencer Torkelson 267 (3)
25 Jose Ramirez 5
Wood and Perdomo return after a week outside the top 25. Devers has skyrocketed up the Rater, hitting .397 with 8 home runs in the last 26 days.
The 5 newcomers (BOLD) pushed out:
26 Teoscar Hernandez 46.5
31 Byron Buxton 213
37 Pete Alonso 33.5
39 Tarik Skubal 21
40 Hunter Greene 98
Love this! Thanks, Vin!
Gausman just missed the top 10 on the 100 Best Fantasy Starts list. It is Toronto’s only entry.
Gausman now has allowed 0 runs and struck out 9 every game I have owned him!
The Top 10 starts if wins are taken out of the equation:
MacKenzie Gore* 03-27 vs PHI 6 IP/0 ER/1 BR/13 K
S. Schwellenbach 04-04 vs MIA 8 IP/0 ER/2 BR/10 K
Ronel Blanco 05-11 vs CIN 8 IP/0 ER/3 BR/11 K
Zac Gallen 04-02 @NYY 6.67 IP/0 ER/3 BR/13 K
Michael King 04-13 vs COL 9 IP/0 ER/3 BR/8 K
Nathan Eovaldi 04-01 @CIN 9 IP/0 ER/ 4 BR/8 K
Kevin Gausman* 04-09 @BOS 8 IP/0 ER/ 4 BR/10 K
Tarik Skubal 05-09 vs TEX 7 IP/1 ER/ 2 BR/12 K
Garrett Crochet 04-13 @CHW 7.33 IP/1 ER/ 2 BR/11 K
Andrew Heaney 04-23 @LAA 6 IP/0 ER/ 1 BR/9 K
*Did not win
This is awesome!
I counted 8 Slam & Legs yesterday!
Wow, is that a new record?
Since I started counting (today).
HAHA
Grey!!!
Awesome!!
Rodney Dangerfield quote of the day for May 22, 2025
I haven’t spoken to my wife in years. I didn’t want to interrupt her.
Cheers,
Ante
Jay Leno style riff on the Dangerfield joke plus a Leno fantasy baseball hot take.
He hasn’t spoken to his wife in years? Didn’t wanna interrupt her? Yeah, yeah — I get it! That’s not a relationship, that’s a podcast! Only difference is, at least with a podcast, you can hit pause!
Hey, did you hear about this? Yankees pitcher Will Warren—yeah, Will Warren—has been on fire lately. After a rough start to the season, he’s posted a 1.50 ERA over his last three starts, striking out 26 batters in 18 innings. That’s right—26 strikeouts! That’s more than my Aunt Edna has in her dating history!
Never was a Leno fan, but certainly a B-Bard fan! Doing God’s work.
Thanks!
Kurtz’s second homer had barely left the yard and I picked him back up. “Back” because he’s only just cleared waivers from when I dropped him a few days ago lol. 10 adds a week be damned!
Ha
Good call
Quick decisive actions win leagues