We are into week four, and before things get too out of hand, I wanted to have a little chat about pacing ourselves through this grueling baseball season. No, this is not a PSA reminding you to mix a glass of water into your whiskey drinking (but do that too). This is about pacing your innings pitched. Some simple math tells us there are 26-ish weeks in this season, and we need to get to 1400 IP. That means you should be looking at about 54 innings pitched per week in order to stay on track. In other words, you should be sitting at around 120-160 IP right now.
FanTrax does offer you a glimpse of your current pace if you click the Min/Max button on your team screen. I’m not sure I trust their math, though. I followed their pacing in the past, and with about a month and a half to go had to stream my arse off in just about every league to catch up. I’m not sure where the breakdown was, but I prefer my own tracking. With any luck, you’re reading this early enough this season that you won’t fall into the same trap.
Each week we’ll peek in at our resident ‘perts to see who is laying claim to best “expert” RCLer in the land. We’ll take notes, check the standings and generally stalk them. The heading is also hyperlink, so feel free to follow along as we go.
The Itch took over the top spot this week, gaining 7.5 points while leading the league in Runs, HRs, and WHIP. Mike C was the biggest point gainer this week though, adding 22 points to their total and moving into seventh place. Going the other way this week was Cram It, who dropped 17 points and fell four spots down to sixth. Silly season.
Each week we’ll also take a look at the top ten overall standings in our other Razzball sponsored league, the RazzSlam. This is our NFBC Best Ball league with managers from all across the industry, from content providers to fans and readers just like you.
TopherV had the most points earned in the RazzSlam this week with 726. That was enough to move them from 14th to first. J Schmoey, down in 34th place, had the biggest jump this week, up 159 places, thanks to their 678 points earned. Mike C and Derek (The Lineup Builder) are still holding things down for team Razzball in the top ten overall. Did I mention they are in the same league? There are also two teams in the top ten from my league (1190) and I’m currently sitting in 17th overall. Feast or famine in these leagues it seems.
TOP TEAMS
| TEAM | LEAGUE | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| Mudville Nine | RCL 1 | 103.5 |
| The The | RCL 22 | 103 |
| There’s a drive into deep left field | RCL 29 | 102.5 |
| LatchKeyKid | RCL 28 | 100.5 |
| WM&D | CAUGHT LOOKING | 100 |
Still just five teams over the 100 point mark, and three are holdovers from last week. Nice work!
TRADES
All the trades that have gone down in the past week. Public ridicule is not only allowed, but encouraged.
| DATE | LEAGUE | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12/2026 | COUGS R US |
SquatCobblers2 traded Tarik Skubal & Jonathan Aranda to TripleBs for Jackson Merrill & Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
|
Just one deal this week, but it’s a big one! Chime in, which side do you like? I think I want the Vlad side, myself.
WEEKLY LEADERS
The best of the best from the week that was.
R – 60 – SquatCobblers2 (COUGS R US)
HR –20 – Texas Tornado (RCL 22) & cjsullivan3 (RCL 9)
RBIs – 58 – DFresh (RCL 33)
SB – 20 – murderbydeath (RCL 7)
AVG – .320 – TheThreeReynolds (RCL 3)
K – 95 – Devin Williams is a pussy (RCL 35)
W – 8 – 6 Teams Tied
SV – 11 – Halcyon (RCL 10)
ERA (Min. 40 IP) – 1.01 – Feedme (RCL 2) (in 62.2 IP)
WHIP (Min. 40 IP) – 0.715 – danaaaaa (RCL 20) (in 64.1 IP)
There were new weekly records in Runs, HRs, SBs (thank you), AVG, Ks, and a tie for the Saves mark. Early on we should get a lot of new records each week. I have to think there is a disgruntled Yankees fan in RCL 35 with that team name.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Our weekly shout out to the team that killed it the previous week.
Team: Bucks in 6
League: RCL 10
Stats: AVG: .299, R: 50, HR: 19, RBI: 51, SB: 19
IP: 59.67, ERA: 3.32, WHIP: 1.223, K: 51, W: 3, SV: 4
Summary: Vin said the numbers resulted in a virtual tie for TOW, but Bucks had the nice slam and legs symmetry of 19/19, so that gets the nod. James Wood (.545/8 R/3 HR/8 RBI/2 SB) and Jordan Walker (.360/6 R/5HR/6 RBI) paced the top hitting team of the week. Chandler Simpson hit .455 and stole five bases, and Oneil Cruz added six steals while batting .375. Shohei Ohtani contributed three home runs, but was left in the utility slot for his fine pitching performance. Ryan Weathers provided the best game on the mound, allowing one run in eight innings while striking out seven, but failed to get the win. Nathan Eovaldi, Grant Holmes, and Michael King had fine outings, and the three wins Bucks in 6 did secure. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect inning for one save, while Paul Sewald earned two saves in two and a third shutout innings. Dennis Santana added one save in two opportunities. The huge week gained Bucks in 6 eleven points this week to move them into 2nd place in RCL 10. Bucks is trying to chase down Mike C, who is off to a hot start in several leagues. Good luck!
Want to be my internet pal? That’s kinda creepy, but you can follow me on the bluest of skies: @matttruss.bsky.social
So far so good, Matt. I’m the one trying out punting Saves. 2nd in League 16.
I must be in a trade mind:
One of the manages has Pivalta who is going on the IL list.
I was thinking of offering Gore for Austin Riley (my current 3B is Matt Chapman). You advice on trades over the years has helped me to all my top fantasy finishes.
1, Would you make that offer of Gore for Riley?
2, If yes, do I need to add Grant Holmes or just go with Gore?
3, Be patient
Another trade option is to
4.Would you offer Jackson Merrill for Walker?
5.Would you offer Gore for Machado (as a reminder, Chapman is my current 3B)
6.Again, I could throw in Holmes as well as Gore to get Machado. Thoughts?
7.or Gore plus Holmes plus Merrill to get Machado and Walker,
8.Would you rather have Riley or Machado?
9.Another option is offer Merrill plus Gore Plus Holmes to get Ragans,
Thoughts?
Thanks!!!
hmm, lots here. i’d rather have machado than riley, but gore could get you riley, gore won’t get you machado. maybe wait for a good gore game, then try to get riley for him. riley is struggling, so someone might be willing to bail. merrill for walker is tough, but i would perfer merrill i think. holmes isn’t likely adding much to a trade, just feels like a chump dump. i’m a braves fan, holmes is just a guy imo. gore and merrill for machado and walker would be sweet if you can get it. i’d even offer gore and merrill for riley and walker since gore for riley is still in your benefit, evening it out with merrill for walker would be good for both sides. merrill and gore for ragans is too much. hope that helps! a lot of thoughts, some actionable items. i like a trade where both sides feel like they won and usually try to avoid a total lowball offer, that puts people on defense right away.
I cannot thank you enough
One other possibility is to offer Gore plus Holms plus Merril to get Cole Ragans. Is that too much!
Would would have Ragans or Machado?
Thank you so much!!!!!!
You’re the best!
ya, gore and merrill is too much for ragans. ragans vs machado is really what your team needs, but if we were drafting today, i’d draft machado well ahead of ragans
Perfect!!!
Always enjoy your column!
1. Would you start Schultz vs TB
2. Would you offer Gore plus Holmes to get Cole Ragans?
You’re the nicest! Thanks!
1) I did, but should have waited, oops
2) definitely
Yes oops A lesson for me not to get caught up in the hype.
I did offer Gore and Holmes for Ragans, Waiting for answer.
Thanks.
my pleasure!
This was nice to see in the RCL11 chat this afternoon.
Wooooo!!! (Literally!)
FWIW, I did say that I’m looking forward to sabotaging this much sooner than later. Haha!
i did see that! very on brand
I have almost reached 40 points, a true milestone thanks to my Royals hitters, where they moved in their fences but added six humidors
you and i also seem to have found every starter that gets shelled this season
I saw someone say Logan Gilbert was the unluckiest pitcher this year so I sent a note to Fantrax, but they haven’t corrected my ERA yet
In, in your weekly RCL update thread. Thanks for your hard work Truss, can’t wait for the 1st Masters update in the future! Enjoying my first year in the RCL heartily.
my pleasure! glad you’re enjoying
Great stuff as usual, Truss! I’ll never forget the first (hopefully not last?) time I rated a mention in one of these updates. It’s just one week/one category, but I really needed a win however small. Thanks for all you do!
always fun to make a best of list! great team name too!