Ambulance Chasers: Shortstop Till You Drop

Greetings, Razzputins, we are going to talk about the injuries that could threaten shortstops in your fantasy baseball draft.

First, we need to talk about Max Scherzer’s Porsche.

What is going on with Max Scherzer’s Porsche?

Max Scherzer, member of the MLBPA Player Representative, hopped into his 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S and said “Hey Siri, play ‘More Than A Feeling’ by Boston,” to his Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max while putting on his $500 sunglasses. He chugged 12 ounces of Almas caviar out of a 24 karat solid gold Yeti coffee mug. As he pulled up to another day of CBA negotiations between the MLB and MLBPA, he rolled down his window and yeeted his 24 karat solid gold Yeti coffee mug into the parking lot.

Paparazzi snapped photos as Scherzer pulled in a parking spot and emerged to show his true form: a symbol of decadence and gluttony that is unbecoming of the MLB.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

FanDuel: I’m a Baz-Leiver

September 26, 2021 | 2021 Fantasy Baseball, Fanduel |

by: The Roster Mechanic

Yes, I’m a Baz-leiver, and I couldn’t leave him if I tried. OK, I’m dating myself with a reference to a Monkey’s song but this guy IS the real deal. SP Shane Baz, $6900, gets the Marlins at home and this is TOO good to pass on. While taking on a fearsome Toronto lineup in his first-ever MLB start, Baz captured the win and struck out five and walked none over five innings, with the only base runners he allowed on the night coming on a pair of solo home runs.

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?

FanDuel: Ray Away

September 20, 2021 | 2021 Fantasy Baseball, DFS, Fanduel |

by: JTells

Winding down the baseball season here we have a nice gem of a slate for you. I couldn’t get past Robbie Ray’s dominance of the Tampa Bay Rays this year having already faced the Rays 5 times this year going at least 6 INN in every start with double digit strikeout performances in two of them and a 13K outing in his last start when he faced these same Rays. Robbie Ray ($11,000) is the most expensive pitcher on the slate today but is worth the price you need to pony up for him as the Rays have struggled a bit in September and haven’t been able to figure out Ray in 5 starts and don’t see anything to make me believe they do now. Play him with confidence and you will still get some nice hitters in your lineups.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Nestor’s 11 Ks Don’t Burn Quite As Much As He Brought The Cortes Zone

September 16, 2021 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 118 Comments

by: Grey

We hear, “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels…” as the Think Different commercial plays. The middle of a black onyx stage opens, and slowly someone rises. First, we see their Yankees cap, then the glorious sheen, black-as-night mustache, which blinds us, it’s so beautiful. Finally, we see it’s Nestor Cortes Jr. in a black turtleneck and dad jeans. Nestor clicks on the microphone that is around his ear. “Thank you, Ashton Kutcher, for that lovely intro. Now, as many of you are wondering, how am I on the Yankees, and their no facial policy, with this gorgeous mustache. That answer is quite simple, actually. It’s due to my incredibly fast-growing facial hair. I shave every morning. I want to direct you now to my 500-slide Powerpoint explaining how my mustache grows in so fast.” Not only does Nestor Cortes Jr. have a fast-growing mustache like he’s out of the 1970s, he also has a 1970s vibe to his pitching. His release point changes with just about every pitch. Is his father, Nestor Orlando El Duque Hernandez Cortes Sr.? Last night, Cortes went 6 1/3, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 2.60 in just under 80 IP, which is nothing to sneeze out, unless you’re allergic to quality fantasy starters. The worry with Cortes, much like it was with El Duque, he throws about 89 MPH. It’s a precarious game trying to keep MLB hitters off balance all the time. So far, Cortes has done it, and I’d try him for the rest of this year. For 2022 fantasy, Nestor Cortes Jr. feels like a guy who could be exposed as a gimmick. Now, excuse me, I want to get back to watching his mustache PowerPoint. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Road Runner Woulda Got Caught Buy The Leody

September 10, 2021 | Fantasy Baseball Buy/Sell | 101 Comments

by: Grey

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(NOTE: THIS POST WAS RELEASED EARLY THIS WEEK ON OUR PATREON. IT’S $10/MONTH OR $13/MONTH WITH AN EXTRA WEEKLY PODCAST.)

Last year, I wrote in my Leody Taveras sleeper post, “You don’t need me to Mr. Shaibel you through the ins and outs of strategy on how to move your pieces around to win your league, but let me just say the quiet part real loud: SPEED AND POWER MMM YUM. Got it, all you Normies and five Carlas? Leody Taveras is only 22 years old, so his power could be developing into more goodness. He has a 14.3 Launch Angle, which should lead to roughly a 37+% fly ball rate (it was 32.9% last year, but small samples). A 37% fly ball rate should lead to roughly 178 fly balls. Taveras is not built like a brickhouse. He’s built more like a Shed Long. But he has a 50 grade in raw power and who knows? Maybe he runs into 10% HR/FB. That would give him, you guessed it, 18 homers! I’ll be honest, that feels optimistic. Steamer projects him for 13 homers in 133 games, and that feels optimistic too, but pessimistic on his games played. When all things are equal, 13 homers feels like a solid projection, but in more games.” And that’s me quoting me! That just got my pants tent moving north to the Adirondacks for Loedy Taveras in 2022 too. If Siri is reading this to you, we’re not talking about 20222, you didn’t fall asleep for 18,200 years. If you did, your head would be reading this in a jar of formaldehyde. Just had a thought, imagine your head was being preserved in formaldehyde and it was on a shelf behind a bigger head and all you could see was the back of someone else’s head for all of eternity. Writing a note in my Last Will and Testament to not let that happen to me. Any hoo! This is for this year, and Leody has speed and power. He needs to find more contact, but if he can, he could be trouble this year or in 20222. Anyway, here’s some more players to Buy or Sell this week in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Brewers Pitchers Get Worked On Labor Day Something Aw Phil

September 7, 2021 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 158 Comments

by: Grey

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Hope everyone had a good Labor Day. I stood on my lawn hugging a tree for 20 minutes until someone told me I was thinking of Arbor Day. I told them I just love trees, not letting on that I absolutely confused the two days. On Labor Day, we give thanks to all the women out there who took hours to birth us. During labor, your hoohay may have been dilated–*intern whispers in ear*–Okay, that’s not what Labor Day is about either. It’s about work, and rest, but if you ask me, if you give people a day off, then they start to like that too much and don’t like labor as much, so Labor Day should be a work day. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk where I would get booed. The Phils understood what I meant, and they did work on Labor Day. Brad Miller (3-for-5, 3 runs) hit his 16th and 17th homer, leading the way, and he’s been hot ever since he took over the strong side of the 1st base platoon, and is worth a hot schmotato grab. Next up, Jean Segura (3-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) hit his 11th homer, a grand slam, and is hitting .295 on the year, but with only nine steals, he’s been yawnstipating at best. Then, Freddy Galvis (1-for-3) hit his 12th homer, and 3rd homer in the last four games. Here’s what I said yesterday, “Best part about Galvis is he gets super hot for a week at a time. The 2nd best part is you can beat someone in your H2H playoffs with Freddy Galvis, which will totally piss them off.” And that’s me quoting me! Finally, Bryce Harper (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) hit his 28th homer, and 2nd homer in as many games. Check out Bryce hitting a non-solo homer. A Labor Day miracle! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Certified Clubber Boy

September 6, 2021 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 198 Comments

by: Grey

Yesterday, Salvador Perez hit his 41st homer. Today, you get a Salvador Appreciation Post, or SAP. You might be asking yourself the same as every Y! Answers when you google SAP, “How do I turn SAP off?” You can’t turn it off. It’s going into your eyeballs and, with each passing word, it becomes harder to turn back. If you remove all pitchers, the top home run hitter in the major leagues is Salvador Perez, a catcher. What a year for fantasy, is what I say right before I wander into traffic wearing nothing but a potato sack. “If you remove all pitchers, the top home run hitter in the major leagues is…” is the funniest thing that’s ever graced this site. That a catcher is the next best home run hitter is just a cherry on top of this season. “Wow, I can’t believe I can draft Cody Bellinger in the 2nd round this year,” that’s what the apparition floating next to me keeps saying, because I’m haunted. Salvador Perez is in one of those situations that I thought would benefit Juan Soto too. There’s no one in that lineup with Perez, so why not pitch to him? The only difference between Soto and Perez is about .440 OBP or 90-ish walks. If you knew someone like, say, Perez would swing at anything, wouldn’t you throw him nothing but junk in the dirt? For Sal Perez to hit 41 homers, he should’ve only saw 41 strikes all year. Alas, no one wants to tangle with Benintendi, apparently. For 2022, I continue to cackle in a jar and seal it quickly like it’s a lightning bug. Only I plan on releasing those cackles in 2022 when someone drafts Salvador Perez in the top 25 overall next year. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Can Jesus Save Your Fantasy Season?

September 4, 2021 | Daily Notes, September's Daily Notes | 17 Comments

by: Dan Pants

Marlins first-year phenom Jesus Sanchez continued to work miracles this week as he went 2-for-3 Friday night with two runs scored and his seventh home run, a 3-run blast, his third hit to the heavens in the past week! Hashtag blessed. Speaking of miracles, I had a bit of a holy experience this week when I witnessed a Razzball cameo on SportsCenter Monday night. I immediately pinged Grey to inform him that we had, in fact, “made it,” and that he should expect the cash to start rolling in any day now. That’s right all, none other than ESPN’s own Wonder Boy, Jeff Passan, name-dropped Razzball in a segment, likely referencing this tweet and how hilarious RBs commentary on the whole Mets Boo-az situation was. How do I react to the news that not only is Jeff Passan an avid fantasy baseballer (which also presents some interesting collusion questions?), but he has very likely (not-at-all-likely) read my posts and is scouting me to be his next intern? Well, I’m not going to let the fame go to my head yet, but I did buy Kanye’s $4000 red Donda jacket with the check I assume is in the mail. If you’re reading Mr. Passan, ignore all the past jabs at ESPN, you are clearly the smartest analyst there (besides Woj, of course). But back to Sanchez! The rookie outfielder is batting .357 in the past week with the aforementioned three jacks and eight ribbies. Grey told you to BUY! The power is real and if he can cut down on the Ks he might find his way into a 2022 sleeper post. You hear that, Jeff? Be on the lookout for some 2022 gems and keep the shout-outs coming! Sanchez struggled mightily after returning from the COVID list in August, but it appears over the past few days he’s finally getting his timing down. He could be worth a hail-mary hope and a prayer add that the power binge continues and Jesus could save your fantasy season.

Here’s what else I saw Friday night in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ortega Shells Nats With Three Tacos

August 2, 2021 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 331 Comments

by: Grey

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I’m still spent from Friday’s trade deadline. It. Dot dot dot. Was. Dot dot dot. Awesome. MLB should have a trade deadline every month. Like musical chairs with walk-up music. “Okay, we have 450 chairs, and when Whomp There It Is stops, you have to be in a chair, ready?” Whomp, and the music stops and everyone sits down, except Trevor Story, who simply just walks off into the sunset. In the distance, we hear Trevor Story cursing out the Rockies. Bud Black smiles, “He loves this organization so much,” Bud calling off, “You’re our forever Rockie!” So, the Cubs sent everyone away, except Rafael Ortega. Smart move or the Ricketts getting lucky while being cheap SOBs? Like a teamster, I’m gonna lean on the latter. Coincidence that Ricketts sounds like a disease you get from a lack of nutrition or no? Any hoo! Rafael Ortega (4-for-4, 5 RBIs) hit three ding-dongs (4, 5, 6), after homering on Saturday. Ortega is 30 years old and has bounced around the minors since 2008, while stealing nearly 40 bags some years, so he has speed too. I’m inclined to say unlikely to continue, but grab while hot. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this weekend in fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Baez and Bryant Go Coast to Coast and Atlanta Buys an Outfield

July 31, 2021 | Daily Notes, July's Daily Notes | 37 Comments

by: Dan Pants

The Trade Deadline Spectacular! Lot’s to unpack here, where do I begin? First, the Chicago Cubs continued to clean house Friday night sending their remaining superstars to opposite coasts. Kris Bryant is headed to San Francisco in exchange for Alexander Canario and Caleb Killian, and Javier Baez was sent to Queens to play shortstop for the Mets. The Mets will send outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong back to Chicago. Look, I’m not going to pretend to know who any of these prospects are, I will leave it to The Itch’s Top 100 Prospects for 2021 Fantasy Baseball to tell you which of these kids are worthy of your 2021 consideration, but I will confirm that Pete Crow-Armstrong is an awesome name, so he must be very good. Anyway, Bryant should gel nicely with this Giants team and they get a “true star” to keep up with the big boys in the NL West. Javier Baez will keep doing the Javier Baez thing he does, now in NYC City, and it should be fun to watch a Javy/Lindo infield combo when Lindor returns in a few weeks. Meanwhile down South, the Braves were so distraught about Acuña (same, Braves, same), they traded for an entirely new outfield. Retail therapy! I get it! Altana acquired Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler and Adam Duvall all from different teams, all within about an hour of each other, and all of whom are basically the same player. But for real though, how insane was this deadline? Quality and quantity. Twitter Friday afternoon was probably more exciting than most of the MLB games I’ve watched this season. Blockbuster deals! Twists and turns! 10 all-stars traded! Headlines that would make Suni Lee say, “oh, wow that’s a pretty intriguing story.” And she’s not even talking about Trevor Story! For me, it was an exciting, drama-filled 48 hours in sports and I’d love to go on about how fun it is to watch athletes displaced from their homes but there is too much to cover today so will get right to it.

Here’s what else happened in fantasy baseball Friday night:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Top 25 Fantasy Second Basemen for 2021 – Week 15

July 11, 2021 | Rest of Season Rankings, Second Basemen | 9 Comments

by: Jakkers

With the All-Star break upon us, now is a good time to see who has been a fantasy star in the first half of the season and who has been a disappointment.

Owners of Marcus Semien, Jose Altuve, Whit Merrifield and Eduardo Escobar have to be ecstatic with the overall performance of those four players. Semien has been the top-ranked second baseman for most of the season, while Altuve and Merrifield have been in my Tier 1 rankings for more than a month. Meanwhile, Ozzie Albies has rewarded those owners who didn’t freak out by his slow start and wanted to dump him. If you are one of those owners who did dump him, you deserve to be laughed at.

Albies is now back in the Tier 1 group and playing like the top second baseman he was expected to be this season. Escobar has been a surprise this year, at least for me, as I didn’t have him ranked at the start of the year. But when you slug 20 homers and drive in 60 runs in the first half, you deserve to be ranked as a Tier 1 second baseman.

For owners of DJ LeMahieu, perhaps your patience with him is finally starting to pay off. Like Albies, LeMahieu had a horrible start to the season and dropped out of the rankings completely. LeMahieu has not had the same rapid turnaround to his season as Alibies has, but he is now ranked among the Top 25 thanks to strong 30-day stretch. Meanwhile, players like Dylan Moore and Cavan Biggio have dropped out of the rankings at some point this season and have yet to return, though Biggio has at least shown signs of life since his early slump and stint on the IL.

So, with baseball taking a rest, let’s see who is ranked where in this week’s rankings.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Top 25 Fantasy Shortstops for 2021 – Week 13

June 27, 2021 | Top 25 Shortstops | 10 Comments

by: Jakkers

Around Major League Baseball, there are a host of outstanding players at every position. But the deepest position is unquestionably shortstop. Need some convincing? Eleven of the top 50 players in the Razzball Player Rater rankings or shortstops.

And these are not shortstops in the mold of Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel. These shortstops are in the mold of Cal Ripken Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, both the steroid and non-steroid versions. Fernando Tatis Jr. is must-watch television when he steps to the plate. Xander Bogaerts, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Carlos Correa are also must-watch television every time they are hitting.

I’m not giving anything away when I tell you they are my Tier 1 shortstops right now. As a group, they average 54 runs scored, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and eight steals while slashing .294-.366-.553. Of the top 50 home run hitters in baseball, eight of them are shortstops. And shortstops account for nine of the top 50 RBI leaders this season. What does this have to do with fantasy rankings? Well, if you don’t have Tatis Jr. or one of the other Tier 1 shortstops, the position is so deep you can make a trade for a player from Tier 2 or 3 and still greatly improve your team.

Without wasting more of your valuable time, let’s see what the ranking order is for the Tier 1 group and the rest of the rankings for shortstops.

Please, blog, may I have some more?