by: Dan Pants
Oh boy, I hope you like cheese puns! I mean, not to sound Luccheesi, but Joey’s always been my cheddar half. That’s right, Joey Lucchesi was grate Friday night pitching a career high seven innings, allowing just six base runners (four hits, two walks) and striking out nine San Francisco Giants for his first win of […]
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by: C.A. James
We live in a post-sleeper world. Grey is more prescient than most, but he is onto something (and also petty as heck) when he urges certain players to continue tanking so their draft price is cheaper next season. I use the term tanking a bit freely, as I am a bird (Remember “Free As a Bird?” That John Lennon demo tape that the surviving Beatles overdubbed to make a “new” Beatles track that sounded exactly like a Tom Petty track, because you just realized George Harrison played on all the great Petty albums? And then McCartney added that cloying bridge? I know it’s hip to bash the Beatles, but I studied them for my extremely useful BA in Music. I’ll make sure to work my track-by-track dissection of the White Album into my weekly missives for the few remaining Beatles fans willing to weather criticism). Where was I? Aha. The post-sleeper world.
Please, blog, may I have some more?I can’t believe that it’s been over 11 years since “Looking Like A Fool With Your Pants On The Ground” happened. And yet, the goofy, quippy tune is ringing strong in my ear. My version is slightly different though. It goes, Votto too low, Votto too low, looking like a fool with Votto too low. After missing four games in the middle of July, Joey Votto has gone on a torrid stretch mashing 12 homers in 23 games while batting .325. I don’t feel that bad for not predicting an unreal power pace, but there were some indicators that pointed towards success. From the start of the season to July 11th, Votto posted a career-best 13.1% barrel rate along with a 48.8% hard-hit rate. Those numbers have since increased even higher, but not before making me look like a fool. Votto takes a big leap up this list and while we shouldn’t expect another 24 homers over the last 49 games, he’ll provide above-average power, a steady batting average, and decent counting stats down the stretch. Let’s take a look at the list and then we’ll talk about some of the movers.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Have you ever been the last person on a sinking ship? See that monster of a Carnival Cruise ship sinking off the coast of Florida? See the f*cking clown on top wearing a Cody Bellinger jersey? That’s me. Bellinger’s extreme upside kept me hanging onto the tiniest straw of hope for a turnaround down the stretch. This week, he tweaked a hamstring. He’s back in the lineup Tuesday night, but I’ve finally decided to throw in the towel. This is probably like when Rocky failed to throw in the towel and watched as Drago killed Apollo Creed….aka my teams with Bellinger are dead. The Dodgers’ slugger was easily the biggest faller of the week. But as one sun sets another Dodger rises in the west – that’s science, right? Max Muncy took a big leap into the top five. Muncy has managed to keep his walk rate above his strikeout rate all year and his Baseball Savant page is filled with the “red stats” that we want to see. Let’s dive into this week’s list and then we’ll talk about some movers.
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by: Butters
Well folks it’s that time of the season. With the All Star Game next week it’s time to reassess things for the second half of the season. There’s still quite a bit of baseball left to be played so now is the time to take a look at your team and see where you can improve. So to help you out with those tough decisions, I have re-run the numbers to rank the top 100 hitters for the rest of the season. These numbers are pulled from the Razzball Steamer ROS projections and then I totaled up the points according to this scoring format (ESPN standard):
Run 1 point
Total Bases 1 point
RBI 1 point
Walk 1 point
Stolen Base 1 point
Strikeout minus 1 point
This week we’ll be looking at hitters. Tune in next week for the ROS pitching projections. So, what can we expect as the season moves into it’s second half?
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome back to Tuesday DFS here on Razzball. Tuesdays are quite the task if you’re playing the main slate. 15 games on the docket today, including Coors and many other great hitting spots. There’s also a plethora of solid pitching options today and it seems paying for the top arms might be the way to go, seeing as there are 10 games with a total at or above 9.
Tonight’s choice on the mound will be a tough one but there should be multiple guys who could get you that 50+ number needed to cash out. We have Brandon Woodruff ($11,400) at home vs the Cubs as the highest-priced pitcher, followed by Robbie Ray ($10,800) at home vs Seattle, Kevin Gausman ($10,500) in L.A. opposite Walker Buehler ($10,000). Under 10K you’ll find Lucas Giolito, Jose Urquidy, Charlie Morton, and Trevor Rogers, all of whom are solid options.
Good luck tonight, and remember to stay positive and visualize that bankroll spiking like Bitcoin in April. Visualize your success! You HAVE to believe it to be true before it can happen. Go with your gut and do it with confidence. Let’s go!
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!
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by: Jeremy Brewer
This offseason reports were aplenty of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting into the best shape of his life and the monster season he would unleash on the league. This is such a common story, that we often dismiss the notion that results could follow. For Vladdy Jr. himself, we also had concerns with his notably high groundball rate driving down the opportunities to put the ball over the fence and ultimately driving in runs. Well, early this season we are seeing the ball hit harder than last year with more flyballs and a bit of luck. That is the perfect recipe for success and a jump into the top 10 of the rest of season top 100 hitters. It is scary to think that Vlad is only 22 and may be only touching the surface of his potential.
There is a lot of movement this week as some hitters have not turned it around after early-season struggles such as Cavan Biggio or Francisco Lindor. Alternatively, there are guys like Mitch Haniger that bring joy to the rankings watching the comeback stories early in the 2021 season. Time to get into the most recent rendition of the Top 100 hitter rankings for 2021 fantasy baseball:
Please, blog, may I have some more?The Tampa Bay Rays got the baseball world buzzing Friday afternoon when they shipped former top prospect Willy Adames to the Milwaukee Brewers along with RHP Trevor Richards for a couple middle relievers I’ve never heard of, Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen. I’m partly lying for the laughs, I am aware of Feyereisen, he’s been solid (3.26 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 20/11 K/BB), and if there’s one thing we all know Kevin Cash needs, it’s more weapons out of the bullpen. But I’ve already spent WAY too much time covering these relievers, and I can assure you they are not the reason this trade sent beisbol twitter into a frenzy. The trade of Adames (.197/.254/.371, 5 HR, 15 RBI) opens up a spot for a new starting shortstop in St. P and the Rays have a bit of a premium at the position including two highly-touted mega-uber super-prospects, Vidal Brujan and Wander Franco, the latter being the consensus top prospect in all of baseball. Grey told you to BUY Vidal this weekend, and that advice was pre-trade, mind you! Clearly, Grey is a witch, but it remains to be seen if it’s of the sexy “Scarlet” variety. Vidal Brujan has 40-steal speed which, *Pro Tip* can help your fantasy team, but Wander is the name the Tampa fans (all 300 of them) are clamoring for. Enter the guy she told you not to worry about, Taylor Walls, who despite our deepest desires, is in fact the infielder that the Rays chose to call up this weekend to replace Adames. *Audible Sigh* No need to sigh so loudly just yet, frand, Walls has got his balls to it and he was slashing .327/.468/.490 with two homers, 10 RBI and two steals before the call up. Manager Cash suggested Walls will see plenty of time at shortstop along with Joey Wendle and could be worth a look for that speed alone, at least until one of the younger, sexier prospects arrives. Taylor had 10 homers and 28 steals between A/AA in 2019–and that is not nothing! Regardless, here’s hoping Brandon Lowe (2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 HR (9), 3 RBI) is next on the trading block. The Rays are so stacked at middle infielder maybe I’m delusional if I think I’m seeing Wander before August. But perhaps an injury? That would do it! What light through Wander a hamate bone breaks? If only they had the Mets training staff. Let’s make it happen!
Here’s what else I saw in fantasy baseball Friday night:
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome to another Tuesday edition of FanDuel MLB DFS. We have a packed slate today and not too many studs on the mound. That could mean offense will be plentiful.
There’s a few spots I like tonight for starting pitching. One spot is the down right filthy Brandon Woodruff taking on the Royals. Another? Well, that’s my guy Andrew Heaney. Every other start for Heaney has had a return of 50+ FanDuel points. That means he’s due for another today, right? I know, I know. This isn’t great analysis or reason to use a guy in DFS, however, Heaney is capable of a slate winning outing and I just don’t see that many places tonight. I do like Julio Urias ($10,000) at home vs the DBacks, and I’m sure I’ll have him in some places, but I’d rather pay way down to Heaney and get some juicy bats in the lineup tonight.
The hitting portion today is going to be quick and to the point. Lotta places to go. I tried to give a high, mid and low priced guy at each position. Though sometimes it doesn’t work out that way and I’m not going to force a guy into this list solely based on $$$. Good luck tonight. Be positive and visualize your success! You HAVE to believe it to be true before it can happen. Go with your gut and do it with confidence. Let’s go!
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?Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of FanDuel DFS here on Razzball. We have a near-full slate and the only weather to worry about is Colorado where the Padres and taking on the Rockies. Tonight’s top-priced pitcher is John Means ($11,000) vs the Mets. Fresh off a no-hitter, Means looks awesome. However, I’m going to pay down a bit for pitching today and his price is a bit too rich for my blood on a slate like this. If you’re also on board with fading Means, there are many pivot options. What say we have a good DFS night tonight, eh?
Build your lineups with confidence and visualize the money coming in. Go with your gut and stop second-guessing yourself. Don’t take what people suggest as something that IS going to happen, we are just laying out what we believe to be advantageous matchups and plays. If the ownership of a stack you like is projected to be super high, fade it. In GPPs, it’s very unlikely you take it down on a full slate tourney with a stack that’s 22% owned. Remember, this is baseball and anything can happen on any given night. And with that, we cue the music…
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?We’ve only known this MLB season four weeks and three days but to me, it feels like nine weeks and five days. The Luke Voit injury felt like a week and the Cody Bellinger injury felt like five days. The Mike Moustakas injury seemed like a week again and the Josh Bell COVID scare felt like eight days. If you’ve seen the classic Steve Martin movie “The Jerk”, you’ll understand that reference. If you haven’t, then I think you can relate to it if you’ve dealt with any of the myriads of injuries from the first month. Four weeks into the season and I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime of baseball this year. But today’s a new day, so let’s get out of our funk and enjoy the sport we all know and love. Let’s talk about some first basemen. Let’s take a look at the list and then we’ll talk about the movers.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome to another quirky Wednesday main late. Jacob deGrom has played his way into plug and play status for DFS. Unfortunately, the main slate starts at 7:05 PM EST and the Mets play at 6:40 PM EST. Fear not though as we have a healthy 10-game slate on tap. Well almost healthy as I don’t expect the Cardinals and Phillies game to be played due to rain.
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?
