Fantasy Baseball Today - 08/21 Fantasy Baseball Podcast: Weekend Roundup

Episode Date: August 21, 2017

So many players to add as we tell you who we added over the weekend (3:30). Curtis Granderson has great matchups, there's a new steals source you should pick up, Lucas Giolito and Luke Weaver could be options for you this week as well ... A look at the Most Added list (17:25), hot hitters from the weekend (24:00) like Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton, bullpens (30:00) and more ... Plenty of SP talk during the last half of the show as we tell you who you can trust this week and who to avoid. Plus a look at today's matchups (46:00) ... Your emails at [e-mail] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

R.A. Dickie Steve Scott likes using jiffs the most. Adam loves E.R.A. and auto tunes himself this way. Right, exciting time of year. Playoffs beginning in some of my leagues. Regular season wrapping up in some. I guess it's kind of the same thing. I guess I meant like there's like one or two regular season weeks left in one of my leagues. Heath, you know what I'm trying to say, right? Great intro. Great intro.

I may be the only person in America that knows what you're trying to say. I know exactly what you're trying to say. We've got much more exciting things to talk about than this. Oh, like what? your new segments that I can't wait for Oh yeah, two new segments right off the top of the show I hate Scott White and I hate Chris Towers Neither of them are here to defend themselves

Which is even better Thankfully, yeah, right The show is always better when they're not here Because we hate them You know I hate Chris Towers today But do you know why I hate Scott White? Because he was bad-mouthing Patrick Mahomes on Twitter No, I have no problem with that

Because he picked up a player that I wanted to pick up We put in the same exact bid on him In the Roto League He has one and a half more More points in that Roto League Not fantasy points, but Roto points. I don't understand why he won the tiebreaker. Is this the league that I am winning?

It is the league you're winning. Is this the player that you tweeted about over the weekend? I did. I quote tweeted you with tweets from April. It is, it is. Okay, okay, good. $2 to Lider to Shields. You got to get the Lider to Shields right now.

This guy steals a ton of bases. He's leading off. Carlos Gomez is on the DL, and Scott got him for two, but I put it in the same bid. Why did he win? I don't understand what the tiebreaker is. I believe there's a waiver's order, right? Maybe. Maybe, yeah, probably.

I mean, it's Fab, and he's beating me, so I would have thought that I would have waiver priority, but I guess it's maybe whoever made a recent pickup goes to the back of the line. And I've been adding, and I've been adding a lot of guys lately. I think there's a lot of players to talk about today, a lot of players to add. Yeah, there is definitely a waivers order just looking at that. And you are now ahead of Scott by one spot, but you are an eighth. So there are seven people ahead of you. Well, it's, yeah, well, anyway, I hate Scott.

I hate Chris. I mean, what was he thinking? What was he thinking? I don't have any idea. He should be publicly ashamed. He's about to be. You're about to do that. He's about to be.

Editorial League. Playoffs were already underway. They started last week. Yep. He made two transactions last night. He picked up Chad Kuhl and Blake Snell. I don't know why he picked up Chad Kuh. I mean, Kuhl's been pitching better lately.

Snell's more interesting. He's like less than 30% owned. But, Chris, you didn't make the playoffs. You're not automatically in the playoffs now because you missed for one week. Like, what are you doing picking up players? Maybe he thought he had a bond. They definitely did not have a buy. You're like, buy, you're not in the playoffs, dude.

You had a buy in that league. I did. You didn't play, but you still picked people up. I did. Maybe he thought it was a similar situation where he didn't play last week, but now it was his turn to play in the playoffs. I don't know what happened there with Chris Towers, major faux pa, but I had to put those players back into free agency.

And who did you add and drop? I got a lot. I got a lot. Anybody interesting for you? I don't think I have as many as you do. I saw your list and I'm like, wow, you were like adding and dropping and adding and dropping, and I was not doing that much of any of it. Well, I added Luke Weaver. He's 32% owned.

So it's 8 o'clock in the morning. It's the earliest we've recorded. So I don't have my singing voice yet. So I will not be singing Luke Weaver at everybody. I dropped Yvonne Nova in the head-to-head points league for Luke Weaver, who is facing the Padres at home this week. And I think I'm going to go ahead and start them. Yeah, I could see a situation where I would. I don't think he's a must start by this week.

I agree. Because there's still question marks about Luke Weaver. There are. He's pitched well, and of course it is the Padres. I'm going to start him over a one-start Alex Cobb coming off the DL, a one-star Sean Mania at Baltimore. Yep. Hmm.

Now I have an interesting decision to make with Marco Estrada, home against Minnesota. But I think I want to start both of them and leave those other two guys. Cobb and Mania on my bench. I picked up... Let's see who else I picked up. I picked up Curtis Granderson. Granderson's been hitting righties well this year. He's on fire right now.

He's playing for the Dodgers. He's going to score a lot of runs or drive in a lot of runs. I dropped Trey Mancini, who had a bad week. Look, I'm playing week to week right now. Granderson's got seven right-handed pitchers this week. Not a lot of teams. I don't think that many teams are playing seven games. I didn't notice that many anyway.

But Granderson's got seven. not say he'll start all seven, but seven Rydies this week for Granderson, who's red hot, I'm starting him over two guys that actually want to have a segment called I'm considering sitting. I'll talk about them a little bit more, but I'm starting Granderson over Conforto and Brett Gardner this week. I added Delham Betancis and a 14-to-head points league. I'm not sure I'm going to start him. I think he'll get most of the saves. I don't think he'll get all of the saves while Chapman figures it out if he can't. I tried to add the lineer to shields, but I couldn't.

I added Ian Hap in a Categories league. So here's the thing about this guy, Ian Hap and Evan Gattis, another guy added. Ownership percentage doesn't mean quite as much right now. A lot of players are out of it. A lot of players in your league, rather, fantasy owners are out of it. Or the playoffs have started. So Ian Hap is widely owned, but he was available. Evan Gattis is still widely owned, but somebody dropped him.

Now is the time to take a look. I mean, Trey Turner is starting a rehab assignment. I doubt anyone dropped him or Carlos Correa, but take a look. Just because a guy is 80, 85% owned doesn't mean he's not available in your league. Somebody in my 10-team categories league on a different website dropped Travis Shaw. Pick him up. I don't know why. But, yes, quickly made that waiver claim.

I picked up Cameron Rupp, which I was not excited about at all, but it's a two-catcher league. and he's been getting a majority of the playing time, and I needed a second catcher for this week. So, yay, that. I did pick up the guy you're always talking about. Toledo to Shields. Ulyse Chasin. Oh, you got a home start?

He is projected next week to have two starts. And I'm in the playoffs this week, but I feel pretty good about my chances in the head-to-head auction league. So I'm planning for next week. You know, a lot of guys are picking up Lucas Gialito. He's getting called up. He'll make his White Sox debut tomorrow. We have him listed as a one-start pitcher.

I don't know. They have a double-header this week. I don't know what they're doing with their rotation. But he could pitch Tuesday and his next turn would theoretically be on Sunday. Right now, I'm assuming Gio Lito is a one-start guy with Minnesota. If he gets a second start, it would be Detroit. Both would be at home. Gialito has been awesome.

His last like six starts or so in the minors. But I don't really have much faith in him. I don't think he has great stuff. I was extremely unimpressed last year when I saw Gialito, and I think the Nationals were, too, and they gave him away for what people thought was the steal, but I don't know. Gialito's had a bad year in the minors. He's turned it on recently. I'd rather start Luke Weaver than Lucas Gialito.

How about you? It's just, it's so much of that depends on whether it's two starts or not. I'd rather start a one-start weaver. I don't know about that. I am picking up Lucas Gialito as we talk. and the Four The People Podcast League. Oh, okay. Well, I know, I don't know if you're still making transactions in that league or not.

I hope not. We had a beautiful finish to the Four the People Podcast League. Well, there's one more week left. Oh, there is? Yes. Oh, come on. Can you just let us end this, please? 07 and 3 last week.

Are probably going to miss the playoffs just like you. Oh. But we are currently in a four-team race for the final two spots going up against the best team in League. Who's going to have a better draft pick next year? What's the point of just missing the playoffs, Heath? We tanked. Do you think Scott is going to protest beforehand and say he doesn't want to share a team

with anybody next year? I let Scott do most of the work, so I don't think he can blame me for this. No, I don't think he really can't. He can really just blame the construct of this league. Tough league. Clearly devised to baffle him. Tough league. 16 team leagues are tough.

I don't care what the format is. All right, so people are going to be adding Gialito. I get it. You know, highly touted prospects. And I think just one start, but potentially two starts this week. I'll tell you who I'm considering sitting this week. Okay, Conforto, I am going to sit. Three lefties on the schedule plus Stephen Strasbourg.

No Scherzer, but it's tough for him. And I'm sitting him for Granderson. Brett Gardner, terrible pitchers on the Yankee schedule this week, but three lefties. He's batting 208 against lefties. Gardner is slugging 293 in August. He's been terrible, and that was with a cheap, cheap home run around the pesky pole yesterday. I'm sitting Gardner for Ryan Zimmerman. I'm not sitting either of these two guys, but I think you could consider it because they're on the road all week, Jonathan, Lucroy, and Trevor Story.

and then I would say the most difficult decision for fantasy owners this week, Keith, Nelson Cruz. He has been red hot. He might not play three games at Atlanta this week. They talked about they're not sure if they want to use them in the outfield. They've got to keep him healthy. He's their DH. Why not just start one? I don't know.

Anybody can play first base? I can't imagine sitting Nelson Cruz. I don't know, man. At Atlanta, at the Yankees, six games, might only start three of them. It's possible. What would you do? It would, like in a three-team or a three outfielder league,

I would say I'm probably sitting him. I can't promise you that he's not going to start in the outfield all three times. Like, he might. But based on what the quote I read yesterday, he probably won't. He might start, like, one game there. He's going to pinch it, I'm assuming, in every game. I would be doing a, A lot of Google searching late into the afternoon looking for some Mariners beat writer to have some information on Nelson Cruz.

I've got a really tough decision here for this week since we've talked about all the guys you're sitting. Tell me who you would start out of this group. Okay. Sunny Gray at home against Seattle, one start. Danny Salazar at home against Kansas City. Jose Verrios against the White Sox Dylan Bundy against the athletics Very interesting note on Dylan Bundy

So they skipped him in the rotation Because he's pitched much better on extended rest And he's going to be on quite a lot of rest Facing the best opponent in that bunch I would go with That is really tough Heath I think they're all starts I would go with Sunny Gray

And see I feel pretty good about my team this way I've got a two-stared Aaronola, two-start Carlos Rodon, two-star Taiwan Walker, two-start John Gray on the road both starts. Yeah, I go gray, but I accept any decision you make. I appreciate that. What are you going to go with? I will decide later today. Okay, the Mariners play tonight at 735, so hopefully you'll be able to find out if Cruz is in the lineup, and that might sway you one way or another.

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fantasy for $10 off your first Seatheek purchase. All right, the big news, Curtis Granderson to the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez is also back. Now, the Dodgers had the DH all weekend, so I don't know exactly what their lineup's going to look like, plus Cody Bellinger's day to day. And Jack Peterson was sent to AAA. But for Grandy Man, value up down are the same. I thought it was going to be a downgrade because I expected, I mean, a much better team in Los Angeles. They've got a lot of bats. Thought his playing time might not be quite as certain.

But with Peterson getting sent down, I think it remains pretty much the same. Man, he's red hot. This guy is so streaky. So I'm going to be starting him in, I think, three leagues this week. Corey Klobber, he's going to start this week. Not sure if it'll be against the Red Sox, but they are not worried about him starting. Shurzer. Max Scherzer is going to be joining the Fantasy Football Today podcast to promote an event later this week, Keith. Yes, I'm looking forward. I went to that event last year, very good cause, and you should listen to that. He's a super cool guy, just really, really intense. Don't say anything. We're going to make sure we don't say anything dumb, Adam.

So how's the neck? No, no. I think that would be bad. I don't think we should ask him about having two eyes that are different colors. No, I think we should because I believe the nickname on the back of his jersey What they're doing is, I think it's coming up this weekend actually, nickname weekend? Yeah. I think it's in reference to his eyes. Believe. You can ask that question.

Okay, fine. Yeah, so. I'm going to ask him to talk about the charity that he's raising money for. Okay, yeah, softball. He's on the deal with the neck issue. They don't think it's a huge deal. Hopefully Scher will be back shortly. Josh Donaldson has made three appearances at Shortstop.

Holy cow. What if he played shortstop like 17 more times of the rest of the season? Then he'd be eligible next year, and he would once again be a first round pick, if not already. Right. This is enormous. He started at shortstop yesterday. They didn't have a DH. They were in the NL, but he made two appearances and then a start.

So let's see what happens. And Jose Batista was at third, right? Yes. Yes, he was. So they've had Jose Batista and Russell Martin playing third base this year. Yeah, weird. Weird. Josh Donaldson, two appearances away from shortstop eligibility in CBS leagues. O'Ollis Chapman is out as Yankees closer.

Not sure if that's going to be permanent. Will you drop O'Roldus Chapman? No. No, no. Okay. And I think the Tancis is a better addition than David Robertson. I would think so. Yankees hitting coach Alan Cockrell said he is not sure if the home run derby messed up Aaron.

Judge's swing. Only judge knows. but he did say that it's not an issue. The Cockrell said it's not an issue anymore. But, man, Judge, has been terrible. Adam Wainwright on the DL. Luke Weaver, going to start Wednesday. So Cody Bellinger's Day to Day, I think he should be fine.

I plan on starting Bellinger's sprained ankle. David Price had a setback. He may not be able to pitch again during the regular season. I am starting Masahiro Tanaka. He's coming off the DL to make two starts. You, Darvish, actually, is on the DL, but could start this weekend. It's a very minor thing. Dodgers, that's kind of their thing.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Just take a couple days off. They get more PTO than other teams' players, too. Robbie Ray is going to start at the Mets this week. Dylan Bundy, I mentioned that he's better on extra rest, so that's something to keep in mind. He will be on extra rest when he starts this week.

Salvador Perez could be back this week. That's nice. Miguel So-Seno is on the DL with shin soreness and a stress reaction, actually, in his shin. that's usually not good. And Trey Turner is set to begin a rehab assignment this week. So that is exciting. We might get Carlos Correa early September.

Hopefully you're loading up for the stretch drive. All right, the most added list, Heath, Edwin Jackson, number one. I don't trust them. Here's the thing. And I've kind of gone back and forth, but I thought I looked this morning and he wasn't showing up as a two-start pitcher anymore. Is that right? I'm going to look again right now because it goes back and forth sometimes.

You are right. He is not showing up as a two-star pitcher. I don't know why that would have changed, though. I don't either. With Strasbourg back, maybe? But that's interesting. I would just say if you picked up Edwin Jackson, first off we told you not to, and second, you might just check and make sure he's still showing as a two-star pitcher.

Because you really wouldn't want him to start him with one start against the ester. Yeah, exactly. I'm not starting him regardless, but... No, I'm not either. Delam Patensis is number two. I'm nervous to start him. For me, it's either going to be like Patanus or... Like, you might want to start San Juan O over him.

And... I'd probably start Batances over San Juan. Yeah, I probably would too, because I don't think they were giving O the save the last time he got the save. I think they were giving Matt Bowman the save. Bowman screwed it up. O came in and cleaned up his mess and got the save. That was after O struggled. I'm just nervous about Patances because I don't know how many of the same chances he will get.

They have six games. They have six games this week, not all at home. Patrick Corbyn's number three. It's about time. He's 85% owned. He's got two starts. He's RP eligible. He's pitching great, and he has great matchups.

Corbyn's a no-brainer. Yep. Clayton Richard. Yeah, no way. I'm not doing it. Look, I want to tell you a story, Heath. Okay. A little story about the podcast Points League.

Last week, I was facing the Dead Rabbits. and win and you're in. We were fighting for a playoff spot. I believe we're both in because another team lost. But he started. Ty Block. Anthony Banda. Jake Oteresey and Julio Taran.

And he had Mark Leiter in as a reliever. Banda lost his second start. I think Lider, I'm not sure he was supposed to make two starts, but he, I believe, lost his second start. Not to pick on the dead rabbits. but when you start bad two-start pitchers, first of all, there's always a chance they're not going to make that start, that second start, because they're not good.

And secondly, it just didn't work out. I mean, it could have worked out in another week, but two starts for a bad pitcher, I just don't recommend it. I'd rather go with a one-star guy. Like, he benched Eduardo Rodriguez, he benched Garrett Cole. Now, those guys didn't do that well,

but they did better than Odarezi, negative three points. Then Ty Block negative 8 points. Then Anthony Bandon, negative 12.5 points. It really, really, really depends on what situation you're in that week. Like, sometimes you know you're going up against the best team in the league, and you have a five one-start pitchers. Yeah, well, that wasn't the case. I understand.

I'm definitely not the best team in the league. No, you're not. Eddie Rosario is 61% owned. Now, here's something kind of weird on Rosario. So, yesterday he had a grand slam. The 57 games before that, he had a 990 OPS. So we're talking 58 games of 1,000 OPS here for Eddie Rosario. Somehow, only three weeks in his last nine with more than 18 fantasy points,

and that is not including All-Star Game Week. So some of this big production has been concentrated over the last two weeks. But Rosario is another guy. Like I laid out the case of sitting Conforto, sitting Brett Gardner. Are you going to start Eddie Rosario over those guys? 100%. I picked up Rosario, I think, Friday. And I'm starting him in our Roto League.

He's like, we can talk about what he's done over the last 50 games, over the last 60 games. He's hitting 303 with an 850 OPS for this season. Yep. He's just been good. Yep. Only 50 RBIs. That's probably what's driving his face. fantasy production down.

Would you rather pick up Rosario or Byron Buxton? If I'm in the playoffs this week, I think I'd go with Rosario. Byron Buxton has a 934 OPS in August. Small sample. You know, five walks to 17 strikeouts isn't that bad for Byron Buxton. No. And he has six steals.

Right. In August. He's 49% of Rosario. All right. If we could sum up the first 20 minutes or so, who do you think the must add play. Let's repeat some names. The must add players right now. Well, Reese Hoskins is only one percentage point more owned than Rosario, right?

Yeah, Reese Hoskins must be added. So I'd say we haven't mentioned him, so I did a bad job of summing up. I think Blake Snell, and you know how I felt about Blake Snell coming into the year. And it's kind of a Danny Sallazar situation. Like, I was so, so wrong for the first three and a half months, but now they look like they're finally maybe figuring it out. Well, he moved to the middle of the mound. Blake Snell just, isn't that weird?

I can't throw strikes. It's like bowling. You know, you got to line up on the arrows. Yeah. You just lined up on the other arrow. And he's got six straight starts with two or fewer walks. And Snell is at St. Louis this week. I'm not sure that I'll start him, but...

I would start Snell over Luke Weaver. I would not. Look at... The thing about Snell is, like, he had a great start against the Mariners. Actually, it's been two... Three in a row, you've been pretty... satisfied with it. All right, I can accept that. But Weaver's got the Padres. It's true. The only thing I'm worried about with Weaver is that he hasn't started a big league

game in a while, but if you look at the two starts he made, I'm just going to get them, pull them up right now. He's 33% owned. Five innings, four runs, five strikeouts against Arizona. I think all four runs came in the fifth in that start. And then six and a third, two runs, eight strikeouts at Milwaukee. So look, you know what? Snell, Weaver, widely available, and both are good options. And I like them both better than Gialito. Yes, I agree completely.

Chase Anderson is 78% owned. This is another guy. I know he's 78% owned, but you need to look in every league for Chase Anderson. For God's sake, he's got 283 ERA this year. Yeah, that's not sustainable the way he's going about doing it. But this was a good start at Coors, and he should be universally owned. And Ries Hoskins is absolutely a must add. Sorry, Heath. Yes, definitely Reese Askins, Scott White's new favorite player.

I think Rosario should be closer to 80% owed. I really like the Shields in specific formats. I just, I think he's guaranteed to get you steals. There's just one thing I know about DeLano Shields. The guy can steal bases. Two things. He can't hit, but he's not as bad of a hiter as Rajay Davis. He's not one of those steals.

He's not as bad of a hitter as Gerard Dyson. I think he's going to be better than those guys. I don't know about that. With regular at-bats, I think he'll be better than those guys. Okay, but you don't know that he's not a bad hitter, because he's been a worse hitter over his career. You're right. But I think he'll get on base.

So we've got two things we know and one thing we think. Sure. I think Wilson Ramos, if you need a catcher, you better pick him up. He's 53% owned. He's 11 for his last 20 with two home runs, three walks, and two strikeouts, and a double. And he's a catcher. So Wilson Ramos, for sure. Who else did we say earlier?

Oh, I really think Granderson at this point. I actually don't even know what his ownership percentage is, but I picked him up in three leagues, Curtis Granderson, over the last three days. And I don't know that it's going to last, but when Curtis Granderson gets hot, it tends to last for a while. And Curtis Granderson is only 31% owned. I like it, seven righties.

I would still rather own Rosario. but yes, 31% is way too low. Gray Anderson is only batting 235 in August, but he's got an OPS over 1,000 with seven home runs in the month of August. And, okay, and Batances, I think, is someone you definitely want to pick up. That's a pretty good summation.

Let's see if I missed anybody on the most added list. I think we're pretty thorough here. Robinson Chorinos, 38% owned. I'm sure we'd rather have a lot of. Ramos, right? Yep, for sure. Chad Bettis, 24% owned. I know he's had two good starts.

I'm not really buying it now. No. Okay, I think that's about it. So we can move on and talk about some hitters, doubles and triple dongs from over the weekend. Mani Machado is pretty good. Yeah, it's really weird how he figured that out after just being terrible for so long. Three home runs and a walk-off grand slam all in one game. on Friday. That was amazing. Justin Upton homered twice against the Dodgers on Friday. His consistency

has been just a marvel this year. I can't believe what Justin Upton is doing. Great year for him. Did not expect it. Yeah, we've not talked enough about him. Yeah, really strong year. And Jay Bruce has been pretty damn consistent too. He homered twice at Kansas City on Friday. Nick Delmonico had an inside the park home run, but he homered twice on Friday at Texas. What do you think about Delmonico? Interested? Not particularly. I mean, it's not that difficult to find playing time on the White Sox, so that's a bonus. But this is an AAL-only guy.

Guess which first round pick had his first multi-homer game of the year? Which first round pick had his first multi-homer game of the year? You can just keep reading the notes, you'll find it. Mike Trout. Mike Trout! First multi-homer game of the year came Saturday. You can wait for him to get hot. Luis Val Buena, Homer twice at Baltimore on Saturday.

Jesus Aguilar, Homer twice. I think you could probably leave Aguilar on waivers. He had three home runs at Corse Field this weekend. And Rugi got hot. Rugi always seems to save his best stuff for the weekends. Rugnett Odor. You feel like, oh, I'm going to sit him next week. He's been garbage, and then he hits three home runs on Saturday and Sunday combined.

Other hitters to talk about Ian Kinsler's had a couple of good weeks in a row. All he had to do was Rip Angel Hernandez. He stole two bases on Friday's three steals in his last four games. Hunter Pence. Hunter Pence is having a good August, Heath, batting 333 with four home runs. Do you care? He's 33% owned. Yeah, I would not be as excited to add him as I am Granderson or Rosario or Reese Hoskins.

The problem is, and it has always been with Hunter Pence. It's his best format are points leagues, and points leagues are generally the way you only sort at three outfielders. In the current environment, I just don't think he's going to be. be somebody it's worthwhile. Mike Napoli's heating up three home runs in his last five games. He was terrible. Terrible.

Hard for that. All right. Pass on Napoli. Brandon Phillips. Hidden well since the All-Star break. Yeah, he's been hot. I wonder if his playing time is going to be consistent down the stretch because they've got nothing to play for and he's a veteran.

All right. Brandon Phillips is 50% own. Paul DeYoung. Paul DeYoung last 20. I mean, how do you not pick up Paul DeYoung at this point? people are still not picking up Paul DeYoung? No, I mean, he's 81% owned. Okay.

It's appropriate. Yes. But look, the only thing he, well, he's batting 324 in his last 28 games, but his walk to strikeout ratio sucks, and he's only got four doubles in his last 28 days. But he has eight home runs, and he's a top five shortstop. But he's hovering. He's using that power. He needs it, and Paul DeYoung's been great. Like, I would start DeYoung over Story if you're making that decision.

I don't trust Story on the road. Story had a great week last week, and Scott and you both wisely advised me to start him over Ketel Marte, but I'm sorry. I just don't trust Story on the road. I don't think – because he had a lot of bad games, too. I don't think this is like Story getting hot. I think he just was good matchups at home. I would agree with that. I would start DeYoung over Story and less Story has all his games at him.

Let's do some bullpen talk now. Okay. Sen Juan O, look, they seem to have installed him as the closing. and then he stunk, and then he replaced a shaky Matt Bowman on Friday and got two outs and got a save. And he did issue a walk, but it was intentional. So I think O's the guy to own there. Yes.

I think Brad Ziegler, I'm sorry, Heath. What are you going to say? I'm not as confident as I was early in the year that Sun Juano eventually is just going to be fine. Yeah. But I do think he's the guy to get saves in St. Louis. Yeah, and I think Brad Ziegler is the guy to get saves in Miami because Kyle Bear Claw keeps setting him up. Ziegler has six saves in August.

Okay, the angels are bullpen by committee. That's the only thing I can say. Bud Norris got a save on Sunday. Who got the save? Oh, Kenyon Middleton was supposed to get the save on Friday, but he gave up the walk-off Grand Slam. They, too many arms. And they're good ones, but too many arms.

You're not going to be able to accurately predict that. Is Sam Dyson the closer in San Francisco? Melanson pitched the seventh. yesterday. I will stick with what I said last week, and I think Melanson leads the Giants and saves in September. They are working them back in slowly, though, and if I needed saves this week, I would start nice and over Malanson. Roberto Ozuna gave up three runs and blew his save yesterday, but it wasn't really his

fault. I'm going to blame this one on his catcher. Two pass balls, or two, I think they're scored wild pitches, but twice Ozuna got a strike out and the ball got away from his catcher, and the runner advanced. Kyle Schwerber scored on a wild pitch. So bad catching. Gary Sanchez-esque. I can't imagine they're going to remove Ozuna,

but he has been pretty rough since the All-Star break. Juan Manaya, if you're desperate for saves, Juan Mania got two saves over the weekend for the White Sox. And you might want to start Juan Mania over Shaw Mania if it came down to that. But Mania is not a very good pitcher, I don't think. No. And Edwin Diaz, I mean, I suppose if you want to speculate,

one more bad outing from Diaz, I wouldn't be surprised if they took him out of the role for Nick Vincent. I would be surprised. I think it's his job. I do, but, yeah, I don't know. Keeps giving up runs. Vincent's got a 193RA, 0.99 whip. I'm just saying.

But can he do it in the ninth inning? Probably not. I mean, it takes a lot to do it in the ninth inning. A lot of guts. More news and notes. Drew Pomeran's left Friday start with back spasm. I'm not 100% sure. Can you do a quick Google search on Pomerant's?

I think he's going to be able to start this week, but not sure. Brian McCann's going to be back on Thursday, and Evan Gaddis started a rehab assignment. Carlos Correa could be back in early September. Yoam Moncada sat two straight days with shin splints. The Mets called up Kevin Plewecki, who was doing very well in AAA. I don't think that's a surprise. And Darnos is not so good, so I don't know.

Maybe Plewecki could have like NL-only value. Drew Pomerantz is scheduled to start on Wednesday. All righty. That would be at Cleveland. I expected to. Okay. Scott Shebler's off to DL, and he might not get consistent playing time,

but he has since coming off to DL at the expensive Winker. And Hunter Renfro was sent to AAA. Joey Gallo concussion protocol. I wouldn't start him this week. And the Yankees sent Jordan Montgomery to AAA. He should be back in September, not sure what his role would be.

All right, studs being studs. How confident are you in these three pitchers? Dallas Kikel, who has the nationals this week. Justin Verlander at the White Sox, yes, please. And Jake Areietta, who's just been pitching really well lately. How confident are you in Kikl Verlander and Arieta? Well, Kikel was right back to being his old self. Seven shutout innings and only striking out three.

It looks just like him. 16 groundouts, one fly out. I don't feel exceptionally confident with the matchup against Washington. I haven't seen enough to tell me that he's just completely back to himself, but I'm probably starting him. I'm definitely starting him. Verlander is no question. He's been great, and he's against the White Sox, so yes. And Arenda, you're starting, but it's his last nine starts for Areeta, 203 ERA.

Swimming strikes have been up a little bit in his last four starts. He's on fire. Yeah. All right. Studs being Studs part two, these guys aren't quite as studly. But do you trust these guys? Rick Porcelo against Baltimore this week. Jose Barrios at the White Sox, Trevor Bauer, against Boston this week.

No chance I'm starting Bauer, and I know that he's had another good run to get his ERA down to almost league average. But every time you trust Trevor Bauer, boom goes the dynamite. I don't know, man. He already had a good start against Boston recently last week. For me. I will Barrios I would feel okay with just because it's the white sucks

Yeah And then Porcelo is just right on the border Okay Porcelo had a good Very good start against the Yankees Sunday Previous 7 starts He had a 361 ERA He's pitching well

I don't think you have to dread Starting Rick Porcelo You know what sucks dude I'm probably gonna lose In the editorial league The league that I just crushed This year Keikel's got one start

It's against the Nationals De Grom's got one start It's against the nationals. Those are my two best pitchers. And DeGroms had two stinkers in a row. Any concerns? I hope he's not hurt, but that's always the concern when a Mets pitcher has two bad starts in a row because they might have been hurt for a month,

and the Mets just decided to let him keep pitching. You can't sit Jacob de Grom in the playoffs. No, of course not. So, yes, I'm a little bit concerned, but still eight strikeouts, no walks. and six and a third. I'm not that concerned. Zach Granky, yeah, he's been a little rough lately, except for one start. So two of his last, three of his last four have been kind of rough.

I'm sure we're going to start Zach Granky, just a bit of a rough stretch for him. And we just talked about Danny Salazar, who has the Royals this week. He had a 139 ERA in five starts before a terrible start at the Royals yesterday. Yeah, and I would not call it a terrible start. He got Babiip pretty hard. He gave him 12 hits and 6 runs in 4 and 2 thirds. How was that not a terrible start? No, the results were terrible.

But it was not like a Danny Salazar can't throw a strike. Okay. The Royals, as Hawk would say, some Kansas City specials thrown out. Okay. How about these guys? Tell me if you trust these next group of studs being duds. Kevin Gosman at Boston this week. No.

He's so hot. cold. Yes. Jason Vargas. I'm done with Jason Vargas. Now, he's been... I can understand that. He's been great against Cleveland, and that's his matchup this week.

He's got a .870 a against the Indians this year, and he's at Cleveland. But I can't trust Jason Vargas. He's not good. He's not good, and it's all starting to show. I would view him similarly at how I view Porcelo this week. Fair enough.

Michael Waka. Michael Waka is home. against Tampa Bay this week. He has a $2.99 ERA at home. His ERA on the road was 5-11 entering Saturday, and then he gave up five runs and four innings at Pittsburgh. He may have been affected by a Randaleigh. He pitched one inning,

and there was a long Randaleigh came back, and he struggled. But Waka home against Tampa Bay. Yeah, I would put Waka below Vargas and Porcelo. He's more of a desperation start. Why? Why? I don't trust him as much. he's not been as good lately, and Tampa Bay is not bad offensively.

Oh, they have been... They have been terrible since... They have been so bad since second half. Yeah, I don't necessarily believe in the whole team cold streak thing. I think team overachieved in the first half, though. That could be it. They don't have Tim Beckham anymore. Oh, that's the problem.

I mean, Dickerson hasn't been playing well. Lomos hasn't been playing well. Tampa Bay right now is a great matchup. Whether you buy that or not, I understand, your viewpoint. But they've been, I don't know, I buy the home road splits for Waka. I'd start them over Vargas. But not Porcelo? No, I think I go with Porcelo.

I'm pretty comfortable with him giving me six innings three runs. Yeah. Safe start. All right, let's do a Vargas versus Waka bet. Okay. Can you remember? Because I'll forget. Yes.

I win, I don't have to be in the podcast for the People League next year. Okay. If you win. You have to commission it. Oh. Okay. God, I don't want to do that. Yeah, that sounds like a good deal.

Although that's kind of mean to all the listeners that are going to be in it. I just, I suck at that league. Zach Godley was four runs and five and a third. What did you say? Ungadly. Yeah, he was. But 10 strikeouts. You concerned about him?

I'm starting him. I'm going to start him. I've never gotten as excited about him as Scott has. I don't know how high he is in Scott's rankings now, but he's basically an ace. And I'm not quite that sure about him. Basically an ace. He does love him some Zach Godley. Oh, is that godly?

And there's one other. I can't remember. Oh, it was Trevor Cahill before Trevor Cahill went to the Royals. Yeah. I don't even know whose matchup is, but I'm sure I'm starting him. I did not put that in the notes, but I am starting him. Rich Hill, since the All-Star break, he has a 327 ERA, but he's another guy who's going five innings almost every time.

And no more than six and a third in six starts since the All-Star break. Four of those six starts less than six innings. It's so annoying as a Dodgers pitcher. They just don't let these guys go deep into games. It's smart, but it's annoying for fantasy owners. Yeah, it's not helping us out at all. It's kind of like the old running back committee. But you've got to start Rich Hill, right?

Yes. And I'm going to start Brad Peacock at the Angels. Bad defense kind of doomed him, but he should have had a very good start against Oakland yesterday. All right, tell me who you want to pick up. Fringy starting pitchers. We got Sean Minaya at Baltimore. We got Junjun Rieu at Pittsburgh, the Nelson Lemet at Miami, Armand Marquez at Kansas City, Luis Castillo against Pittsburgh,

Parker Bridwell against Houston Julio Taran against the Rockies at home where he has a 690-80-R-A, Julio-Toran. Jake O'Darizzi's at St. Louis and Colin McHugh is at the Angels. I will go Castillo, Marquez, McHugh. Yeah, I think McHugh at 75% owned might be under-owned.

Yeah, I think all three of those guys because Castillo is 76, Marquez is 73. I think all of them should be higher under that. Okay. Marquez on the road at Kansas City. Castillo has Pittsburgh. It's hard to trust the Nelson Mette. It's hard to trust Sean Minaya, but it was nice to see him get on track a little bit at Houston. But only two strikeouts and two home runs allowed in six innings. Do you like either C.C. Sabathia or Ian Kennedy, as we get to the Fringy starting pitchers part two. Sabathia, 55% owned, Kennedy, 59% owned.

Sabathia has Seattle at home, Kennedy, Colorado. No, thank you. Hard pass. Let's see. Fringy starting pitchers part three. R.A. Dickey, home against Seattle. Jason Hamill at Cleveland. Matt Moore, home against Milwaukee. And J.C. Ramirez, if he's healthy.

Actually, I don't think J.C. Ramirez is going to pitch this week. He left with a forearm injury, but he would have Texas. All right, Dickey, Jason Hamill, Matt Moore. I guess probably Matt Moore would be my favorite, followed by Jason Hamill. You know I'm not trusting the knuckleball. All right, but I just know I'm at, well, just because he's at home, you're saying? Yeah. Hamill would be my favorite rest of season.

For sure. At Cleveland this week, I don't know. And honestly, Dickie, like, he's been really good for a while now. He had a terrible inning against the Reds, otherwise pitch great. Terrible inning. Three home runs, four runs, four runs, nine strikeouts, eight hits. That's a bad start for Dickie. That's not that bad.

But if he's been really good for a long time now, shouldn't his numbers look better? No, because he was awful. He's got a 390-A DRA, dude. His league average. Yeah, I mean, we're talking about Trevor Bowers in like the 460s. Right. I was not excited about Trevor Bauer. No, but at least Trevor Bauer gets a few strikeouts.

He's got 105 strikeouts and 147 innings. Yeah, he's not going to get you, strikeouts. Bauer's going to get you a lot. In deep leagues, players owned in less than 30% of leagues. Kendall Graveman, Chad Kuh. I know Chris likes it. I know, yeah. Adam Conley.

18 swinging strikes at the Mets. By the way, the Mets are now one of the best matchups you can find. I mean, they are pathetic. I like Connley for sure this week. Against the Pons. All right. Yeah, four quality starts in his last six and home against the Padres. All right, Conley's sneaky start.

Chad Bettis, Travis Wood, Rafael Montero. Oh, thank you. Montaro is someone to watch. He has a pedigree. A couple good starts in a row. We'll see. 4% own. All right.

Adam Conley, if you're desperate. Kendall Graveman? Home against Texas? I would have to be pretty desperate. All right. Let's see what we're doing today. What are you doing today? Any plans?

Well, I mean, there's a... The eclipse is happening today. Yeah, the eclipse. That's right. Are you excited about the eclipse? Not even going to be able to see it in New York. Oh, that's too bad. Actually, I'm confused.

I know that some of the states are going to see, you know, something. Are all states going to see, like, a shadow or I don't know? It's kind of like the groundhog. Yeah. I know that, like, in Kansas City, where I'm from, it's going to be supposed to be, like, one of the prime viewing places in the whole country. Yeah. In Florida, I think we're supposed to see, like, I have, like, a 70% blockage. Okay.

I could not really be less excited for the whole. thing. Well, here's the other thing I don't understand. If the moon is going to block out the sun, why are we not allowed to look? Because your eyes, when you look at the sun, because sometimes you accidentally look at the sun. Sure. And your eyes are like, oh, no, that's really bright, and they adjust. When the moon is blocking 80% of it, your eyes look at the sun, and your eyes are like, oh, that's okay, but that little sliver is still really bright. I see. Also, I think it might just kind of be a hoax. I have done some research, and I can't find anyone that actually went blind from looking at an eclipse.

It could be. Just something to scare the kids. Yeah, my kids are not going to school today because of the solar eclipse. What? Really? It's a long story, but they are going to some scientific thing somewhere. It's the nice thing having a kid that can drive. They're just all saying they're going there. They're probably having a party at my house.

What do you want them to do? Do you want them to go to the thing, or do you want them to party? I don't. Really cares. Don't break anything. All right. Twins at White. Is he a senior? My daughter is a senior. I've got a sophomore as well, and then the eight-year-old. Okay. Okay. Twins at White So T. Melville. What do you think his first name is? Tim.

Tim Melville. Former Royals prospect. Okay, right. At Carlos Rodon. I will start Rodon. Alex Wood and Garrett Cole. Ooh, Garrett Cole. Tricky one here against the Dodd. I'm starting him. All right, Chris Smith and Wade Miley.

No, thank you. Diamondbacks at Mets, Taiwan Walker, and Robert Gisleman. I am definitely starting Taiwan Walker. Eduardo Rodriguez and Mike Clevenger. I think I'd start both. Mariners at Braves. We've got Fultenevich at home and Andrew Albers on the road. I wouldn't mind letting Fulte loose.

I have to start Fulte. He's got two starts this week. I have to start them. I mean, I literally have no other starting pitchers because Lester went on the DL. So that sucks. And I looked. There's nobody on waivers. Dylan G.

And Carson Fulmer, twins at White Sox. No. No. They have a double header today. So, yeah. Rangers at Angels, Cole Hamels, and Tyler Skaggs. Definitely starting Hamels. Skaggs is borderline.

Brewers of Giants. Zach Davies, Chris Stratton. No, thanks. No on Davies? Davies's been pretty solid. I understand. Giants. Fine.

You don't have to. I don't care. Davies is 80% owned, actually. You don't care. That seems a little high. 80%. Doesn't it? Yes.

But he's two starts, so I get it. That's true. See, like, I don't think starting Zach Davies in a two-star week is the worst idea. Like, I don't think it's like starting tie block. Did you just give us a whole thing about starting bad pitchers? I think he's better than those bad pitchers. And considering one of the starts is against the Giants, like I'm fine.

That's true. I'm fine with it. Let's see the other way. Maybe I'm not being fair to Zach Davies. Ooh, the other one's at the Dodgers, though. Let's see. He's got a sparkling 426 ERA. He's struck out an outstanding 93 batters and 143 innings.

No, I was being. pretty fair to Zach Davies. Well, let's see what he's done since the All-Star break. That's definitely more predictive. Well, I mean, a guy gets hot, you know? Since the All-Star break, he's got a 291 ERA. But how many strikeouts do you have in how many innings? You know what?

The bottom line is if you add up the walks and the strikeouts, then you're at one per inning. 30 strikeouts and 46 and a third for Davies. Yeah, okay, look, bat missers. Guys that don't miss bats, non-bat missers, it comes around to bite them. It does. I just don't think tonight's going to be the night. Probably not.

I could understand starting him. I'm not saying that you're wrong. And let's finish up with some emails. This is from Isaac. Is it absurd a job Kyle Seeger for Reese Hoskins for the playoff run? I didn't mention Kyle Seeger, but he's risky this week. So Kyle Seeger had a bad stomach virus. He lost like 12 pounds.

He's come back and played two games, and he went two for 10. I don't like, and he had been hitting really well. He had basically been Kyle Seeger before that. But I don't know that I'd start him this week. I'm not sure I'd drop him for Hoskins. Like if you took the stomach virus out of it or whatever kind of virus it was. It would be crazy. Yes.

But this week, if you need to win, I don't know that it's crazy to drop Seeger. I'd like to sit him for Hoskins and not drop him for Hoskins. Yes, but it sounded to me like if you're not starting either one of these guys. then I think I just hold on this leader. All right, this is from Dan. 12-te-to-head categories league, first week of the playoffs. All right, he needs to sit one of these guys. This is tough.

This is really tough. Sit one. Jackie Bradley, Cameron Maven, Tommy Fam, Byron Buxton, Aaron Hicks. Definitely not Bradley. Definitely not Fam. Bradley had a good weekend, but really had like a full month of being garbage. I'm starting Bradley. I'm starting fam.

I'm starting Buxton. Maybe it has been day-to-day. So that could help your decision if he's not the line-up thing. I think I'm starting Hicks. Yeah. Now Hicks? I like Hicks, but he has not helped. He had a bad week.

He does not help my case. And finally, oh, Dan Ashley also asked, any chance Brett Honeywell Well starts since Faria is on the DL. I would assume they're going to call up their double A janitor because they don't want Brent Honeywell in the major leagues. Well, I think Alex Cobb comes off the DL this week too. So Oteresey's back, Cobb. Yeah, I think they can get by without it, without Honeywell.

From Antoine, 10-to-head Categories League, first place, will be in first place for the playoffs. Which of these two players would you count on in the playoffs? Eddie Rosario, Aaron Hicks Okay, which I think he meant which two players would you count? Two of four, yes. Eddie Rosario, Ahmed Rizzerio,

Aaron Hicks, Reese Hoskins. I'd go Eddie Rosario and Reese Hoskins. Yep, I think you got to do that. All right, Heath, thank you very much. Good stuff. Hoskins, by the way, one more walk than strikeouts so far. He's been really good. Heath, goodbye.

It's really been a blast. Great outro. And yeah, well, I'll tell you, I'll give you a better one. To sum up what we said earlier in the show, I hate Scott White, I hate Chris Tower. See you later.