Fantasy Baseball Today - 08/24: What the Elite Hitters Have in Common; Week 23 Help (Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: August 24, 2018

It's tough to find our favorite two-start pitcher for Week 23, but we'll give it a shot anyway (2:00)! Then Adam thinks he may have discovered a trend involving the best hitters in Fantasy (3:25) ... Yesterday's standouts include Sean Newcomb (6:45) and a scorching hot Anthony Rizzo (8:55) and the very interesting Rizzo split that may explain his season. We've got your latest MLB news (11:55), interesting statistical tidbits (16:50) on Ozzie Albies, Gleyber Torres and more, plus yesterday's top SPs (25:50) like David Price and Cole Hamels ... Discussing Ian Desmond (29:50), fringy SPs (31:08), the Most Added list (33:36), a new steals source (38:05) and a complete look at two-start pitchers (42:00). Stay tuned for a preview of today's matchups ... 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

Domingo Santan Podcasting with Team Scam on Cocoa Friday. It is 11.08 p.m. Eastern. Oh, man. After dark. This is crazy. Podcast after dark. You're like podcasting me with a flashlight held up underneath your chin.

We're telling ghost stories. It's kind of what it looks like. What's your favorite horror movie? What's your favorite scary movie, Scott? My favorite horror movie? That's a good question. I might be forgetting something obvious, but I'm a big fan of the original,

the first in the long list of entries in the Saw series, the first one. Oh, yeah, the first Saw is great. Yeah. It's great, great movie, yeah. It's borderline horror. It's maybe more thriller, but it's outstanding. It is outstanding.

Yeah, have you ever seen The Exorcist, the original? No. And that is the best horror movie ever. Okay. Yeah. What makes it a horror movie? Where are you drawing that distinction? I don't know.

Between like horror and thriller? Yeah. I don't know. Like Silence of the Lamb is not a horror movie to me. No. No. It's kind of like, I think Saw is a horror movie. I think it's more.

More bloody, more deathy than Silence of the Lambs. Scott, who's your, uh, who's your, who's your, What's your favorite two-start pitcher for Fantasy Week 22 or whatever we have coming up? My favorite. That's a good question. I don't know among those owned in... I mean, there are a few that are owned in just under 80% of leagues that I think are fine. Kind of like last week.

Clay Buckholtz is in that group. Kyle Gibson, surprisingly back under 80% ownership. Even Trevor Cahill, who didn't pitch so hot on Thursday night. I'd still like the possibility of using them in a two-star week. But you go any deeper than that, ones that you can expect to be available in a lot of leagues. And I'm not so thrilled. It's bad. I'm not so thrilled.

I mean, Junior Gera is down to 58% ownership. That's who I was looking at. Yeah, there's one guy that's on this list in my league in our league. I don't know that he's going to be a two-star pitcher. Mike Leak would be the obvious answer. he'd be at San Diego and at Oakland and he's pitching great but he might pitch this weekend

because he was scratched with an illness so I'm not sure he's going to be I don't think he's going to be a two-star pitcher I think he's going to pitch before that but Mike Leak could be a two-star pitcher yeah it's not a good week for streaming two-star pitchers

I guess we'll get into that a little bit later Scott let's talk about oh how about this the most important thing that Adam has said all season the most important thing that Adam has said all season the most important thing Adam has said all season. The top seven hitters in points leagues and the top 11 hitters in Roto leagues all have something in common, Scott.

I'm going to guess you don't know what that is off top of your head. So let me read who they are. Jose Ramirez, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Francisco Lindor, Mike Trout, Alex Bregman, and Manny Machado. Those are your top seven hitters and points. Top 11 in Roto are Jose Ramirez, J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, J. J.T.R.I. Bias. Mike Trout. No one Aeronado. Trevor Story. Manny Machado, John Carlos Stanton and Kris Davis. A lot of names there. A lot of names. 11 different names, in fact.

Do you know what they all have in common? The one thing that all of them don't have. Well, that's kind of good. They're all either right. Righties or switch hitters? Oh, no lefties. No left-handed hitters of the bunch. The best left-handed fantasy hitter this year has been in both formats. True lefty. Freeman?

Freddie Freeman? No, he's just behind. Actually, the next three in Roto are lefties. Ben and Tendi, Yelich, and Freeman. There's a switch hitter or two in there, Ramirez and Lindor. But these are righties. and I'm starting to wonder, with the shift being so prevalent, with it crushing some batting average for lefties,

is this something we should consider in our analysis? Now, I should say this. Two of the top three hitters in fantasy in 2017 were lefties. They were Charlie Blackman and who am I missing? Blackman, Stanton, and not Harper, was it? Well, it doesn't matter. So this, you know, it could be a one-year anomaly. Votto?

Yeah, Votto. It was Votto. Yeah. But righties, there are more Ritees than Lefties, that's for sure. Yeah, I mean, you're making a big leap on, you know, very limited data point here. It could just be, you know, that's the way things have played out. And, I mean, shifts are capable of hurting right-handed hitters, too. They play a big part, I feel like, in Albert Pujol's demise.

Oh, yeah. But you heard what Scott Boris said. it's not fair to be a lefty this day and age. Yeah, no, I mean, it definitely hurts them more. I don't know. I feel like Harper, there's been some talk that maybe it's impacted Harper this year. I don't think that's been Votto's issue or Blackman's issue. Freeman's obviously been fine.

Yeah, I mean, I still think there are going to be plenty of good left-handed hitters. All right, well, that was what I thought was maybe the most important thing Adam has said all season. and probably not. Mine was probably Greg Byrd's going to be a breakout. You've said more important things than that. I'm sure I have. Come on. Give yourself some credit. Loopy. Are we going to get Loopy Scott White's? I have no idea what this show has in store for us. No idea. It was kind of a light day in baseball. The Brewer sent Corey Knavel to AAA. That was crazy. We'll tell you about Michael Fulmer coming back off the DL tomorrow or today, I guess, Friday.

It's Thursday night, but you're all hearing this on Friday. Let's start with Thursday standouts. Who do you got for me? Thursday standouts? Thursday, which is still ongoing, there's one game going, so maybe somebody will stand out who he didn't even see coming back. It is over. It is in the books, and Trevor Gilbertberger. Oh, then final score.

Great. That is good. Sean Newcomb. Sean Newcomb, who we were about ready to destroy and held off on say and drop him. At least I did. But not a lot of good signs. Well, I had a very good start on Thursday. Six, two eddings, eight strikeouts.

The strikeouts had been lacking recent. It was against the Marlins. So, you know, you have to factor that into the assessment. But it was nice to see. It was nice to see, especially since there was some concern that maybe he was wearing down. He is approaching his career high innings. And I suspect the Braves are going to mix Bryce Wilson and Tuki Tucson in throughout September to keep both Nukum and Fultenevich to leave them with some innings to throw in the playoffs.

But, yeah. Well, yeah, Newcomb's still worth owning. You wish this had been against someone other than the Marlins, and you wish there were in three walks in there. What's his next matchup? That's what you're always telling us. Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay.

Boom. Another good one. Let's do it. Start them up. Yeah, I mean, the two starts before this, nine and a third, 21 hits and 12 run runs. It's like jaw dropping. The three starts before that, 20 and two thirds, 10 hits three earned runs.

So he'll drive you crazy. Yeah, but there weren't the strikeouts before that, right? There were strikeouts early in the year, and then they disappeared for a middle stretch of the season, and kept preventing runs from scoring, and they were like, I don't know about this. And then it looked like it all caught up to him. I don't know.

I mean, for his standards, he had a decent swinging strike total in this start, too. You know, it's hard to draw too many conclusions from this one start. obviously the overall trend isn't completely reversed based on one start. But it was, if you were holding out hope for Newcomb, it's what you wanted to see. My standout is Anthony Rizzo. And I'm hoping that Anthony Rizzo gets really hot and gets back to a 900 OPS for the season, which is basically where he's been, four straight years, been right around there.

31 or 32 home runs in four straight seasons, which is an unbelievable, unbelievable consistent stat. He has gone crazy. He's homeward in three straight games since the All-Star break. Anthony Rizzo, since the All-Star break, entering Thursday's game, had 1,000 OPS. He was batting 322 with eight home runs.

And it was amazing as I looked at where he ranked over the last 28 days, which is, you know, which is pretty much since the All-Star break at first base, hitting so well. He's like sixth. There have been so many first base. kind of under the radar before the injury.

Jose Obreu, my goodness, 341 with eight home runs in his last 28 days. Paul Goldschmidt's been basically just as good if not better. He's been bonkers. Yeah, batting. I'm not sure, you know, we still got a month to go, obviously, more than a month to go. I'm not sure this isn't the year he walks away with an MVP finally. If the Diamondbacks win the division, I mean, he's right there. He's, you know, Freeman, Baez, Nolan Aronado.

They're in the same range of war. Yeah, good point. But Rizzo, you know, I hope he goes crazy this second half or this final month and gets his numbers back up. So I can be like, see, if you know that a guy is going to perform to a certain level and he hasn't done it for four months, he's going to be amazing for two months. I just want to be able to say that to all the naysayers out there. It is good to, yeah, to do that to the naysayers. But here's the most interesting thing about Anthony Rizzo. This is something that has never, I don't know about never, but I went back to the last three or four years, has not plagued him before.

Probably earlier in his career did. He has been terrible, terrible against lefties this year. He has a two-96 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers this year. I mean, putrid. And I think that explains the down season and also explains why I'm going to favor righties over lefties going forward. I think that's why the Padres traded him to the Cubs, or at least that was one of their concerns for Rizzo. Oh, well, he's been awesome against lefties the last four seasons.

Yeah, obviously that blew up in their faces. But that was... Remember, he came up briefly with the Padres. I think they sent him down because they wanted to work on that. Then they traded him for Andrew Cashner. And, yeah, good, good for the Padres. Well... Good on them.

Yeah. Oops. So Rizzo, that's something to keep an eye. Look, Matt Carpenter was also struggling badly against lefties, and then he turned his whole life around in season. News and notes. Corey Canable to AAA, one of the bigger busts of the season for sure. Oh, I didn't mention Carpenter among those in L-MVP games. Oh, yeah. Certainly he's there.

Definitely. You know what I really want to investigate with Carpenter? I'm going to do this right now. I'm going to do this right now, and we're going to find out, Because I remember earlier, I feel like some of his offensive performance was tied to playing first base. Because maybe he just wasn't comfortable at other positions. So let's see if I can get those splits up with Carpenter. But Canabel to AAA, U.Darvish does not expect to miss any time next year.

He doesn't expect to have surgery. He expects to be fully healthy next year. Off top of your head, give me a round for Matt Carpenter or for U.Darvish next year. Okay. I'm not necessarily expecting him to be healthy next year. And with that in mind, I will say round 14. Ooh. Yeah, I'll take him earlier than that. I'll take him round 10.

Round 10? Okay. 10015th overall. You Darvish next year. Very specific. Matt Carpenter has been at his best as a first baseman, but he's also great as a third baseman this year. 9.08 OPS, 1137 OPS is the first baseman. So I'm guessing I'm wrong.

I'm guessing this is not the most important thing Adam has said this year. Matt Holliday. Matt Holliday's back. Scott, he started for the Rockies tonight. That's interesting, yeah. Yeah, and obviously it was so long ago. There are probably some listeners who don't even remember him with the Rockies, but he was, that's where he made a name for himself, man.

Nearly won an MVP one year as a Rocky. And obviously, you know, still good. Like if there's any place where he's going to recapture, must start form and fantasy, it would be there. He started in place of Harardo Paro, which, you know, we're not really missing anything there. David Dahl was still in the lineup, and he homered and doubled.

So hopefully the holiday doesn't, interfere with him at all. No, no. We'll see. But right now, just leaving holiday for NL only leagues. I'm looking at Carpenter's previous season splits. I don't think I could have been more wrong

about this first base theory. I could not have been more wrong about that. So scratch it from the record. Michael Fulmer is coming off the DL on Friday, and he is 58% owned a lot better at home than on the road, although the walk-to-strikeout ratio is actually much better on the road, so maybe this is a fluky stat. What is your interest level, Michael Former?

I want to say he's had a really impressive minor league rehab stint. Yeah, 11 strikeouts, one total base runner in six innings. He's pitching in high Class A, but still, that's an indicator of health, if nothing else. And, you know, he probably deserves to be owned. That definitely deserves to be owned. Probably won't be a must start right out of the gate, but I still feel like there's that potential lurking in there.

Jameson-Tyone-like potential for Michael Fulmer. I was wanting to call him Buck Farmer, but no, Michael Fulmer is his name. Would you rather have Michael Fulmer or Freddie Peralta? Oh, Fulmer, yes. Really? Definitely Fulmer, yep. Okay. Michael Fulmer or Marco Gonzalez?

I did lower Marco Gonzalez in my rankings quite a bit earlier today. I don't think he went down as far as Fulmer, but it could take just one start where Fulmer looks good for that change. Red Sox first base of Mitch Morland has a left knee contusion. Will Myers was out of the lineup again. Wellington Castillo's 80 game suspension is over, but the White Sox placed him on the DL with a shoulder issue. Daniel Murphy led off and played second base.

Ben Zobras started in right field and Jason Hayward sat. They did not have the D.H. today. So Zobra stayed in the lineup. Jason Hayward did not. That won't be a regular thing. You know them. The White Sox, Scott, they called up Jose Rondone. who hit 18 home runs and 80 games at AAA, and he homered for the White Sox on Thursday.

Any interest there? No, this isn't the first we've seen of him in the majors, believe it or not. Correct. I don't feel like there is much upside there, even though he hit a good number of home runs. 290 on base percentage at AAA Charlotte, so get him out of there. He doesn't do much other than Homer. We don't know that he will in the majors. There's Devin Mazzaraco left with neck stiffness.

He's going to have an MRI. Jay Bruce is coming back today, Friday. Buster Posey didn't start, but he is expected to start on Friday. But remember, any day now, they could pull the plug on Buster Posi. And Jeff Samarja is nearing a return. Scott, here's some interesting stuff. I hope it's interesting. Ozzie Albies has a 780 OPS.

Like, if you're under 800 and you don't steal a lot of bases, it just doesn't cut it. And yet he's probably like a top six-second baseman. Yeah, he is. However, over the last 28 days, he is not even a top 40-second baseman. So that's interesting on Ozzy Albiz. Yeah, it is. And they are trying to get Charlie Culperson in the lineup from time to time. Often it's at Dansby Swanson's expense.

But occasionally it's been at Albi's expense. I still think, considering he's 21 years old, right i think it's 20 when the season began it's still a really impressive year for somebody that young and uh he turned 21 in january so he's been 21 all year but regardless very impressive year for somebody that young i'm mostly disappointed well i'm disappointed in a couple things i'm disappointed in how little he's walked

because he looked like he was going to walk a lot he did walk a lot at a high rate last year and you know it's it's kind of been Rugnett O'Dore the year he disappointed. The walk's just completely bottoming out. And I'm disappointed that he hasn't run more. I don't think those are lost causes, given how young he is. So I'd still be interested in drafting.

You know, going into next year, I think he's going to be in top five, at least top six at second base. I think he's got to be sitable right now, though. And the thing is, one of the reasons why Albee's, despite a 780 OPS, is so high in second base, he has been leading off, or batting second, rather.

He's been at the top of the order for most of the year, but now he's batting like sixth. So he's going to lose a lot of plate appearances. And he's hitting like crap. He's the number four second baseman in points leagues. Well, they, he... Yeah. Yeah, I guess he did bat six today.

I think it was back at second yesterday, so I don't think they're settled on where exactly they're going to bat him. But, yeah, I would hurt if he's not batting in front of Freddie Freeman anymore. Here's an interesting thing. Charlie Culberson, who you just mentioned, he's an 849 OPS. Does he have any value Charlie Colberson? I think in, like, in L-only roto leagues where you have to dig pretty deep to fill your middle-infield spot, sure. He has value in that format.

Could you imagine if Charlie Colberson were listening and he heard me say that? Does he have any value Charlie Colberson? And be like, do you have any value, Adam Azer? Do you? I don't. Glaver Torres, here's something interesting. Now, in his last five games, Torres is seven for 20, but only one extra base hit and one walk. Overall, the 25 games since coming off the DL, Glaver Torres is batting 194 with three home runs and a 588 OPS.

Glaver Torres has been stinky since coming off the DL. Yeah, I think we can, we did talk about when he was having so much success, okay, what's there other than the home runs? Because he couldn't continue at that rate. At the same time, I think this is too much of a correction. Like, he still has an elite line driver. He profiles as a high BABIP guy. But he, you know, he struck out at a high rate as a rookie.

It's kind of what I've said for Ozzy Alvies. it's still a really good showing for 21-year-olds, who we suspect has a lot of upside. In terms of this year, I would call him less than a must start right now. I wouldn't be looking to drop him because, you know, I think he could turn it on just to suddenly

and be a top eight shortstop down the stretch. But right now, I think, you know, if there are options to consider, then you can consider them. Yeah, it's nice that he's got 11 walks in those 25 games. for Glaver Torres. But, you know, it just makes me wonder if he had this, like, kind of chronic hip issue. It wasn't a huge deal.

He would need a day here or there. But then he went on the D.L. And he's been bad since coming up. So it just does make me wonder if Labor Torres is healthy. Yeah. Here's an interesting thing, Scott. The top eight relief pitchers in points leagues are all true closers. No sparse in the top eight.

Do you know who the... Well, wait a second. Is one of them Brad Hans? Because I noticed that the other day. Probably. I mean, that's pretty amazing right there because it's been about seven weeks now since... Yeah, he's number five.

The Padres traded him. And he's still hanging on there. Which to me, tells us a great deal about how much turnover we've seen in the closer roll since them. Well, how many... Let's see how many saves he has. to that high ranking.

With Cleveland, Bradhan does have five saves. Five, yeah. So not zero, but, you know, if this was... I feel like in a normal season, we would see two-thirds of the league's closers hold on to their job through that stretch, and it's been about half that this season. It's ridiculous.

Yeah. Crazy position. Yeah. No position has changed more in the last few years. Maybe starting pitcher, too, because the innings guys just don't throw that many innings anymore. Yeah, and I'm not really sure... I'm not really sure how it would approach it, how it should change the approach, because who have been the best closers this year?

It's been Edwin Diaz. It's been Blake Trinan. Neither of whom you paid a premium for coming into the year. Trinin barely drafted, right? Yeah. I mean, the truth is... Now, obviously, Kimbril's been up there. Kimbril and Chapman both have pitched great.

But now you can't recount on Chapman for the final quarter of the season, it sounds like. Right. And Jansen's been, you know, he's been up and down and... Not himself. ...contending with various health issues. So, I mean, it's not like you could just say draft one of the... You know, the guys we're used to seeing at the top of the rankings, you know, make out of... great. I don't know that that's necessarily true.

There's a lot of volatility in that role even for them. Okay, and then the last tip, oh, by the way, the top sparp is? The top spark is raw stripling, right? Yeah, yeah, Ross Stripling. I think we will see back in the starting role, because I can't, like I said on yesterday's podcast,

I can't read this morning's. I can't imagine he has more than like two or three starts left. They're, you know, that's a big increase they're on that young arm who, you know, they expect to be a staple in the franchise. Okay, and final interesting tidbit, Scott, David Peralta. What's that?

I was referring to Walker Bueller, right? Was that clear? I thought we're talking about Ross Stripling. Okay, sorry. I thought I may have left the detail. I think Ross Stripling will wind up back in the rotation because Walker Bueller, they can't continue to pile endings on that arm. after he threw only 90. Okay, that did make sense.

Yeah, that made sense. Yeah. Okay, David Peralta is slugging 8-10 over his last 28 days. His slugging percentage is 8-10. David Peralta. Where do you think he shows up in the outfield rankings, the season long? Because it's high. It's very high.

I'm going to say he's 8th. Well, I don't know that's that high. 8, 9, 11th. Oh, no, it's 16th. Okay. Okay, yeah. I mean, that was surprising. to me when I looked at it earlier this week.

But he's been, he's made some of the hardest contact of any hitter in baseball as in the top 10 in that category. And if you look at all the others in that same range, they're either, you know, some of the biggest power hitters in the game like Chris Davis or players who we think are good and just haven't gotten the results this year. So, I mean, he's, I think it's more or less legit. Now, the fly ball rate's kind of low for all the power. that's been true all year and it doesn't seem to be slowing down.

It's obvious he just needed a humidor. He couldn't hit in Chase Field before he needed that humidor. Scott, let's take a look at some other stuff from Thursday, and then we'll get into the upcoming fantasy week. We got David Price, eight scoreless innings. Here's the rotation from yesterday. Great starts from David Price, Madison, Bumgarner, and Cole Hamels. Price, Bumgarner, and Hamils.

Obviously, they are ranked Bumgarner, then Price, then Hamils. Um, is there anything interesting to say about these guys? I think I may have Price ahead of Bum Garner. Whoa. Okay, I guess it wasn't obvious. I apologize. Yeah, I think I might because he is, he has looked more like good David Price than Madison Bum Garner has looked. I mean, obviously a good start Thursday night for Bum Garner. Um, but, you know, isn't throwing his heart. All, all the issues we've been. talked about isn't getting the strikeouts and that's been dating back to when he returned from

injury last year so yeah i think there are clear concerns for bumgarner and and you know david price is on a team that's going to win 115 games maybe and he pitches seven or eight innings every time it seems like yeah he's pitching great yeah he is he really is he said he said today the pitcher that the red socks signed is finally here or something like that you know he feels like he is back and that's a scary, scary thought. Just keep him out of Yankee Stadium, and everything's going to be fine. Cole Hamels, I mean, you got to start. Metson at the Phillies next week.

He's on a nice run. With the Cubs, he's now 4-0. ERA is still under 1, I think. I don't have the updated numbers because, you know, we don't have, because the game just ended a couple hours ago. 32 innings and, let's, gosh, 22 hits. How many strikeouts? 28 strikeouts and 32 innings.

So I feel like there's some regression coming for Hamels. Well, of course. And time you guys, it's up one ERA during a stretch. But no, I take this as confirmation as the home away splits. We're suggesting when it was with the Rangers that he just really need to get out of that ballpark. And it's gone as well as it possibly could go. Like you said, it can't possibly continue at this break, but I think he's back to being must-start. Kyle Freeland, are you going to start Kyle Freeland?

It was a 296 ERA, but a 124 whip at the Angels next week in one start. He's been better at home than on the road, even though he's a course field pitcher. Is Kyle Freeland a start next week? I wouldn't shy away from it. You know, I don't think he's automatic whenever he's making one start. But if he was one of my top five pitchers, Yeah, that's not a matchup that would scare me away. And it's really nice to see his last three starts, 26 strikeouts in 19 in the third inning.

If there was anything that was caused for concern, it was the lack of strikeouts. Well, that suddenly changed. He's picking those up each of the last three starts. I can tell you something, folks, all of you listening out there, it's pretty clear to me, half hour in. Nighttime Scott White is a fun Scott White. You are operating very well right now, sir. I thought I might need a burst of caffeine before I came in here, and there's no drinking loud in this room. Really?

I couldn't get it. Yeah, no, they're serious. They got a new carpet in here, got a sign on the door. Only water and only with screw-in lids. Oh, okay, so water. I get the other thing. It's no caffeinated water. That is true.

Maybe I don't need it, though. Maybe not. It's all adrenaline. And we'll see if your cell phone goes. off tonight, but actually I've got an even more fun game. About seven feet away from me, my cat is sound asleep. So it would be very fun if she would make an appearance tonight. We'll see.

I felt too bad to wake her up. I feel like we'll be okay. But I've been screaming, of course, in this room for the entire time. She slept through it. All right, Ian Desmond is one up today. Ian Desmond, one for four with a home run. He now has 12 RBIs in his last seven games. However, entering August, Ian Desmond,

who's 86% own, was batting 200 with no home runs and three steals. He finally hit his first home run of August. What do you make of Desmond right now in this very cold stretch? But, you know, 12 RBIs in his last seven games for what that's worth. You know, I had the thought as I was talking about Matt Holliday and hopefully not impacting David Dahl. That maybe it could impact Desmond. He's played mostly first base.

Ryan McMahon's gotten occasional starts. Ryan McMahon's been pretty good since returning from the minors. I don't know. I think they're probably going to stick with Desmond. They still owe him a lot of money. He's been... He's certainly been better than I thought he was going to be coming into the year. I know there's still an argument to be made.

He's not good. But I don't know. And I think in the standard rhodo lineup, when you have all those extra hitter spots to fill and you could use stolen bases anyway you could get them. I still think he's probably hard to sit. I'm going to tell you another guy you can add a little bit later. That's going to give you some steals if you need them.

Fringy starting pitchers, Trevor Cahill, we discussed. How about Matt Boyd? I think you've got to pick up Matt Boyd. At Kansas City next week, I like it. Now granted, I was all about picking up Tyler Glass now for his start against Kansas City. And it was okay. He's also on this list. He's 61% owned five innings, three runs, three.

three walks, eight strikeouts. And Scott, all the things that you've been talking about, the last two starts for Glass Now, just not throwing quite enough strikes. It seems to be a problem, and he's at Atlanta next week. But the rest of the fringey starting pitchers, Boyd, Glassnow, Lucchese, Duffey, and Disclafani. Boyd, Glass Now, Lucch, Duffy, and DeSclafani. Who are your two favorites there?

I would still go Glass Now, number one. My enthusiasm has waned a little bit because the last three starts. It still looks like he has some control problems, but they were all more or less good in 14 swinging strikes in this one, I think, is the most he's had in a raise appearance. So that's good. He's number one, and Cahill would still be number two, despite the bad showing here. Oh, yeah, I didn't include him. I actually thought Cahill would be number one. Just because he has a two-star pitcher next week and the others.

I mean, yeah, I'd be more likely to start in the glass now next week. So of the others, I guess, I guess, I guess Matt Boyd is my second favorite. I'm not a big Matt Boyd believer. I think he's had good bad luck. I think he's had good home run luck. But it continues. And he has looked like a better strikeout pitcher of late. Last six starts, or now, well, the six starts before today, which was six shutout

innings against the White Sox with six gays, Matt Boyd, uh, 295, ERA, 34 strikeouts to five walks and 36 and two-thirds. And, yeah, he's at Kansas City next week. Glass Now's at Atlanta. Joey Lucasey, you know, I know he had a great start at Colorado Day. The wind was blowing in, apparently. That certainly helped. He's got Seattle at home next week.

He'd never, ever, ever throws more than six innings. Danny Duffy, I'd be interested to know what the velocity was tonight because it was way down before he went on the DL. I had a feeling he was going to be out for a while. He came back very quickly and had a good enough start against the raise, and he gets Detroit next week, and then Disclafani gets Milwaukee next week. So let's take a look at the most added players in CBSSports.com leagues. Austin Gombur.

I keep forgetting. I keep forgetting. I think it's Gomba. Is it Gomba? I think of Gumbas. I think it's Gomba. Man, I just was watching him pitch the other night. Austin Gember is number one.

Michael Kopeck is number two. Kopeck's 80% owned. So Gombor is not a two-start pitcher, I don't believe. We don't have it listed as such. But people are into him right now, Sky. And I'm not sure, man. It says the number one starting pitcher with 23 walks, the 36 strikeouts and 42 and a third.

The number one most added players, what I meant to say. Yeah, I don't know. I don't believe he's going to be a two-strikes. star pitcher next week. Because right now they only have four people in the rotation. I have Jack Flaherty as the Cardinals two-star pitcher next week, which is obviously better. And Gomber's next start is at Colorado. That's this weekend.

Yeah. Nah. I'm not excited either. Okay. Kopec 2. Yeah, we're excited about him. Brett Anderson 3. No, we're not excited about him.

We like these next two, though. Harrison, Bader and Taylor Ward. Mike Fires is 81% owned. Would you rather own Mike Fires or Michael Kopeck? Oh, Kopeck. Come on. Yeah. Kopec Cabano.

We got it. Trevor K. Hill's on here. He's two-star pitcher. Ahmed Rosario is the third most added hitter in CBSports.com leagues. Ahmed Rosario. You don't really care for Ahmed Rosario, right? I don't.

I don't. This is all you're doing. No, it's not. I don't know. It's Chris. It's Chris? Yeah, I'm not a huge... Chris has something to do with this?

Chris likes Rosario. I think anyway. Yeah, look, you get some steals with him. Yeah, I mean, you'll probably get more from him than you will. For me and Desmond. If that's the main thing you're looking for. Sure. Sure.

Sure. Sure. Sure. And I know he had a bad start last time out, four innings, four hits, three runs. He's been really good this year, very consistent. So I wouldn't drop him. on the most added list, but I'm hanging on to him. Who is it?

Jun-Jin Ryu. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's fine. I mean, I would rather have, like, Michael Fulmer, but they're in about the same range. Jose LeClerc is 61% owned. That might be a little low. Jose LeClerc? Yeah, I've been, I've been... Ever since the day

the Rangers traded Keone Kele, I've been saying, pick Jose LeClerc up, and I seem to keep having reasons to drop reminders every week since. I know there was kind of a long saves drought for the Rangers that right after that happened, which, you know, it happens to every team from time to time, but it's not like Kella had trouble picking up saves, and it's not like they traded away the whole team. I mean, they still have a really good lineup.

He'll get his save chances, and he has been certainly a closer caliber pitcher this year. I think he'll do. Given all the uncertainty around the league in that spot, I feel like he's a top 12 closer right now. Jose LeClerc. Okay, and I'm going to give you four pitchers, Scott, who are owned in 41 to 44% of leagues. Lucas Gialito, Derek Holland,

Edwin Jackson, and Marco Estrada. Gialito, Holland, Jackson, Estrada. How would you rank them? I would rank them Holland first, which says a lot right there about where the range we're talking about. Holland, followed by... I don't have the names of front of you. Edwin Jackson, Gialito, and Estrada.

Gialito, probably second, and then Jackson and Estrada. Holland's the only one I've ever given a thought to picking up, even a two-start week. Yeah. Okay, let's go to the Adometer. Hunter Renfro. was 26% owned. Where is he on the addometer? Last 21 days before homering today at Corse Field,

or Thursday at Corse Field. He was the number 14 outfielder in fantasy over the last 21 days. Hunter Renfo. Here's how the Atometer works. You give me a four, that means he should be 40% owed. You give me a 6, 60%. Et cetera.

Hunter Renfro. I think it should be the Adam meter. The Adam meter. But it's like ad apostrophe EM, Adam. I will give him. I will give him a six on the Atometer. That is so weird. You know, all five outfielder leagues, basically.

Renfro needs to be added. How about Matt Duffy, 18% owned? I don't know why I put him in the notes. I feel like people were asking about him. This man... He's been better than 18% worth. He's a singles machine. Yeah.

He does have some speed and good batting average. Yeah. Matt Duffy. Yeah. Atometer. Like a four. And then here's the guy that can get you some steals. In fact, I'm going to put a claim in for him right now.

Greg Allen. Greg Allen of the Cleveland Indians stole another base tonight. He has 12 steals and 13 attempts. He's probably not going to do much else. No, he has been awful otherwise. It's surprising he's got not base enough to do that. He's like a three. Okay.

And how about the dropometer? This, we have to calibrate differently, but 0 to 10. Zero is no way I'll never drop this guy. 10 is, oh yeah, dropped him yesterday. Adam Eaton, 78% owned. Like an 8? Adam Eaton, man, you look at the batting average

and the on-base percentage, it looks like Adam Eaton. The sluggy percentage is 390. His ISO is 101. He just has no power. He does have one homer and three doubles in his last six games. that's not much but if you're holding out hope it might be something

for Adam Eaton and he sits against lefties so he's bad Andrew McCutcheon zero to 10 for McCutche he might have a new team SUNY

cleared waivers obviously a free agent at season's end um dropping him no two one okay Yeah, you know, it's funny because I know the bat of ball data looks good.

We're waiting for it. We're waiting for it. And it's just not happening with McCutcheon. No, but he's been bad by his own standards, but he hasn't been a bad outfielder in fantasy this year. He's been borderline top 30, right? I would guess there's no way in Roto and probably yes in points because his walk-the-strikeout ratio is very good. If that doesn't get rewarded for you, then a guy batting 253 with 14 homers, 11 steel. It's also a very low RBI total, 53 RBIs and 124 games.

I'm guessing he's not a top 30 outfielder. I'll look for you in Roe. You know, it's... Roto Leagues with the five outfielders is still a pretty good player. Categories lead... Category head-to-head league with three outfielders, and obviously not the points set up. Man, you know, he's probably borderline.

That's where you can think about dropping him. This is McCutcheam we're talking about, but are you afraid to drop him, you know, fearing that he goes on a crazy hot streak. Yeah, a little. I'm just doing it, like, looking at it now. I think he's around 35th in Roto. Okay, and last one on the dropometer.

How about Brandon Belt, 82% owned? Yeah, yeah, that's like a seven probably. Just done nothing since returning from the DL. Yeah, he's had a few DL stints, but he returned from the appendectomy. and 39 games since then he had a 619 OPS. He's just been dreadful. 619, of course, it's my birthday. We all know that.

But that's Belt's OPS since coming back from the appendectomy. All right, time to take a look at two-star pitchers for next week. Let's see what we're looking at here, Scott. We already know it's not looking good. It is not looking good. We're going to... If you're looking for a sleeper anyway, it's looking pretty good if you want... if you have a bunch of high-end pitchers.

All right. How about Julio Taran versus Tampa Bay and versus Pittsburgh? He got to. Two road starts for John Gray at the Angels and at the Padres. Oh, definitely. He's been great since coming back from the miners. This is the tough one. This is the toughest one.

Carlos Rodeau. Carlos Rodeau or Carlos Rodeau? At the Yankees and home against Boston. at the Yankees is not what it used to be. Let's be fair. But he is left-handed, which means Stanton will hit two home runs off of Carlos Rodan. Rodan at the Yankees and home against Boston. I don't think it's automatic in Categories League.

I think points definitely start them. And, you know, it just depends what you're pursuing in a Categories League. Okay. Wins and strikeouts versus ERA and WIP. Next up, we have Lance Lynn. Lance Lynn is facing the White Sox and the Tigers at home. I mean, those are two great matchups. His last two starts haven't gone very well, but if, yeah, I mean,

anytime you get a pitcher of some ability going, with two matchups like that, that's your sleeper. It's just he's already 84% owned, so he can't call him a sleeper. I know, I know. It's so weird his ownership percentage. So Lynn or Rodon, who do you think's better? Well, for this week? week for this week.

I think Lynn is with the matchups. Yeah. Yeah, it's not just Lynn's matchups. It's Rodon's matchups. It's more Rodon's matches. Opposite ends of the spectrum. Totally. Trevor Cahill at Houston and home against Seattle.

You said you're good with that? I am. Okay. Clay Buckholz at San Francisco and at the Dodgers. I mean. Good luck sitting him. Yeah. It's time.

It's time. It's a start of. It is time. It is time. Yes. All right. Now, here's a pitcher who's got two tough matchups against two of the five best teams in home OPS. Kyle Gibson is at Cleveland and at Texas.

Gibson, I feel like Gibson's been better in tough matchups. Like, he's been good against Cleveland. He had a good start against the Yankees, I believe. He had a good start against the Red Sox. At Cleveland and at Texas for Gibson. Rick Porcelo's kind of had that too. It feels like a confirmation bias sort of thing, but maybe. not.

Those, yeah, I mean, Kyle Gibson was awful last time out, and the strikeouts have been, you know, the strikeout to walks, as they've kind of been leveling off, kind of like we saw from Sean Newcomb, that concerning sign. But I still think he's good enough to start whenever he's making two starts. Jun Ryu at Texas and home against Arizona. Yeah, I'd be okay with that in the points league. Maybe not Roto. Steven Strasbourg at Philadelphia and home against Milwaukee.

Definitely in a points league, but there were some concerns raised in that first start off the deal. Hopefully it was just a case of not being built back up yet. We got Zach Eflin against Washington and the Cubs. Yeah. Yeah, I'd start him. Last start was awful, but it was isolated. Junior Gera might be your best streaming option at Cincinnati and at Washington. Yeah, I would agree with that.

I mean, he's been fine. I'm actually a little surprised he's less than 60% of him. 58% own junior gara. Edwin Jackson at Houston, home against Seattle. Nope. Yvonne Nova at St. Louis and at Atlanta. Nope. All right, here's a...

Got to get desperate. Brian Johnson, Miami at home at James Shields and the White Sox. So it's Brian Johnson against Miami and at the White Sox. Those are good matchups. I don't buy it. You know what? What about Eduardo Rodriguez? I'm not sure Johnson makes both starts.

That's a good point. Because I know Rodriguez is on a rehab assignment now. Yeah, let me see if I could find a timetable for him real quick. Okay. Yeah, you'd have to be kind of scratching for, you kind of digging for treasure. because Johnson never pitches six innings, but two starts. He could get you 10 innings, three runs, something like that. James Shields, there's no way we're starting him at the Yankees and home against the Red Sox.

And then what about Daniel Pontz-Dalyone against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati? Yeah, like I said, I don't think he's actually going to make two starts because he got sent to the minors. They had an off-day Thursday and another off-day Monday. So I think he'll be back up to make a start this week, but I don't think it'll be two starts. I think Jack Flaherty is the Cardinals two-star option for this week. That's a Gavillo. Well, Gavillo at Baltimore and at Miami. What's the Gaviliio?

Yeah, well, his last start was awesome. It was seven innings, two runs, seven Ks against Baltimore. He might be... Who was that scrubby pitcher? Oh, I guess it was Trevor Richards, and then he didn't end up making two starts. Never mind. Never mind. Yeah, that's the problem.

Probably the desperation sleeper based on those matchups. I mean, he has, I guess he has an ERA over five. He hasn't been, yeah, there's not a lot to like here. But they are two good matches. He's coming off a good start. I'll just leave it at that. Yeah. If you want to go with Gavillo, then go with Gavillo.

I am going to read some emails from our friends, our listeners. Carlos from the Dominican Republic. Would you drop Will Myers or Eloy Jimenez for Kendris Morales, Tyler White, or Jake Bowers? Would you drop? Will Myers? Yeah, I'll read it again. Will Myers or Eloy Jimenez in a Categories League, by the way. For Kendris Morales, Tyler White, and Jake Bowers.

It would depend how immediate the need is. I definitely wouldn't drop Will Myers because I think Will Myers is better than all three of those. But I would suspect Iloi Jimenez is not coming up this year. I would have said the same about Michael Kopec a week ago. So, you know, I don't know. That's just where I think. The signs are pointing.

But if he does get called up and you'd stashed him for months and then somebody else benefits from, that would totally suck. So if it's just for a bench spot, I'd stand pat. If you really need help now, Blue Jays have great matchups this week, and Morales is red hot, so you could drop him in menace for Morales. We've got Casey who says, Dear, Miguel, Brian, Hunter, and Johan. Miguel, Brian, Hunter, and Johan.

I don't, I mean, look, it could be McGelsonow. Twins. Twins Enfield? Brian Doger. Oh. I was, Tori Hunter and Johann Santana. Oh, maybe. That doesn't make any sense, though.

All right, well, anyway, how would you rank these guys next year? Carpenter, Suarez, Rendon, Justin Turner, Javier, Hobby Baez. Carpenter Suarez, Rendon, Turner, Baez. $40. That doesn't make. I'm still trying to figure that. Okay, sorry. So answering the question. What is the question?

Rank these five next year. Carpenter, Suarez, Rendon, Turner, Baez. Okay. I will rank them. Justin Turner. With next year in mind. I think you've got to go Baez one. Followed by.

Yeah, I don't think you have to do that, Scott. I think that you just put him over Matt Carpenter. I did. You're a sleepy Scott White. Oh, you're doing that for real? I'm doing that for real. I mean, Matt Carpenter's old and has been very inconsistent over the last few years. I'm glad he finally lived up to the batted ball profile over these past couple months,

but I don't think all concerns are erased there. Wow. Okay. So I wouldn't even, he'd be fourth for me. You're taking a guy who's one of the elite on-base players and putting him behind Harvey Baez, who never walks. That is not the Scott White I've come to know. That is nighttime Scott White.

This is after hours. After dark, Scott White. Take a turn for the darker side, talking about horror movies. Baez-Swarres, Rendon, Carpenter, Turner. Baez, Suarez, Rendon, Carpenter, Turner. And by the way, like, it's a thin, thin separation with those top four. It's Turner, who's the distant fifth. And this is an email from Nick in a town on the north shore of Long Island.

Nick, you're from Great Neck. Dear Stewie. That's a good setting for a horror movie, right? The North Shore of Long Island? Or Great Neck? Either one. Great Neck wouldn't be good for a horror movie. I mean, I guess it is kind of like this quiet little pleasant town, but no, I can't.

Yeah, exactly. Dear Stuart, itchy, fival, and Mr. Jingles. Those are mice. Mouses. This is actually a movie. Mouses. Mouses. Late night, Scott White, just said Mouses.

This might be a football listener because we had a joke about that. There's a proposal with my league to change how wins are allocated. The proposed system would work as follows. Each week, every team will, like usual, earn a win or a loss based on the outcome of their head. head matchup, but we'll also earn a winner or loss based on how many points they score that week. For this, we would order the team scores for that week from highest and lowest. If you score in the top half, you get an extra win.

If you score in the bottom half, you get an extra loss. What do you think? It's not, it's not bad. It's not bad. I guess it kind of dilutes the effect of luck. I don't think it's necessary, but if this is a great concern, among the owners in your league. Off the top of my head,

I don't really see the harm in it. All right. It's kind of like doing a power ranking. Yeah. Because, you know, at least on CBS Sports, you can look at the power rankings that kind of takes into account points as well as record.

I got a beef with power rankings. Well, this one is a very formula-driven process, formula-driven process. Go ahead. When I read a power rankings article, I feel like the authors are very much just putting the team with the best record at number one. And I feel like your power rankings should really be

who you think are the best teams in, in what order. And record shouldn't necessarily... Like if I'm doing power rankings right now, there's no way the Yankees are number two. The Astros are number two. For Scott, they'd be number one. But... Here's my issue with power.

Power rankings at them. What are they? Yeah, what are they, right? Right? Yeah. You're getting people to click on them, but it's entirely meaningless. It's just fodder. It's just stuff to talk about.

Stuff for people like you to gripe about. That's all it is. I think it'll be interesting, but I'd rather be more... You can do no wrong with power rankings because you're going to get the clicks either way. Okay. I guess maybe we should title every episode. like 0-08-24 Fantasy Baseball Podcasts, power rankings

and then we're never ever going to bring up power rankings and we'll just put that in the title. All right, let's do today's matchups, Friday's matchups, Matt Harvey at Alec Mills, Reds at Cubs, Matt Harvey at Alec Mills. Nope. Cici Sabathia at Alex Cobb. Is this Sabathia's first star back, right?

Yeah. So that's a no. Well, it's the Orioles. Yes. Jake Areetta at Ryan Baruchie. I don't know the tune of the song. We're up all night to Buraki. We are up all right now.

We are up all night. We are off for Burrucky, but we're up for Arieta instead. Gio Gonzalez at Jason Vargas. Nope. Mike Fultenevich at Dan Straeli. Definitely Fulte. No, Strelie. Hector Velas.

For the Red Sox? Nope. Open game for the race. Pull pen game for the race. Rinaldo Lopez at Michael Fulmer. I will start Fulmer against the White Sox first game back. Caution to the win. Let's do it.

Sean the Maniac Mania and Jake Eggs Odarezi. Hmm. I'll start Mania. I will not start Odorezzi. I will give a nickname to everybody now. Jay must Start Must Grove

And Wade's Smiley Just Musgrove Mike the Clementine Clevenger And Brad And Brad Keller Keller

Pudding pops No I don't got I have nothing Mike Clevenger at Brad Keller Just Clevenger Okay Let's see

Miles Nikolaj Mikinos Mikinos Michaelis and Antonio I'm trying to Sensor

I can't do this anymore Miles Michaelis at Antonio Sanzatel You're going to start Michaelis at Corsefield Yes you are All right Erasmil Ramirez

at Zach Gottley The godliest Dallas Kikel at Andrew Heaney Um Yeah Kikele, yes. Heaney, um...

I can't do it. You can't do it. I'm kind of leaning yes. Um... Yes, on the... All right. A little worried. The heen dog.

The heen machine. Andrew the heem machine. Clayton Richard... Clayton Dave Richard or Rich Hill? Rich Hill. For sure. Clayton Richard. Hill of beans.

I'd rather start Dave Richard than Clayton Richard, frankly. Uh, and finally, Drew Hutchison. Oh, Derek Rodriguez is back. Lovely. Cool. Yeah. You're going to start him at home against the Rangers. Sure.

Okay. Sure, let's do that. Derek Rodriguez. I can't believe we did almost an hour, Scott. Amazing. Yeah. We have the overnight shift. After hours.

An hour after hours. All right. That's Scott White. I'm Adam Azer. Have a great weekend, everybody. And we'll talk to you on Monday with a weekend recap. Happy Pokemon Go!