Fantasy Baseball Today - 08/26: Weekend Roundup - Exciting Pitching Options (Fantasy Football Podcast)

Episode Date: August 26, 2019

Let's start with hitters to add like Ryan McMahon and Nick Solak and then some SPs to add such as Mike Foltynewicz and guys with good matchups. Then we update you on the LAD rotation, Jose Ramirez and some exciting SPs who are nearing a return from the IL ... Bullpen updates. Do we have a new closer in SEA? And a look at the Most Added list ... More hitters to keep an eye on and then we discuss all of the relevant SPs from over the weekend. We cover Matt Boyd, Jose Berrios, Lance Lynn, Dinelson Lamet, Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease, Mitch Keller, Brock Burke, Kolby Allard and so many more ... 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

Welcome to the fantasy baseball today podcast from CBS Sports. What a fantasy question? Email fantasy baseball at CBSI.com. Get ready to win your league. We're fantasy. Now here's Adam, Scott Heath and Chris. What's up? Welcome.

You're filling host who lost his voice over the weekend. Maybe it's just a new person that nobody recognized. No, it's me. It's Adam. Azer. I am back. And I didn't realize how bad my voice wasn't until just this very moment, Scott. So, uh, lost your voice, rooting for a losing cause.

Yeah, shut up. Yeah, was it a heartbreaker? I didn't actually see it, I'm sure. Anybody who did see it is going to be bored by this exchange, but. Uh, was it a heartbreaker. I mean, like... It was close, right? The final score was close.

Yeah, I think it was 24. It was a four-point game. They came down to fourth down, and they, like, botched the snout. couldn't tell if it was a bad snapper if our quarterback just dropped the ball, but he got sacked for the 10th time and the game got sacked 10 times. It was at the Miami, Florida. Right. Miami, Florida in Orlando, you know, it's like 6,000, like 62% of the stadium, Florida, 38% percent, nah, I'd say 60, 40. It was fun. It was, I'd never really been to like

a neutral site non-bowl game before. It was cool. People were pretty crazy. It was good to have football back. It was weird. It was almost. almost like I forgot how to be a football fan because it's been so long. But, no, I wasn't really that heartbroken. Because I, you know, I realized the power of low expectations, Scott. I thought they were. Oh, low expectations are the best. I'm good at that.

I thought they were going to get crushed. So the fact that they were even in it, I, you know, I'm optimistic now. So, yeah, it was good. How was your weekend? It was fine. I did my only two fantasy football drafts and did not. I was going to watch Avengers Endgame for a second time, but dying to see it since seeing it opening day.

And I was going to watch it with my wife. It didn't end up happening. Because that's life with two little kids. Nothing you plan actually happened. Well, that is so weird that you say that, Scott. Because I went to lunch with my friend who lives in Orlando, and I went back to his house before the game, and I watched Avengers Endgame.

But you don't know, you never watched any of the others. No, he had to explain like everything to me. And I only saw, I only saw like probably about 60% of it. So I want to finish it because I was enjoying it. It was pretty good. It was pretty good. Go back and watch the 20 others or whatever. Yeah, but now I like, now, like it sounds.

No, no, no. It sounds like the one before this was awesome. And like the ending, he told me how it. It sounds like that one was amazing. But now I know the ending. So like. I don't even know. But the thing is, Adam, both like,

Endgame and Infinity War both awesome. Infinity War probably a little more awesome. But the thing is, neither of them would even be in my top five for the MCU movies. That's how great the whole franchise is. All right. All right. So, listen, let's talk baseball. Give me a superhero to add.

A superhero hitter to add first. Well, I was all geared up to say Mike Yistremski, who's only 54% on, has good matches this week. He took a pitch off the hand. May not be serious, but it's hard to get behind that now. Yeah, otherwise, I'm not, I'm not like, if we're limiting it to 70% ownership and under, I mean, there's the recent, like, Nick Solac's been playing every day for the Rangers. Yeah, he's been pretty good.

I love their matchups. I start him now. And I, like, his playing time seems to care. or if anything, Rugnett O'Dore's playing times in question, because there was a report from, I think, the Dallas Morning News, that they're giving him, the Rangers are giving him like a last chance. Yeah. They've tried, like, tweaking his swing, so he's not, you know,

so he's not fooled by pitches so easily. And just nothing's worked, obviously, for, like, the past three years. And they're rolling with So luck when he, when he's not starting at second base, he's starting at DH. So good matchups this week. Yeah, he's not a bad pickup. Yeah, on the shallower side. you know, if you picked up Ryan McMahon

and you didn't get much from him on the road this week, that's fine, but he's back home for a full week of games. He's owned in more than 75% of leagues now, Ryan McMahon, but just confirming, yeah, they're home all week to Atlanta, then Boston, then Pittsburgh. They have one game against Atlanta, and then two Boston and then three Pittsburgh. So what about just talking about teams that have good matchups?

Do you have that, Scott? Yes, teams with good matchups, The top five would be the Rockies because they're at home all week. Not that the pitchers they're facing are that great. They're facing mostly the Red Sox and the Pirates, one game against the Brave. So, you know, a lot of bad pitchers at home. Rockies, start them all. Pirates are number two.

Reds who are playing eight games this week are number three. Royals four, Athletics Five. And there are a number of teams with pretty good matchups beyond those five. Well, Mark Hanna's been hitting pretty well. Yep, he's a number two. I'm glad you brought him up because he's actually number two in my top 10 sleeper hitters for this upcoming week. He has started every game but one since, I think, the day before the All-Star break. Every game but one.

We think of him as a part-time, you know, platoon guy. Clearly, that hasn't been it. And during that stretch that he started every game but one, his OPS, after another big game today, two home runs. His OPS, I think, is just below a thousand. for that, what, month and a half long stretch? Yeah, that's good. Can I get a what-what? Canna?

At night, Scott White, he is always right. All right, so Mark Kana, Nick Solac, shallower leagues, you know, you could look at the Rockies guys. Miguel Sino has been good for a while. He's 75% owned, but the most added list is largely pitchers. I mean, it really is. Louisa Rice is the most added hitter. Oh, no, Kyle Seeger is the most added hitter. You have faith in Kyle Seeger this week?

I really don't. I know. And he's been extraordinarily hot, but I don't really see a skill change even for the short stretch. Like the main thing that's changed for the stretch he's been hot is his home run to fly ball rate is way, way up, which obviously he's hit a lot of home runs, but is there anything backing that?

Nothing that I can see. Now, the Mariners, I think, actually do have. have, no, they don't have great matchups. He has four lefties this week, too. Yeah. Kyle Seeger. But I did look up. His numbers are actually better against lefties.

Oh, I was about to look that up. Spoiler alert. Yeah. Yeah. But the matchups aren't great. All right. All right. So, okay, how about pitchers?

Let's talk about pitchers to add. Yeah, so Mike Fultenevich, I'm actually feeling pretty good about. I understand this was in, what, five starts since, no, four starts since returning. His first good one, really. From the miners. His first quality start. So it was three earned runs in five and a third, four runs in six, two runs in four and two thirds. So I wouldn't say he got rocked any of those times.

But really the main thing is his slider has looked better consistently across those four starts, both in terms of how many swinging strikes it gets and just how comfortable he appears throwing it. because when he missed all that time in spring training with the elbow injury, he lost his conviction in that pitch. And he's a limited arsenal guy, so he really needs it. This most recent start over the weekend against the Mets, two hits in seven innings, and his two seamer was just darting all over the place.

So pairing that with the slider, I think is going to be a pretty effective combination for him. And, yeah, given his history, I've seen enough that I can't imagine there's much that's more exciting out there on waivers in your league. Fultenevich is at Toronto this week and he is 68% owned. I was pretty much done with Anabal Sanchez. He had, to me, a very surprisingly great start at the Cubs. Eight and a third.

Two runs only one earned, one hit, six strikeouts. And that by itself would not be enough to get me back on the Anabal Sanchez train because the strikeouts and the swinging strikes are just so much lower than they were, especially the strikeouts last year. But he is at home against Miami this week. So I see a lot of potential for Annabal Sanchez, 60% own. In fact, there are some guys who have really good matchups. Martin Perez is at Detroit.

Joe Ross is also at Miami. This week, he was bad yesterday. I wouldn't really trust Joe Ross. But Sanchez, I would. I'm interested in, I mean, it's a weird time to say stash someone, but I'm interested in stashing Mitch Keller. I don't want to start him just after one good start against the Reds, but it was a great start.

One run, 9Ks and six innings for Mitch Keller at Philadelphia this week. Dylan C. Scott, Dylan Cs seems to be pitching a little bit better. And he'll have three-run runs in the first inning against Texas, and then he said he had his A-plus stuff. Dylan Cis is, Dylan Cis is, how old are you, Dillin C's? 44% owned. And he's pitching better. So three of his last four starts have been encouraging.

I cannot start him against Minnesota. But Keller and C's two young good prospects, and maybe they can help you out in your fantasy playoffs. Yeah, I mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a shot on upside. I would not trust either enough to activate them right away on any team that I had real ambitions for. But they were both dominant on Friday. You know, Keller, 19 swinging strikes. Cs had 19 swinging strikes, too.

Now, Cs only had one walk, and that's back-to-back. Starts with one walk. Walks, obviously, were holding him back. He said he let his body ride down on the mound longer. That was the change, as he described it. That sounds to me like, you know, keeping his body square to the plate, which is a lot of times something pitchers do to him, you know, an adjustment they need to make to improve their command.

So hopefully he's on the right track as far as that goes. I guess there's one other guy we could throw in as like, hey, let's stash and see where this goes. And it's Colby Allard, who threw his curveball more at the White Sox on Saturday. He threw six and a third scoreless endings with no walks and eight strikeouts. So, God, we had so many bad starts from great pitchers. And then we had these prospects turn in, or these highly, you know, highly touted now major leaguers, turn in really good starts

like the two I just mentioned, Keller and Cease and Kobe Allard as well. And if the curveball is going to be something that changes it again, not starting him this week, but interesting. I kind of like Colby Allard. I've said this before.

I just, I have a good feeling about him because there was the pedigree to begin with and even though he lost some prospect shine like he was still good throughout his minor league career and he just i feel like he looks good when he pitches i don't know only nine swinging strikes getting those eight strikeouts and six and a third shutout innings but uh but yeah he expanded his arsenal a little and he just has a really good cutter really good cutter uh so i'm i'm not totally cold on colby allard one rookie

who did not pitch well making his starting debut was uh just a chef Yeah, yeah. Who had some control issues, as he often did in the miners, though not in his recent stay before the call-up. He was at double A and dominating there. I'm not totally, you know, I'm not saying there's no chance Justice Sheffield can help you based on that. Right. But one thing we haven't mentioned with him, he is RP only. Oh.

And probably not going to get the five starts to pick up SP for you. So if that makes a difference in your league, something to keep in mind for Justice Sheffield. All right. So some names for you there, hitters and pitchers. You know how the show works on Sunday. We're going to talk about a lot of players, a lot of players, and a lot of them are going to be able to help you win your league, hopefully. Today's sponsor is Cheers. Now I cannot sit here and give a testimonial because I'm not a drinker. But I know people who have used Cheers, including Heath. And I gave some to my brother-in-law because, you know, I got some from Cheers. And I was like, look, I'm going to give this to people that can actually give a testimonial. And they both. Actually, three people used it and said, yeah, man, it works.

So if you're going to drink, make sure you take it every time you drink. You'll hear the ad later and you'll learn more about it. But takechairs.com slash strike. Take cheers.com slash strike for a special offer there. It's good stuff. Okay, news and notes. Big, big news and notes. Oh, quick question, actually.

Am I allowed to get frustrated with Trevor Bauer now? Is that okay? Oh, it's frustrating. Did I say you weren't allowed to be? be frustrated? No, probably not. I'm going to make it seem that way. Yeah, I mean, this is, he's, he's entering Joe Musgrove levels of two-facedness here

with the Reds today's start. He's a league loser. He lost me my league last week. I'm sure he lost people their league this week. Well, if he hasn't yet, he could still win you the league. He could. Because he has the two starts with 11Ks over seven since joining the Reds too.

I mean. And four of his last six is. have just been awful, and that two have been great. I will say this, in this start today, where he gave seven runs on eight hits and three innings, no home runs allowed, and his exit velocity was 89.1, which is just a fraction of a mile per hour higher

than his season exit velocity. So it doesn't seem like he was getting hit hard. No, in fact, I'm not sure if you saw the quotes, but both Bauer and I think it was David Bell, some one, maybe he's pitching coach, I don't know, but I think it was Bell, said he got unlucky, some softly hit balls got through. That doesn't explain everything, but maybe it did seem like,

it seemed like this could have been a better start, and he ran into a little bit of bad luck. But I'm going to throw Bauer out there next week, unless he's at Colorado, which he isn't. I'm going to start him. The matchups don't really matter. He's good enough to dominate any opponent. What are you going to do?

What are you going to do? I'm not going to sit him. I'm just going to, if he's bad, I'm just going to come and complain about it, but I'm not going to sit him. All right, Scott, let's get to the news. The Dodgers are going to monitor Junjin Ryu's workload. He's, you know, maybe tiring a little bit. It's been kind of roughed up last two times out.

On that note, you know, Dustin May could get back in there. Julio Arias, when he's done with his suspension, he could become a starter. So keep it in mind, are you willing to start Ryu this week? I actually don't have his matchup. Not sure it matters. Yeah, I'm willing to. Just start Ryu. Okay.

I don't really have great concerns there. I mean, for having his ERA's an even two now, right? Yeah. And I mean, understandably, his ex-fip is like 3.30, which is a great ex-fip. But, I mean, like, he had overachieved, obviously, because how, you know, unless you're Clayton Kershaw, you know, five years ago, you can't reasonably sustain an ERA below, too. The only reason why I might say you could sit, Junjun Riu, is there is a chance he gets a start skipped, and not just like a little chance.

Like there's a decent chance they skip his start, and you could have no start. So that is a real tough one to advise this week. I think it's easy in categories leagues. Just start him. Because whoever you get to replace him is liable to do more harm the good anyway. But in points leagues, yeah, that's tricky.

I mean, obviously, if you have a stacked rotation and maybe the people who are competing for a points league title do, then you could think about it. But I think most people aren't going to be in a position to do that. Jose Ramirez, not necessarily out for the season, but he's having surgery for a broken hand. And if he's not out for the season, he's going to be out for most of the season. You know, I want to get to more start-sit stuff.

So we'll save some time to talk about Jose Ramirez. but a disappointing end of the season for him and for his fantasy owners. Edwin Diaz has a shoulder issue. David Peralta is on the IL with a shoulder injury. Diaz might not go on the IL, by the way. Jose Eurenia, there was a report that he could be the Marlins closer in September, but then Ryan Stanick got a save today, or Sunday, rather, you're going to hear this on Monday, against Philadelphia for the Marlins, and Don Mattingly said he's going to get some chances.

So for those of you that are just desperate to get into that Marlins' bullpen, Ryan Stanik, Jose Orania could get some saves. Pablo Lopez is going to join the Marlins' rotation and start today on Monday, Scott. How interested are you in picking up Pablo Lopez? I don't see how you can start him first games off the IEL. I mean, he was showing some encouraging signs before going on the IL, what, a couple months ago. But, you know, obviously not enough that he was must-start status even then. Now he's missed all this time, and now it just seems like too big of a risk.

But if you plan to survive beyond this week, I think that she's shown there's upside there. You should plan for that. Yeah, you should always be your expectation. Pablo Lopez is 33% own. He has a 423-ERA, very good strikeout to walk ratio. 18 walks, a 73 strikeouts in 76 and 2 thirds. And, you know, his last six starts before going on the IL. One of them was terrible.

Four runs in three and two-thirds at Washington. The other six were really good. I guess the last one, seven innings, three runs, four strikeouts. But, I mean, he was pitching pretty well. So, yeah. I mean, at 220, 70, R over his final six starts. But he's a two-star pitcher, no? Pablo Lopez, Cincinnati, and at Washington.

Yeah, he's a two-star pitcher, yeah. So here's the thing. The Washington Nationals are, I want to look up, like, how many games in a row they've scored like six or more runs or something. they are one of the worst matchups right now. So that's disincentive to start. Everybody in their lineup is hot, right? It certainly seems that way, man. Let's see.

They scored 11-7-9-7. I don't have their full schedule, but it's at least five games. I'll go back here. 7-9-7-11 won. What happened there? 13, 16, 14. Gosh, yeah, they're crushing it right now. Don't start any fringy guys against the Washington National.

More news for you. Eddie Rosario has missed three straight games with a wrist injury. Rocco Baldelli thinks he can avoid the IL, but it's going to be a tough one there for Rosario owners. Tyler Glass now is approaching a rehab assignment, but he is likely to be, in fact, he will be a relief pitcher when he returns. Tyler Glass now. Brian Anderson could miss the rest of the season with a broken finger.

Jimmy Nelson could be back in September, and Nelson was throwing, like, mad hard in his rehab assignments. I'm sure we're going to... Was he? Yeah. That's what I saw. I have not seen... Where did you see this? I have not seen a word about Jimmy Nelson.

It was in one of the game recaps, either Friday or Saturday. Good for you. Yeah, man. Listen, I got to Orlando. I drove to Orlando three hours on Friday night. And a second I got there, I started doing my baseball notes. I'm still in it, people. I'm in it for you.

I'm in it for you. It took like two hours. And then after that, I had to watch preseason football games on my laptop. It was... I'll say this for people who, you know, obviously haven't experienced it for themselves. But the hardest thing about covering baseball is keeping up with baseball.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Everybody plays every single day, and it feels like a side gig on top of your actual gig, just reviewing everything that happened. And not only that, I feel like if I miss a day, I'm so... behind. It's a helpless feeling.

Like you can, yeah, no, you can. Yeah. You can spend four hours, you know, could you go on through two days worth of games. Well, that's a Jimmy Nelson note. Anthony Rizzo has a back issue. He did not play, I think, two straight games. Check on Rizzo. Danny Duffy is going to be back soon. Luke Voigt could be back on Friday. D.D. Gugorius left after being hit by a pitch in the shoulder on Sunday. Hunter Pence has lower back tightness. Joey Gallo. If Joey Gallo returns, he's going to have to play through pain.

So keep that in mind. Sean Mania is nearing a return. He struck out like 13 guys or something in his latest rehab start. So look, I got Pablo Lopez coming back. I got Jimmy Nelson. I got Danny Duffy. I got Sean Manaya. I got Johnny Quedo. Who do you want

from these guys who are going to be coming back in September? So Mania is interesting because he has, it's just been dominant start after dominant start in the on this rehab assignment, and yet the reports are he's barely hitting 90 miles per hour.

It wasn't really a hard thrower before the shoulder surgery, but that, you know, that seems like, that seems tricky. And there's also reports that, you know, they don't really have a spot for him at the moment. So two hits, 12 strikeouts, and seven innings. In the PCL. Last four starts in the PCL for Maniah. 190 ERA, 36 strike. in 23 and two-thirds innings.

Only two home runs allowed. I mean, what is he throwing that is baffling these hitters? So in an environment where nobody can pitch. I don't know. I'm interested, though. I mean, I'm interested in Quato. I'm interested in all pitching. So, you know, I have both of those guys stashed in an IL spot.

Otherwise, you know, hitting. Like Luke Voight, obviously, I think it could be useful still. That was in this group, right? I'm just... Luke, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I can't find the note on Jimmy Nelson. I'm starting to wonder if I made it up,

but I really don't think I did. All right, so some options there. And a couple, just a few more news items here. Pablo Sandoval is having Tommy John surgery, and Jose Alvarado is having his arm looked at. He's injured, so Emilio Pagan all the way. And by the way, Alvarado was used as an opener. So even if he weren't injured, Emilio Paghan all the way.

Right? Am I forgetting someone? What's up with Diego Castillo? Is that the guy I'm forgetting? He was used as an opener over the weekend. He's not, you know, his numbers are not good anymore. He was used as an open just today. Oh, okay. Yeah.

All right. Okay, I forgot. Pagan, it is. Let's take a break here on fantasy baseball today. When we come back, some bullpen notes, the most added list, and more hitters and pitchers. We'll be right back. Got to tell you about the cover three,

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It's great gambling advice. There's fantasy advice. It's just good sports content. In the bullpen. Derek Law, temporarily filling in for Ken Giles in Toronto. What's the situation there? He got the save. He got his fourth save.

Yeah, I think Giles is on the verge of returning. I can't remember the exact day. They just activated them from the paternity leave list today. Okay. Yeah. Okay, so forget Derek. Well, Taylor Rogers got a five-out save for the twins. And Matt McGill has gotten four straight saves for Seattle.

So I should probably add Matt McGill and drop Drop who was Anthony Bass Yes Matt McGill Clearly looks like the closer in Seattle Until he blows the job Which I think is highly probable Yeah maybe I won't add him I mean you know

He's as likely to It just depends on how much you need saves He's as likely to harm my ratios As he is to help me in saves Well I don't think he's terrible I mean, the strikeout rate is good. And his overall number since joining the Mariners, he was with the twins earlier, are good.

I just don't really have faith in anyone who isn't already established in that rule to hold on to it unless they're like, you know, crazy. I mean, his K rate's 11.3 per 9. It's 11.3. All right, all right. I'll add Matt McGill. Geez, Scott.

I mean, he also closes for the Mariners, and they're not going to give me any save chances. Okay, I won't have. Adam. What are you trying to say, dude? And then that's the bullpen for you. The most added list. The most added players in our leagues. Adrian Hauser.

Yeah. So not a two-star pitcher, Adrian Hauser for the Brewers. Yet he is the most added player in fantasy. He's been pitching very well. And how was he not a two-star pitcher, by the way? He's pitching Wednesday against St. Louis and Miles Michaelis. Yeah. So when I was doing the fantasy baseball show with Jim Bowden on CBS Sports HQ this afternoon,

he was Bowden's SP choice to add, Hauser. And I mean, look, great minor league numbers. One thing that I've noticed with him is ground ball rate is exceptional. So if he can get enough strikeouts, I mean, it could be really good. He hasn't gotten a lot of swinging strikes yet, so I'm not confident that he will miss those bats. But the high ground ball rate is definitely something to note. There's something to work with there. Okay.

By the way, Matt McGill is owned in the league. I just wanted to pick him up in. That's great. Adam Plutko is the second most added player behind Adrian Houser. By the way, would you pick up Houser over Fultenevich? No. Would you pick him up over Mitch Keller and Kobe Allard and Dahl. and cease.

I think he's in the same conversation as Allard. He's behind the others. I would personally lean toward Allard because I just have a personal affinity for him. Affinity Wars. All right, what do you think about Adam Plutko for Cleveland? I think if you needed to start Sleeper, he's one of the best you could do this week. In the long run, I don't think he's going to be very good. and he throws strikes, avoids walks.

Beyond that, I don't see a lot to get excited about. Well, Scott, I didn't realize Dustin May is a two-star pitcher this week. He is. That's pretty big. He's 67% owned. Yeah, I wonder how much they're going to let him, how deep they're going to let him go into the game because he had that brief trip to the bullpen

and then came back and made a very short start. So I'm not sure how, you know, if they're being cautious with his innings now, I'm not super excited about using May. I don't think he's a bad play, but I'm not especially excited about it. All right. Kyle Seeger's third. Andrew Heaney is fourth on the most out of list. Heaney is a two-start guy, and he's up to close to 80% owned.

Oh, he's a one-start guy? He's at home against Texas. He could potentially make two starts. They have a five-game week, so if they want to skip somebody, then he becomes a two-star person. He's not my two-star pitcher rankings, because I rarely count on a team skipping a pitcher. But it's possible they'll do that.

Okay. Also on the most added list, Cal Quantrell, Mike Montgomery. Mm-hmm. You like these guys? Not so much, right? As much as I can like a two-star pitcher who's addable, like who's available to add, yeah, they're both on the list of, at least for points leagues, two-star sleepers.

How are we feeling about, oh, I got to read this email exchange. Oh, my gosh, this was the best. This is like, sometimes you think you're talking to Scott White, you're like, is there an imposter? Did somebody hack his email account? All right, let me see. Hold on. I'll know what this is.

Yeah, Louisa Rise is on the most out of this, one of the most added hitters. Where is this damn email? Everybody just bear with me. Everybody think of yourself about how your life is. You know, why don't we talk about a different player on the most out of this while I find this awesome email? Kevin Pilar. What on earth is Kevin Pilar doing that's making him 56% owed? He's hitting a lot of home runs.

and a short span of time. I think it's six in his last 13 games. This is obviously not Kevin Pilar. The Giants have pretty good matchups this week, so he's in my top 10 sleeper hitters just because he's so hot, but I don't really, you know, hopefully you don't have to resort to Kevin Pilar. All right, here's the email.

Subject line, Luis Arias pronunciation. This is the guy in the twins. Hey, guys, as a Twins fan, I love hearing about the impact twins players can have in fantasy, and I'm glad that Luis, now I had been saying, Arayas, is starting to attract your notice. Also, as you have also noticed, his name can be pronounced several different ways. We Twins fans were puzzled by this earlier this year until we got some help. The tweet linked below from at Morse Code, Dustin Morse, the head of Twins PR, features a video of Arias himself saying his own name.

He pronounces it, Arise. No S sound on the end, like Luis Arias. But why take it from me? and then he sent the clip. The Welch is doing, the Welsh is, he actually said the Welch, which is funny in this pronunciation email, because it's Welsh with an S-H, not a C-H. The Welch is doing great so far.

Thanks for all your tips as we go through the stretch run. That's from Nate. So it's Arise. Luis Arise. So I sent this along to Scott and Chris Welsh. And Scott wrote, this is how we've been saying it. No? And I said, I've been saying,

Arrayes. instead of our eyes. And Scott goes, it's the same thing. Listen again. And I wrote, what's terrible take, Scott? And he wrote,

I just have superhuman hearing that can detect syllables no one else does. I mean, that's the only explanation. I don't understand. Like, I swear, if in this, like this happens with

a lot of these consecutive vowels in, you know, in, names that are Spanish and origin, Hispanic in origin, and like,

uh, like the emphasis is on the first vowel. What am I trying to say? Like there's a, I don't know. It, it comes out sounding like one syllable, but there is a subtle mouth movement where you,

where you pronounce the second vowel very slightly. Okay. Luis Arras. Luis Arrias. Scott thinks that's the same. And now we move on. To the most added list. All right, superhuman, superhuman hearing, man.

Well, okay. All right, so here's another example. Pueg, right? There's Pueeg, and then there's Pueeg. Do you notice the difference in the way I said those? Do it again. Do it again. Pueg.

Pueg. The only thing I noticed that you're doing differently is you're going Peege and Peeing. Like, you're intentionally saying it's a pronunciation guide for Peekeg. It's P-W-E-E-G, which is P-E-E-G. Out of this. He's at Kansas City. and he's at the Yankees. At the Yankees is still a little scary.

It's still scary. It's still scary. But obviously they're depleted. Who knows if D.D. is going to be available. I think he probably will. It's not like he got hit on the wrist. But he just pitched very well against the Yankees, granted at home. Five and two-thirds, one run, eight Ks.

Homer Bailey has been balling. You trusting Homer Bailey this week? He's a two-star pitcher, and he has a matchup against the Royals, I believe. So you could do one. worse. How about Jacob Waggisbach? No. How about Willie Calhoun, 72%. Yes. For a second consecutive week, he's my top sleeper hitter. I think his ownership is inched above 70 now, but he hit four home runs this past week and people still weren't adding him, so I don't know.

Two weeks in a row, sleeper hitter. How about Logan Webb at Oakland and home against San Diego? Man, I feel like this is not the worst to start pitcher week. Like, this is better than the previous, too. It just depends. There are some, yeah, I mean, there's not really anybody who's widely available that I'm like, yes, you absolutely have to start this guy. I'd be reluctant to start any of the potential sleepers outside of a points league, but for points leagues, there are a decent number of guys that probably won't be so bad. Now, I'm not seeing him... Oh.

No, I was wrong. He pitched Sunday. He's not a two-star pitcher. I'm sorry. He's a current two-star pitcher, Logan Webb. But he pitched today, or the day we recorded this, and I missed that. I'm sorry. How did he do?

He gave up four runs and four-and-two-thirds. And he struck out, too. So he got the win. Yeah. You can ignore, I guess, Logan Webb then. The Giants won. He did not win. He did not win? Four and two-thirds then.

Did he pitch? Yeah, I thought he came in after an opener or something. No. Okay. Forget him, Logan Webb. Get out of here. All right. Last glance at the most added list, see if there's anyone. Tommy Edmund and Nick Ahmed.

Nick Ahmed much more owned than Edmund, but middle infield options. How do you feel about them? I probably need to speak sooner than that. Not great. Not great. I got a sleeper for you. I just found a sleeper. Seattle catcher Tom Murphy.

Four lefties on the schedule this week, right? You know, that's a good point. And he's been lighting it up when he's played. I did not have him on my list because the Mariners I have them down as having bad matchups. So I found that when I recommend hitters for team, that I mark with bad matchups, it never goes well. But that is such a, you know, it's such a case of extremes with all the lefties

and a guy who just has monster power, seems to Homer every time he starts. Tom Murphy, all right, 15% own. Good stuff. More hitters. I noticed Austin Meadows is hitting very well. You know, he's been a roller coaster ride. Are we on the roller coaster this week with Austin Meadows? I guess.

Yeah, I mean, let me look at the matchups here. The Rays have... No, no, never mind. The Rays have the worst matchups of any team. Like, I'm not saying you have to sit Meadows like in a five outfielder league. But three outfielder probably don't want to start them.

If the Rays have the worst matchups, I'm going to have to guess their opponents. They are facing the Houston Astros for three games and the Cleveland Indians for two games. You got the right teams. That's pretty good. But they are playing six games in all. Okay.

Miguel Sino is hitting well. It's been extended for Miguel Sano. I've talked about it so many times, but he made some type of change in his stance or a swing or something, and it's just been better. So, yeah, he's almost 80% owned. Aaron Judge Homer in three straight games, that was good to see. Stephen Vote.

Like, Stephen Vote is so much better than Buster Puck. Posey at this point. I'm sorry. Just play Steven Vote. I don't know that they will, Scott, but he's worth mentioning because Stephen Vote's having a good year. I also don't know that he's better than Buster Posey. I just know that he's playing better than hitting better than Posey.

Yeah. He is. I don't think they're going to do that. And have they played vote in the outfield at all? I want to say they have. I don't know. I know he DHed once this past weekend, but obviously that's a unique sitch.

A new unique sitch. All right, I'm done talking about crappy catchers. Manny Machado. Manny Machado hit his first home run of August. He entered Sunday batting 203 with no homers and two doubles in the month of August. And he homered like that's crazy. I did not even realize how cold Manny Machado had been. Start or sit?

Yeah. I mean, probably start him. In most cases, I can imagine. I moved him down in my third base rankings and my shortstop rankings. So obviously there's a chance somebody in a shallower league may have somebody better. I don't think many people are. His 2020 value, though, is something that's going to be interesting to sort out, though, because he's no longer going to be shortstop eligible, just third base.

That's the deepest position, I think. and man, this is a disappointing year he's having. Yeah, Mani Machado. Boy, needs Camden yards, but yeah, it's disappointing. Let's see, Mark Cannon, we talked about. Anthony Santander, he had five hits on Sunday, but he had been kind of disappointing for about a month. So, you know, we were never quite buying into it, I guess,

but good game for him on Sunday, Anthony Santander, 44% own. Fram Mill Reyes is homered three times in his last two games. Start or sit the streaky Fran Mill Reyes. Yeah. I've got to get behind starting him. He's been terrible so far with Cleveland. Their matchups are kind of middle of the road this week. You know, probably not going to do it in a three outfielder league.

Probably have better options, but Reyes looks startable. And Josh Bell, Scott. He did Homer over the week. but really it's still bad. Starters at Josh Bell. They have the second best matchup the Pirates do,

so I would probably start him and I still have faith in him overall. They have four games in Colorado, by the way. Ah, okay, good. Yeah, I still have faith in him, but, you know, he's going, he might be, now that Jose Ramirez,

apparently is done for the season with a broken handmate bone, I don't know, maybe he can make it back for the playoffs, but as far as fantasy owners are concerned, he's done. that means Josh Bell is probably the player

most worth monitoring down the stretch the way his September goes could have a huge impact on his 2020 value got another sleeper how about oh nah never mind never mind well I want to see how owned is Brian Anderson

he better be in the 80s at this point but there's got I feel like there's got to be a Pirates sleeper out there. Brian Anderson. No, not Brian Anderson. Okay, because he's also out for the year in all likelihood. Oh, the rookie outfielder for the pirates. Oh, Brian Reynolds.

Brian Reynolds. Yeah, sorry. Yeah. If he's out there. Okay, yeah, he's too. Okay, Scott, I'm going to take one more break here. When we come back, we'll talk about some of those studs from over the weekend, the ones who were studs and the ones who were duds and the ones who were somewhere in between.

And we'll be right back on fantasy baseball today. Studs being studs. Damn you, Dallas Kikell. Making me look bad. Seven strikeouts and seven scoreless innings, three walks at the Mets on Sunday. And that's three starts in a row with seven strikeouts for Dallas Kikle.

Are you kidding me? Mm-hmm. And he's looking like... The White Sox this week. One of the best versions of himself. Yeah. Honestly. I mean, you look at...

Just looking at ground ball rate for Kikil, over the years. When he's, when it's 60, he's great. When he's 55, those are his not so great success. But what is it now? It's 60 this year. And he's getting the strikeouts, which have also been up and down throughout his career. So this is, this is, this is somebody who I think is going to be must start down the stretch. Yeah. Can't argue with that, unfortunately. But wait, is it, is it, you say 60% ground ball rate being the key, but I thought it was more like 65% when he was really good. I'm looking at it right now.

I can double check that. Yeah, like, like, it's fairly, it's not as high as like the best of Dallas Kiko right now. But it's better than the worst. So if Sy Young season, it was 61.7. And there have been, the year afterward, it was 56.7 last year, which wasn't a great year for him 53.7. But you're right.

There have been years that have been even higher than 60. Yeah. and right now it's 59.8, which is a little low. Well, it entered his game 59.8. Oh, he pitched today? Yeah, he pitched today. Okay. Yeah.

All right. So Scott's pretty happy about Dallas Keikle. The Braves maybe have their ace. Eduardo Rodriguez, seven scoreless six strikeouts at San Diego, coming off a good start against Baltimore, but coming off three kind of, starts twice against the Yankees, once against Cleveland.

Anyway, Eduardo Rodriguez is at the Angels this week. How do you feel about him? I feel okay. I mean, he's put together a pretty good run here, and he's somebody who I feel like was underachieving for most of the season. So now it's, yeah, his ERA over his last few starts is pretty good. So I think he's pretty much somebody you're going to leave in your lineup for the time being. How do you feel about Stephen Matt?

You know, I was so worried about his matchups, but he had two good starts this week. He's at Philadelphia this coming week, or, you know, I always forget you're listening to the next day now. But Matt's, yeah, like, Matt's pitching great. So, by the way, so 257 ERA over Eduardo Rodriguez's past 10 starts, 257. Yeah, Stephen Matt's has probably a similar ERA over a similar stretch. he's a really confusing pitcher to me because he's just a little below strikeout per inning

but I mean he doesn't really have a great swing and miss pitch this is something like he did this a lot last year too where I'm not sure the stuff is that good but the results are respectable I don't know he's kind of there with

Julio Tehran where I really don't know what to make of him but But obviously, if you're having trouble filling out of staff, I mean, I totally understand why you'd use them. Yeah, Matt's been very good. Studs being duds. Are you getting away from any of these guys? Trevor Bauer, Jose Barrios, who's been struggling lately. Matt Boyd, who I think is facing Minnesota this week.

He just faced Minnesota. He's getting him again. He gave up seven runs. Lance Lynn and Hyunjin Rio. We already talked about Ryu. But in terms of Bauer, Berrios, Matt Boyd, Lance Lynn, are you avoiding any of those guys? Yeah, I mean, I think Boyd might be matchups dependent now.

I mean, if he pitched for anyone else, you could roll the dice a little easier, but the Tigers have made him six and ten. So, you know, wins are hard to come by for him, and he's so home run prone that, well, the ratios are great. I mean, he walked five in this one. That's obviously out of character. uh the home runs could just really burn him any given start the others Jose Berrios was due some

regression his his ERA has risen about a run um and it's been it's been a bad four-start stretch for Jose yeah I guess it's four starts and yet the ex-fip is still like over four I don't think he's that bad I don't think he deserves to have an ERA over four but you can understand and regressing some. The one I want to bring up, focus on most, though, is Lance Lynn,

because it was an awful start in terms of giving up seven runs and 11 hits in five and two-thirds innings. He had 24 swinging strikes. And his previous start when he struggled was five walks, which is not something he does very often. But, I mean, the stuff was clearly there in this start. And I think it was another case of a,

like I mentioned for Trevor Bauer. He wasn't really getting hit that hard. The average exit velocity wasn't that out of character. It was a little higher in Lynn's case than it was for Bauer. But I think he's fine. Okay. So Lance Lynn, Scott still has confidence in suit. Studs being duds.

I call them duds, but there are studs, I call them duds. Studs being Duds part two. Okay, fix my little heading there. Chris Paddock. I will start Kobe Allard over Chris Paddock. I have no interest in Chris Paddock. He is a league ruiner right now. He is out of gas.

It is plain as day to me. And he's at San Francisco this week, and I don't care, Scott. I think you can drop him. I'm not saying you have to drop him. I could certainly understand why it wouldn't make sense to drop him. But I'm saying if you're pressed for a roster spot and you feel like you're stuck with them, no, you're not. You can drop them. I think 130 innings is the number.

He kind of hinted at that after the last start, and he's at 117 and a third now. So two starts left. The kind of run he's been on you, obviously aren't going to use him in this next start. Even if it's good, would you use him at the start after that? I don't know. Probably not. All right, do you feel like you're going to start any of these guys? John Lester at the Mets, Zach Wheeler at Philadelphia,

Kyle Gibson at Detroit Jose Cantana against Milwaukee Max Fried against the White Sox. So Cantana really did not get hit hard at all in this start and it had been on such a good run that I'll totally give him a pass even though it's Milwaukee

I think he's fine to use Lester don't want anything to do with him anymore it's a lot of ugly and a lot of different ways and I just don't think he has much left. The weird ones are Wheeler and Gibson. Gibson's just perpetually weird because he misses a ton of bats and it doesn't seem to matter. Yeah, you know, I'm really disappointed because I thought I had him pegged Kyle Gibson as a matchups guy.

And I said, look, he's had some tough matchups lately, but you've got to go with him in this two-star week because he had two good ones. And he struggled. He struggled against Detroit. He struggled against the White Sox or something. You know, he's had two, and he's at Detroit next week. So I can't be that excited about Gibson because he's just not pitching well against anybody right now. But Detroit is so bad. So I don't know, man.

He's on the fence. And then Zach Wheeler has seven strikeouts in his last three starts. Yeah, I don't know what's up with him. I think he's throwing just as hard. So it's not, it's not anything obvious like that. But you're right. His stuff hasn't really been effective like we're used to see from him. So it's, I'm not saying he's a must sit, but it feels risky to use him.

I'm on the fence with Max Freed, too. White Sox at home this week. I think I'd start him. He's not, he's, you know, I think the same class of pitchers, certainly the ones, the class you'd be looking at for a potential replay. They're not going to be any more reliable than Freed. And I think the skills are better for Freed than his actual ERA, 403. And obviously better than a lot of what's out there.

I'd rather have... You know what? I think I'd rather have them than Fultenevich still. And I'm saying Fultenevich is the top pitcher to add. And Studs being something in between Studs and Duds. I only have two of them. Wade Miley and Joey Lucey. Casey. Wade Miley is at Toronto this week. He has not gone. He's four straight starts of less than six innings.

And Joey Lucasey, you know, doesn't go six innings often, but he's at San Francisco this week. Care to weigh in on Miley and Lucasey? I never have a problem starting Miley. He's 13 and 4, I think, in a way that's pretty easy to explain. I don't think he's overachieved in terms of ERA. I don't think his stuff's that good. but, you know, at this point in this season, I'm disinclined to bet against him. And then Luke Casey, whatever. I don't have much interested Luke Casey. All right, Scott, we only have a few minutes left.

I want you trying to read some emails. So, Fringy starting pitchers part one, 65 to 79% own. Fultenevich, Plesa, Plessack, Dakota Hudson, Denelson, Lemette, Chris Bassett. I know you want Fultenevich. Do you want anybody else? Pizzac, Hudson, Lament, Chris Basset. Bassett, unfortunately, is at the Yankees this week, but he's been on a nice run. I mean, Lamette, I think, is the most skilled by far.

So he would be the one I'd take. Dakota Hudson's allowed to combine two hits in his past two starts covering, I think, 12 innings. Three straight starts without allowing an earn run, too, over 18 to two thirds. Yeah, I think as a points league spark, he's okay, but I obviously don't trust him to be unhittable. He's a ground ball specialist. Right. Fringy starting pitchers part two. You know what?

Honestly, I probably will start Zach Plizak at Detroit. Just want to say that. I understand. I really don't like Zach Plizek. Fringy starting pitchers part two, 50 to 64% own. Joe Ross gets Miami this week. Rinaldo Lopez is at Atlanta.

Lopez is pitching great. He left with the illness today. At Atlanta, though. Annabal Sanchez against Miami. Martine Perez at Detroit. Ivan Nova. Another good one for Nova. He's at Atlanta this week.

The fun will end this week for Ivan Noble. He's going to get crushed by Atlanta. But Ross, Rinaldo Lopez, Annabal Sanchez, Martin Perez, any one you want? My favorites are Lopez and Sanchez. I don't think either is must-ad or must-own or anything like that. They're just trying to make the best of a bad situation. they could be okay.

Okay, Fring's starting pitchers part at three. Anthony D. Schofani at Miami. I feel like everybody's facing Miami this week. Vince Velasquez gets Pittsburgh. Mitch Keller at Philadelphia. Dylan Seas against Minnesota. Justice Sheffield. Jordan Lyles.

He's either getting the Cubs or the Cardinals this week. Zach Eflin gets the Mets. Dylan Peters is getting Boston. I don't love this group. I don't know that there's any. I want to start this week. Stashing Keller and Cease would be one thing, but... Yeah, I mean, I could see stashing them way for the upside,

just to Sheffield, I could see stashing him for the upside. Otherwise, my favorite's probably Anthony Descliffeani, but he's just a desperation play. And deep leagues, owned in less than 30% of leagues. We have Framber Valdez. Very nice... You suck! Yeah, man, five walks, but other than that,

good start against the Angels. I know. Eric Skogland. Brock Burke. Brock Burke, two good starts. There's only two starts in the bigs. Eliezer Hernandez, Trevor Richards, Tony Gonsolin, Drew Verhagen, Kobe Allard. Oh, hey, we have to breathe through this group because their starts were really good, all of them, except for Scott Gland, who, I don't know why he's here.

But like, Verhegan strike out 11. Gonzalind, two hits and five. Yeah, two hits and six. Gonsal and strikeouts are disappearing and he doesn't pitch deep into games. Right. Right. Richard had only six Richards. Trevor Richards had only six swinging strikes despite that great change-up.

Trevor Richards is at Houston this week, so you can forget him. Yeah, I mean, in terms of who I'd actually want a roster, for Hagan was never a strikeout guy in the minors, 11Ks. Where did that come from? He's been terrible. I mean, Trevor Hogan has 631 ERA. L.E.A. or Hernandez is the closest I'd come to rostering.

And he had two good starts this week. One was cut short because of a blister. But two good starts this week. I think he scored over 30 points. And, you know, it's still not quite as dominant as he was before, losing his rotation spot because they just had overcrowding. He hasn't mixed in the change-up as much. But, like, if his last two starts have gone this well

without him mixing in his third pitch, which I think it was pretty effective for him, I'm hopeful that when he does mix it in again, he'll be somebody everybody's interested in using. That's Eliezer Hernandez. All right, let's go to the emails from Rosendo. Are we okay dropping Kipness for Tommy Edmund in a points league? Drop Kipness for Edmund?

No, I don't see much rationale for that. All right, let's go to, I'm just going to go through the inbox here. This is from Rob. Uh, no. Rob will readers another day. It's too long. This is going to be a great segment, ladies and gentlemen. This is from, uh, actually this is a good email here is about Jeff Samarja. Is he a two-star pitcher from Brian? Is San Francisco shortening their rotation such that Samarja is showing as a two-start pitcher? Um, they have a six game weekend. He's supposed to start on Tuesday. I know he shows up on the side is a two-star pitcher. I did not include him in my two-star pitcher rankings.

And I don't think anybody really knows the answer to that yet. Okay. So Jeff Samarja is not necessarily a to start pitcher. Be nice to know, right? Be very nice to know. From Jason. Should I start this week at Alberto Mondisey or Freddie Galvis or Daniel Murphy with Mondice on the way back? I would start Daniel Murphy.

I'm a full week at home. Galvis is on my top 10 sleeper hitters for this week with an eight-game schedule and Mondesie, of course, has his strengths. When is he coming back exactly? I don't think there's been a date yet. But yeah, I think you've got to go Murphy there. From Doug, would you start Willie Calhoun over J.D. Davis this week?

Yeah, the Mets don't have great matchups, and the Rangers do. Oh, okay. And would you drop Aaron Savali or Calquantral for sure? Sean Mania. I would... Depends how immediate you need the returns to be. Probably would not drop Savali.

If you need a two-star pitcher, I don't think you can drop... What's his name? Quantral. But if you don't, then I think Mania has the potential to be more impactful later on. All right, I said I wasn't going to read Rob's email, but it's actually not that complicated. Twelve-teen points league looking for a Jose Ramirez replacement. Who would you go with here? is probably going to be the first guy.

Giovanni Urchella, Kyle Seeger, Kevin Pilar, Mike Talkman, Mark Kana, Ryan McMahon, Jason Kipness, Miguel Sineau. Actually, I don't know, I think it's going to be between Erchella. It's Urchella. Well, I would, for this week, I would take McMahon, I think. I mean, if you,

by some miracle you lost Jose Ramirez and Gio Urchella was still out there, like you don't take any chances of losing that guy because I think he's going to be a must start the rest of the way for whoever has him. And you as the Ramirez owner obviously need him. Yeah, I just think I think McMahon's going to be better this week. Maybe. I like Yankees matchups this week, though, and Herschela's, I think Herschel is just better.

All right, Scott, that's it for our show today. Everybody, thank you very much for listening. The Welsh will be back tomorrow night, and then I will be able to be on Tuesday night for your Wednesday morning show. What is this movie that is on... I am in a room with eight TVs. It's distracting, right? A little bit.

Yeah, there's a movie with Jason Bateman. He is dating or married to Rose Byrne. You know her? No. You know her. She's from bridesmaids. She's from neighbors. Okay.

You know that movie? where she and Seth Rogen live next to the frat house. Okay. I haven't seen it, but sure. And Adam Driver, is that his name? The guy from Star Wars and Girls. Okay. Is he in this movie that you're watching now?

Uh-huh. Okay. Yeah, it doesn't look comedic to me, but it's on TBS, and their motto is very funny. Oh, Tina Faye is in it. It has to be a comedy. This is where I leave you. I've never heard of it.

But it's got so many people I like. Yeah, I'm trying to figure. Figure out. Trying to figure it out. I don't think I'm going to. This is where I leave you is what it's called. Oh. And speaking of which, this is where we leave you, everybody.

I will talk to you again, like I said, on Tuesday night. Enjoy the Welsh tomorrow on Monday night or Tuesday morning whenever you hear it. And for Scott White, I'm Adam Mazer. Have a great week. We'll talk to you soon.