Fantasy Baseball Today - 09/07: Big Names We Don't Trust, Week 25 Help (Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: September 7, 2018

Who are some big name players that we are ready to sit in the Fantasy playoffs (2:00)? Andrew McCutchen? Joey Votto? And let's look ahead to next year and figure out who Keeper League owners should be targeting right now (12:50) before we give you our favorite two-start pitchers for next week (15:00) and why Adam doesn't want to draft Zack Greinke next year (21:18) ... Some listener emails (23:25), a recap of yesterday's performances (29:15) including Francisco Mejia's double dongs, Fantasy Regulators (34:25) and the Most Added list (37:35) ... A more in-depth look at two-start pitchers for Week 25 (39:30) plus weekend streamers (42:06) ... 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, Santana, who I want to add you to my roster in Roto, replacing Gio Soto, Gio Lido and Brito, baby, where my Fabco? Near the Florida key, there's a place in my, that's where you want to be to get ahead of because he's under 30, because he's an ageist, but Chado. Four games on the schedule yesterday, but still a lot to talk about on a beautiful, lovely, wonderful, warm, Pokemon Friday. On September 7th, Adam Azer and Scott White. No surprise. Hi, Scott.

No surprise that we're not joined by any of our furry friends. Right? They both have fur on their face. I think that's an apt description. That's true. You're 100% right. Yeah, no, Heath, no Chris. But you know what?

Scott and I are here to help you win your face. league by telling you who not to start in Fantasy Week 25. They're also telling you who to start in Fantasy Week 25. We'll look at two-star pitchers. We'll look at the most added list. We'll recap yesterday. I'm going to tell you somebody that I'm just not going to draft next year. I'm just not interested in it.

Let's start, though, with an email. A lot of emails today. Fantasy Baseball at CBSI.com. This is from Patrick. And he says, hey, Tom, Ron, Chris, and Ben. Tom, Ron, Chris, and Ben. That's Parks and Rec. Yeah.

Very common names. Male characters in that one It is getting to crunch time Where every spot counts And I want to know Which big names Can we safely move on from For the playoff run?

Votto comes to mind But I have Severino And he's killing me in all pitching categories To the point where I'm more excited To start Clay freaking buckholts over him Who Who are some big names That you are ready to move on from

For the stretch run, Scott? I actually wrote an article about this a week or so ago. It was specifically focused on pitchers. So I'd like to pull that up rather than just try and go off the top of my head. But... I can give you some names while you put that up.

All right, well, first of all, maybe not in a points league, but Joey Votto, I just... I don't think you have to bench them. All of these guys that I'm going to say, not all, but many of them have a lot of potential. Like, you could leave Vado on your bench. You could have a huge week.

but he is facing, I've never seen anything like this guy. In my life, it's never happened. Six lefties next week. Hill, Ryu, Kershaw, Hamils, Montgomery, Kintana. Allegedly. Allegedly. It could change. But he's going to face a lot of lefties.

He is slugging 322 against lefties this week. That's weird. This year. I'm going to tell you to sit Joey Votto next week. He hasn't earned it. He hasn't earned it. He's nine hundred. home runs.

But you came prepared to talk about that one. I came prepared to talk about a lot of them. That's interesting. That's interesting. And has he been hitting well since returning from the DL? He's seven for 28 with one extra base hit, and it's a double. It'd be hard to do in points leagues because he walks so much, but I could certainly understand Categories League sitting him. So, yeah, I mean, with high-end players like that, it's like if they turn on a dime, you're going to wish you.

still had them. So moving on, I don't know that it necessarily means dropping when you're talking somebody that high end. And I'm reminded of that because I led this particular article with Chris Archer. And then he follows up with, you know, his best start since joining the pirates. And now it's like, well, is he usable again still? I don't know. Certainly I'd like to have him around at least. But Jose Barrios, I think, is in the discussion for players who you just shouldn't count on them helping you anymore. Maybe that's a better way to frame it. You know, so Jose Berrios,

I don't know what's wrong with them, but clearly things have gone wrong here lately. Yeah, as far as this emailer is concerned, I think we discussed we're going to start Severino in his next start. Yes, because the matchup's so good. You know, he's been pretty good, with the exception of the last start,

where he had all kinds of issues. with signs and just having his pitches caught by Gary Sanchez. With the exception of that, he's been fine recently. A lot of it has to do with taking advantage of good matchups, but he's going to have another one of those. So, yeah, I think you have to start him. You know, I'm done with Sean Nukem. That's somebody we've talked about before.

I don't know how high end he is. I'm done with Jose Cantana, even though his last couple starts have been quality starts. It's just the good starts haven't been good enough to justify all the bad. Okay, I got some hitters I can throw out there. Sure. Well, you look at the lefties and Scooter Jeanette, now he's doing fine against lefties. I mean, he's batting 303, 480 slugging, but Jeanette may also face six lefties next week.

Now, I would have the decision. I can't imagine I'm taking him out of my lineup, but I did notice they haven't faced a ton of lefties lately, but he sat against a lefty yesterday, and Jeanette has sat against two of the last three left-handed pitchers, which just, wasn't the norm. So I don't know if it's like giving him a little rest or what, but it's bothering me. Yeah, it's bothersome. Yeah. I don't know.

I don't know that I'm going to start. I don't know that you're going to be able to find a great second base alternative on waivers in most leagues. So he probably just run them out there. All right. Andrew McCutcheon is one for 16 with two walks and five strikeouts with the Yankees. You know, I know all the peripheral data is great. And I just don't know that it's warranted. that you have to stick with him.

I don't know that you have to either. It's a deep position, obviously. A lot of alternatives on waivers or otherwise. That's McCutcheon. But I think better times they're ahead here. I think he has a strong finish with the Yankees. I hope. Yeah, I hope so.

I mean, I was thinking that, but he's one for 16. Juan Soto. I'm not going to sit them, but if I were loaded, it's the playoffs. You've got great teams. You've got to score a lot of points. I mean, Juan Soto has three home. runs in his last 38 games and 41 strikeouts. So then in the past month, I took up, well, about a month ago, I took up two causes and argued

for them with vain popping passion. One of them was Jose Barrios as a borderline ace. One of them is Juan Soto is a far better rookie of the year choice than Ronald Acuna. And they've both gone disastrously wrong since then because Acunae, of course, well, we just talked about Barrios. Acunae, of course, had by far his best month in August, and Soto had by far his worst month in August. And he's striking out a lot more.

He has a bat-a-ball profile that's a little concerning, as one email or pointed out about that time. The ground balls? And I kind of dismissed. Yeah, a lot of ground balls, not a lot of fly balls. You know, I don't know. I'm very curious to see how both Soto and Acuna in the season. I think they're both basically must start.

Obviously, Acuna is right now. But after the months they just had, I'm not really, I'm not, their draft status for 2018-19 is very much up in the year. I think the last month's going to tell a lot, as far as that goes. Yeah, Soto, I mean, look, he's struggling in his last 38 games, 276 with a 403 slugging percentage. But he actually has a 412 on base percentage.

So one thing we like to see when a guy is struggling is he still drawing walks. I think he's going to be great in points leagues either way. I question the home run production, at least at this stage of his career. And if he begins to strike out more and isn't such a sure thing in batting average, it's really the categories leagues where I worry that. he might be less than high end. I mean, that's really what the concern is for Soto. Like, for, you know, there was a time where we were talking about him as like a top 10 outfielder.

Is he that? Is he top 20? Is he outside the top 20? That's what we're trying to figure out. Yeah, I'm going to probably stick with him because it is a points league. But I can understand the frustration in a category's league with average. Because he's just, you know, he's not doing that much with the bat. Billy Hamilton is not stolen a base in nearly a month, August 11th.

He's overformed that stretch. Problem is if you said Hamilton, he can easily have a seventh steel week. But he's just such a bad hitter. I'm thinking about moving forward, moving on from Yasmani Grandal. Not the easiest position to replace, obviously, but he's won for 11 in September. He batted 162 in August. So he's just been dreadful for a month and five weeks or so. Five total weeks, not a month of five weeks.

Seven games, though, for Grandaul next week and not bad matchups. And I can't blame anyone if they've been. want to sit Wilson Contreras or even drop Wilson Contreras since the all-star. Look at his slash line since the All-Star break. 211, 308 on base. It's a good walk rate. 297 slugging percentage. He is not even slugging 300 since the All-Star break.

That's 39 games. That's pathetic for Wilson. It's not good. It's not what you want to see. And you know what's interesting? I actually had somebody asked me over Twitter, Wilson Contreras or Francisco Mejia rest of season And

I wasn't sure how to answer Well, Contreras is going to get a lot more played appearances A lot more You'd think I mean what I read yesterday was even after the two-homber game That they expect Mejia This was the AP writer, I don't know what he was basing it on For knowledge

I mean that's the line the Padres were taken That'd be about a 50-50s player right I said, 50-50. But it wasn't a reaction. You know, afterward, Andy Green was saying, you know, there's a good chance he is in the lineup again Friday after the two-homber game. You know, he has another big game. It's, you know, the plans are the plans until they're not the plans anymore, you know? Yeah.

And he may just quickly show he deserves a bigger share of that time share. He's definitely a popular player right now. And then two more guys, AJ Pollock, if you want to sit him, feel free. If you dropped AJ Pollock, I wouldn't pick him up unless it were a five outfielder league. He's batting 237 with one steal in 53 games since coming off the DL. And then last one. For me, I'm not a big Angelton-Simmons guy. I think he's fine in points, but he's barely walking.

In Roto, he's not stealing. I just don't think he's a very good hit. hitter. It's two years in a row where he's basically going to get all of his hitting stats in a short period. Scott, I don't think agrees, but just come up with another year. Well, Roto, I mean, if you're talking about a Categories League with the head-to-headline, if it's just Roto League, you have that extra middle infield spot to fill.

I'm not saying he's must-star. He's not. But if everybody, if every owner is actively participating and you're optimizing 24 or 36 total middle infield spots between 12 teams. He probably deserves to start for somebody. Yeah, I mean, there are categories leagues, like, with one shortstop spot. I just, I'm not really a big Simmons guy, especially when he's not running. All right, so there you go.

There you have it. Scott gave you some pitchers. I gave me some hitters. And we move on to email today. Number two. It's from Mark in Kansas City. Dear Nick and Matt. Okay.

Kids in my kindergarten class. I don't know. I'm packing it in this year in my dynasty. not your fault don't take it personally who are some targets that i can pick up now before the end of the year that might have more value next year maybe jayr's familiar and zach britain could close next year this is a fun question that's going to be very difficult to answer on top of mind well i do think i think both those guys are good calls yeah i mean it's probably too late for tyler white he's probably picked up already uh and i assume in a dynasty league prospect

like Kyle Tucker, you know, big prospects are out, are already rostered two. Yeah, yeah, that's a tough one. It's their top of my, do you have any more names? No, not really. I was just thinking some prospects that might make their way. I mean, obviously, I always default to the Yankees, but Clint Frazier, I'm sure he's owned in the Dynasty League. Yeah, I mean, Brent Honeywell maybe is out there because when people say Dynasty

league they don't always mean the same thing. So that makes it tricky too. And I don't want to just name a bunch of big prospects that may obviously be already owned. Oh, but you know, Jonathan Loisaga is a guy I'm really excited about for next year. The Yankees are going to lose most of their rotation to free agency. So I think he's a lock to be there. But again, he's kind of a prospect.

So even Scott always defaults to Yankees. No, I really am. I think he's, I think he's, I do too. I like him a lot more than Domingo Armand. Yeah. Oh, and under the radar prospect, who probably isn't going to have a job out of spring training, but check out his minor league numbers this year. Nathaniel Lowe in the Ray's organization, they have so many lows there.

Some of them are even Laos. Some of them are Laos. Yeah, but Nathaniel Lowe, first baseman who hit like, He said like 330 with a 1000 OPS in the upper miners this year. Check him out. All right, let's take a look at our favorite two-star pitchers that are available in a decent amount of leagues for next week, Scott. You know, it's a pretty good list. And this is the time of year where someone who's like 85% owned is,

it just seems like that guy could be available in more of your leagues. because there are so few people that are participating in the waiver wiring that sometimes these guys sneak through. But, you know, what I would recommend to people is if you look at our two-star pitcher list and it's going to change. Scott's column is really what you really want to focus on. It's going to change so much. I'm so over two-star pitchers.

All right, but it's going to change a lot. But if you have any reservations about a guy who has two starts and his first start is on Tuesday, just go with the assumption that he's going to be a one. one-star guy. The Monday guys are obviously safer bets. Well, it depends if their teams are playing six games or seven. True. Very few were playing seven this past week. So, you know, there have been a lot of two-star disappointments. And there will continue to be because rosters are expanded and spot starts are popping up all the time. It's not a good time to

stream two-star pitchers, just in general. Like, if you have pitchers you feel good about, whether or not they're making one start or two, shouldn't be your first priority. So, do you want to do this segment or no? Like, should we recommend? Yeah, I mean, we can still do it. Just understand.

I mean, even after we were done with the podcast last week, it became clear some of the guys we talked about his two-start options weren't, you know? So, you know, I don't know. I mean, it's worth talking about just understand it's... You've got to follow up on it. You can't just listen to this podcast and feel like you know what's going on two-star-wise.

Well, Joe Musgrove is someone who's been pitching pretty well. He's at St. Louis and at Milwaukee, though. So those are tough matchups. Derek Rodriguez is 81% owned. He's got Atlanta and Colorado. Lucas Gialito is someone I'll be starting at Kansas City and at Baltimore. Yeah, and the good thing about that is even if it's just the KC start, it's a really good matchup. Yeah, so he's someone I'd recommend.

I like Derek Rodriguez and who is the other one. Musgrove. Yeah, Musgrove. I like them both more than Gialito because I think they're the kind of pitchers you would consider even in a one-start week, regardless of the matchups. So you're not looking forward to. to rolling out Mike Minor at the Angels and at the Padres. Yeah, that would be dangerous, particularly if you weren't starting him as a spark,

as a relief pitcher eligible starting pitcher. If you're in a deeper league, Brad Keller maybe makes two starts and they'd be against the White Sox and the Twins. In fact, yeah, Brad Keller. Well, Brad Keller's another one with really good matchups, basically the rest of the season. I think there's one. I actually was looking at this because I wrote about him in Waver Wire this morning.

I think he has four starts left. Three of them are against rebuilding clubs. So he's a good guy to have around. And he's also a relief pitcher eligible. Okay. All right. So I think that'll do it. So we've given you if available, Derek Rodriguez.

I mean, you could go with Mike Fires, too. He's 82% owned at Baltimore and at Tampa Bay. Yep. Derek Rodriguez, Joe Musgrove, Lucas Gielito, Brad Keller. Nathan Avaldi will be interesting. I'm not sure. Forget it. Forget it.

He's been awful. And you really don't want to chance him making only one start. Yeah, yeah, I agree. All right, news and notes. Shohei Otani could be the DH next season, according to Yahoo. We have a question about him later. We'll get to. Yahoo!

Kyle Schwarber sat with a back issue. John Gibbons is not going to be back next year, according to John Heyman. Michael Brantley sat with a sore foot And Scooter Jeanette sat with a A tender thigh And that got me Very hungry for chicken Tender thigh

Yeah KFC Kind of reminds me of Tenderheart Bear Tenderheart bear Is that a care bear? That's the care bear Really?

The head care bear Tenderheart I think he was like I don't know that they had ranks Like I don't know that they were that Militaristic Yeah you would think the care bears wouldn't really be about hierarchy, you know?

But they just kind of gravitated around him, I feel like. Okay. Around tender heart. He had such a tender heart. I did really did love the care bears growing up. I mean, when I was like three? Yeah. Now, that was my jam.

Your oldest son is how old? Three. So are you watching any TV shows with him that are making you nostalgic? Like, if I showing him shows, I, I used to watch. Yeah. Have you gotten to that point yet? No.

No, he has preferences. And, you know, most of the time it's not worth the fight. What's his favorite show? Peter Rabbit on Nick Jr. Okay. But, you know, he's big into Curious George. Oh, see, that would make me nostalgic. Paul Patrol.

I didn't watch that. When did George come around? I don't know. I don't remember watching. I remember reading the books. Yeah, of course. The books have been around for decades. but the cartoons

the cartoons been around a long time too but we're kind of old. I feel like I've been watching Sesame Street I've you know I tried to get him into Sesame Street that's certainly nostalgic he just wasn't that into it alright alright then let me tell you Scott who I'm not going to be drafting

next year Zachary Granky not interested okay I just don't it's weird man I just don't trust him I've got a thing with him I feel like he's the next Felix Hernandez, because his velocity is so bad. He's a change-up reliant pitcher.

The innings are starting to get up there. He's getting up there in age. I don't see myself taking Zach Granke because he's going to end up probably with a low-3s ERA, and I think he's more of a mid-3s ERA guy. And he's been not exactly bad on the road, but he's really benefited from the home ballpark, which shows to me that he's becoming a worse pitcher. So you can have Zach Granky I don't want him, you can have him

He's too old for me Okay Okay, I mean I feel like he's so reliable And you know There are so few of those Those pitchers who you count on to You know To handle an ace workload and pitch well

In it I mean you know They tend not to get the workload If they're not pitching well But Yeah he goes about six innings Every average is a little more than six. I'm already looking forward to next spring.

He's throwing 84 miles per hour, and they're asking him about it, and he's like, I don't know. I worry about it every year. So everybody starts freaking out because that's happened like three years and a run. Eventually, I think the fall for Granky is going to be swift, and I don't want to be part of it. What round would you take that, Grinke? I don't think it will be swift because he doesn't, I worry about swift falls for guys who are so velocity-driven, and he's clearly not that. That's true. He's a great athlete.

Great athlete. Field disposition well. What round would you take Zach Rankine? What round were we taking him in this year? Three, four. I guess with the spring concerns he started falling round five, six. Same range. All right.

I'll take him in round seven. So I won't take him. Yeah. Emails part one at Fantasy Baseball at CBSI.com. This is from Bill. Appreciate it your Otani segment yesterday, but you guys and seemingly everyone in fantasy blurb industries are speculating about next year. Just to be clear, for this fantasy playoff season,

does everyone expect Shohei Otani the hitter to finish out the season as a DH? No. No? He might. He might. And I'm not sure what having it before the season over, what having Tommy John's surgery before the season's over buys him, because there's clearly not enough time for him to return as a pitcher next year either way.

But, you know, angels aren't playing for anything, and even though he can hit through it, doesn't mean he necessarily needs to be. So I'm not counting on it. Maybe he will. I'm not dropping him, you know. And next email is from Peter? Is Zach Granky dropable?

He's been terrible lately. His matchups for the remainder of the season are tough. No, he's not dropable. But he is at Colorado and at Houston if he makes two starts next week. That is a little scary, a little scary. No, not scary? Yeah. Okay.

I don't worry about Zach Grinky. And then after that, it looks like Colorado at home, which is fine, like at San Diego. So I don't know. It depends on when his next turn is, I guess. But I don't know that all of his matchups are tough. Greg from Atlanta wants to know who you think will be in the Braves rotation next year, Scott. This is very interesting. And I'm making, throughout this podcast, I'm making a lot of references to a piece I just put the finishing touches on.

I'm sure it'll go up, be up probably by the time you're done listening to this podcast. 30 bold predictions for next year. And one of them, understand, these are meant to be bold. They're meant to really, you know, push the limits of what's plausible. but one of them. I think I even mentioned this on the show. You did, yeah, you did. Sean Newcomb doesn't make the rotation.

Yeah. Because they have so many of those other options vying for spots. Among them, Tuki Toussaint, Bryce Wilson, Max Fried, Kyle Wright, who's up as a reliever this month. Their first round pick from last year. Who else? Mike Soroka. Bike Soroka, absolutely. He's probably a front runner.

Luis Gohara. I don't think they've given up on him. So yeah, yeah. My guess, my guess, most likely scenario is it's the four we all expect to be there. Fultenevich, Gossman, Newcomb, yes, and Tariot-Toran. And that Mike Soroka claims the fifth spot. That's my guess. I think Toussaint would probably be the second most likely to.

Ben from Iowa. Gaddis or Mahia rest of season? Roto. I will go. His batting average. I'll go Mahia. Gaddis. Not playing enough.

Goodbye. From Brian. Mejia. I might be the only person in America, starting him in an AL-only league. Bye-bye Mike Zanino. Congrats. Yeah, I'm not sure how that works,

but if you're able to, have it. This one is from, I've got to look up this team in the scam league. This one is from, in case of fires break the glass now. Can I get a shout out for my dominating performance in the For the People League in the regular season?

I have several friends who listen to the podcast and a brief soliloquy about my fantasy awesomeness would go a long way towards permanent bragging rights and would probably help me be more popular with them as well. Either way, I want to extend a genuine thanks to you guys and Heath for the invite into the league. No matter how the playoffs shakeout, it has been an amazing experience.

That is from Rob. in case of fire, break the glass now. He, his record is currently 131 wins, 68 losses and 11 ties. Nobody, he has 131 wins. Nobody else has more than 119 wins, and I'm wondering if he had a first round buy, oh, oh, wait, we're in the playoffs right now. So, yeah, he had 12 more wins than the second best team. Let's look at this team and see what was so great and so great.

wonderful. Isn't this the team we beat 9-0-0, like, with three weeks to go? Maybe. Yeah, just want to pat our own. Just want to turn it back around to up making us look great. This is a 16-team Categories League. 16-team. 16. Like, you would never in a million

years think, oh, this is a great. Oh, wait, he's got Chris Sale and Trevor Bauer on the D.L. Okay, anyway, here are the hitters. James McCann, Encarnacion, LeMayu. This is pretty good. Suarez. Machado,

Brantley, Marcaquis, Starling Marte, and Glaber Torres. Yeah, that's pretty good. Yeah, it's pretty good. A rough star with James McCamp, but whatever.

Encarnaciona, LeMayhew, Suarez, Machado, Brantley, Marquacus, Marte, Glaver Torres. I would take that lineup. You know, I feel like I'd be in the mix

in a 12-team league if I had that lineup. I think he's going to lose because Bauer and Sale are on the DL. That sucks. That, yep. That's not good.

Buckolds, Copac, Povetta, Velasquez, Ken Giles, Justin Miller, and Wade Davis. I don't know. You deserve to win. I mean, it's bad luck, obviously, losing those two guys to injury. And Sean Doolittle as well. You deserve better, Rob. Good luck. I hope Chris Sails back by the time your next round starts, and that would certainly help.

Um, rotation time. Who do you trust next week? Steven Strassberg at Philadelphia, Kyle Hendricks, um, against Milwaukee, Shane Bieber at Tampa Bay. I'd be okay with all three of them, even Bieber. Beams has good matchups down the stretch, too. Fringy starting pitchers. Who do you trust next week?

Annabal Sanchez at San Francisco? Luis Castillo against the Dodgers. Uh, I mean, it wasn't an altogether bad start for Castillo. But he did give up three home runs. So against the Dodgers, I think that's a no. He has given up 27 home runs this year. Yeah, they've got some philp. Annabal Sanchez at San Francisco, that's probably a start, right?

Yep. What the heck? How is that how? Scott, how? I just don't get it. September, though. You want me to deny it now? No, I just don't get it.

It's, you know, Annabal Sanchez. One of the most surprising things in fantasy this year, I'd say. 309 ERA, a strike operating. Uh, in the bullpen, in the bullpen, Brad Brock got a save. I'm guessing Minter was unavailable. He threw 36 pitches on Wednesday. Mm-hmm. But Brock has a 0.54 ERA with Atlanta and a 1.32 whip, so you tell me if it's sustainable. Uh, Tori Lavello said that Brad Boxberger is still the closer for the Diamondbacks, but it's, he's been struggling.

and Jesse Chavez got a save for the Cubs With Pedro Strope pitching the ninth in a tie game on the road Then they took the lead in the 10th And Chavez came in and got the save And Chavez worked to the heart of the order And Strope pitched against 8, 9, and 1 in the order So anything jump out of you here with the bullpen? No

I said through a yawn I'm sorry How am I yawning in the middle of a podcast? Because we're talking about the bullpen Boring things. Friday, I'm tired, sorry. All right, Scott, some hitters from yesterday. Four good ones, one bad one.

Here are the four good ones. Hunter Renfro, he homered. Francisco Mejia, he homered twice. Jason Kipnis, has actually been all right lately. Last 32 games, he has an 812 OPS, Jason Kipness. And Johann Camargo, since the All-Star break. The plate discipline has gone away. They've been replaced by home runs.

He's got an 883 OPS since the All-Star break, Johann Camargo. Renfro, Maha Maha'ihan. Kipness and Camargo, thoughts on that group? Well, I like most of them for one purpose or another. The one I like Lisa's Kipnis. I don't have a lot of use for him, even though he's been okay recently. It's only been okay.

Ipkis, out. Ipkis. The mask is so bad. I was watching it a couple weeks ago. It is so bad. I always think of Stan. I'm going to Lips when I hear Jason Kipness. Of course.

Yeah, I'm not the one of them. Jason Kipnis is better than the mask. I watched the mask so much. Speaking of things we watched when we were young. Terrible. Like, there were like four movies that my siblings and I just watched over and over and over again, and the mask was

one of them. So I haven't seen it probably in 20 years. But, but I'm very familiar with it. Yeah, it's really bad. Yeah, here's a problem with Renfro and Mejia They have five games next week Is that a problem?

Yeah, that's not good Yeah, I mean that could mean That could be in two starts from Mejia, you know It could It could But Renfro has been Like I still think if home runs are your priority Right now Renfro has to be in your lineup

Just because he's providing so many of them Camargo Camargo, I feel like,'s been underrated for a long time now. The ceiling isn't particularly high, but the floor is high. He just rarely steers you wrong if you plug him in your lineup.

Good fill-in guy, especially since he's eligible both third base and shortstop. And Kendris Morales is 48% owned. Since he homered eight times in seven games, Kendris Morales is four for 26. with no extra base hits, four walks and eight strikeouts.

Seems like a bad time to have picked up Kendris Morales. Do you think he's appropriately owned at 48% or what? I think it's a little low. There were some schedule issues that came up when he was having that, what, eight home runs and eight games or whatever that stretch was. Eight home runs and seven games. Yeah, you looked ahead of his schedule and saw there could be trouble for it. him. But he's still a pretty good power hitter.

Probably deserves to be more than 48% owned. I need a new segment. I need something different right now. I need to shake things up. Shake it up. Let's regulate. You sang the wrong song. Let's regulate. All right. Cody in Washington needs the fantasy regulators. I'm in the last week of my head-to-head categories league. I need three wins to secure first place and finish in the money. Uh-huh.

All right, it needs three wins in a categories league. I am playing my father-in-law who got me into fantasy baseball, paid my league fee, and is the only person I can talk fantasy with. My father-in-law is fighting for a playoff berth And could really use the six extra category wins that I can spare. No. Do I throw the categories without his knowledge And give him a shot at the playoffs

Or do I show him how well he has groomed me and whoop his ass? Listen It's not about you and him It's about everybody else That's not fair You can't Who's he competing with You can't

You can't give him a golden path To the playoffs And leave that other Hang that other guy out to dry I mean it's one thing If you're having a one-on-one competition You want to kind of You know

Let him win to earn some goodwill But when other people are being impacted Yeah You can't do that We'll start over. We'll do more regulation. Here we go. This is from, oh, no name.

We have no trade processing time and no trade deadline because we're all grown-ass men and friends. This trade goes through the day before the playoffs start. Oh, and you're upset about it. Yep. The player giving up Aronado. Somebody gave up Aronado in a desperate, futile attempt to sneak into the playoffs. The problem is the play. player receiving Aeronado is the second seed and I'm the first seed.

I can see both sides, but regardless, this is a garbage trade. Perhaps he makes it into the playoffs. He won't. It was a Hail Mary, only to lose the first round anyway. So please help regulators. Team A gives No-Anon Aeronado and Team B gives Clay Buckelts, Lance Lynn, and Brian Johnson. So he basically... Obviously a bad trade.

He gave up Aeronado just to get some extra starts and get a playoff spot. Obviously a bad trade that may well get him in the playoffs. So, I mean, I don't know exactly what his needs are, but I'm sure this was a thought-out plan. A trade he knew he could get through quickly and would fill out his lineup in a way that would allow him to compete, at least for the one week. So, you know, you could understand what he did it, why he did it. And I don't think you can do anything about it. The solution is to have a trade deadline. Why not?

Yeah, not a bad idea. All right, well, congratulations at the second place team for getting Noan Aronado, and that has been regulated. Thank you, everybody. All right, more of your emails a little bit later. Let's get on with the show. Let's take a look. What are we going to do now? The Most Added list is a Friday staple.

All right, here's the look at the most added list. Let's see who number one is. I actually don't even have an earthly clue who it's going to be. It's going to be Tyler White. He's now 67% own, sure. Jake Junis is number two on the most added list. Worth starting even in a one-star week, right? Jake Junice?

Yes. Yes. His matchups are good down the stretch to, just like Keller. Is he a two-star pitcher? I don't believe so. He was this past week assuming that still holds. Sure. We got Fran Mill Reyes, we think, is worth ad.

Luke Voigt. Yeah. Framville-Race is actually a good answer to the earlier question of somebody you could add in a dynasty league who you think could help next year. So I mean, he's not already owned. He's only 27% on. Keep in mind. He is five games next week. Luke Voigt is also 27% owned.

He's number four in the most added list. Tucker Barnhart is number six or seven on the most added list. Is that someone you would start over like Yasmani Grundal or Wilson Contreras? No, I don't think so. Just not enough. Not enough. Like, he's a top 12 catcher by default, but not enough upside. There's, like, no power there.

He's slugging 378. There's no power there. On the year, listen to how many home runs he has. He has nine home runs. That's as many as Wilson Contreras, I believe. We would be cautious with Wade LeBlanc, right? And Adam Plutco. Yes, I don't have a great deal of confidence.

In any, either. All right, most added lists, I think we talked about most of these guys, so I'm going to move on. And do you have any hitting advice yet, or do we need to check the website? You're going to have to check that out later. Okay, we'll do that, Scott. Check it out later. I was working on 30-bolt predictions last night, son. Okay.

No time for matchups. So I'll just take a look at the two-star pitcher list, and we'll put a grain of salt or an asterisk on everything. You're going to start Zach Rankie at Colorado at Houston? Yes Miles Michaelis, Pittsburgh, and the Dodgers Yeah, I think so It helps that the first of those matchups Is the more favorable one

Kintana, Milwaukee and Cincinnati at home I mean In a points league probably Probably not in a Roto Roark At Philadelphia at Atlanta Points yes, Roto, no Rew at Cincinnati

at St. Louis? Probably in points, but it's highly likely. It'll just be the Cincinnati start. So weigh that into your decision. Sean Nukum at San Francisco, home against Washington. Nah.

Mike fires at Baltimore at Tampa Bay. Sure. And Derek Rodriguez, we like. Nathan Evaldi, we don't. Andrew Heaney, Texas and Seattle at home. Yeah. Yeah. Post league, yeah.

Man, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He's tired. Scott works a crazy schedule. Scott works. He works nights. I'm trying to help you out here. He works nights.

He gets home really late. And then on Friday, he comes back to the office for a day shift. So give him a break. Gialito at Kansas City at Baltimore, even if he makes one start, he could be worth using. Mike Minor, Scott's not enthralled about it at the Angels at San Diego. And then we got Jaime Baria, Texas and Seattle. Oh, let's say, no. He never gets quality starts even when he's quote unquote good.

Hi, Mabaria. No on Odarezi. Yes, I'm Brad Keller. And Wade Miley, Aaron Sanchez, Jason Vargas, Trevor Richards, Liriano, Wainwright, Kastner, Senzatella, Alcantara, Trevor May, Homer Bailey. Nah. Alcantara, 11% owned. At the Mets, at the Phillies? No, I mean, I'm definitely interested in watching him down the stretch.

Obviously, it was really good last time. But putting your trust in him now seems like a bad idea. Okay. Well, I think we should look at some weekend streamers. I'm going to go through games Friday through Sunday and give you some kind of questionable guys, and you tell me if you'd start them. DeSclafani against the Padres. I don't think so

Okay How about Joe Ross against the Cubs? No Austin Gomber at the Tigers Well Stream against the Tigers Certainly worked out this week

That's the best one so far Gomber I don't think that's unthinkable Okay I'm going to write it down Gomber at Detroit Dylan Bundy at the raise Can't do it Derek Holland at the Brewers

No, that matchup's not good enough Felix Pena at the White Sox Yeah, I like that one Oh, okay That's a yes I'm going to write it down Felix Pena is underrated Okay

This is a lot of bats with that slider How about I think that's basically it for Friday. All right, let's move on to Saturday So Friday, the winners are Gomber at Detroit and Felix Pena at the White Sox. Weigh and Chen at the Pirates and Yvonne Nova in that same game. Klein to say no to both.

Robbie Erlin or Matt Harvey. Padres at Reds? No. Matt Boyd against the Cardinals. I don't hate it, but probably a no. Okay. Matt Shoemaker at the White Sox. No. How about Zach Eflin at the Mets. Mets.

Certainly not an automatic start. But I think among the streamers, he's one of the better choices. So who do we like on Saturday? Nobody? Ethlyn. Eflin and Boyd's not

a definite, no. Okay. Boyd at the White Sox Home against the... Wait, Boyd is... Yeah, home against the White Sox. No, no. No, it wasn't White Sox. It was Cardinal. Cardinals.

Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So we got Gomber, Felix, Pena, Eflin, and Boyd. We go to Sunday. Let's see who we like here. Velasquez at the Mets? You could do worse.

It's not bad. Alex Cobb at Jalen Beeks. Really? Jalen Beeks is actually going to start. What it says. I don't know. It's off and roll. I don't...

If I knew Beaks was starting, maybe he'd be a yes. John Gantt and Michael Fulmer. Fulmer's been better at home this year Yeah, he's coming off a rough outing, though I don't love it. Rather not. How about Jake Brigham and Trevor Williams?

Marlins and Pirates. Okay. Clarify what Team Brigham pitches for. Trevor Williams? Yeah, I think Trevor Williams is a yes. I would say yes to Trevor Williams. Now, we have Andrew Heaney slated to start on Sunday, so he may not be a two-star pitcher after all.

Well, what the heck? I'm going to have to figure that one out, aren't I? Yes, you are. Trevor Cahill at home against the Rangers. I don't think so. Tuki Toussat at the Diamondbacks. Still think he's going to last long enough. Okay.

So Trevor Williams, maybe Fulmer, maybe the last guess, but Trevor Williams looks like the winner there. Gomber, Felix Pena, Eflin, Boyd, Fulmer. Not a great weekend for two-star streamers, but I think I would go with Trevor Williams against the Marlins is my favorite, the way he's been pitching. Yeah, probably. It probably is the favorite. Okay. How about that?

We're going to finish off with emails part two. This is from Josh from the coast. Which coast do you think he's from, Scott? He is from the West Coast, the Pacific. Wow. Freeman Arendo and in a points league rest of season. Freeman. This is from Scott.

Dear Dutch and Aceveda. Asaveda. Those are guys from Farmington, the Shield. That's right. Farmington? Yeah, Farmington. The barn. The question from Scott is,

My league has an innings limit. I'm on pace to go over it. I have 178 innings remaining. I have Verlander, Carasco, Clevenger, Godly, Kopeck, and a bunch of relievers. So he's on pace to go way over his innings. He has a solid lead in whip and K's minus walks, whatever. Should I start Kershaw at Colorado? That's tonight.

Pershaw, Colorado. Should he start him? I mean, if you don't feel like you have much to gain from it, but you have something to lose, maybe not. I don't know what your other pitchers are, who else you're saying? who else you're going to use those innings on. But I can understand sitting there. Hey, Gus, no, hey, Ed, Ed, and Eddie.

You ever see that show? I am aware of it. I don't recall actually watching it. This is from Gus. 12 team, head-to-head categories league. Should I drop Yasamani? You're going to all to pick up Tucker Barnhart? Barnhart.

No. From Kevin and Texas. Who should I sit in the first round of my playoffs? Hasus Aguilar, Scooter. Justin Turner, Glaver Torres, or Reese Hoskins. Aguilar, Jeanette, Turner, Torres, and Hoskins. Well, you mentioned the lefty thing with Jeanette. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I think I'd say Glaber Torres, but I haven't, you know, I don't have the matchups, so it would be matchups dependent. He's facing Minnesota and Toronto, I believe, and, like, not only is Jeanette facing lefties, but it's like Kershaw, Rich Hill, Cole Hamels, are three of the lefties. Yeah, he's been hot, but Yeah, that might be, I mean, because Tours is obviously a good choice too But the choice is that good, I think Yeah, saying Jeanette probably makes the most sense And an email from Daniel, dear Uncle Adam, Can you please rank these three pitchers for next season?

Bumgarner, Clevenger, Marquez Oh, that's gonna, that is a tough one, Scott. I'll let you, I'll let Uncle Scott do it. It is a tough one, because one of my bold predictions is Madison Bumgarner sinks further into the hole where the Giants lost

Barry Zito and Tim Linsicum. Oh yeah. I mean, and another bold prediction could be like, Armand Marquez is going to be a top 15 pitcher or something. He's... Another bold prediction was the Rockies have two top five Sy Young finalists. I wasn't holding back on the book.

Wow. I went bold. But... If I'm going to be rational rather than bold and sensible and all the things that good analysts should be, I'm going to rank those three for next year. Bumgarner, Clevenger, and Marquez. I could totally see it playing out in the reverse order, though. Yeah, I wonder where Marquez goes. Scott and I have been raving about him for weeks and weeks and weeks,

and we'll see if people are on board next year. I mean, the course field thing is always going to be tough, but he's just so good. All right, Scott White, you have yourself a wonderful weekend. You hear me? You too, Adam. Thank you. I will.

Get some rest. That is Scott. I am Adam. Enjoy your Kokomo Friday, everybody. We'll talk to you Monday.