Fantasy Baseball Today - 2027 Sleeper-O-Meter & Skenes' Struggles Explained! (9/22 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: September 22, 2026

The Giants promoted outfield prospect Bo Davidson (2:45)! ... River Ryan made his Tigers debut (6:08). ... Brooks Lee has quietly been productive (12:30). ... News (18:12): Bryce Eldridge went on the concussion IL. ... Could Paul Skenes' struggles be linked back to the World Baseball Classic (26:19)? ... Any interest in these SP this weekend (37:40)? ... Let's fire up the 2027 SLEEPER-O-METER (41:18). ... It's our final Fantasy Feud of the season (54:24)! ... We wrap up with leftovers, bullpens and streamers (1:09:50).Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/FantasyBaseballToday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cb ...

Welcome to the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast from CBS Sports. Got a fantasy question? Email Fantasy Baseball at CBSI.com. Get ready to win your lead. Now here's Frank, Scott, and Chris. What's up and welcome into Fantasy Baseball today on Tuesday, September 22nd. I am Frank Sample joined by Scott White and Chris Towers. Today on the show, three games slate.

So we're getting creative. We will fire up the sleeperometer for 2027, a possible answer to Paul Skeen's struggles, and likely our final fantasy feud of the year. This one for all the marbles. Oh my goodness. Let's jump in. There's a boat.

Right field. Shout out to legendary Giants broadcaster, Mike Kruco, who was retiring after the season. That could very well be his last home run. call of his career. So very cool to hear that on Monday. And let's stick with the Giants. Scott, you're a player of the night. Call up. We got a call up here the last week of the season and probably not the only one. Bo Davidson is his name, outfielder for the Giants, as you mentioned, 24 years old, which sounds kind of old for a prospect these days. I guess it is. But he had an unconventional

trajectory to get here. Did Bo Davidson, he went undrafted, actually. Emerged as a prospect a couple years ago with some pretty impressive numbers. And this year was no exception. He climbed to AAA about midway through this season. So the year was split between AA and AAA. 29 homers, 20 steals between those two stops.

Hit 290, struck out only 21.5%. 21.5% to use the decimal there. And it actually got better at AAA. Average exit velocity of AAA was 92.5. Max was almost 111. Good zone contact rate, chase rate, pretty average, but not a problem, you would imagine.

It all looks pretty good. He is going to be a left-handed batter playing at Oracle Park, which I almost called AT&T, but it's Oracle Park. And so that's not the best thing, but athletic player, he went one for four with two balls hit 102 or more

in his debut here, stole a base. So that seems like it's going to remain a part of his game based on the little we've seen so far. It doesn't always, but hopefully that first deal in the first game is a good indicator for Bo Davidson. And if he has the kind of final week that gives him the inside track

for a starting job next spring, I imagine we'll be seeing Bo Davidson on some sleeper lists. I've been a fan for a while, got him two of my three dynasty leagues, and anxious to see what he can do. Well, I'm happy you said that, Scott, because it's time to fire up the sleeperometer.

And first up on that list is Bo Davidson. So 10 being, no doubt about it, this is going to be everyone's favorite sleeper, you know, slam dunk sleeper for next season. One, you know, I don't think anyone's going to care about this player at all. I think we're, I think we're going to get a 10 at some point on this show. All right. Is Bo Davidson a 10? No. No.

I don't think so either. Four? Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Like an interesting, like, look, I did a deep sleepers list that Jake McCarthy was on. this year. Like, you can, you can get some, some low end hits that way. But no, I don't think he has the, the pedigree or the track record to, to be the guy that everybody's counting on as a sleeper. But I think there will be some interest in him for sure. Yeah. I think so too. I think we'll be a name to watch in spring training and follow along and see if he does have that inside track,

as you mentioned, Scott, to a job with the Giants next season. That name, there is Bo Davidson. Chris, over to you. Someone else who will be on the sleeperometer. Who is that? I think River Ryan will be a 10 on the sleeper off. I think he is going to be one of the most popular sleeper picks for next season. He is, he made his, a Tigers debut today. And it was only three innings. He has thrown like five innings total in the past three months. He was dealing with hamstring injury. Struck out three, two hits. one walk, looked good. River Ryan almost always looks good. He averaged 96.5 with his fastball, six swinging strikes on 43 pitches, through the whole six pitch mix. He has really good stuff.

And if he was 23 years old, he'd be, I think, one of the five best pitching prospect. As it is, pretty much everybody still had him as a top 50 prospect at the midseason point when the the rankings were updated. His ERA was a little high at AAA, but that was mostly just a couple of bad starts. It was like a 21% strikeout to walk ratio.

I think the stuff is good. I think he's a good pitcher. It is just a question of whether he stays healthy, but he's going to be, I mean, there's no chance he's not locked into a rotation spot for the Tigers, assuming he's healthy on opening day next year, right? Like that, I think we can not

pencil that way, I think we can chisel it in stone. And so I think River Ryan's just going to be extremely, extremely popular as a sleeper next year and should be. Yeah, I think that's all fair. And digging more into the start here, a very abbreviated start. He only threw 43 pitches, but his fastball had 19 inches of IVB. His changeup was awesome watching this start. Tons of horizontal movement.

He got three whiffs on that change up, three of his six weeks. I think it looks like a split or more. more than a change-up, even. Like, that thing just dives down. He struck out James Wood with that pitch today, too. Yeah, it was nasty. It was very, very good. And the skills in the minors were, you know,

while the ERA and the whip, the surface level stuff was not good in the minors this season. 10.3K per 9, 53% ground ball rate. The K-to-walk stuff, nearly a 12% swinging tri-crate rate. Like, yeah, this is an interesting player. I think he will be in the sleeper mix for next season. Chris, it sounds like you have that at a 10.

Scott, do you agree? Do you think River Ryan attend on the sleeperometer for next year? I'm more excited about Bo Davidson personally. I mean, you always need to draft a lot of pitchers. I will just say this. As long as River Ryan's healthy next year, I don't think there's a single league where he doesn't get drafted. I do not think that's true about Davidson.

I don't think that's true about Davidson either. I just, I don't know. It'll be easier to say when I have. actually get into my pitchers, which probably won't be until late October, but how high do you think you're going to be able to rank him? I haven't done that process yet. Yeah. I would think he'll be top of the head. 75.

I think he'll definitely be ranked in the you are drafting him in every league. I guess the two main issues I have. He's had a good strike rate in the minors, as you say. most every pitcher pitching prospect has a good strikeout rate in the miners otherwise they wouldn't be a pitching prospect he hasn't pitched much

in the last three years he hasn't pitched particularly well in terms of hit and run prevention and that's not all within his control I don't know I just don't quite under like I think River Ryan's a prospect

but I guess I'm trying to think of a comp this year where we knew he was going to make the rotation, but we just didn't draft him that high. I think I'd have to pull up last year's rankings. I don't know. I guess I'm more like I need evidence before I go that hard after somebody,

and I don't see a lot of evidence with River Ryan. Scott, I mean, three innings right here with a 14% swing and strike rate, that's not enough evidence for you. And he had four solid starts in 2024, and then, you know, but even then it's not like he was like, oh my gosh, it's Chase Burns, you know, it's I don't think he's just kind of a, yeah, he's not Chase Burns for sure. Top 75-ish pitching prospect.

So like, I'm looking at some names in the 75 to 80 range right now in 80P before the season. Connolly Early, Braxton Ashcraft was in that range. Mike Burroughs. Remember Mike Burroughs? That was fun. Yeah, like, I just... Yeah, I think that's the range, and that's like between 250 and 380p, basically.

He's older, so I think prospect people especially are less in on him, and I think that was why the reaction to the Terrick Scouble trade was what it was, and I agree, it wasn't a great return. But I just... From what I have read of prospect folks, if he wasn't 27, he'd be ranked a lot higher. And just based on these skills, that he's shown. And look, you cannot disentangle his age from what he's shown, right? Like

27-year-olds are more physically mature than 21-year-olds. They've, in his case, they don't really have more experience, but he has some experience. He's been around professional baseball. So, I get why there are question marks about him as a prospect. But, oh, God, who was the, man, who was the Tigers guy that we were excited about before the season? That's the name I was thing. Rees Olson? Rees Olson. Yeah, like that kind of guy.

We're like, I don't think he's an ace. I do think there's enough talent there. Like, Rees Olson was getting drafted everywhere before his injury. Yeah. And I just pulled up my initial rankings. I had Reese Olson 81st. Sure.

So that, yeah, I guess maybe 75 to 85 range, let's say, for River Rhinens. Yeah. And that probably makes sense. Yeah. Guys like Zach Allen and. Andrew Abbott were going in that range before the season too. All right. My player that I just want to give a shout out and show some love to Brooks Lee,

who has just kind of had the most boring, productive season of all time. He hit his 24th home run, and he's just kind of been an accumulator this year. 254 batting average, the 24 homers, 82 RBI, eight steals, also five cut stealing. He is not very fast at all. 735 OPS. It just does not wow you at all. But he was an undrafted player. He was picked up as a free agent. Another name that could have been picked up in a deeper league. And just having that second, third and shortstop eligibility has been very valuable with Brooks Lee this year.

The underlying numbers do not buy it at all. He is pretty good at pulling the ball in the air, 23% pulled air rate. But yeah, according to the Fangraph's play rateer, the 90th overall player in Roto this season, between hitters and pitchers. So shout out to Brooks Lee. I don't know that I'll be drafting him outside of like a deeper, maybe like a draft and hold type league where you can move them around and stuff. But nice solid season here. Yeah, if you're looking at the skills,

there's very little difference between this 2025 and 2026. The outcomes were obviously much better. And that's not nothing. But he is a top 12 player at shortstop, third base, and second base right now. And that is true. Yeah. I would be shocked if I ranked him as a top 20 player

at any of those positions next year. You'll be able to get him dirt cheap next year, but he's a perfect, like, AL-only type player. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. You know he's going to play. You can move him around. He's going to get you your played appearances. Not going to wow you, but he'll probably just be solid.

Compiler is the word that I like to use. And that's what he did this year. Brooks Lee, you get players like this every year. You're surprised where they end up ranking. and it's just they were always there. And they weren't helpless with the bat, and they showed up every day. And so just by default,

they end up in the top 12 at weaker positions or in this case, sometimes even some decent positions. If Brooks Lee is somebody who misses two months with an injury last year, next year, then obviously it's not going to feel as good the little bit of time you have them is some of the studs

who got injured this year and ended up finishing ahead of. Yeah, it's like Maricio DuBahn is another one of those guys. Sequel de Ron is like

a top 10 player at multiple positions. Then you actually look at the numbers and it's like, oh, well, that's 153 combined runs in RBI. Okay, thank you. 11 steals,

seven. Like, it's not terrible. But that's like the meat and potatoes in fantasy, you know? You just kind of need those glue guys to like fill in the gaps. They're just, they're not guys. You can bet on from year to year. I would guess Brooks and Ezeka Duran and Mauricea Dubon will all be worse next season. So it's like, who's that next year?

I don't know the answer to that question. I don't know yet either. Big thanks to everyone watching live. We appreciate to being here. Make sure to hit that like button. If you're listening on audio, drop us a five-star rating and review. Wherever you listen to Apple Podcast, Spotify, if we helped you win your league, you could drop a five-star rating and review and let us know in the comments there.

Even if you didn't win your league, but you really enjoy the podcast, we'd appreciate it. Let's take a break, and we'll be back right after this. Welcome back, Fantasy Baseball today. We'll run through the news and notes, and we do have a bunch of giants updates. Bryce Eldridge was placed on the seven-day concussion aisle. again, just a weird, one of those weird baseball injuries just kind of like bangs his head at the hotel and he just winds up in the concussion protocol.

So hopefully all is good and hopefully none of this lingers it's the next season because, you know, Scott and I both had bold predictions for Bryce Eldridge for next year. So hope he's all right then. Jung Hew Lee was placed on the aisle due to a groin contusion.

Solid second season for Jung Hew Lee, but, you know, kind of a 10-10 guy. I don't really know that we can expect much more than that. Willie Adamas took batting practice. I think this was his third season. Is it? I thought, it sounded like more than, it felt like more than two.

Third season. He missed most of the first. He missed a lot, though, to be fair. Solid third season for Chung-Hoo-Lee. Willi Adomis. The second full season. Yes. Willie Adamas took batting practice and did fielding work on Monday.

He was placed in the aisle with a left elbow sprain on August 24th. So maybe he'll get back for the final weekend of the season. I, whatever. Willie Adamas. Yeah. Some corresponding moves, Marcel O'Meyer, was activated for his Giants debut, and it did not go very well. He went 0 for four with four strikeouts. And the other one was the Giants calling up Bo Davidson, but we already spoke about him, so we'll keep things moving here.

Dylan Cease Update, the MRI on his shoulder revealed inflammation. He does not need surgery, but his immediate availability is up in the air. technically the Blue Jays are still competing for a wild card spot. They're three games out with, you know, five or six games to play. So it's very unlikely that they will make it to the playoffs. The Fangraphs had their playoff odds at 3% entering today. And they lost today, right?

Yeah, they lost late. They gave up a home run to Pete Alonzo to lose that game. So, yeah, it's over. Seems very unlikely that Dylan Seas will be back this year. Jesus Lazzardo played catch on flat ground. And last week, he went on the I.L. shoulder inflammation. The Phillies remain optimistic about Lazzardo's progress, and they're hoping that he could contribute in the postseason. Very interesting, the two names that you guys

had pitted up against each other for the cereal bet. Back to back here with shoulder injuries ending their seasons. They were both awesome this year. They wanted it too bad. I got to get those innings for Scott and Chris. I think that probably clinches it for Scott on the cereal. Yeah, I'm sorry, Chris. You didn't get 23 innings from Dylan Cese this weekend. It could have happened. Scott, have you been researching which cereal you would like to get? I have. Yeah, I've got a couple saved in my Amazon cart.

Okay. Looking into some foreign cereals. Oh. Oh, yeah. I getting exotic. Chris is going to have to pay like $50 for a box. Yeah. I'm terrible. The person who said the other day,

the honey nut Cheerios. You're going to pay less getting this exotic cereal off Amazon. than what they're charging you in the actual grocery stores locally. Based on what you said last podcast. All right. We do an update on Alex Bregman. He suffered multiple facial fractures when struck by the foul ball on Sunday.

Jeff Passon reported that Bregman will not undergo surgery and is hopeful to return in the postseason. We don't know when in the postseason. It doesn't say he'll be ready for the start of the postseason. Thankfully, it's not worse, but this is still a big blow for the Cubs. Bregman, one of the hottest hitters in the second. half and his season ends with 153 games played 262 batting average 26 homers 89 runs 89 rbii 804 ops and the fourth best third basement in roto 3.2 fantasy points per game tied for third

best at the position uh with j ram south stewart and kevin mcgonigal so massive massive second half really really uh brought those season long numbers up here for for Alex Breggman yeah he sure did um I was pleased and relieved to hear that the vision, the vision doesn't seem to be affected at all. It's also encouraging that he doesn't need surgery. Yeah, for those of you are a little older, Scott, I'm sure you remember this. But one incarnation had a situation like this where that pretty much ended his career. That was back in like the late 2000s probably. But it's a scary situation for sure, yeah.

Yeah, big second half, big season for Alex Breggman. but unfortunate timing. We'll see if he can indeed get back for the playoffs to join the Cubs there. Vlad Jr. was held out of the lineup again on Monday due to lower back tightness. Troy Melton was placed on the IEL with right arm fatigue.

I think he's going to make for a pretty interesting rank for next season two. He had that stretch where he was unhittable, but wasn't getting many strikeouts. You look at the ERA and whip, they still look really good, but it's like, no, the skills don't exactly back it up and now he ends the season with an injury. So pretty interesting rank.

Troy Melton will be for next season. The twins called up former first round pick Aaron Sabato. He is 27 years old. First round pick back in 2020. This year at AAA, he hit 273 with 25 homers and 877 OPS. It's got this kind of feels like a quad A player. Is there anything to see with Aaron Sabato? It's been a long time since I've heard that name.

and I would not be counting on much from Aaron Sabato. He's got power, but I wouldn't be counting on much. It's one of those things where you see this season Kobe Clemens had, and it's like, well, okay, guys can do that, I guess, but you definitely shouldn't count on that. All right, Brett Bateman left early on Monday after making an awesome catch in the outfield, and it turns out that he suffered a right-hirt.

hip injury. He did go undergo x-rays for a fracture, but it was negative. So I could miss the next couple of days, but yeah, that is Brett Bateman. Colt Keith was placed in the aisle with a left thumb sprain. His season ends with 140 games played. 258 batting average, 10 homers,

six steals, 726 OPS. It just does not seem like there is a next level for Colt Keith. He kind of lives in this 10-15 homer, you know, five to 10 steel range for fantasy. Yeah, his one of those players who

you saw what he was doing in the miners he gets a big contract a multi-year contract before he debuts so clearly the tigers are excited about him and then you see him play and you're like, why was this guy such a big prospect and

why did the tigers give him such a big contract and then immediately cast him as a platoon guy I didn't even really ever give him a chance to play every day it reminds me of Scott Kingery a little bit But Colt Keith was an even better prospect than Kingery. And Kingery formerly with the Phillies, but kind of a utility guy who produced in the minors,

but never really amounted to much of the majors. I'm just contrasting it with like Jordan Walker, where, yeah, he struggled his first couple years in the majors, but you could see the talent pretty clearly. And was also, you know, a couple years younger. I think Keith Keith is already 25, which isn't old. It's not too late for a breakout. out, but I, yeah, I'm not, I'm not really seeing evidence for one.

All right. Last couple items here. Justin Verlander is scheduled to be reinstated and make his final career start on Saturday against the Pirates. One of the best to ever do it. Really cool that he'll even make it back. I don't know how much he'll actually throw, but I'm sure he'll get a crazy ovation and rightfully.

So first ballot hall of famer, Justin Verlander, again, that'll be Saturday if you want to check that out. And heads up that if you play in a daily lineup league, the Yankewarm. Yankees and Ray's start at 105 p.m. Eastern time here on Tuesday. So if you need to get anything sorted out, they will have a day-night doubleheader. Again, Reyes and Yankees at 105 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday. Here is the latest on Paul Skeens. And this theory, not really a theory, I guess it's just some speculation on Paul Skeens's part.

But this was an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It was written by Colin Beasley. And Skeens mentioned that the World Baseball Classic feels like the root of his struggles this season. And here are some quotes. Usually that time of year you're kind of ramping up and it's a little bit slow. You can kind of get into the slope and find your body, he said. One live batting practice, you're topping at 97 miles per hour, then the next year, 98, 99. And that wasn't the case this year. Looking back, I don't think that really helped. That being the World Baseball Classic. The article also states that Skeens has made plenty of mechanical tweaks throughout the course of

the season in attempts to find better results. He shifted from his typical crossfire delivery to one where he steps directly towards the plate and he made that change after his August 11th start in Miami. Remember that when he was pulled after five innings and it was only like 75 pitches or something like that. We're kind of nervous. He received eight days off after that to work on that change in his mechanics that he was, you know, trying to figure out what was going on, obviously behind the scenes. He mentioned that he didn't feel that he had his delivery, even early in the season when he was pitching well.

He went on an eight-star stretch where he had an ERA around one. He said that he didn't even feel right back then. So it's pretty crazy. Obviously, the velocity was higher earlier in the season. He did add, unfortunately, it's probably going to take an off-season to get it back. So to me, that sounds like he feels optimistic that this is something he will be able to get back for next year. He may be exactly right. But my feeling reading this is that it sounds like he's grasping at straws

and has finally landed on this as the explanation after exhausting all possible other ones. And obviously he's got to stay positive and hope that an off-season can get it back. but I am not as optimistic as he's sounding. And yeah, this did not relieve my concerns. Reading this, I read the whole article, it did not relieve my concerns about Paul Skeens. If anything, it only further ingrained them. So, again, maybe he'll be exactly right.

I just got to go with my gut here, and I don't feel, don't have a good feeling in it. He, early on in the season, when he was asked why his velocity was down, he would say, oh, it's intentional. And then as the season went on, he stopped saying that. It's like, well, okay. Like, I don't know. I agree with Scott. Like, Paul Skeens knows his body better than I do, obviously.

So, like, I cannot say this is not true. What I can say is in 2025 spring training, he had 329 pitches that were. track. Fifty-nine of them were 98 miles per hour or higher. That was 17.9%. This year, in the World Baseball Classic, he threw 19.8% of his pitches higher than 98 miles per hour. Maybe the timing of it is different. Maybe in 2025, all those 98-mile-per-hour pitches were back-loaded. And the World Baseball Classic did force him to excel. But like, I don't know. I don't really buy it. Like, the World Baseball Classic messes up pitchers is a thing that people have said every time the World Baseball Classic comes around. And maybe, like, it certainly seems like a hypothesis that would make sense.

And it probably, it probably has happened to certain pictures. I'm more willing to buy it for, like, Logan Webb, just as a, I think it's a more plausible theory in his case. like it's it's one of those things where like you know obviously analysts want to do the average of something always but individuals are different and their routines are going to be different their rhythms are going to be different and it's more likely to impact something others not to derail your point because I know

but that's what I was going to say is that I think on the whole the evidence that the World Baseball Classic hurts pitchers as a population does not seem particularly compelling that is not to say that it does not impact anyone. That is true for any kind of change. A change to the makeup of the baseball will not impact everyone equally. The pitch clock, I'm sure hurt some, remember the pitch clock? Remember how that was like, oh my God, it's going to ruin pitchers.

And like, I don't really think it has. But I'm sure there were some pitchers who were negatively affected by it. And so I cannot say definitively that this did not impact Paul schemes. But like Scott said, it sounds like a guy who's just looking for an explanation. And maybe he's right. But I don't think the shape of his season backs up the idea that the World Baseball Classic screwed him up. I don't think the way he talked about it was an especially compelling explanation. There's a point where at the end of the article, he said,

it definitely affected the year, Skeen said, unfortunately, I don't think I'm the only one. One, I don't like, like I just, I,

can I read the rest of it? Well, and yeah, that's what I was going to get. But like that, but like that, I wanted to pause and put a pin on that

and just say like, okay, go ahead. You don't know. Like, I'm sorry, you don't know. Uh, but two,

he paused staring at the floor in silence for nine seconds. Yeah, I don't know, Skeen said. Ten more seconds passed. Definitely didn't make things easier. That does not sound like a guy

who is 100% confident that he has figured out what screwed up his season and how to fix it in 2027. Maybe he has. Maybe this is right. And maybe a more normal offseason in 2027 will help Paul Skeens get right. I am inclined to believe that he will be better in 2027 than he has been in 26, certainly better than he has been since, I don't know, July or whenever the turnaround started. But I just do not find, I do not find this too. be an especially compelling explanation for why things have gone wrong. Because again, there's also lots of pitchers who pitched in the World Baseball Classic who had great seasons. So I don't really, I just don't really buy it, you know?

Yeah, that's where it goes back to like everyone is different. And I agree with you. Like, I was trying to find, is there a common theme? Now, there were pitchers that also had down seasons or injury plague seasons. Like, Scoob will pitch in a WBC, not as much as other pitchers. but he obviously had the loose bodies in his elbow and he had to undergo a procedure. Logan Webb has kind of had this uncharacteristic, you know, fall apart and his strikeout rate has been way down. He pitched in the World Baseball Classic.

But then you also have Yamamoto who pitched in the WBC and he's had a great year. Someone like Eduardo Rodriguez has had one of the best years of his career. He doesn't throw as hard as those other guys. But I just feel like, I don't think you can put a blanket statement. I'm trying to think about this just for the next time the WBC rolls around because we didn't get questions. like should I avoid guys playing in the WBC

I don't think there's just a blanket statement like oh if you play in the WBC you're bound to have a bad season you know Yeah like you can point to Cal Raleigh and you can point to Gunner Henderson you can point to Logan Webb But it's also like well congrats you missed on Peaker Armstrong exactly

Camerro is having a huge year Like I just I don't really I don't really I don't know man Like given the amount of money at stake if there was some evidence that this was systemically ruining players, teams wouldn't be letting guys go. And that's not happening.

And the data that I have seen suggests there might be a very small uptick, but in injuries for pitchers specifically, but nothing that is like substantial. And the other thing you have to keep in mind throughout any discussion like this is you can't just say, well, Otani got hurt and Scoobo got hurt. You have to compare them to the baseline rate. And so when I see, well, maybe Scoobo got hurt because of the World Baseball Classic, he's a pitcher.

That's why he got hurt. And I just, I don't find it, especially because he only made one start in the World Baseball Classic, right? Like, that was the whole thing with Terrick Scoobal, famously. So I just don't, I don't find that to be particularly compelling. I also, I just, I think it's really lame for Paul Skeen. the way he was talking during the World Baseball Classic to then turn around six months later when he had a bad scene and be like,

it's the World Baseball Classic's fault I was bad guys. Like, I think it's kind of lame. He didn't say he doesn't regret it. Yeah, but like, but then there's that 19 second pause at the end. Yeah, which by the way, I wanted to give some credit to the writer,

Colin Beasley, for like, conveying the tenor of that conversation so well in the article with details like that because I think most writers would have just merged that all together as one quote, and it reads very differently that way. Yeah, it's tough. Just a really, really tough call there with Paul Skeens. Let's take our final break.

When we return, I've got the sleeperometer. We'll play some fantasy feud. We'll do all that right after this. Welcome back fantasy baseball today. And any interest in these three starting pitchers or these three pitchers for this weekend. Still trying to work in some content for those still playing in the final. a week here, but Shane Boz turned into quality start against the Blue Jays, six and two-thirds, three runs, three walks, two strikeouts, only four swinging strikes on 92 pitches.

He's had some good moments this year, some long stretches of, you know, being helpful, turning in quality starts and things like that. I just really do not see it for Shane Boz. He is 70% rostered and at the Yankees this weekend. Zebby Matthews turned back into Zebby Matthews at the Giants, five runs over five innings. He did have nine strikeouts, zero walks. He had 15 whiffs on 100 pitches, and he is 52% rostered. Looks like he will start Sunday against the Rangers.

That is a good matchup on paper, but I would have said the same thing about this start. And Kate Aramontera was great in bulk relief against the Nationals, four shutout innings with five strikeouts. He has managed a great ERA and whip. He does a good job limiting hard contact. You see that in the XERA, but he really gets no strikeouts at all.

He is 52. 2% rostered he could pitch again on Sunday against the Pirates, likely in a bulk relief role once again. Any thoughts on these three? Montero, Matthews, and Shane Boz again this weekend? I mean, that Boz

start is one where you feel like you got away with it, obviously. And I think anytime you start Shane Boz, you feel like you get away with it. But that's, in certain leagues, that's what you have to do this time of year. I mentioned it a little bit.

yesterday, but certainly setups, you've got daily lineup changes and you've got daily transactions. And if you have that combination, it's it kind of is just a race to the bottom at pitcher because everybody's going to pick up whoever they can every day and you just cross your fingers and hope

you can get away with one like you did with Oz here. Matthews, you know, at least gave you the strikeouts. But it's it's generally not what our analysis is geared toward because it's kind of a lack of analysis. I think this pitcher is good. Then yes, this pitcher is starting and there's a chance he'll give you some innings.

Yeah, I think it just comes down to, you know, whether you need to protect your ratios or whether you need to chase strikeouts and wins, I guess, but even then. Yeah. So it really just comes down to that. If protecting ratios is important, no, I would not start any of the. guys. I think all of them have the chance to wreck your ratios, because I don't think any of them are particularly good. If you need strikeouts and you don't

care about the, the IRA or whip, hey, Zabby Matthews just had a great star for you. You struck out nine. As long, assuming that you don't care about the nine ERA. Right. So in the, I don't know, one 40-ish

whip, no, 160 whip. Like, those are bad numbers, but if you don't care about them, then it was a great start. Yeah, and I think if you play in a head-to-head league, you'll know that by this weekend, whether you're just chasing strikeouts and wins or, you know, your ratios are still intact. And again, if they're not, then yeah, I could see Zebby Matthews racking up more strikeouts against the Rangers. Zebby up against the Rangers and Boz up against the Yankees. If the Yankees and Rangers are already locked into their playoff spots by Sunday, they could be rolling out like

skeleton lineups. And if they're doing that, it could be an even better outing for any of those pitcher. So just keep that in mind for this weekend. The sleeperometer for 2027. We mentioned a few names already. Bo Davidson and River Ryan up at the top. And here I have Eduardo Valencia of the Tigers. He has barely played, but whenever he has, he has made an impact. He went three for four with two doubles and a run scored in 37 games. He's hitting 354, six homers and OPS over a thousand. The stat cast numbers look pretty good. His numbers at AAA were good. he's played some catcher for his base D.H. I have no idea what the Tigers plan for him is for next season,

or if he's even in those plans at all. But I don't know, he's kind of an interesting offensive player. Where would Eduardo Valencia be on the sleeperometer for next season? I'll go with a three. I'll put him lower than like about Davidson, who I called a four earlier. And obviously it would have to be a two-catcher league. I wouldn't have any interest otherwise.

And it's, it would have to be a, scenario where they play him at DH a lot. Like, Dylan Dingler, say what you want about his bad second half. He's not losing the starting job. It's a great defender, and I think I'll bounce back nicely as a hitter. He was a pretty good hitter last year, too.

But Valencia has shown enough that I could see him being the kind of backup catcher who still plays 50 to 60% at the time. It kind of depends on what the tiger's off-season moves are. But I think that's possible for Valencia.

They also, I believe, have their top two prospects, or top two hitting prospects. Hoseu Porzano and Tyron Luanzo are both like first base slash catcher types. Yeah, it's so weird. Yeah, it's just a question of what Lorenzo got to AA, Brasenio got to AAA this season. It's just kind of what's their plan for those guys? guys, but I think Eduardo Valencia is a really interesting talent. I think if they can

move Torkelson for like anything, they could look into doing that. Yeah, I think in a 24, in a two-catcher situation, especially a 15 team league, but even 12 team leagues, I think it'll be in the conversation for being drafted. But we'll need

a little more clarity on what they plan to do at DH and first base for next season first. Again, that was Eduardo Valenzhenius. What about Johandi Morales of the Nationals? He's another one. He's barely playing, but when he does, he's typically made an impact. He had a pinch hit home run off the bench here against a lefty. And in 13 games, he's 11 for 36 with three home runs, nine runs, 8 RBI, 973 OPS.

He has zero walks. He has 11 strikeouts. That is a 31% K rate. But he is also hitting the ball really, really hard. So the Nationals have a glut of these kind of first base DH-only type players. so we kind of need that to clear up. But a small sample, I'm a little intrigued here. Where do you guys think, Johandi Morales could be on the sleep barometer?

I'm going to say what I said, entering 2025, I think, when everybody liked Luis Garcia as a breakout and thought he's going to start playing more. He was so good last year. They're going to, they're going to try. And it's like, well, if they weren't going to do it then when they had nothing to play for, Why is next year going to be any different? Like, the nationals have been playing for nothing for most of the second half, and they're still throwing guys out in platoons.

Why is that going to change in 2027? It might, but they've got three, I think, pretty legit-ish, first base slash DH types, who are kind of all only first base slash DH types. I think Morales did play a little third base. base in the minors, right? Yeah. But, like, between him and Abimelech Ortiz and Andres Chappar, like, they're all kind of the same guy.

And I just don't, if they weren't willing to give Morales consistent playing time against Ritees this year, I just have a hard time seeing why that's going to be different next year. Even though I think he's a moderately interesting player, it's just, I don't think he needs to be on, like, a 12-team radar for 2027, unfortunately. And that's what's always so difficult about this profile. We talk about it a lot. The right-handed hitting corner man who doesn't have crazy good on base skills. Like, there's just so many like that.

And so many established first baseman in the league. So the fact that Morales isn't getting playing time on one of the few teams without an established first baseman, I'm going to put it at like 2.5. I'll have some interest in NL only, but it's about it. All right, next up we have Drew Gilbert, who went three for four with his 11th home run, and he had himself a good August before coming back down in September. 3.41 on base, four homers, 18 runs, 15 RBI, 802 OPS in August. But again, those numbers came down in September.

I think the Giants need to kind of rethink and retool a lot this offseason. I don't know if Drew Gilbert is part of those plans. Is he part of either of your plans in deeper leagues? Sleeperometer, Drew Gilbert. No. I'm inclined to say zero here. Yeah, zero. I think that's fair.

What about Emmanuel Rodriguez who hit his second home run? He was one for his last 20 before that home run. And he's 194, two homers, 68 OPS, 35% K rate early on. He is hitting the ball very hard in a very small sample size. But this was a top prospect. We'll see if he could stay healthy. Can he make it to next season healthy? That will be, I think, a big test for the offseason.

But where do you think Emmanuel Rodriguez would be on the sleep? Perometer. Eight? I think he's going to be cheap enough that I don't care about injuries. It's going to be like Chase DeLotter where it's just going to be a late-round pick. So did anybody regret taking a late-round pick on Chase DeLotter even though he's had the injuries this season? Also on that Tout Wars team. Yeah.

He's had a great season. And I think Emmanuel Rodriguez is that kind of talent. I think he's a really talented player. Different, very, very different skill set, to be certain. but I think he's someone that in any league next year, especially even points leagues. I know they're shallower, so it's harder to make the fit and justify the price,

but his skill set should be great for a points league. And so I think he's going to be a very good sleeper candidate for next season. Are you personally going to be, do you think he's going to be one of your guys, Manuel Rodriguez or I know it's too early to say I think both him and Walker Jenkins will be on my

sleepers list for sure next season Yeah I think the numbers will be bad enough for both Unless they just go off the rest of this week Where they'll kind of be out of sight Out of mind for next year I want to go a little lower I'll say I'll say six and a half For Manuel Rodriguez like I

Like definite upside I just don't think he's going to be Somebody I'm touting especially hard For yourself All right, Trey Savage did not last very long in his return at the Orioles, but he looked all right. Two innings, one hit, one run, three strikeouts. He had six whiffs on 40 pitches. That was a 15% swinging strike rate, but still has that massive induced vertical break

on his fastball, way over the top delivery. And looking at his season, like, yes, the walks are very high, but still racked up a ton of swinging strikes. The Stuff Plus and the location plus is still right in line with where it was last year. I think we just kind of give you Savage a mulligan. for an injury-riddled season, I personally am going to be very excited about him. I would put him at like a nine or a ten.

What about you guys, Traye Savage, on the sleeperometer? Yeah, I think at least an eight. It's one of those where, like, just pulling his name out of the blue, I have no idea where he's going to go next year. I was thinking about that, too. I have no clue.

I would guess a top 50 starting pitcher? Personally, I don't feel... Like, he's got to go later than he did this year. I mean, this year he had some injury, I think that actually... It was a shoulder earlier on and then it was a meniscus injury to his knee. Yeah, the meniscus late.

But his ADP I probably didn't end up being that high because of the shoulder issue he was dealing with in spring training. But initially, I think we were talking about as like a top 30, 36. I think he was right there with McLean and Schlittler. I think top 40, top 36 in that range, yeah.

So I... And I don't think, let's say it was the knee he suffered early on and he didn't pitch again the rest of the season. Would we feel better about him in that case than what we actually got,

which was, you know, a decent number of starts, but they were kind of short and overwhelming. I think the skill level is still as high as I thought it was in the first place for you savage. But I think just by virtue of his season playing out

the way it did, people aren't going to be that interested, and I guess that's why you're including him on this list. Yeah. So it's going to depend the actual number how late he actually goes. I'm guessing he'll still be top 60, so I'm going to say eight. I'm a little worried about it. I think the, I'm not sure how great this stuff is, and I have worries about how sustainable the profile is.

And then he has the shoulder injury at the top. beginning of the season, which I think was in part an innings limitation thing. Remember, they were talking we had to limit his workload early on anyway, and then he had the shoulder thing. So I think there was some overlap there. But I don't love that he rushed back from the torn meniscus here because it's been the reporting on the meniscii injuries lately has been very frustrating. Not just in baseball, there's this Brock Bowers thing that's happening where he had a meniscus surgery, and they're like, he could be back in seven days. And it's like, I don't think that's how that works. But in Shea Langalear's case, it was originally reported that he was going

to have the meniscus repair. Subsequent reporting cleared up that he had the meniscus tripped. I am assuming that's the same that's happened for Tramia Savage, because the timetable, six weeks back from a meniscus repair, just doesn't happen. So it was probably a meniskepti, which is trimming off the damaged area, which does. does have a quicker return to time, play timetable, but does potentially carry some long-term ramifications because you just have less of that tissue. And so I'm concerned about that. I'm concerned about how sustainable his style of pitching is. I think he's talented, but I don't think Trey Savage is going to be at the top of like any sleepers lists I have for next year.

It would have to be, I agree, probably still top 60 is where he'll go. I think I'd need it to be more like top 75 for me to feel comfortable making that play. It has been reported in multiple places as being repaired. I don't know. That's the same as same with Langaleers. And then it was later, like when he made his debut, it was, or his return, it was like it was a trim.

But just from what I understand, and maybe there's some kind of nanoneal thing that has changed this timetable. But my understanding has always been, you get the meniscus removed Duane Wade did that in college Ron Artaest did that at the end of his career you can be back in like a week

you get it trimmed you can be back in about six weeks you get it repaired that's more like a four to six month injury or recovery so maybe something's different maybe there's you know maybe the nanoneedle is there

but from my understanding this was probably a trim and that is just a less sustainable approach. And that's why you don't see it as often. So when meniscus injuries happen, it's usually that longer time table. All right, I don't want to read off all,

everything that he did today, but I'll just throw the name out there. Chris, I know you used to like him a lot. DJ Hers made his Nationals return. Can you see him being a sleeper for next season? Very deep sleeper. Yeah, I mean, when I do like a daily, a deep sleepers for every team thing,

maybe he'll be, I don't know, you know, if he'll be the Nationals option, but I could see it, but this wasn't particularly impressive, I didn't think. Velocity was down quite a bit. So, yeah, I don't know. We'll see, but I'm not even sure he's in the rotation next season. I don't think that's guaranteed at all, so we have to be very deep. Let's wrap up with the feud, fantasy feud for all the marbles.

Scott versus Chris, our final showdown of the year. Are you gentlemen ready? Let's do it Yeah Alright Welcome back to the feud And here we go We have three

Questions Categories that are on the slate for tonight And up first According to the Fancraft's Player Rader Eight players Eight players Have been worth at least $33 In the second half of the season

Chris you're up Pete Crow Armstrong That is the number one answer Would you like to pass or play There are eight players on the board Seven left So I have to get all seven

You have to get all seven Or hope that you don't And Scott gets his steal wrong Yeah if you don't get all seven Then I have a chance to steal with one But you only have to get one You only have to get one I mean, I just think from a game theory perspective,

it always makes sense to pass, so I'm going to pass. All right. Scott, you're up. There are seven more players. The seven best players in the second half of the season. Hitters and pitchers. Yes. Roto slash category leagues.

Well, I just have no context for what a $35 pitcher and a half season even looks like. Okay. Oh, hmm. Well, I guess let's start off with Kim Schlitler. Cam Schittler is correct He is the number seven answer on the board He has been worth $33.4 In the second half of the season

I think these are all really obvious I'm kind of regretting Oh I don't know that you should regret it Well if Scott gets three wrong You're ready to steal Wait Chris doesn't have to steal yet Does he? I'd still have to get one right

Yeah he would have to get one right Yeah yeah yeah So get those answers ready Chris just in case Yeah now get them ready There we go, Scott. Second half. Who's killing it in the second half, man? I'm not feeling confident.

Oh, why am I so bad at this? Well, I can think of his players who've been bad in the second half. I don't have that answer on the rundown. I'm sorry. Yeah. So we're talking five more, right? Oh, okay, here's one. Fernando Tatis.

Fernando Tatis, that is the number two answer on the board. $49.2 in the second half of the C-Sys. there are now five players left. Okay. Would there be another pitcher? I'm just, Jacob Mizzerowski. Jacob Mizzerowski is incorrect. That is your first wrong answer.

Okay. Ooh, he's been hot, hasn't he? Or has he? I'm going to say, I'm going to say Bryce Harper. Bryce Harper is incorrect. Jacob Mizirowski, 24th overall in the second half of the season. Bryce Harper, 79th. I feel really confident about four names.

Still left. But hopefully Scott doesn't get those four because I can't come up with. I can't think of anybody. All right, Scott. Because I know, like, I'm thinking of first rounders and it's like, no, they've all been terrible. Three answers that are on the board so far and there are five left. One strike left. I don't know how he's done in the second half.

I know he stayed high all season. I can't think of anybody in the second half, dude. You need to hate this game. You've got to be honest. Jackson Merrill. Jackson Merrill is the number three answer on the board. Okay, that was the one I couldn't get to. The top three answers, PCA, Tatis, and Merrill.

The other one Scott has is Cam Schler. He was the number seven answer. There are four left. I don't think there are any other pitchers. I don't think. Okay. He has not had a good second half. I'm going to say,

there's got to be anybody on that team. There's got to be a time limit. Yeah, we have a time limit. Pete Alonzo. Pete Alonzo is incorrect. It doesn't include Monday's action, unfortunately. Okay, okay. Yeah.

Was that one of your guesses? Oh, yeah, that was the one I was going to go with. P. Alonzo, 8. 18th. That was before tonight. So after tonight, he might actually be in the top top eight, but that is not included. All right, three strikes for Scott. Chris, we need an answer from you. Well, now I'm shaking. Because I was very confident that Pete Alonzo was the right answer. I'm still pretty confident that Alex Bregman is on this list.

Alex Bregman, the man who took the ball off the face for the steel is correct. Okay, hold on. Ellie De La Cruz? Elie de la Cruz, number four. I need two more. Bregman was number six, Shletler was number seven. So we're looking for number five and eight. Rafael Devers? No.

Okay. Ellie de la Cruz. You already said him. You already said him. Okay. Devers is 14th, by the way. So very close. I'm sure he was before the injury.

He's missed like, what, five days now? That's probably, you know. I give you a clue. The last two names are both pitchers. Oh, oh. Lizardo? Because I was going to say Junior Caminero. Yamamoto?

Nope. It is Cade Cavali and Logan Henderson. Kate Cavali has like 10 straight quality stars, dude. Yeah, Logan Henderson's actually a little more surprising. Yeah, so those are the top eight in the second half. PCA, Tatis, Merrill, Ellie, Cavali, Breggman, Schlittler, Logan Henderson. Okay, yeah, wouldn't have thought that. that Logan Henderson had the volume, and I guess, I guess so.

Yeah, he does. All right, here we go. That's the end of the sentence. Eight different starting pitchers have at least 19 quality starts this season. Chris. Chris was first. Cade Cavali. Cade Cavali is incorrect.

How? Do you have like 26 starts with three or fewer runs? Oh, that's ridiculous. Gemsglaugler. Cam Schlittler is I'm an idiot Correct Scott would you like to pass or play

Cam Schiller has 20 quality starts by the way Get that out Is that the number one answer or no No there are three that have 21 Okay I'm passing All right Chris we need Seven other pitchers with at least 19 quality starts This season

But now I do want to look up the Cade Caval Jacob Mizirowski Jacob Mizirowski is incorrect Yoshinova Yamamoto Yoshinobu Yamamoto That's got to be right Is correct

He is tied for the number one answer He has 21 quality starts Uh Jesus Lazzardo Jesus Lazzardo Is incorrect That is your second strike

Yeah There's more coming Scott get ready Oh I got an answer baby Uh-oh. So Mizzi Aroski has 18. He was off by 1. Lazaro has 17.

The guesses that I'm coming up with all have injury or innings. Atsie, baby. But. Nolan McLean. Nolan McLean to stay alive. It's incorrect. It's correct. 19 quality starts for Nolan McLean.

I need five more? Just made the cut. You need one, two, three, four, five more. Yeah, I do. Sounds like a thing that I would need Um Am I overthinking it Christopher Sanchez Are you overthinking it? I don't know

Christopher Sanchez is correct He is tied for the number one answer 21 quality starts this Okay I'm not sure how many bad It felt like he had more bad starts than that Um Okay Let's go with Parker Messick

Parker Messick To stay alive For Chris Is incorrect Okay. Parker Messick, he is not in the top 30. He has 14 quality starts. Scott, we need one pitcher with 19 or more quality starts to stay alive.

Oh, I got a couple answers that I think are pretty good, but that doesn't mean they're correct. Which makes more sense. I am going to... Michael Waka Michael Waka For the Steel I'm going to be so mad if that's correct Is correct

Scott is alive Michael Waka has 20 quality starts this year Okay Chris Sale has 19 Sandy Alcantra Sandy tied for the number one answer 21 quality starts Okay we need one more

Sunny Gray Sunny Gray that's a list So the names with 19 or more. Sandy, Christopher Sanchez, Yamamoto, Michael Waka, Cam Schlittler, Chris Sails, Sunny Gray, and Dole MacLean. Wanted to just give a shout out to Michael Waka, who over the last five years, 138 starts has a 343 ERA and a 116 whip. I mean, he has been one of the most profitable pitchers over the past five.

You are just, you are volume this year has been insane, though. Printing dollar bills every time you draft Michael Waka. Over the last five years, Michael Waka has a better ERA than Logan Gilbert, Hunter Brown, Jesus Lazzardo, Carlos Rodan, and Freddie Peralta, a better whip than Christopher Sanchez, Franbervaldez, Dylan Sees, and Hunter Brown. But this is only the second 180-inning season of his career, and I think just the third 160-enning season of his career. So like durability has been an issue, but not this year.

I would be honest. I don't know if I've looked up quality start leaderboards all season. It is kind of a walkie one there. All right, here we go. For the win. Nine hitters. are averaging at least 3.5 fantasy points per game. Scott. What's the minimum playing time here? Wait, well, hold on. What's the minimum playing time here?

You just have to be on the list on CBS. It's among their utility hitters. So I think it's only qualified hitters. Looking at the list now, it's only qualified hitters. But yes, what was your answer, Scott? Necrow Armstrong is the number one answer. Four point one answer, four point one fantasy points per game. Passer plan. How many did you say? Nine. It's way too many. I'm going to pass. All right, Chris. This is real Winston Bishop, like, trying to do pranks and being like, I'm going to hit you with a ski.

Like, nine. I got to get nine. Just think of the best hitters, man. You got this. Yeah. No. Who are the best hitters in fantasy this year? Is there like in a bat minimum?

That's what I'm wondering. They are all qualified hitters. Hit qualified hitters. Okay. They're all qualified hitters. qualified hitters who have been good? The best. Hitters who have been good this year?

In points leagues, the very best. Okay, if you say so, Junior Camerro. Junior Camerero is incorrect. That is your first try. Unbelievable. Um, uh, uh, Kyle Schwerber. Kyle Swarber. I keep going with like bad.

Is incorrect. Of course it is. Kyle Swarber, 3.2 fantasy. points for game. Caminero 3.4. Ugh. All right. Scott, get ready.

Yeah, it's coming to you real quick, bud. I mean, Chris, just the eight best hitters in fantasy. You would think. Well, no, because Trudea Kaminaro's been a top, like, a points league. You got one of those.

Who plays in those? No, not him. Pete Alonzo. Pete Alonzo. No, sorry. He's incorrect. Of course it is. You're going to be so mad, Chris.

I know. You're going to be so mad. This is maybe the worst of anyone's ever had. The fantasy feud to end all fantasy feuds with your pet player of this year, Jordan Alvarez. Oh, my God. Roderan Alberts. Is correct.

3.8 fantasy points per game. I do remember about 10 minutes ago, Scott's saying he doesn't really like fantasy feud anymore. I love fantasy. I hate fantasy feud. Okay, no, you know what trip me up? I just... I won't blow the buzzins and passed?

No, the first name I thought of was O'Neill Cruz because we said he was at like 3.56 or something last week. And I just could not get that out of my buzzins and... brain. And then every other player I thought I was like, oh, Aaron Judge, James Wood, Juan Soto, and it's like, I just kept thinking about guys who got hurt. All of those

names would have been fine, Chris. James Wood is on the list. You said qualifiers. Yeah. Aaron Judge does not qualify? No, no, no, Judge is not on the list. Well, that's one of the names I said. You said all the names. No, James Wood and Soto. O'No Cruz does not qualify. I don't know what this leaderboard is. I wasn't sure if Soto qualified. I had him.

He does. So here are the top nine. It's PCA at 4.1. James Wood at 3.8. Yordaun Alvarez at 3.8. Juan Soto at 3.6. We're playing. That game's played under protest.

Juan Soto does not qualify for the batting title. I did not think he did. Otani at 3.5. Miguel Vargas at 3.5. Jackson Trio at 3.5. CJ Abrams at 3.5. And L.A.C. LaCruz at 3.5. All right.

If you say so. I'm just reading numbers off of a list. I guess Juan Soto qualifies now. I don't know. I don't know. Take it up with that CBS website. I don't know. I've never heard of those guys.

Some hitting leftovers here. Pete Alonzo, by the way, did get to 40 home runs. Two for four with a double dong, three RBI for him, having a big second half. Not big enough, apparently. But 19 home runs, 948 OPS in the second half. Gunner Henderson finished a double short of the cycle. He hit his 24th home run.

Has been better as of late last 20 games. He's hitting 293, four homers, and OPS around 900. And Spencer Torkelson hit his 25th homer. He's having a huge September, but too little too late, unfortunately, for Spencer Torkelson. The call to the bullpen for the Orioles, Rico Garcia, got the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He struck out two. He picked up his 10th save, and he has four of the past five saves for the Orioles. If you were playing a daily lineup league and you're desperate for saves the rest of the way,

Rico Garcia kind of looks like the guy for the Orioles right now and then for the Giants Trent Harris got the ninth inning with a three-run lead he picked up his second save and he's been pretty good in a small sample

I kind of think the Giants are just going to see what Trent Harris could do this final week as they're closing No say the line Frank come on the Giants do not have a closer and they never will ever again

I can't believe I miss your honor Alvarez but if you're in a deeper league and you need saves Trent Harris is an option. It's idiot. The pressure to come up with an answer without delaying the show. Well, yeah, I was at the Liberty game tonight,

and they do this thing where they do like musical, like pop trivia karaoke, where they give you like a word and you have to sing a song that has that word in it in five seconds. And it's like, I listen to a lot of music. I know a lot of songs. There's a lot of important information, family member names, birthdays that I don't have in my brain because I know all the lyrics to like flagpole sit up by Harvey Danger

but like in that context five side I got nothing I can't come up with anything ever when I watch this segment and it's the same thing here except I usually win so I can't even have that as my it's far as I just blanked I was quick on that buzzer this time yeah because the thing is when you're on the

when you're on the hot seat when you're the one like you're carrying the show. And you got to get eight out of 11 or eight out of 10. So like you don't have to get them. I'm not a beat. I'm not a student. But like you can't you can't just be truly up in your own mind going through all the information up there because you have to be thinking about what am I saying to keep the show

from not being dead air, you know? That was rough. I apologize to the audience. I know we, you expect better of me. I expect better of me, and we just got to come back tomorrow better. Maybe they don't expect better if you, Chris. Oh, yeah, I don't think anybody does. I've spent a long time setting expectations low.

To stream or not to stream on Tuesday, we have Max Scherzer and Chris Bassett who are facing off against each other. Jackson, Kent, at the Tigers, Drew Anderson, home against the Nationals. Andre Palante is at the Pirates, Dustin May is at the Phillies. J.R. Richie, home against the Reds. Anthony Kay at the Royals. Daniel Lynch, home against the whites. Jansen Junk at the Cubs Sean Mania at the Rangers

Usiakuchi at the Athletics Christian Javier at the Mariners and Anthony Molina home against the twins Let's see We talked yesterday about Andre Palante And Javier Well Christian Javier is the best one

Yeah at Seattle And I think I might I think I might prefer Anthony Molina to Palante too No it's risky but They're all risky aren't they? I think so.

Javier's the one I trust. I don't really trust the rest of them. I would say Javier, Palante, and Molina in that order. If you're feeling bold, if you're feeling brave, I think one or both of Scherzer against Bassett could have good starts,

but it's very risky. On Wednesday, Matthew Liberatora is at the Pirates, Andrew Abbott at the Braves, Eric Fetty at the Royals, Seth Lugo, home against the White Sox, Ryan Gusto at the Cubs. Connor Prelip is at the Giant Ian Pecco is at the Mariners and Cody Bradford home against the Mets.

Still lots of TBDs, even as of now for Wednesday. So it's not great. It's all TBDs from your own. Yeah. Yeah. I think pre-lip at the Giants. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, there's been some kind of like Ewing theory stuff going on with the Giants where like they only have two guys who are on their opening day roster still on the active roster today. And yet they have made us look pretty dumb for picking them in streaming a couple of times. But you got to keep bashing your head against that wall. Yeah. I don't think there's any other pitcher I could recommend on Wednesday. No, I'm not really, no.

Like, maybe Ethan Pecco could have a good start at the Mariners, but it wouldn't be me. Let's wrap up with Team Name Tuesday. This is from Christopher in Milwaukee. He is all about the Jacks. all about the Jackson's. Yeah, sure. This is Benjamin's are so 1997. And Haim's Story, Ms. Jackson.

I feel like we're missing. This could have been better. What do we have? Heim story, Ms. Jackson, woo. Yeah. I mean, if you're going to go for it, go for it, you know? Yeah. I like it.

I like it. These are from Steve. He says, I've had some good team names over the years, Linny the Pooh for Lance Lynn, especially when he wasn't good was a good one, but I like this year's gem, Gems,

can't Homer Simpson. Oh, that's pretty clever. Yeah, for Chandler Simpson. And also have the Ayatollies. I don't get that one. Me neither. But I'm sure.

Probably shouldn't include it then, Frank. I mean, I will always pause a little bit so that you guys can read them in advance in your head. So I guess read the next two in your head and let me know if there's anything I shouldn't say here. Please let's fine. Okay. This one's from Marco,

dry your sheets. Yep. And from Paul, Montgomery Ward Holiday Sale. I don't get it. I don't get that one. Like, it sounds like something. Montgomery Ward Holiday Sale. Like, that sounds like something. Yeah. Yeah, it's like a catalog.

It's like an online, like a, like a, yeah. Yeah. You remember, like, when you'd go on a plane in the 90s, they just have, like, the air mall. I think this seems like an air mall type situation. Yeah. But, yeah, I get what it's going for, but, like, you can't just attach to random names in front. Like, it's got to be referring to something more specific. Yeah, no, Montgomery Ward is a, is the thing. That is the brain.

Yeah. That's like the air mall. Yeah. Okay. And that person really wanted four names in there just to mess with Scott. Yeah. I mean, look. Like, you buy a shredder here?

None of those names is a stretch. If that is the name of the catalog, Montgomery Ward. No, it's pretty good. All right? Holiday means holiday and sale means sale. Like, there's no stretch there. A little foldable Bluetooth keyboard. Very nice.

And darn it, we did it again. Three game slate. Here we are. An hour of 20 minutes. We are going to wrap there for Scott Chris. I am Frank. Thanks as always for tuning in to fantasy baseball today. Please make sure to follow and leave a five-star rating on Apple or Spotify. And we will be back again tomorrow.

Bye-bye. Mount Podcasts.