Fantasy Baseball Today - Emmet Sheehan Flashes, Ranking Grayson Rodriguez & More! (9/28 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: September 28, 2023

There it is, Ronald Acuña created the 40-70 club (2:33)! ... Emmet Sheehan continues to flash his upside (4:00). ... Francisco Lindor goes 30-30 (9:37)! ... Gerrit Cole put an exclamation point on his AL Cy Young (13:20). ... Has Grayson Rodriguez transcended the glob (17:23)? ... What do we do with Shane Bieber next year (27:16)? ... Edouard Julien and Evan Carter continue to flash (36:25). ... News (42:55): Corey Seager was back in the lineup. ... Andrew Abbott has had a rough end to the season (49:10). ... We wrap up with leftovers, bullpen updates and streamers (51:26). Fantasy Baseball Today is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Get awesome Fantasy Baseball Today merch here: http://bit.ly/3y8dUqi Follow FBT on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbtpod?_t=8WyMkPdKOJ1&_r=1 Follow our FBT team on Twitter: @FBTPod, @CTowersCBS, @CBSScottWhite, @Roto_Frank Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fantasybaseballtoday Sign up for the FBT Newsletter at https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters/fantasy-baseball-today/ For more fantasy baseball coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/FantasyBaseballToday You can listen to Fantasy Baseball Today on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast from CBS Sports. Got a fantasy question? Email Fantasy Baseball at CBSI.com. Get ready to win your league. Well, fantasy becomes reality. Now here's Frank, Scott, and Chris. It's Ronald de Cunia's world, and we're just living in it. Welcome in to Fantasy Baseball today on Thursday, September 28th.

I am Frank Stanfield, joined by Scott White. No Chris Walsh today, but he will be a little bit. on tomorrow, our final in-season podcast of the year. Today on the show, Emmett Sheehan was awesome in Corse Field. Grayson Rodriguez continues to impress

more young hitters doing some fun things and much more. With that, let's jump in. All right, Scott, before we even get into like our players of the night, can we just acknowledge that it has been done? History has been made. The 40-70 club is a real thing.

There you go. Ronald Membership of one. The first player ever. And it was an awesome scene too. He pulls the base out of the ground. He's like waving it above his head and stuff. Rightfully so, man. Do whatever you want with that base because, man, just a truly historic season here.

You know, some people said he should be the first pick in drafts this year. I was not one of them. Yeah, I think originally it was like Chris was on an island. And then he kind of talked me into it and I joined him. And I didn't, like, I was thinking back to that, like, wasn't the argument basically, well, imagine if everything goes right? Which I just did not find a particularly compelling or convincing argument. Okay, well, imagine if everything goes right with Judge. It's 75 home runs.

Like, you know, oh, well, everything did go right for a conya, so. Yeah, I think the one year further removed from the ACL and, you know, seeing his upside in the past, not to say that, judge doesn't also have amazing upside. We just saw it last year. But I just think from a power speed perspective, like the guy was unparalleled coming into the year. And he showed us exactly that. 40 home run, 70 steals.

Shout out to him. Scott, you get the first dibs here on the breadstick, the player of the night. Yeah. So I'm going Emmett Sheehan, who is the breadstick. And this was the best version of Emmett Sheehan we've seen so far. Here, against the Rockies. In-course field, Emmett Sheehan.

Sorry, I've got... I'm in the wrong place in my notes here. Okay, Emmett Sheehan, six innings, two earned runs, 10 strikeouts to zero walks. 20 swinging strikes on 84 pitches, including five on his fastball, eight on his slider, seven on his change-up.

So yes, this is the best we've seen of Image Sheehan, but it's it's continued a trend for him. It's the best we've seen from him, mostly because he made it a full six innings this time. But now in his last three outings, Emmett Shee Hand, 198 ERA, a .73 whip, and 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings. And what those three outings also have in common is that distribution of whiffs between the fastball is the slider and the changeup. all of them doing their part to rack up swings and misses for this guy who had ridiculous numbers in the minors this year. And I don't know.

Remember when he first got called up, he wasn't getting many whiffs at all. And it was like, okay, it's just a total fake out what's going on. But he's come around here at the end of the year, has Emmett Sheehan. And now this is three pitchers for the Dodgers in the span of two days. Because remember they had a doubleheader Tuesday. Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepeyo, and now Emmett Sheehan,

delivering masterful outings at Corse Field, no less. And I think I'm going to call them the Glob Stoppers. I think they're hopefully the everlasting glob stoppers. I don't know. At least right now, they're at least at present the Glob Stoppers

because that trio, again, Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepio and Emmett Sheehan are showing considerable upside here at the end of the season. Upside that we saw in the minors. Actually, we saw Bobby Miller's performance in the minors was hit or miss, but he was the most hyped prospect of the three. So it's not like it came out of left field for these guys. We knew they had upside, but they're showing such extreme upside here at the end of the season for a team that has major pitching concerns moving forward,

because who knows what happens to Clayton, after this year. You know, Julio Arias has his issues. And, you know, there's not a lot of certainties in the Dodgers rotation for 2024. But these three guys had it looked like they've made their case and they've made it very loudly. And much like I said about Ryan Pepio and Bobby Miller yesterday, I think the only

place they can go in the postseason is up. Because if they struggle in the playoff, you could say, all right, well, they're rookies, it's their first time out there. I don't think that's going to affect their draft stock whatsoever. But if they go out and they perform really well with all the eyes on them, then I think that actually could. And that'll be a lasting memory. And people will have that to hold on to going into next year.

So not that I'm rooting against the Dodgers, it's nothing against them. But yeah, I think there's a chance that if these guys pitch well in the playoffs, we could see even more helium heading into next year. One name we haven't mentioned in a while, but obviously he should be back to, in the mix. They'll have Walker Bueller back next year coming off Tommy John surgery. Kershaw, we know he's kind of going year to year with his, you know, deciding if he's going to pitch again or retire, whatever it might be. But man, between Bueller and these three guys, they look like they might be set up for quite some time here. A few other notes on Emmett Sheehan.

You mentioned the swinging strike rate as of late. And just wanted to point out what he's done exactly. Fifteen plus swinging strikes in four of five outings. since returning. I mean, that is elite level stuff. And he has two secondary pitches with a whiff rate over 40% in that slider and the change up. And he gets whiffs on his fastball, too. 20% whiff rate on a four-scene fastball.

That's really good. So I think Sheehan has, you know, all the makings here. Coming into the season, Scott, I think most people probably would have said Gavin Stone was the pitcher that they expected to kind of make this big jump for the Dodgers. And oddly enough, he's looking. the worst of their pitching prospects. But how much credit is that to the Dodgers farm system, their player development program, which of course we've known all along.

They have all the resources to put into their major league club. And then on top of it, they have this player development factory where they just never seem to lose ground in farm system rankings because they're so good at finding these players in developing them. And, you know, I know he was my favorite prospect in the Dodger system, Gavin Stone, coming into the year. And yet they came up with these three others. To be fair, Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepeyo were both in my top 100 prospects still.

But Pepeo was very low in the top 100. And Emmett Sheehan was just kind of a name I knew, but not somebody I had particularly high hopes for. And there's more to come. I mean, it never stops with the Dodgers. No, no, it does not. So shout out to Emmett Sheehan. He's been awesome recently. Player of the night for me, not much actionable here.

We spoke about him the other day as being inside the top two rounds for next season. That is Francisco Lindor, who had a huge day in their doubleheader against the Marlins. He went four for seven across both games, three homers, six RBI, and he joined the 30-30 club. You know, hard to talk about it as if it's impressive. 30-30. when we're talking about Ronald de Cunia going 40-70. But it really is impressive. It's just the fourth player in Mets franchise history to reach that goal.

And we know the batting average isn't going to be great for Francisco Lendor. He's going to hit anywhere from, you know, probably 240 to 260. I think that's a reasonable range for him. But 30 homers, 104 runs, 96 RBI, 30 steals. So a legit four category contributor outside of that batting average. And, you know, even from a points league perspective, he makes a good amount of contact. He doesn't walk all that much, but the dude is rock solid and deserves to be drafted as a second round pick again next year. Yeah, I would say so.

And I would say so. Good analysis. There's not much else to say, you know, Scott and I are talking beforehand and just a little back and forth. What are we going to talk about today, right? There's, what, four days left in the season. we have two podcasts left. Well, I mean, part of my process in putting, you know, of course you put down a whole rundown with very thorough notes,

but I have kind of my shorthand notes that I'm always referring to. Just, you know, things. I never know what's going to come up. You know, there's not really like a chance for me to review the rundown before the show starts because you're putting it together right up to the very last minute. So I have to prepare in such a way that I'm prepared to talk about anything you throw. at me. And so, you know, I try to come up with interesting talking points for things I think you're going to ask me. And it's just like, what is there interesting to say about any player?

It's basically just all looking forward. The most interesting thing you could do right now is look forward to next year, which is probably fine. I mean, that's probably the right thing to do. But it feels like it feels like there should be something more. I don't know why. Yeah, with Lindor I was reluctant You know, we talked the other day I had my top two rounds for next year And I was reluctant to put them in round two initially

Because I just, you know, I didn't really want to bump Vladimir Guerrero from round two It was just there were too many second round caliber bats To put in round two And I didn't really want Lindor in it Because I know the upside with the batting average is limited And I don't know I just felt like they were higher ceiling players overall

That you can put there But we finally talked me into It was just, okay, so he's had this 30-30 season now. And there are only so many players that can deliver that much power and that much speed. There's a lot more speed out there than there used to be. But to get them both in one pick, I think is still worthwhile. Particularly when you're talking about round two, we're not even, you don't even have to invest your round one pick in this guy.

And so I think that's why it's worth doing. Yeah, imagine starting a draft next year. You get Julio Rodriguez as a top three pick. And then in the second round, you get Francisco Lindor. I mean, you're essentially locking up 60 home runs and maybe 70 stolen bases between those two guys. And counting stats should be really good for those two as well. So shout out to Lindor. He's had a great season.

I guess we could stick with the New York theme here, Scott. And just quickly shine a spotlight once again on Garrett Cole, who put an exclamation mark on his American League, Cy Young, likely to win it. His second shutout of the season, fifth of his career. He only allowed two hits in this one, zero walks, five strikeouts, only nine swinging strikes on 105 pitches. And two starts in a row now where the velocity has been down, but frankly, it hasn't mattered.

He's been amazing in both of those starts. Now down to a 263 ERA on the year, a 0.98 whip. We've set it all season. Garikol's doing it differently this year. He's not getting as many whiffs as he has before. But it really hasn't mattered. I mean, obviously we would love those gaudy strikeout numbers, but he's still giving you over a strikeout printing,

amazing ratios. And if this is the new version of Garrick-Cole where he kind of trades off maybe overthrowing a little bit and trying to rack up these strikeouts while limiting home runs, I think everyone is perfectly fine with that. Yeah, I think so as well. And I'm trying to do it,

because it certainly feels like, you know, part of what's made pitching, starting pitching so frustrating this year is, you know, even independently from the glob, even the pitchers who we think of as being above the glob, they're just not as reliable for strikeouts anymore. You know, there are a lot more, okay, so Garrett Cole's only a, less than 10K per 9 when we're used to seeing it more like 11K per 9, you know.

So I'm looking it up now. Among qualifiers, there's just as, many pitchers this year who were 10k per 9 or better than his last year. So maybe it's not as different as it feels. I don't know. I'll have to dig into that more in the offseason because, yeah, and there's way more, there's way more qualifiers that are more than a strikeout per inning this year, 22. Last year it was only 14.

So I don't know. Maybe that's, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree with that one. I'll have to look into it more. But the bottom line is, I mean, yeah, even only 9.8K per 9, Garrett Cole's been awesome. Yeah, he's now up to 209 innings on the season, 22 strikeouts. So I would say at this point, the most reliable, true workhorse ace in the game. Obviously, Spencer Strider, I think, is kind of in his own category of stud starting pitcher.

But yeah, fantastic season here for Garrett Cole. Last, I guess, big name here to highlight up top. I am going to have nightmares, Scott, about benching L.A. Dela Cruz this week. Another big game on Wednesday. One for three with a walk and two steals. He had two homers yesterday, two stolen bases today. He's up to 13 homers, 35 steals. Yes, the batting averages down.

He's only got a 709 OPS. But at this point in the year, we need all the help we can get. So I hope no one else bench L.A. De LaCruz like I did, because obviously I am regretting it massively right now. I'll have regrets. Oh, we sure do. Have you heard the one about Reese Olson, Frank? No, why don't you remind us?

Before we move on, just a reminder what our schedule is going to be starting next week. Obviously, the season is wrapping up over this weekend. We're not going to have a normal weekend recap on Sunday. What we're normally going to do is in the offseason two podcasts per week from basically October through December, and then we'll start to ramp up a little bit more after that. But you can expect us here. We're still going to do live streams Monday and Wednesday evenings. You'll have a podcast in your feed Tuesday and Thursday morning.

So be on the lookout for that and continue to stick with us. You know, if you want to, if you want baseball content still, we'll be talking about early rankings and the Arizona Fall League with the Welsh sheet. Texts me today, he's going to every single game next week of the Arizona Fall League. So he's going to have some eyes out there live on the prize, watching some prospects, and we'll get some breakdowns from him as well. Let's talk about Grayson Rodriguez, Scott, who we've talked about a lot in the second half, and rightfully so, another solid start. Every time he has a start like this guy, I just hear you in the back of my mind saying, but he hasn't had that massive breakout start yet.

But he's still been really good. Five and two-thirds innings, one run aloud, five strikeouts to zero walks, updated numbers in 13 starts since returning to the Orioles. A 258 ERA, a 110 whip, and right around a three. strikeout per inning. Some people were asking me on Twitter, has Grayson Rodriguez transcended the glob? I think the answer to that is yes. Now I'm starting to think just

how high can he get in pitcher rankings for next year? I know there's a lot to sort through, but my initial reaction is he's inside the top 30, right? Like he's top 25? Probably, but does that that still would have him in the glob,

I would think. I think he's ahead of the glob. I think he's that. I want to say he has. I mean, 25080 area 110 whip 8.6K for 9, as he said, and 13 starts since returning. And I don't have this updated fit during that stretch, but it looks like it's below three as well. So that's encouraging for having, you know, kind of a so-so strikeout rate. The fact that the fit during that stretch is also below three is a good sign. I've referenced this before, but I really want to try to get back to the basics when I'm ranking and evaluating pitchers for next season.

And the most basic data point is the strikeout rate. And I think it's always been the most important thing for a pitcher. But I think even more so in this environment where BABPs are back up. You know, the fewer balls you allow in play, the better off. But beyond that, it's the most predictable stat. It's in a categories league, it's a stat you're not going to lose ground in,

the way ERA, the way a pitcher's ERA was, for so many good pitchers, they were fluctuating wildly up and down from one start to the next. The strikeouts are just going to continue to accumulate. So it's a good stat for both projecting how good a pitcher will be, going forward like it will influence his ERA in an indirect way, but then it also is the most appealing

stat from a direct standpoint because of the way it accumulates. So the fact that that's how Grayson Rodriguez has fallen short since returning, less than a strikeout per inning, gives me some small hesitation because if it continues into next year, if he remains 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings next year, I think he's going to be just a susceptible as anyone, is as the rest, just as susceptible to anyone in the glob to those wildly fluctuating starts that are so frustrating. And that's what I'm trying to avoid more than anything. And because if you do fall into that pattern of, okay, two earn runs here, zero earn runs here, one earn run here, eight earn runs, you know, like, and you're not getting,

like a great strikeout total with it, then you feel very globby. You seem very gloppy, and that's basically the definition of a globy pitcher. So could he get better with strikeouts? Yes, I think he could. Obviously, great strikeout guy in the miners. He has a nice full arsenal. Does Grayson Rodriguez, even during this 13-star stretch as he returned, a swinging strike rate is about 13%, which suggests, okay, if you're getting that many swings and misses,

you probably should have more than 8.6K per 9. But the bottom line is he doesn't. And it's been a long enough stretch. There's not even like a random 11 strikeout effort in there to give us hope. It's been a lot of like six, seven strikeout performances. So it's, I think it's been more like five and six strikeout performances, actually. I don't know. It's going to be a tough one, Grayson Rodriguez, because my heart wants to say, yes, he's transcended the glob.

The upside is so high and he's been reliable. enough down the stretch that we should think of him as a true standout, top of the rotation kind of guy in fantasy next year. But my process, if I'm going to be disciplined with it, which I'm trying to be, says no, don't do that because the strikeouts haven't been there. One point you made there that I was going to say as well to push back is the swinging strike rate. It's 13.2% if he qualified, that number would be would rank, would be tied for eighth. among starting pitchers with Zach Wheeler,

who we look at as, you know, one of the aces in baseball as well. And I think something else that helps Grace Rodriguez, a few things is that when he's not getting whiffs, he gets a lot of ground balls during this stretch. It's like a 52% ground ball rate. So that's been awesome. And the fact that he pitches in a great home ballpark now, right?

In Camden, too. So I think all those factors, and I kind of trust Baltimore now. Like the way that they've developed some of these pitchers, Kyle Braddish coming out and having an amazing season as well, We've seen really great years all around from their starting pitchers. I trust them, man. And I don't want them as my SP1 next year,

but if I can get them as my SP2 and I don't know, what is it like round six through eight, I think maybe something like that as a top 25 starting pitcher, I'm in. I'm in. I mean, in a way it's splitting hairs because like he's either going to be one of the lowest rank non-glob pitchers.

We need a shorter version for that. I don't know exactly what to call them, but the pitchers who transcend the glob. He's going to be either one of the lowest ranked of them for me next year or one of the highest ranked within the glob. So it's just like if I'm going to treat the glob the way I say I'm going to treat the glob where I'm not going to, I'm not going to be very particular about who I target from that group.

You know, there will be appropriate times in the draft where it's like there's nobody worth drafting here hitter-wise. So I guess I'll take a pitcher. Who's the most attractive pitcher? within the glob right now, okay, it's whoever it is. And I've said I'm going to target guys who I think have the most upside

who I think have the most strikeout potential. If I'm going to approach that large lump of pitchers that way, then I... That's why I think it's important to distinguish, okay, Grayson Rodriguez, is he part of that large lump or is he better than that? Because if I'm saying he's a part of the lump, a part of the lump,

over and over again. If I'm saying he's a part of the glob, then I'm probably not going to draft him much because he's going to go earlier than I can justify taking anyone in the glob, if that makes sense. All right. Fair enough.

I don't know. I think we're going to have some fun conversations about Chris and Rodriguez. He's a really difficult case. Yeah. But my heart wants to ignore, to ignore it and just say, he's good, but I'm, I don't know.

It's definitely something I'm going to have to dig into more in the off season. Yeah, don't listen to your heart, Scott. He's Grayson Rodriguez. He's awesome. Let's take our... That's what my heart is saying. Yeah, that... So you do want me to listen to my heart.

No, no, no, don't listen to your heart. So that you can draft him? Maybe. I guess we'll find out. Let's take our first break. When we return, what about Shane Bieber? What do we do with that guy next year? I had no idea.

We'll discuss right after this. Welcome back. in let's talk about Shane Bieber who turned in a great start his second outing back from the IL six innings one run seven strikeouts to zero walks he had 10 swinging strikes on 82 pitches and then you dig a little bit deeper and what do you find 11 hard hits in this game a 95.6 average exit velocity against which is a lot of what we've seen from Shane Bieber this season he's got a 380 ERA he's got a 123 whip the K-minus walk rate is among the worst of his career, giving up lots of hard contact.

His ex-ERA entering Wednesday was 4.91. That is very bad. His swinging strike rate is also a career low at 10.4%. My initial read Scott is, I want nothing to do with Shane Bieber next year. But if everybody feels that way, then you might be able to get him at a severe discount. I just have no idea. You know, that was kind of my case for Jack Flaherty this year. I mean, obviously things haven't gone as bad for Bieber this year.

He still managed to have respectable enough ERA, respectable enough numbers across the board, unlike maybe what Flaherty had been prior to this year. But, yeah, I mean, he feels like the epitom, me of a glob pitcher right now. And so I'm not saying there isn't a scenario where I draft him next year, but it's not going to be not going to invest a lot of draft capital in him, that's for sure. He's clearly going to rank behind Grayson Rodriguez.

1,000%. Yeah. My thinking is, Scott, what if he's drafted as, I don't know, the 45th starting pitcher off the board at pick 175? Is that enough of a discount? I don't know. I don't think so for me. Okay.

I think he does not strike me as an upside pitcher anymore. So if that, if it is, if Pick 175 is an appropriate point in that particular draft, it's like there's no hitters I want here, I'll just take my favorite starting pitcher from the glob. I think at that point in the draft, I'll find someone who's upside I like more than Bieber's, frankly. I think he's just a boring inning's either at this stage of his career. Now, could he bounce back? It's possible, but, you know, he managed to thrive with reduced velocities, and it's not like he lost any velocity from last year.

He thrived with reduced velocities last year, but that's because his slider and curveball were so good at getting whiffs, both over 40% rate. But he mixed in, he started emphasizing a cutter over them this year that seemed like it was oriented more for contact. And so I think that needs to do. change. I think his pitch mix would need to change, but also the slider and the curveball weren't as effective at getting whiffs anymore. So I don't know what's going to take to reverse that. It's not

something I can confidently predict for Beaver. It's within the realm of possibility. He's, you know, how old is he? 28. He's not an old guy. It just feels like he is. So, yeah, it's not somebody, not somebody I'll probably have much of next year. And we also have this lingering ar arm injury in the back of our minds too. I'm just trying to connect the dots now on the fly, and I'm thinking maybe he reduced his usage of the curveball and the slider this season because he knows that it affects his arm, right? I feel like that's a pretty reasonable explanation, and as a result, those whiffs are way down.

All right, so let's really put this to the test. Let's see the rubber, when the rubber meets the road here. Okay, we know he's behind Grayson Rodriguez. is. But we talked about that trio of Dodgers. I already knew you were going there. I already knew it. I'm Pepio, Bobby Miller, Emmett Sheehan.

And what, let's throw Reese Olson in there as well, because we talked about, who else did we talk about as an upside pitcher yesterday? Michael King. Michael King, sure. Yeah, and Pepio is the other one. Are you drafting those guys, all five of them before Shane Bieber? Are there any, do you draft after Bieber? Do you draft all of them after Bieber?

Oof, that's a great question. And just to be perfectly... Sorry, go ahead. I was going to say, just to be perfectly clear, I was just kind of playing devil's advocate. I don't think I want anything to do with Shane Bieber next year. My initial read is, I think I would want all those pitchers ahead of Shane Bieber.

Even Reese Olson. I feel like he's my least favorite. I don't know. Rees Olson and Michihan. Yeah, I think I like Reesolson the least of them. Yeah. I mean, if we're ranking him behind all, five of those guys, he's probably not even in the top 60, 50.

Yeah, no, it's a good question. It's a good talking point right now. I just wonder, again, like, I have no idea where those pitchers are going to rank, but. I know. I feel so lost when it comes to ranking, starting. It's always a difficult position to rank just because there are so many, you know, you go so deep at the position that. It's not just 15 to 20 names that are important.

It's like 80 names that are important. So you really have to, what's the word? I don't know. Split hairs isn't the word I was looking for, but you really have to split hairs to sort out number 35 from number 38 from number 48. But I feel like it's worse than ever this year because of that glob that's really like 60 players deep. and I just don't care that much about the order but I have to care because I have to maintain rankings

so like I have to have drafts I don't I can confidently say Shane Bieber will be behind Bobby Miller and Michael King as long as the Yankees plan for Michael King entering next year seems to be okay 100% starting pitcher

Pepio is probably my third favorite of that group right now I'm lean in Pepe over Bieber. And so I think the most questionable are Sheehan and Olson for me. And we'll see if I can justify Bieber ahead of them or not.

And maybe I'm just a prisoner of the moment right now because those guys are young and they're flashing this upside and they're getting all these swinging strikes. So it's easy to kind of talk yourself into it and yeah, let's be excited about the next big thing and everyone's next sleeper or breakout pick, right? But the industry is really smart right now.

and everyone knows the same things, right? Like, we all see these young pitchers that are kind of flashing this upside towards the end of the year. People aren't going to forget that. Like, I'm pretty sure all of these names we're talking about are going to be drafted adequately. They're not going to fall through the cracks, right?

So. Well, you know, one of the arguments I've been making over the past few weeks here is that I feel like, I feel like I've underperformed my own expectations, my history. in Roto Leagues, really beginning in 2021.

So three seasons now of underperforming in Roto leagues, specifically. Head-to-head leagues, I've done fine. And one reason I think that's been the case is because I've been trying to outsmart the industry on those upside pitchers. Okay, well, you think this big, exciting batmissor is so great,

but what if he gets shut down after 120 innings, then you'll be really screwed. And so, you know, just kind of trying to figure out what inefficiencies lie within the consensus reasoning so that I can buy more time for myself to draft hitters instead and kind of fill in the gaps with the pitchers who I think everybody else is overlooking. But I think I've only outsparted myself by doing that.

And so in the past few years, I think elevating Bieber over those younger guys would have been something I did because, okay, we don't know what role the Dodgers are going to use Pepio in next year. And yeah, could work club be an issue maybe? And, you know, Bieber, he was still pretty good. And there's a chance he could bounce back. I'm making myself sound like an idiot. But I kind of have to tell myself, Scott, you're an idiot.

Because look at the results. You've got to do something different. And I think that's been my biggest shortcoming. So I'm trying to correct that. All right. Well, let's talk about some hitters because I feel like all we've talked about is pitching so far. Yesterday we spoke about some rookie hitters, some young hitters that are emerging

and finishing out the season strong. and I've got some more of those players here to talk about from Wednesday. Edward Julian, two for four, with his 15th home run. And he's been, he's at a very solid rookie season batting 262, a 380 on base percentage. 15 home runs, 58 runs scored an 832 OPS. An interesting player in that he walks so much. He also strikes out a lot. A 32% strikeout rate.

He's also been horrendous against left-handed pitching. Maybe that's something he can approve upon. over the next couple of years. Who knows? Maybe he just turns into a strict platoon player for the entirety of his career. I think it's probably too early to say something like that.

But he's an interesting player's guy. It's like he doesn't really excel in like a roto categories league, but maybe the strikeouts kind of limit him in a points league too. So I just don't know where Edward Julian fits. Maybe he's just a better real life player than he is for fantasy.

I don't know. Well, I think it's too early to say. I mean, for it being his rookie season. He's had a very good rookie season. Sure. And so I don't want to put a limit on what Edward Julian could be because there's a chance he could improve his shortcomings. A lot of it depends on what the twins are willing to try, like how much are they willing

to try him against lefties next year. He's never going to get better against them if he doesn't get to play against them. And it's normal for left-handed batters to struggle against left-handed pitchers really throughout their career, but especially early in their career. The second base is deep enough and has enough high upside choices that I don't think, I don't think Edward Julian is going to be more than a late rounder next year, even in leagues that have that third middle infield spot to fill. But I do think, I do think the upside is enough that, you know, he's worth targeting in that range.

She's worth, you know, a deep middle infield option that I liked heading into this year was what, Michael Massey? Well, Edward Julian seems like he's proven himself way more than Michael Massey had going into this season. So I think he belongs in the conversation as an upside second baseman, but there are enough that you don't have to invest heavily in him. All right, two young outfielders finishing strong here, and I kind of want to take some of the blame, Scott, for convincing you to move Evan Carter ahead of James Outman for your sleeper hitters this week. But hey, they both had good games here on Wednesday.

Evan Carter, one for three with a walk and his fifth home run. He has played 19 games with the Rangers. He is batting 320 with those five home runs, three steals, and 1146 OPS. He's been amazing so far. James Outman, he's enjoying himself some cool. his field. He went three for four with his 23rd home run. And, you know, he had that amazing April, really bad May and June. But Outman has bounced back big time in the second half. Two 72 batting

average, 12 homers, six deals, an 878 OPS, tons of walks, a 16% walk rate. 29% tricouts, that's high. But I think when you walk as much as he does, like 29% is probably okay. But he's had a really big second half here, Scott. Any thoughts? I guess lasting thoughts for next season, James Outman and Evan Carter. Well, I like Carter more. I think there's a lot more upside there, and he's had a really strong showing as a rookie down the stretch this year. He'll be a rookie of the year favorite. I'm not saying the rookie of the year favorite, but he'll be a rookie of the year favorite entering next year. And James Outman, I mean, he's on the verge of a 25 Homer 15 steel season that certainly has value he's played a lot more against left-handers than i thought he would

the strikeout rate is so bad that i don't see a lot of room for improvement from outman he's already 26 too so he's not uh for being a rookie he's not especially young but the dodgers seem to value him enough to play him every day and he's productive enough that as like a fourth outfielder type i think he's I think he can I think he can live up to that at least yeah that's it outman by the way you don't deserve blame for me moving Evan Carter ahead of outman that was that's what my gut was feeling as well and I kept outman in there it's not like he wasn't one of my sleeper hitters anymore so I think I still get credit yeah and we still got a ton of baseball left Scott four days. Maybe Evan Carter,

homers each game, each game from here on out and makes us eat our words, but he's been awesome. Last name here, a player we have not talked about and does not come with big prospect pedigree, but he's having a huge September, and I feel like we haven't talked

about him at all. Jared Triolo, he plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went two for three with two walks and his sixth stolen base, and in September he is batting 372 with three homers, three steals, and 11.05 OPS. And you look at his career in the minors.

Good batting average, 284 OPS is okay, 809 OPS, two seasons with 24 or more stolen bases. You know, 15 home runs was his career high any season in the minors. He's 25 years old, so I don't know if there's anything here.

This might just be an NL only play for next year. I don't even know if he's going to have a job with the pirates, but he's having a really big September and he's a name we haven't talked about. Yeah. He seems like a guy is destined to be a utility infielder. And I don't think it's going to translate to much in terms of fantasy value. I don't know, just looking at the minor league numbers and looking, you know, he's 25.

Jared Triolo kind of at first glance reminds me of Tommy Lestella, who did randomly have a good power year and that made him a must-star fantasy player. but it was an aberration, and I wouldn't bet on Trio Lo doing that same thing. All right, let's hit some news and notes before we get to our final break. Corey Seeger was back in the Rangers lineup after being hit by a pitch on his forearm Tuesday. Good news there. Aranola will not pitch again during the regular season

and is expected to start game two of the NL Wildcard round next Wednesday. Max Scher through a light bullpen session on Wednesday, and it seems aggressive following that strain muscle in his shoulder, but he seems determined to return at some point in the postseason. We shall see, assuming that the Rangers make it. They look pretty good right now. They're kind of in control of their own destiny. Randy Rosarano was back in the race lineup Wednesday

after missing a few games with right quad tightness. Royce Lewis played in a simulated game Wednesday. He was placed on the IL last week with a mild left hamstring strain. and of course the twins are hoping to get Royce Lewis back for their postseason run. Yendi Diaz has missed two straight with right hamstring tightness. Luis Arise missed both games of the doubleheader Wednesday with a left ankle sprain. J. Mercandallario was reinstated in the Cubs lineup and he was batting seventh against the Braves. Rough couple days here for the Cubs too, by the way.

My gosh. I mean, Sayas Suzuki missing the fly ball on Tuesday night. then two different comebacks here from the Braves on Wednesday night. They're relentless. And, man, no love loss for those Chicago Cubs. Huh, Scottie? Nope. Yeah.

No, no. You play to win the game. I wonder how Danesby Swanson has felt the last two days. I saw Ronald de Cunia. There was a photo of him picking up the base and holding it over his head. And in the background, there's just Danesby Swanson. And I'm thinking, oh, gosh, that's. It must be kind of rough to be part of that scene, I guess.

He's a pro, it'll be fine. Yeah, I don't. He's making millions of dollars. I have no hard feelings toward Dance B. Swanson whatsoever. And you shouldn't. Ryan Malkassel was activated from the IL but was not in the Orioles lineup against the Nationals. Aaron Savali is scheduled to start Friday against the Blue Jays. He needed a couple extra days of rest after dealing with an illness.

Stalling Marte has been shut down for the remainder of the season with that. groin injury. The soon to be 35 year old hit just 248 with five homers and 24 steals this season following dual groin surgery last offseason. And I don't know how much Starly Marte has left in the tank. So I'm not, I'm thinking not much. Yeah. No, it's not that's that's maybe I'll draft him in an NL only league next year if I need some cheap steals. But beyond that, I want no part of Chas McCormick was out of the lineup Michael Brantley was back in the Astros lineup Lordes Gurell was scratched with tightness in his left shoulder

but could return as early as Thursday. Kyle Harrison, who was scratched from Tuesday's start with an illness, will start one of the Giants games this weekend against the Dodgers. Zach Davies was designated for assignment by the debacks. Gabriel Arias was placed in the aisle with a fractured right wrist. Brian Rokio was recalled by the Guardians.

Here's a name you haven't heard. heard in a while, Reese Hoskins took batting practice and ran the bases on Tuesday. The team has not ruled out Hoskins from returning for the World Series, if they make it that far. Who knows? But Reese Hoskins tore his ACL back in spring training. So that is dreaming big. Sure is. And in case you're wondering what happened to Terrick Scoobel, why his start was so shortened here on Wednesday, the Royals and Tigers game was suspended due to rain, which is unfortunate because Terrick scuba was pitching another gem for shutout innings, eight strikeouts. He had 14 swinging strikes on 52 pitches. That is a 27% swinging strike rate. He has definitely transcended the

glob and will be ranked ahead of both Bieber and Grayson Rodriguez next year. Ahead of Cole Reagan's got? Let's see how Reagan's next. Stark goes. Interesting. Well, you know what? I had them both among my 20 bold predictions for next year. One bold prediction was that Terrick Scoobal wins the AL-Sai Young. Another bold prediction was that Cole Riggins leads the AL and strikeouts.

So do you prefer Spencer Strider, strikeout leader? Or do you prefer Blake? Snell. I think Terrick Scoople's better than Blake Snail actually. So I don't know. I don't think Reagan's is as good as Strider and I don't think Snell is as good as

Scooples. So that's, you know, I don't think that's the fairest analogy that I just drew up there. All right, fair enough. Let's take our final break when we return. We will talk about the rough end to the season for Andrew Abbott and I've got some other leftovers. We'll do that right after this.

Welcome back in. Let's discuss Andrew Abbott, a rough end to the season for him where initially he got called up, kind of took the league by storm, looked like a great pickup, and then really kind of faltered here down the stretch. He was at the Guardians, he went two and a third innings, gave up eight hits, three earned runs, and he went six plus innings in eight of his first ten outings. Since then, he has completed six innings once in 11 tries for Andrew Abbott. The final result here, a 387 ERA and a 132 whip, which is still a successful rookie season. But over those final 11 starts, 642 ERA, a 178 whip.

And it just feels like he wore down, Scott. The innings really kind of added up here at the end. 163 and a third innings for Andrew Abbott. Last year he threw 118. So that's a pretty massive jump. And I think it's a reasonable explanation for some of the struggles, maybe not all of them. Yeah, that's fair. I mean, I kind of take some pride, I guess, in the fact that all of us, really, the entire podcast, we maintained that Andrew Abbott wasn't this good and that he would drop off eventually.

And we kind of look dumb there for a while, but I don't think we abandoned that stance. And sure enough, it happened. So good for us. Having said that, I don't think the 642 ERA, the 178 whip in his last 11 starts, is reflective of who Andrew Abbott is either. So, you know, maybe where his final numbers ended up, a 370. Actually, these aren't the most updated numbers. What are the most updated numbers for Andrew Abbott?

Final season numbers. He has a 387 ERA, and the whip, I guess, would be, close to one three. Maybe that's more reflective of who he actually is, with still a good strikeout rate. I don't know. I guess that's how, at first glance, that's how I want to value Idra Abbott for next year. All right, do any of these pitching performances matter from Wednesday? Brandon Fott turned in one of his better starts at the White Sox, five and two-thirds, shutout innings with eight strikeouts, which tied a season high. He had 14 swinging strikes on 87 pitches. Joey Lucasey turned in a quality start and has actually been solid for the Mets,

six innings, two runs, three strikeouts, two 89 ERA, but a 131 whip. So, okay, seems like he's kind of overachieved there on the ERA. And Darius Vines has made two starts for the Braves. Both of them have been quality starts. Six innings, three runs, two of those earned with five strikeouts and 11 swinging strikes. We spoke about Vines when he first got called up. an interesting pitcher. He only averages 90 miles per hour on his fastball, but it seems like he legitimately has four solid pitches that he can go to and that he can command.

They seem like pretty good pitches too. So any thoughts here, I guess moving forward on Darius Vines, Joey Lucchasey and Brennan Fatt. Yeah, I mean, I don't think Vines has particularly high upside. I think he has a lot of pitchability.

Maybe he could turn into like a Taiwan Walker type for the brave. We'll see what kind of role he has in the postseason. They're kind of limping into the playoffs on the pitching side. And so Vines could have a role there, maybe raise, maybe elevate his stock. As far as Brandt Fott goes, he took advantage of a good matchup. But, man, I am going to struggle to even put him in the glob next year. I think he's a sub-glob pitcher.

I think he's looking at the globs backside. I just don't have a lot of enthusiasm for him based on how his rookie season went. Yeah, lots of hard contact, lots of home runs allowed for Brandon Fott. His sweeper is awesome. 171 batting average against a 34% whiff rate. It's everything else.

I think each of his other pitches has a batting average against over 300. So those pitches are getting clobbered. I think Brandon Fott has to get in the last. and figure out better sequencing and location, but at least he has that sweeper, so maybe he can kind of build off that for next year. Three other names, do any of these performances matter? Dane Dunning has had a really interesting season.

This was his sixth quality start of at least seven innings. He's had some truly dominant performances this year. He was at the Angels. He threw seven shutout, seven strikeouts with 14 swinging strikes in this one. Griffin Canning had a quality. start against the Rangers, six innings, two runs, five strikeouts with 15 swinging strikes. He actually gets a lot of whiffs, and it's a pretty good K-minus walk rate for Griffin Canning.

He just gives up a lot of home runs. And Sean Maniah, old friend, turned in back-to-back impressive quality starts, and he was up against the Padres in a revenge game. Six innings, two runs, eight strikeouts with 19 swinging strikes, 13 of those coming on the fastball. Do any of these matters? Scott. Man, I

found Dane Dunning to be so frustrating this year because it seemed like as soon as you started to establish some trust, he started to establish some trust and you're like, okay, let's put him in our lineup. He would just bottom out.

And I don't think he was somebody we talked about as a start much heading into this final week. And he delivers another gem. Like, it just felt like we were always chasing the most recent outcomes with him. And then, you know, like Lucy with the football, having it pulled away. And, you know, I look at the underlying numbers. They're pretty bad.

His ERA estimators are all in the mid-fours. The overall strikeout rate, 7.2K per 9. I mean, on paper, he doesn't look like anything special. It'll be hard for me to say he's in the glob going into next year. year, although he has performed like a globy pitcher this year. I think of these three, Griffin Canning has the most upside, but he has durability issues, and he, I would guess he's underperformed.

His expected stats pretty consistently. ERA this year is 432. Yeah, his X-FIP is 381, so. It's not great, but it's, yeah, he's underperformed it. you know, his best DRA in four major league seasons is 399. So it's been a consistent issue with him. And it's not, I think not a, I wouldn't say it's a winning bet on him, you know, turning the corner at age 28 next year, even though he does have a lot of swing and miss potential. All right.

The rest of the leftovers will start with two starting pitchers, Tyler Glass now, bounce back with a solid start at the Red Sox. Five shutout innings with nine strikeouts and 12 swinging strikes in that one. And Kodi Senga wraps up a great rookie season. Who you going to call? Kodai Senga. Up against the Marlins, five innings, two runs, eight strikeouts, 17 swinging strikes on 96 pitches here.

His first non-quality start since August 2nd. So he's been so, so reliable. He's the rookie of the year runner Yeah, he's the rookie of the year runner up Corbyn Carol's the winner Kodai sang a rookie of the year runner up He will definitely transcend the glob in my rankings next year

I don't Understand the Ghostbusters Song for him still Because, you know, okay, he has the ghost fork But doesn't that make him the ghost? I mean, I ain't afraid to know ghost Isn't that what the opposition is saying when they face Kodi Senga?

He lights them up. Anyway, he's the ghost. I don't know. He is slimer chasing Peter Vankman through the halls of that hotel and sliming him. All right.

Well, you can make the sound drops next season, Scott. It's fine. Some hitting leftovers. Lots of names here on the list. Feel free to jump in anywhere if you want. Pete Alonzo in game one of their double header went 4 for 4 with his 46th home run of the season.

Josh Lowe, 3 for 3 with his 20th homer. We're now up to 18 players that have gone 20-20 this season, which I haven't looked it up, but I would venture to say that's more, a lot more than years past. So Josh Lowe is in that group, and he's had a great season. Adly Rutchman, 2 for 4 with his 20th home run, and he's batting 276 with an 8-10 OPS on top of that. Bryce Harper, three for four with his 21st home run.

A massive second half here for Harper, batting 300, 18 of those 21 home runs, six deals, a thousand o eight OPS. So he looks like he's all the way back. Aaron Judge, two for three with a double dong, four RBI, both home runs over 12 miles per hour exit velocity. That is the seventh multi-home run game of the season for Aaron Judge. Max Kepler went four for four. he's also had a big second half. 304 batting average, 11 homers,

9-11 OPS, 93 mile per hour average exit velocity for Max Kepler here in the second half. Freddie Freeman went one for three with a sock and a shoe, his 28th home run and 23rd steel of the year. He's also two doubles away from 60,

so I'd like for Freddie Freeman to get that done. Let's do it. Two more doubles. I don't want to see him go 30-30. Let's make seven steals happen, buddy. That would be amazing. 30, 25, that would be pretty awesome. But that's more realistic. Two home runs and two steals over the next.

How many games do they have left? Five games? Four games? I think four. Maybe if all of their remaining games were in Coros Field, he might be able to pull that off. You can't pull it off. I'm sure he's hit two homers and stolen two bases in a four game span this year.

Could happen. Yeah, that sounds right. Adoles Garcia went two for five with his 38. 8th home run. He just missed two other home runs as well. He had five hard hits in this game. Three of those over 104 XIVAX velocity and Yordaun Alvarez one for three with his 31st home run of the year. He is at a 1,000 OPS on the nose.

What if Aaron Judge gets to 40 home runs? That means he would have done it in like just under 110 games which is crazy. He's the 37 now. There was a three homer game over the weekend, right? And then this two homer game, suddenly he's at 37. It's within shouting distance. All the hand-wringing over judge this year.

He may still get to 40 homers. Just so frustrating to think about, from a fan perspective, what could have been for the Yankees this season if the Dodgers didn't have that stupid concrete block on the bottom of their outfield wall, which basically knocked my guy Aaron Judge out for a large portion of the season. Call to the bullpen.

A few updates here for the D-backs. Paul Seawald struck out two for his 34th save. For the Guardians, a manual class A allowed a hit but picked up his league leading, 43rd save of the year. For the Phillies, both Craig Kimberle and Jose Alvarado

were unavailable. Gregory Soto struck out the side for his third save. For the Cubs, Mark Leiter Jr. Got the ninth inning with a one-run lead. gave up a solo homer to Marcelo Zuna. The Cubs then took the lead in the top of the 10th. And what happened? They gave up two more runs in the bottom of the 10th,

and they took the loss in that game. For the twins, Yohan Duran entered in the seventh inning with the game tied at the time, facing the top of the A's lineup. He struck out the side. Griffin Jacks eventually got the final out for his fourth save of the year. For the Marlins in game two of their double-header, Tanner Scott, we know, is on the paternity list,

so it was lefty Andrew Nardi, who struck out two for his third save, and for the Brewers. Devin Williams walked two but picked up his 36th save of the year. To stream or not to stream, we will start with Thursday, and it looks like we will go with

Sawyer Gibson Long against the Royals. Hopefully the weather holds up there. And there's no one else that I love. maybe David Peterson against the Marlins. Yeah, that's probably the second choice, but it's a distant second, and I'm not really feeling it. Nope, me neither.

How about on Friday? We have Cal Quantrell at the Tigers, Nick Pavetta at the Orioles, John Means Business, up against the Red Sox, Tyler McGill against the Phillies. Chase Silseth is making his return and facing the Oakland A's.

Okay. And lots of TBDs, but you can't choose those. Not loving this group either. I mean, Chase Silset against, Chase Silseth against Oakland. It's just, you know, coming off that absence. What was the injury again? I believe it was either a concussion or a, maybe a fracture in his skull. I know it was like a line drive.

No, it wasn't a line drive. It was his teammate threw the ball. across the diamond and hit him in the side of the head. Concussion, yeah. Yeah. You love the matchup

and we forget the kind of role Sil Seth was on. We were talking about him in the same breath as Cole Reagan's at the time of that injury. But I think it's just too

there's no telling how this is going to go first start back. So I think it's too risky. I think if you're looking for strikeouts, Nick Povetta, Baltimore is the way to go,

but you got to understand he might give up four or five earned runs. And if you're just looking for a quality start, Cal Quantrell at Detroit's probably the way to go. But I don't love either of those choices. They're just the best you're going to do as far as streamers go Friday. John Means up against the Red Sox. Come on, Scott. Not really.

I mean, it is at home. Yeah. Is this his first time pitching at home since he's returned? I think it might be. I think it's his second time, but the first time may have been his very first. start. If I'm remembering correctly, I can confirm.

That is how it's gone, yes. Yeah. So. I'm going with it. I'm saying yes. You like Means against Red Sox? Do you like it more than Quantrol at the Tigers? No, I'd probably put Quantrol at the top, but then I'd go John Mean. Yeah, that's fine.

And means will be my third choice too then. All right. We're going to wrap there for Scott. 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.