Fantasy Baseball Today - FBT Express - 5 Early Questions for 2026! What's Mason Miller's Role? (10/3 Fantasy Baseball podcast)

Starting point is 00:00:00 We've got five lingering questions for 2026. Up next on Fantasy Baseball Today Express. Welcome in to FBT Express on Friday, October 3rd. I am Frank Sample joined by Scott White. Let's take a look at five lingering questions for 2026. And up first, what are the Padres' intentions for Mason Miller going forward, Scott? This is a huge talking point. They gave up a top five prospect in all of baseball in Leo DeVries to get their.

Starting point is 00:00:30 their hands on Mason Miller. Some people suspect they might turn him back into a starting pitcher. What do you think? Yeah. I mean, I think in part it's a way to rationalize them giving up such a big prospect for a closer. But worth noting, Mason Miller might be the most talented reliever in the game. I think he showed it in his 22 appearances as a setup man for the Padre's. 0.77 ERA, 0.73 whips, 17.1.7.1.7.7.7.1.7.7.7.7.7.

Starting point is 00:01:00 24K per 9. I mean, that's, it's not just any reliever. And he has years of control left. So I don't think it's not something, it isn't something we're used to seeing a high-end prospect like that for a reliever, but I think if you're going to do it for any reliever, you can understand why they did it for Miller.

Starting point is 00:01:18 Is it unthinkable to me that they could try him as a starter? It's not unthinkable. That was originally the plan for him when the A's drafted him. It's just he couldn't stay healthy in that role and as hard as he throws the ball, that's not so surprising either. Robert Suarez has two optioneers left, but he's presumably going to opt out

Starting point is 00:01:38 so they could very easily, and maybe when they made the trade, were thinking that, okay, Mason Miller steps in his closer after that, but it's obviously not decided yet, and it's at least worth entertaining the possibility that they could try them as a starter. Which one do you prefer?

Starting point is 00:01:58 I mean, starters are more impactful in fans, than closers in theory, certainly in standard-sized leagues, that's true. But I don't trust Mason Miller to stay healthy in the role. And we know what we have in him as a closer, and it's fantastic. So I think I'd say closer, but I would be intrigued by him as a starter for sure, because there would still be plenty of upside in that role. Next up, we have A. E. E. E. E. Hennio Suarez. Does he simply need to get out of Seattle?

Starting point is 00:02:28 He is a pending free agent. this off season. Obviously, this is ahead of the Mariners postseason run, so we'll see what they do and how far as impacts that. But what do you think? Yeah, that's that's the question, right? Because so before going to the Mariners during his time with the Diamondbacks this season, he had 248 with an 897 OPS and a 27% strikeout rate after joining the Mariners 189, a 682 OPS, and a 36% strike. out rate. Yikes.

Starting point is 00:03:02 And Team Mobile Park is a place where it's one of those venues where a lot of hitters have trouble just seeing the ball, apart from the dimensions, it can give hitters difficulties, and Suarez can speak to this himself from his previous stint with the Mariners. But he's also 35. So was his downfall, 34, excuse me, was his downfall just a warning sign that he's getting older or was it all related to him joining the Mariners team open park? his 24 road games with the Mariners he hit 280 with a 921 OPS the strikeout rate was still inflated which is you know not what you want to see but he hit well and so I'm thinking probably

Starting point is 00:03:41 it's just an issue with T-Mobile part for him he's impending free agent presumably he'll sign elsewhere this offseason we should hope he does that's his best chance of remaining a fantasy stud all right let's take a quick break we'll be back right after this. Welcome back into FBT Express. Let's take a look at some other lingering questions for 2026. Up next, Scott, for your beloved Atlanta Braves. Is Spencer Strider still good in his current form? I don't know. So he had three horrible starts to begin August. In the nine before that, 291-ERA 11.6K per nine. So he was kind of looking basically fine. Uh, the six starts after that three start stretch, he had a 250 ERA.

Starting point is 00:04:33 The whip was high, the strikeout rate low. So it wasn't like he was totally fine. But, you know, a lot of the ERA inflation has to do with that really rough stretch. Moreover, 14% swinging strike rate on the year would have tied for seventh among qualifiers. So like, there's still abnormal bat missing ability here for strider, even though his fastball shape was clearly diminished coming from elbow surgery. He acknowledged as much and actually tried to address it in season by doing some work at a local pitching lab.

Starting point is 00:05:04 Didn't really take. Obviously, he still had his day job going on at the time. The slider still rates is great. He began mixing in a slow curveball late in the season and like I said, saw some improvement with that. So there are tweaks I think he could make to hopefully salvage things. But is there enough here if he doesn't make those tweaks?

Starting point is 00:05:26 I think it's a fair question. The thing that gives me the most hope is that nine-start stretch prior to the bumpy August and then decent, but still kind of iffy September. Like he had that stretch where he was doing well. And I think if he can fix his fastball shape, there's still plenty to work with here. Yeah, I have my doubts about Spencer Shreder,

Starting point is 00:05:51 but you point out a few things I think he needs to address and we need to pay attention to in spring training. A, is that fastball velocity up at all? Is the shape better? Is he getting whiffs on that fastball? If not, is he incorporating a third pitch that's dependable? A curveball, a change-up, maybe a cutter or something like that. I think that'll be a big question and a big name to pay attention to during spring training.

Starting point is 00:06:12 What happens to ESOC Paredes now that Carlos Correa is entrenched at third base for the Astros? We know that they have Christian Walker at first base. Presumably would have a healthy Yoron Alvarez at D.H. or maybe they just play Alvarez more in the outfield. What do you think happens with Esauk Paredes? Yeah, I haven't seen people raising this point. I mean, Carlos Correa, like, given that he was a good shortstop, I imagine they prefer his defense at third base to Paredes,

Starting point is 00:06:41 and he hit well after joining the Astros. But Paredes was great at Dyken Park, given that the short porch in right field is perfectly tailored to his swing. He was basically what the Astros lost and Alex Bregman is a hitter. He really was. And so he needs to be in the lineup somewhere.

Starting point is 00:07:03 In the distant past, he played second base. Presumably they don't want him at DH because Jordan Alvarez will have to take up that spot. So I don't know what the cleanest solution is. I mean, they still have Christian Walker under contract. He finished the year strong. So he's probably at first base. second base or maybe they try paredes and left field i don't know but they have to keep his bat in

Starting point is 00:07:24 the lineup somehow and um it's going to be it's going to be something to pay attention to because obviously we want paredes given how weak third base is looking we want him available as an everyday player last question here and pretty similar to the first one what are the dodgers intentions for roki sasaki moving forward full transparency we just watched the Dodgers wrap up their wildcard series against the Reds. With a four-run lead, Roki Sasaki pitched the ninth inning of that game. He averaged 100.6 miles per hour on his fastball. He threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts.

Starting point is 00:08:00 He's only made two appearances out of the bullpen so far, but Scott, he has looked electric in both of those. So he's still so young. I don't think, all right, he's just a reliever now, but there could be something to it. What do you think? Yeah, so, I mean, obviously he was one of the biggest bus. Fastball velocity was a sticking point coming over from Japan

Starting point is 00:08:22 because that pitch was a lot more effective at 98-99 than 95-96. He shows up as a starter is more in that 95-96 range, and it's not looking good. Missed some time with injury. They tried bringing him back as a starter who was struggling even the minors, move him to a relief roll. Suddenly he's hitting 99. It may just be that that's the role.

Starting point is 00:08:48 he's best suited for. Like he can't reach those velocities anymore in an extended role and he's not good enough if he's not reaching those velocities. So, you know, obviously they're using him in that role in the postseason. Does that mean they're giving up on him as a starter? Is it possible that whatever clicked for him with this move to relief, he can then carry over to his starter and start reaching those velocities he once peaked at in Japan is possible. but it seems the less likely scenario,

Starting point is 00:09:19 especially given how much starting pitching depth the Dodgers have. I kind of wonder if they're just going to roll with him as a reliever. Like this is the best way to maximize the investment we made and maybe even as a closer because it's not like Tanner Scott was really thriving in that role this year. And if you want to read about other lingering questions heading into next season, Scott has an article that is currently on the website, cbsports.com slash fantasy.

Starting point is 00:09:46 slash baseball. It's more of what you miss in September, but towards the bottom, you'll see some of these lingering questions as well. For more extensive fantasy baseball coverage, listen to our full-length podcast, Fantasy Baseball Today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else podcasts are found. Thanks for listening to Fantasy Baseball Today Express, and we will be back again next week. Bye-bye.

Fantasy Baseball Today - FBT Express - 5 Early Questions for 2026! What's Mason Miller's Role? (10/3 Fantasy Baseball podcast)

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