Fantasy Baseball Today - Hunter Brown vs. Jacob deGrom, Week 9 Sleepers & Two-Start Pitchers! (5/16 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

Hunter Brown has been the top starting pitcher in Fantasy this season (3:11)! ... Jacob deGrom went eight innings for the first time since April of 2021 (7:04). ... It was a big day for the Lowes (13:25). ... The Dodgers destroyed the A's (17:30). ... News (26:02): Spencer Strider is returning next week. ... AJ Smith-Shawver looks like a must-add pitcher (36:57). ... Jake Burger, Drake Baldwin and Addison Barger are making noise (42:07). ... It's time for a MID MAY POP QUIZ (46:19). ... Let's preview Week 9 with the schedule, two-start pitchers and sleeper hitters (56:47). ... We wrap up with bullpen updates and weekend streamers (1:07:02). Fantasy Baseball Today is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/FantasyBaseballToday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Download and Follow Fantasy Baseball Today on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sptfy.com/QiKv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CPTowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

Tokomo Friday and welcome in to Fantasy Baseball today on May 16th. I am Frank Sample, joined by Scott White. Today on the show, we had an awesome duel between Hunter Brown and Jacob de Grom. We will preview week nine, and Scott

I have a mid-May pop quiz for you. Ooh, is that supposed to be fun? I think so. I hope so. You laughed kind of menacingly there, So maybe it's not. Maybe you're trying to flunk me.

You're trying to make me repeat the third grade, aren't you, Frank? I couldn't do, Scott. He doesn't know too many weeks in a row. So, you know, I had to alter it a little bit, I guess. So now, so now you're, so now it's, it's, it's kind of, it's kind of the same thing, though, isn't it? We're just trying to prove how little I know. I don't know. Whatever.

It's multiple choice questions, though. Multiple choice questions. So we'll see. You should have a better chance. Yeah. We'll see. I'm sure it'll be fun. All right.

Let's jump in. Oh, my goodness gracious. Oh, my, Scott. So who do you want? Hunter Brown or Jacob de Grom? Well, Frank, I think that we have talked a lot about Hunter Green and how he needs to join the elite ranks at starting pitcher. Obviously, he ended up going on the IL.

But still, I think we've come to conclude that Hunter Green is now. one of the elite starting pitchers in fantasy. We've been slower to come around for Hunter Brown, and I think it's time, because after this start, he is actually the number one starting pitcher in fantasy, which is something Hunter Green hasn't been able to claim this year. And Hunter Brown, you know, he already had his strengths.

He was consensus top 30 starter drafted, at least, maybe even a little higher than that. And he was very solid last year, former top prospect, all of that. Everything's gotten better this year. Everything. He's at, so the actual start,

he pitched eight innings, gave up one run run on three hits, no walks, nine strikeouts, total gem. But that's all he's been doing. His ERA for the year now is 143. His whip is 0.83.

All the expected stats are great. all but one of his starts has gone six innings or more. So he's given you volume too. The K per 9.9 is up to 10.6. That's compared to 9.5 last season. The swinging strike rate is up a point in a half from last year. He was always a pretty good ground ball pitcher. He was always exceptional at getting weak contact.

It's gotten even better this year, 85 miles per hour on average. That's 97th percentile. just in every way Hunter Brown could improve he has. And at an early enough stage of his career, that it's not unexpected he'd make a leap like this. So I have him, even coming into this start, I had Hunter Brown 12th among starting pitchers rest of season. He's right behind Corbyn Burns,

who we all have our concerns about. Maybe I could get him up another spot. But even 12, we're talking about number one starter territory and fantasy. Yeah, I moved them up to 13, and that's ahead of Burns, just because I move Burns down a little bit. I have him at SP 15, but yeah, Hunter Brown is definitely deserving of being in that SP1 range. And I think some people would probably argue that he can be higher. I mean, there's, based on how he's pitched the number one starting pitcher in fantasy, like, there's an argument for him to be a top five, top eight starting pitch of rest of season. And if he continues to do this.

I'm looking at who I have ahead of him. So five is Rakeans. I wouldn't want to put him ahead of Reagan's, but I could see how someone would make that argument. The top four, I think, is pretty impregnable still at this point. I have crochet at six, so we do differ a little bit there. I think there have been, you know, velocity just kind of fluctuating and weird quotes from crochet and, you know, how will he hold up all season?

I just have some slight questions about him. So I do feel a little bit better about Reagan's. But, yeah, I mean, once you get outside that top, like three or four, it's a little bit open, right? like Chris Sale hasn't been exactly himself. He's been better recently, but, you know, hasn't been Sy Young Chris Sale yet, and just talked about crochet. Yamamoto has looked a little bit more vulnerable recently,

but obviously has had an amazing season as well. All these guys have been good, but Hunter Brown has been the best. We'll see if he can keep it up. What about on the other side? That's right, this was a pitcher's duel. It's time to do, do, do you. I like now that people are tweeting at me

when there's a pitcher's duel like, where like play the drop although we're on Twitter so I'll just send out a gift of you love it I love the drops like that Jacob de Grom eight shutout innings five hits one walk seven strikeouts 15 whiffs on 96 pitches 10 of those on the slider

five on the fastball and he out dueled Hunter Brown in this one actually wound up with the win first start of at least eight innings pitched since April of 2021 for de Grom he leaned on the slider more in this start he threw it over 50% of the time. That pitch was awesome. Obviously, had 10 of those 15 whiffs. Velocity up one mile per hour

in this one. So we don't want them to push it too far, but that seems, you know, within the range of outcomes and a normal start here for Jacob de Grom. And over his last six, he has a 149 ERA, a 0.85 whip, 40 strikeouts to five walks over 36 and a third innings. He has been really, really good. But he hasn't been Jacob de Grom, Scott. He hasn't been, you know, clearly the best pitcher on a per inning basis, I don't have him on any of my fantasy teams, but I would imagine that anyone who has him is willing to sacrifice him being all out,

the best pitcher in baseball by far, for being maybe the 12th best pitcher in baseball, and hopefully you get him for 150 innings. That feels like a pretty good tradeoff. It's a fine idea in theory. There's no way of knowing if it's actually going to turn out that way. We were talking before, obviously, me especially, I was raising the possibility of Jacob de Grom being a bust pretty emphatically this year.

But it's the sort of bust call where it's going to look wrong until all of a sudden it's right. Because it's like, it's not that I thought he was going to be bad. I thought he was going to be good. It's just a question of how long is he going to be good? And yeah, in theory, taking a little velocity off might help the arm to hold up. up better and he has lost something he has given up something you know he used to be like a 20% swing strike rate guy which is insane untouchable uh now he's like 14% which is still excellent you know so he has given up quite a bit but he had a lot he could give up and so i'd say it's gone

well so far i was noticing only three of his starts this year including this eight inning effort were six plus innings. So it's been a lot of short outings for Jacob de Grom. And yet he's managed to win four straight, even though the starts have been on the shorter side. And even though the Rangers' offense has been horrendous so far. So he's had some good win luck, I would say, some good win-loss luck that makes him feel even more valuable.

But he's pitched well. And he is pitching well. And as long as it continues, you're going to be happy with him. At some point might you consider selling him just so you can dump that worry onto somebody else? Yeah, and maybe this is a good time to explore it after clearly an ace caliber performance, eight shutout innings. But the ideas you're selling high if you do that. So like if you're going to dump the worry onto somebody else, you need to get a return that makes it inconsequential to you, whether or not DeGrom gets hurt. It may be he stays healthy the rest of the year miraculously.

Okay, you got something so good for him that whatever. You cashed them in already, no big deal. So you don't want to sell him short. But you might be able to pull off that kind of trade now as everybody gets kind of sanguine about the health risk since he hasn't gotten hurt yet. And you don't have to trade to Grama. It's like we talk about all these players sell high, obviously cashing in on the highest possible.

And I don't know, maybe this isn't the highest. the peak of his powers this season. Maybe he'll get even better from here. But obviously, we've talked about the risk ad nauseum for Jacob de Grom. So you've heard it all before. If you're someone who's risk averse, you probably, like, if you have Jacob de Grom, you probably really liked him and you want him and you probably don't want to trade him. So, but if you are risk averse, maybe, maybe you do look to cash him in the podcast league because nobody would take him for many rounds. That's true. I wound up with one of my biggest bus picks. It's gone well so far. I don't know. Somebody make me an

offer for Jacob de Gras. Make him an offer he can't refuse. Let's take our first break. Before we do that, just a reminder to download and follow our 10-minute podcast, FBT Express, Fantasy Baseball Today Express, wherever you listen to this podcast. And big thanks to those watching us live. Make sure to hit the like button and subscribe on YouTube if you haven't already. Let's take that break and we'll be back right after this. Welcome back in Fantasy Baseball today. And before we get to the news and notes, just want to highlight a few other big performances from Thursday. Very small. slate of action, but we did get some big games. Big day for the lows and the lows, all of them, like combined. Josh Lowe made his return leading off against a right-handed pitcher. He went

three for five with his first home run of the season. So back with a bang. 67% rostered, Scott. Do you think that number needs to be higher? Because I'm not entirely sure that Josh Lowe will play against lefties. Yeah, but there's a ton of upside here. And yeah, I think it needs to be I could see how in some three outfielder leagues, particularly points leagues where you're not as motivated by stolen bases and where the everyday bats are more critical. I could see how maybe in those shallower leagues, it just might not have space for him and that's fine. But there's certainly the upside for him to matter in those formats too. Five outfielder leagues, any leagues where stolen bases are of real consequence, I think. Absolutely, a pick of Josh Lowe.

And, you know, there's a lot more, there's the potential for a lot more here than just stolen bases. It's just that that's probably the most reliable part of his skill set. Looked good on the rehab assignment. Short it, though, it was. Hit a couple home runs. Walked once a game on average. Yeah, I think we'll see how much he plays,

but so far so good for Josh Lowe. Two of the most added outfielers on CBS right now are, Trent Grisham and Javier Baez. Would you take Josh Lowe over both of those? Definitely over Baez. Grisham. Grisham is a tough one, man. He's a tough one to figure out right now.

How long will it last? Will the playing time keep up? It's tough. Of the players with a dozen or more homers, he's the only one who's not universally rostered, more or less, and he's been doing it all year. The expected stats back it up.

I think if he wasn't part of like this four man outfield rotation the Yankees have, obviously Judge doesn't come out of the lineup, but all the others do, then everybody would have Grisham by now. I have Grisham as the spoiler alert, number three sleeper hitter for the upcoming week. So maybe just for that reason, I should say Grisham over low. But if stolen bases are a higher priority for you than home runs at this point. Yeah, maybe that tips the scales toward low. All right, let's take a look at this.

Oh, no, no, no, no. There was, I wanted to mention Brandon Lau before I move on. Brandon Lau, three for five with a dull dong in this game. He also had four RBI. It's been a slow start, only hitting 220 with a 645 OPS. Some of the underlying plate discipline stuff looks pretty bad for Brandon Lowe. Gosh, this is talking about both of these guys together. It's a little frustrating.

but the quality of contact is still awesome here. The expected stats look very good. If you held on this long, Scott, I think it's a very, very clear hold or maybe even by low on a Brandon Lau right now. Yeah, as seems to be the case at every position, I've been looking for excuses to move players down at second base. And I probably have Lau lower than I'd like even.

But the point is I've resisted really like, like dragging him down because I see those underlying numbers and they're all basically what they always are for Brandon Lau. In fact, on average,

he's been hitting the ball a little harder this year. So it seemed like eventually he'd heat up three straight multi-hit games now, a couple home runs in this one. He also kind of like low, Lao doesn't play every game.

Plays a lot against lefties, but not every game. So that holds him back a little bit too. But he's healthy. He's maybe the best pure slugger at the position. And is showing it now. So yeah, enjoy it while it lasts. All right, big night for the Dodgers.

They destroyed the A's 19 to 2 on 18 hits. They had five home runs in this game. Otani is just so locked in. He's been a monster in May. probably should have been the first overall pick. Yeah, I think so. Probably should have. Well, Judge, I don't know.

It's like who's better at. Probably should have been Otani. Because he's been running. He's been running just as frequently too. It's 10 steals versus a 400 batting average, although Judge isn't keep that up, obviously. It's frustrating because, okay, Judge had the historic 2022 season.

Following year, I'm like, well, he's obviously the number one overall pick. Doesn't live up to it. Ronald de Kuna has the historic 2023 season. Following year, I'm like, well, he's obviously the number one pick. Doesn't live up to it. Otani has the historic 2024 season. Following year, maybe he's not the number one overall pick. Well, we had some injury concerns.

You know, the shoulder surgery and everything. There was the best case against it for those three. and so like I can't beat myself up too much but it's just like just my luck you know updated numbers for Otani in May

he's hitting 358 with eight home runs 18 RBI a 1369 OPS in 13 games so far in the month Dalton rushing a successful debut here he was batting seventh in the lineup he went two for four in this one with a walk and three runs scored

so I mean right away he looks good it's, I just wonder, Scott, if he plays twice a week and he's just mashing, they've got to figure out a way, right? Like, I know we liked Conforto coming into the season. He's been really bad. Yeah, I'd be totally on board with it. It just doesn't seem like they are.

And I wrote about this as the lead for Prospects Report, which came out today, you know, if we take them at their word and they're emphatically saying, front office and manager both, emphatically saying, no, he is not, Dalton rushing is not a utility player. He is a catcher, and that's how we want him to develop. They're both emphatically saying that, but I, like I said yesterday, that just seems like malpractice because you caught Will Smith locked up for another eight years. Yeah. Rushing isn't overtaking him.

You got Otani locked up for the rest of his career. so DH isn't a possibility. You're really going to squander this talent as a backup catcher. It just, something, it feels like something will give at some point, especially since, you know, this isn't like Drake Baldwin in Atlanta, who's only played catcher. They've exposed rushing to different positions in the minors, as if preparing for this possibility.

And now they don't want to do it. it's hard to reconcile. And part of me thinks if rushing's crushing it, they'll give. But I can't say that for sure. Still just two catcher leagues for now, right? Yeah, he's my 24th catcher. Yeah, I think I have him right around 21, 22,

so a pretty similar range there as well. Max Muncie had a big game and he's coming around three for four with his third home run, had four RBI in this game. he is 46% rostered. Does that number need to be higher, Scott? I feel like we need to see more from him before we maybe start re-adding him. Was that Muncie you're talking about?

The real Max Muncie? Dodgers Muncie. Although, man, the real Max Muncie. You know what? If the other Max Muncie was up for this game, it would have been Muncie versus Muncie. That would have been awesome. I think of it like the Ghostbusters cartoons,

like some other cartoon company beat the like, you know, Peter Ray Egon Winston Ghostbusters into make, they beat them and made a Ghostbusters cartoon first. So they got to be Ghostbusters. But then they wanted to make a cartoon after the movie. So that became the real Ghostbusters. So I'm saying this is the real Max Muncie. How do you like that analogy?

It's probably, it's probably too deep of a cut. But anyway, yeah, we do need to see more for Muncie. The track record is so steady during his time with the Dodgers that I think probably he'll come around. But he's getting older. And there have been small signs of decline in recent years, so I can't say for sure. And last thing I wanted to bring up here, I don't know, man. He might be a dude. Heson Kim, three for three with two walks, a double, four runs.

two RBI and a stolen base in this game. So just a huge game all around here and he's now hitting 429. He's got an OPS over a thousand. One homer, three steals. It's a small sample. He's only played 12 games, but the Dodgers,

they're going to have a great problem on their hands here because between Tayasker coming back, Tommy Edmund going to be back. They're hoping next week, if not maybe the week after that, you know, they, they kind of have a luxury here so they can kind of wait until those guys are completely healthy. But when everyone's healthy, Scott, I really don't know where everyone's

going to play. It is, it is a predicament, isn't it? I was still thinking about the Ghostbusters. I'm sorry, what team are we talking about? I was trying to fake my way through that, but I'm not, not smooth enough. Hess-sung Kim and the Dodgers and everyone who's due to return, Pahez is killing it So like, Conforto is probably gone. He's out of the mix. But you have Teosker in one outfield spot. Maybe. So Teosker, Edmund Pahas, I guess you can go with.

Mm-hmm. And then I guess you can go with Hesson Kim at second. I mean, does that work? Am I forgetting somebody? No. Oh, yeah. Because the only one who's been at it is James Outman has gone too then. Yeah, I guess that.

James Outman was never happening. I guess it's just Conforto. Probably just becomes a benchbed, right? Yeah. Now, I think in between then and now, Kim could backslide and Conforto could heat out. Like, that's possible. But if it were to happen today, if they were to bring Edmund back today, yeah, putting Conforto, who's only on a one-year deal, by the way, putting them on the bench,

seems like the right choice. But, man, Kim just looks so dynamic, right? Some of the most added second baseman right now, Brett Beatty, Daniel Schneeman, Colt Keith is 41% rostered of Jake Cronoworth. I think I'd still take Cronoward just because we know what we're getting there. Gabriel Arias, I think I would take the shot on Kim over all those other names. Over Beatty, over Schneeman, over Keith, over Arias, over Brooks Lee. What do you think?

Yeah, I think the upside is more interesting in Kim's case. But I don't want to completely abandon all my priors on Hassan Kim because of a couple weeks in the majors. He walked twice today. It was his first two walks during that time. So there are still questions here about how hard he hits the ball,

not very, about whether he's a disciplined enough hitter that pitchers won't take advantage of his light hitting. Obviously, he comes with some degree of provenness. but in an inferior league, you know, and we've seen a lot of players come from that Korean league over here and just they're nowhere near as good. So I don't think it's,

I'm not ready to declare a final verdict on Hussein Kim, but if we're only saying, based on what he's shown so far, does he deserve more chances, does he deserve to say in the Dodgers lineup? I would say, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, we're in agreement there. All right, let's get into the news and notes.

Spencer Shreder will return next week against the nationals. Bryce Elder was option to the miners, which means Grant Holmes will also stick around in the rotation. Scott, are you good to just get Strider back out there? I think the prudent, the more prudent course of action would be to give him a start, especially since in that sim game, his velocity was down a couple miles per hour. And it was interesting. I was reading Brian Snitker's comments about that. And he said it's because he hasn't pitched in about a month.

And it's got to take a little while to build up the velocity again. And yet, they're sticking them right back in the rotation. So either Snickr was just given a BS answer, or they're accepting, they're going to accept greatly reduced velocity from Strider in his return. I don't mean to be unkind to Snickr because you got to give some kind of answer when they give that question. And he's probably relying on years of experience with that answer. So maybe BS isn't fair. but I am thinking they wouldn't activate him

if they didn't think the stuff was ready. So probably it'll go fine, and I would have a hard time resisting the urge to put Strider back in my lineup as much as I've waited for them. Yeah, if I have them, I totally agree you're saying. If I have, I'm playing him. Right, that's what I, I probably am too.

But my more rational side is saying, if I have a great alternative, maybe give him a start first to see how it goes. The twins option, Simeon Woods Richardson to AAA and are expected to recall Zebby Matthews to start Sunday against the Brewers. 24 years old, he impressed us a ton this spring and in 7th starts at AAA. 193, ERA, a 119-10.5K per 9. He's getting ground balls. Swinging strike rate is okay. it's kind of more average at this point, but 35% rostered, widely available. Scott, do you think Zebby Matthews is a must add in fantasy?

I wouldn't go as far as must add. I was hyping him up a lot coming out of spring training in early this season. He was very high in the prospects to stash, really up until the point where David Festa got called up instead. And ever since that happened, the whiff rate for Zeb Matthews has kind of collapsed at AAA. It looks like the velocity improvement from this spring. is still there, but his last four starts,

again, this is against AAA hitters, only a 9% swinging strike rate, which is terrible. So that's more than half of his AAA season so far. And we're talking about a guy in Zebby Matthews who had a 669 ERA and his nine major league starts last year. So a four-start sample

with a 9% swinging strike rate, of course, isn't definitive, but anytime you're talking about an unknown, which is what he is, you kind of have to look at how things have gone for him recently. He's a work in progress and how's the progress going? A little overwhelmed. That said, I know a lot of people are itching for more pitchers to pick up off the waiver wire. I have moved him.

I think he's just outside the top 80 in my ranking. So that puts him in the rosterable range in 12 team leagues. but it's not I'm not adding Zebby Matthews with the same enthusiasm that I might have a month ago how would you rank Ryan Weathers, Logan Henderson

Zebby Matthews and Cade Horton I think it just did I think it just did in the same order I'll repeat it Weathers Henderson Zebulon which is his actual middle name where Zebby comes from

and Wait, that's his middle name, Zebulon? Daniel Zebulon Matthews, yep. Interesting. Mm-hmm. Reminds me of, I think it's dude, where's my car? Zoltan. Have you seen it's got?

I have not. Ah! I mean, this is just so typical, right? It's just another, like, look, it's like cult classic, whatever. Cheesy comedy movie, which is basically all I've seen in my life. Yeah, you like that real sophomore humor. All those movies that I was rolling my eyes at when they came out. And that was your jam.

So you have that, you have that side covered. And then I have the actual like all-time classic kind of movies covered. I want to make sure, yeah, it is, yeah, it is, dude, where's my car? I wanted to make sure I got that right. But you should go back and watch it, Scott. I think it's pretty, I don't know how it's aged, but I know it was good at the time. I saw you tweet about David Festa too Apparently the twins passed on him

because he's dealing with arm fatigue So that's why they did not call him up Yordon Alvarez is still a few days away From returning to the lineup He hit in the cage on Thursday But remains out with that hand injury Tyler Glassnow threw off flat ground on Thursday But has no timeline to throw off of a mound

I did not see this until today But apparently Ketel Marte left late Wednesday night Due to stiffness in his hip Actually that might have been a day game I don't know, but the removal was preventative, and they expect him to be in the lineup on Friday, hopefully. Byron Buckson and Carlos Correa both left Thursday after a nasty collision. Both are currently being checked for a concussion.

Before Buxon left, he did hit his 10th home run in that game. T.J. Friedel was out of the lineup on Thursday with that bone bruise in his right wrist, but hopes to return on Friday. U. Darvish allowed two runs over four innings in his first rehab start at AAA on Wednesday. He got up to 51 pitches, 61% rostered. Scott, would you consider U. Darvus a must stash?

He's pretty high on the list. I think I'd rather have U. Darvish than Zebby Matthews. Okay, yeah, I mean, Darvish was still solid last year. And, you know, good team, obviously, with the Padres, so I get it. Speaking of the twins, they have won 11 in a row. So wanted to give a shout out to them. That is, they have turned things around quite a bit there. On the other side, the Orioles were swept again.

They are now 15 and 27 this season, which, I don't know. They're probably going to have to make a change at some point, which I don't know that it's technically Brandon Hyde's fault. It's just been a lot of injuries, and they didn't really invest much in their pitching this offseason. But, you know, when you're bad and you're expected to be a playoff team, usually things like that do happen. though I will point out, none of the three of us, Chris Towers being the other,

picked the Orioles to make the playoffs. We saw it coming. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that pitching and the injuries that, I mean, they had injuries in spring training, right? Like, we knew Grayson Rodriguez was not going to be there to start the year. And so, you know, they were- The offense should get better. They have a bottom five offense so far, which is just, like, the pitching, I don't

think that's going to get there, but the offense should come around. Yeah, agreed. And I will be at the Subway Series game on Friday. In Yankee Stadium, Scott. One to ten. How much should I boo Juan Soto first at bat? Oh, zero. Come on.

Oh, are you kidding me, Scott? Get real. Come on, dude. He is a traitor. Dude, that is... Is that really how Yankees fans feel about him? I mean, I can't speak for all Yankee fans, but... Yeah.

I'm hurt, Scott. I am hurt. Yeah. And he needs to feel my hurt. I think maybe the... the analogy, the analog, the analog, let's say the analog. As a Braves fan, I remember when Tom Glaven signed with the Mets, but he was like a lifelong brave up to that point,

two Cy Young's, a World Series MVP. Yeah, I mean, he helped you get everything done at that point. The division rivals. I understand Mets are kind of rivals with the Yankees, but Mets Braves. Like that was the height of that rival. He signed with the Mets. And yeah, I went to his return to Atlanta and booed him extensively.

But now all is forgiven. Gotcha. Time heals all wins. But Soto, I mean, he was there for one year. I don't know. You had to realize there was a mercenary element to that. No, I totally get it. And the way that I've explained this to my Mets fan friends is just imagine it was flipped, right?

You traded a decent amount to get Soto for one year. let's say he was on the Mets. He brought them to the World Series, helped bring them to the World Series, and then he leaves to go to the Yankees for like slightly more money and whatever, you know, the added things, the incentives and all that stuff.

But just imagine, like, the other way around. You'd feel pretty hurt that he was on your team for a year and he was awesome and then he just left. So that's how I feel. And so I will let him know on Friday. Let him now. Let's take our final break. When we return, some waiver options.

A pop quiz will preview week nine right after. this. Welcome back in fantasy baseball today. Waiver Wire pitchers from Thursday, Scott. We had quite a few nice performances here. A.J. Smith Shaver, Nick Martinez, Chris Paddock, Zach Lattel, all varying levels of skill and interest, I think. But how are you ranking those four right now? I mean, Smith Schafer is far and away, number one, right? Yeah. I can find reasons to doubt him the

let's just get into how he pitched today. No one runs in six innings, two hits allowed, six strikeouts against the nationals. You could say because he got a career high 17 whiffs,

so the swinging strikes were there. Because he got the 17 whiffs, only two hits, no runs. You could say it was his best start except that just two turns ago he had eight one hit innings. Right? So it's hard to top that,

But the point is, A.J. Smith-Shavar has been trending up last five starts now, 150 ERA, 0.96 whip. Exactly a K-per-inning. So I'd like the strikeouts to be higher. Apart from these 17 whiffs here, I'd like for the whiff rate to be higher, I'd like for the walks to be lower, I'd like for the quality of contact to be better. There are a lot of things I could point to to say, I don't know for sure that A.J. Smith-Shavar is breaking out. but the talent is pretty clear and he just seems to get better

with each passing turn. They've obviously decided to keep him around over Bryce Elder who was going pretty well himself. I think Smith-Shover at least needs to be rostered in all leagues at this point. You don't have to stake your whole season to him because I could see how it could go badly, but you got to give him

at least enough benefit of the, doubt to roster him at this point. Do you put him at the top of that list that we spoke about earlier that had who was at the top of that list? Logan Henderson. Logan Henderson. There was someone else higher. Oh, Ryan, Matt.

Ryan Weathers. Yeah. Yeah. Do you put Smith-Shawber at the top? Those would be the only two on that list that, like definitely I'd take Weathers over Smith-Shawver. Henderson. I think I would take Smith-Shawver, but it is close.

Yeah. I think Eileen Smith Schaver just because he has more job security, it feels like. But it's close between him and Logan Henderson, yeah. Other names here, Nick Martinez. He's been pitching well last five starts, 205 ERA, a 0.98 whip, but strikeouts haven't been there.

Great matchup next week at the Pirates, so totally down with using Nick Martinez again next week. I will point out for Martinez because this is three straight good starts for him. And three straight starts with better than a 65% strike rate. which no walks between the three starts. So the main reason he took off late last season with the Reds is because he became this elite strike thrower.

His strike throwing hasn't been quite at that level, but it's getting there. It's clearly gotten better over these last three starts. So I think Nick Martinez is in the streamable conversation again. And anything to see here with Paddock or Zach Lattel? On the surface, they've been better. Last seven starts for Paddock. it's a 206 ERA.92 whip.

Zach Lattel last six starts, 313 ERA 107 whip. But when I dig in under the hood, it does not look good for either one. Yeah, I mean, it's not going to look good for Lattel. The skill level isn't that high for him. But five of six quality starts now, and he's very efficient.

He's a great strike through, one of the best. And he's made it work before. I think it keeps him being just a streamer in fantasy maybe slightly better than a streamer but there isn't a high end potential for Lateau and then Paddock yeah I have the same thoughts you do I don't see

it still feels like there's too much downside risk there even if he's pitched well recently and then it wasn't the best outing for Tomoyuki Sugano he's still 70% rostered and it looks like he's in line for two starts next week Scott or are you using Sagan at Milwaukee at Boston next week? He's among the sleeper pitchers.

And you know, I'm not, I'm not wild about Sugano, but the fact is he has a 3080 RA and 103 whip even after this kind of mess start. So, yeah, I mean, two-start week, I think, I'm not saying you have to start Sugano. I think he is just in the points league only section of the two-star pitcher rankings, but I, you know, I'd probably use them if I had him.

If you're thinking more long-term, I would drop Sagano for Smith-Shawver, Ryan Weathers, Logan Henderson. And Haderson, yeah. Yeah, you'd do that too. Okay. I don't think I'd drop him for Zeb Matthews, but I wouldn't, I wouldn't criticize somebody who did too harshly.

All right, waiver wire hitters from Thursday. Jake Berger provided the only offense in that pitcher's duel two for three with his fourth home run. He has at least one hit in all four games since returning. Just three strikeouts in 14 plate appearances. That's a 21% strikeout rate. 55% rostered. Drake Baldwin has now started three of the past five games for the Braves,

and he keeps performing. He had three hits in this one. I just wonder if we're headed for a 50-50 split. I mean, the way Baldwin's hitting, I don't know how they can keep him off the field. And then Addison Barger has been making some noise lately for the Blue Jays, two-for-four with his second home run,

and last seven games hitting 321, two homers, in OPS over 1,000, and the quality of contact looks awesome right now. Only 9% are rostered. So these last two, Scott, Baldwin and Barger, more deeper leagues, Jake Berger, 55%. Do you think those numbers need to be higher

for any of those three? I think it needs to be higher for all of those three. The upside is legitimate. I mean, Berger, we should know what it is. And he went to the miners for, what was it, six games, hit two home runs. The exit velocities look great even before he got sent down. So I didn't have real concerns about him. And, you know, he comes back and it's two balls, 100, what was it, 110 miles an hour, 108 miles per hour, including the home run.

It was, where is it? I've lost everybody's interest already. Both were over 108 miles per hour. Okay, so Berger, we know the story with him. If you don't want to add him in points, leagues, I get it. But anything else, got to be at it. Drake Baldwin, catcher is deep. So maybe one catcher leagues, given the questions over his playing time,

okay, you don't add them yet. But you're keeping an eye on it because the upside looks legit. And, I mean, it did in the minors last year, too. The exit velocity readings, the plate discipline readings were phenomenal, especially from like the All-Star break on. Like Drake Baldwin looked like the real deal. The only reason I didn't rank him higher is because I figured, oh, he's blocked by Sean Murphy.

Poor Sean Murphy, by the way. But yeah, it does seem like he's losing the grip on the starting role. Baldwin was hitting second. He got three hits. He's clearly gaining trust in a lineup that's been hurting for offense. 50-50, that's probably what it'll max out as the split between Baldwin. and Murphy, but he had, Baldwin being the left-handed hitter of the two,

it's not unthinkable that he could just become the primary catcher. It's not unthinkable. Are you dropping Sean Murphy in one-catcher leagues? I mean, one-catcher leagues, unless it's, unless it runs 16 deep, there's probably a better choice out there. Yeah.

Yeah. And then Barger, Addison Barger, only 9% rostered. And look, the, the, the surface level numbers, even with this two for four performance, they don't look great. Batting only 238.1. But yes, he did change his stance this year. He kind of, the Blue Jays tried to get him to change it last year and he just wasn't comfortable with it. So he's gone back to his old stance.

A stance, by the way, then in 2022, saw him hit 308 with 26 homers and a 93 OPS in the minors, Addison Barger. he has only batting 231 but with that stance 94.5 mile per hour average exit velocity 116.5 mile per hour max I mean these are these are numbers gunner Henderson can only dream of and then all this is just with the 20% strikeout rate so it's not like barger's doing too much of that sitting against lefties and again that the top line production isn't there yet it just seems to me that with that data, it's eventually going to be. So at the very least, you need to be eyeing Barger in the box scores, Addison Barger, very closely.

All right, Scott, it's time for your mid-May pop quiz. Are you ready? I am so ready. All right. Among qualified center fielders, I am currently the biggest underachiever and expected Wobo. Center fielders Don't worry I'm gonna give you multiple

I don't think in terms of center fielders Okay I'm gonna tell you who they are So it's all good Underachiever and what Underbigher in ex-wobe right now Okay

Luis Robert Julio Rodriguez Brenton Doyle or Michael Harris I'm gonna say Michael Harris Mm and you my friend are wrong

It is Whoa. What's happening here? Is there something happening? Scott, are you with me? I, no interruption on my hand. All right, all right.

He tried. He tried to make an appearance. We haven't seen him in a couple weeks. Yeah, knock on wood. Brenton Doyle is actually the right answer here, who is currently hitting 2-16 with four home runs and four steals. I've been getting questions lately. People asking whether or not they could drop Brenton Doyle.

He's got a 600 OPS. He has been vastly. underperforming expected numbers. 261XBA, 461XLug. The plate discipline looks fine this year. The strikeout rate remains down two years in a row. He's got a 14% barrel rate

and not much to show for it. So I am here to tell you to keep the faith on Brenton Doyle, Scott. What do you think? I have nothing to add, and we are light on time, so let's just go. Let's do it. I have the highest barrel rate among qualified short stops. Despite that, I am slugging 370.

your potential answers here. Anthony Volpe, Willie Adomas, Trevor Story, and Bo Bichette. Oh, part of me wants to say Anthony Volpe

because I know his barrel rate is much higher with that torpedo bat, but... They call him the Volpito now. That's his nickname.

Yeah. I'm going to say Bo Bichette because he played today and had a good game. Hmm. Ah! It is

Willie Adamas, a name we haven't really talked about. He's hitting 225, five home runs, 370 slug, a 676 OPS. First year in San Francisco. I think we all had him as a bus this season, thought maybe, you know, he was overvalued coming off that huge year last year. You know, the underlying numbers don't look that much different. That was the case against them last year, as they didn't last year either. The expected stats are just, they're a lot lower than last year. I don't know. Where are you add on Willie Domas?

Out. I'm out. To me, that's even worse if his barrel rate is that high and it hasn't led to production. That's a bad sign, not a good sign for me. All right. Next up, here we go. We've got over the past two seasons, I have an OPS under 700. Your choices. Nolan Aronado, Brandon Nimmo, Taylor Ward, and Zander Bogartz.

It's got to be Nolan Aronado. Does it? Scott, he doesn't know. Scottie doesn't know. Oh, who is the last name, you said? Zander Bogartz. Is it him? It is Zander Bogarts.

Yes. He currently has a 699 OPS last year with 688. He's hitting 243, three homers, six steals. Plate discipline is okay. This is going to be, I mean, this is the worst contract in baseball. This is going to be so bad, but. Yeah. I mean, it was obvious at the time.

13 years for a 30-year-old shortstop. I mean, is there any chance of him getting back on track here? Or is it just, I don't know? Well, it depends what you mean by back on track. I think he's probably still the same guy. He was the first two years in San Diego. I've had to keep moving him down in the rankings just because other second baseman and shortstop

are hinting at more upside than I think Bogart's has at this stage of his career. But he's going to finish with between 15 homers, 15 and 20 homers, 15 and 20. deals and a decent batting average. What do you think that batting average gets up to? I think it'll be over to 70, would be my guess. All right. Next up, I hit 324 in April, but I am now batting 188 in May.

And here are your options. Jose Altuve, Wyatt Langford, Bryson Stott, and Bryce Terang. Wow, just imagine if these weren't multiple choice. Well, I know Wyatt Langford has dropped off a bit, so I'm going to say White Langford. I had a feeling it wasn't Wyatt Langford. The answer is Bryce Terang, who overall is still hitting 289. He's got three homers, 32 runs scored, nine steals. Expected stats still look okay, 269, XBA, 403X slug.

What do you think, Scott? Is this another fool Jew? Is it? from Bryce Terang. Bring in a little Adam Azer sound drop there. Well, you know, why I was feeling bullish about him after the season started, average exit velocity way higher. Maxxx of velocity a couple miles per hour higher.

So, like, he's genuinely hitting the ball harder. It's not just a he happens to be barreling up more during a hot streak. I think there has been actual strength gain and, bat speed gain verifiable bat speed gain we know that now so I'm not I'm not panicking with Bryce Terang

but I did have him as a bus coming into the year and so maybe he fooled me maybe I was right on in the first place and then he fooled me and now I cannot get credit for maybe I don't know the average yeah I'm not I'm not panicking

average exit velocity for Bryce Terang in April was 92. So far in May, it is 86. It's about the same as last year, yeah. I don't know, I don't know. We'll see. We shall see. From 2022 through 2024, I had an ISO of 231.

This season, my ISO is down to 133. Anthony Santander. Whoa, what was the range of dates again? Sorry. From 2022 to 2024. So the three seasons before this. Okay. An ISO of 231.

Okay. This season, my ISO is down to 133. Okay. Anthony Santander, Christian Walker. Slow starter? Christian Walker. Sorry, go ahead. I'm, go ahead.

Vlad Jr. and Mani Machado. Santander, Walker, Vlad Jr. Machado. Oh. I know Machado has just like two or three homers as good as he's been. So maybe he's the sneaky answer here. But the range of dates you gave, gonna say Christian Walker.

Yeah. $1 a long time ago. Christian Walker, man. I kind of give him the benefit of the doubt the first month of the season because I thought, all right, maybe he's just like playing through the oblique still and he's not right. The strikeout rate is up.

The swinging strike rate is up. The power obviously is down. The barrel rate is down. I don't know. Like maybe the oblique just kind of derailed him for the, like, I don't know, the first half of the season, whatever it might be. Or maybe he's just getting older.

Scott? What do you think? He could just be getting older. That is within the realm of possibility. That's a possible explanation for what's going on. I'm not ready to say that's what's going on for Christian Walker. And it's because a lot of the skill indicators still look the same. He is striking out more and that's a concern.

I'm curious is he swinging and missing. more on fastballs because I feel like that's a pretty good indicator of age-related decline. And I messed it up trying to look it up. Okay, let's see. 088 on fastball so far with a swinging strike rate of 14%, which we haven't seen from him since 2021, a swinging strike rate that high on fastball. So I don't know. It had been trending up every year, which doesn't necessarily invalidate it.

I don't know. It's still inconclusive, but that is a data point that I don't like to see for Christian Walker. The bat speed I just pulled up is it's down a little bit from 89th percentile last year to 77th percentile this year. But that's, I mean, it's still a pretty good mark, though. And I don't know. We don't have enough history with bat speed that for me to know how much that. that fluctuates over the year, you know? Yeah, he's a toughie.

Are you just holding on in a vacuum right now? Hold on to Christian Walker. Yeah, I don't know what choice you have. I suppose in a really shallow league, if you picked up a bin rice or whatever and you just need to free up a roster spot, it's not unthinkable. Would you just drop him for Reese Hoskins?

Who's hot right now? I mean, I do like Reese Hoskins for next week. So if you're tired of losing, like we're talking about, really shallow leagues where, you know, if Christian Walker turns things around, okay, there's a, you got a decent enough first basement anyway. In anything of real size with the, with a waiver wire that's pretty, pretty thin, then you, you couldn't even dream of dropping Walker.

But in those shallow lake scenarios, if you're just trying to get some production, and I don't think Walker's upside is so high, so unbelievably high, that you have to treat him as if he's untouchable. All right. Well, we always managed to do this on a day with six games. We're going to go longer here on the podcast. So bonus content on a Kokomo Friday, but we saved the best for last. Now it's time for the weekly preview brought to you by Travis Matthew, apparel designed for confidence and comfort no matter where the day takes you. The schedule for next week, we got lots of games next week. 18 teams with six games, 12 teams with seven games, the Orioles, Red Sox, Guardians, Rockies, Tigers, Astros, Angels, Brewers, A's, Phillies, Phillies, Pirates, and Mariners. I mentioned the Rockies in there. All seven games are at home in Coresfield.

They've got four against the Phillies and three against the Yankees. Scott's starter sit, these two start, unless you have something else you want to say? I just wanted to say, yeah, it's great that the Rockies have seven home games, but those pitching staff, you mentioned, Phillies and Yankees, pretty good. They got some tough matchups there in Colorado. We're just excited for the Phillies and Yankees. That's what we're looking forward to at this point. Starters sit these two-star pitchers.

Kodi Senga, he's been money all year. We'll just mention he's got tough matchups at the Red Sox, home against the Dodgers. Do you just lock them in? Yeah, you do. I don't know that he's as high-end as his ERA suggests, but I can't imagine sitting him in a two-star week. Ryan Pepio, home for two.

Tough place to pitch for him against. the Astros and Blue Jays. He's been getting a lot better results recently, though, and those are two offensives that have struggled. So I think Pepio is not quite a must start, but pretty close. What about Chris Bassett, who is home against the Padres at Tampa? He's been a little shakier, four of his last five starts. I could see sitting him in a Roto League,

just depending what categories you're working on right now. But in most cases, I think you're going to start Bassett. All right, what about, oh gosh, Aranola is at Colorado and at the Athletics. We spoke about it yesterday. I know in the notes you sent me, he might not be a two-star pitcher, right? Is there some concern there?

Yeah, because he's going, he's scheduled to go Tuesday and a seven-game week, Tuesday, Sunday. But I noticed the pitchers that I flagged last week because they were going Tuesday, Sunday. They're still in line to start Sunday. So I don't know. I don't think the I don't think the Phillies are really going to insert a sixth guy this week

So yeah I think you can expect two starts from Aaron Nola what you can expect Are you kidding me Are you kidding me Scott? He is back So much for that theory That it only happens on three man shows

Say his name and he appears Robo Scott. What was I saying? Aaron Nola. I don't know what's expecting as two starts. Obviously at Colorado, that's kind of scary. At Sacramento is kind of scary too.

But I do have him in the second highest tier in the starting pitcher rankings. You don't have to do it if you don't really want to. He's not must start. But I think in most situations where I have Nola, I'm just going to keep running him out there come hell or high water because

we've been down this road with him enough times before and the numbers always end up in a good enough place. If you start picking and choosing, you're going to miss out on some of the correction that comes. All right. What about Brandon Fott, who is at the Dodgers and at the Cardinals? Points league only. And it sounds like Walker Bueller is making his return,

but he gets the Mets and the Orioles. Yeah. So, So yeah, I don't think I'd do that. No, I would not either. Two-star pitchers to add and stream for week nine, Scott. Who do you have here? Two-star pitchers to stream.

At the top, we got Logan Henderson, as if we haven't talked about him enough, struggling Orioles offense, and then the worst offense in baseball, the Pirates. That's who Henderson is scheduled to face. Gavin Williams, I think he has clearly picked things up strikeout wise in recent starts. Saw a better control last time out.

I think for the upside, he's worth considering in two start weeks again. He gets the twins and tigers. Tomoyuki Sagano, we just talked about, Brewers and Red Sox, kind of a floor play there. Jose Soriano, 62% ground ball rate on the year. The results have been shaky, but you like that. And his last start was his best start so far. So he gets the athletics and the Marlins.

like that matchup, second matchup especially for Soriano. Mitch Keller, dangerous. Reds and Brewers is who he's facing. Certainly in points leagues, you do it because if he has one of his stinker starts that the sort of starts that bring his ZRA over four, you can live with that.

It's not going to follow you around forever. So two-star week, Mitch Keller, I think he's pretty automatic in points leagues. And then finally, Will Warren, who we've talked about, Quite a bet lately because the strikeouts have been up. He has one of the best four seamers in terms of opponent's batting average and swinging strike rate or whiff rate, I should say.

And he also has a sweeper with 3,000 RPM. So interesting arsenal here for Will Warren and two great matchups against the Rangers and the Rockies, who I'm considering a good matchup even in Colorado. All right, Scott. What about the one-star streamers? We've talked about two of them already today, AJ Smith-Shawber and Nick Martinez.

Yeah, Smith Schaver goes against the Nationals again and went so well the first time I'm inclined to play him again. You say Kukuchi gets the Marlins. Doesn't seem totally like you say Kikuchi yet, but I think he's, I think he can trust him with that matchup. Nick Martinez at Pittsburgh,

the way he came through against the White Sox, I'd expect him to come through against an even lesser offense since he's thrown more strikes. And finally, Jameson-Tayone at Miami, quality start machine, always a little dangerous but if you're not going to use them in that matchup

you're not going to use them at all all right what about the hitters best matchups for next week we have the Phillies, Orioles, angels, pirates and Brewers the worst hitter matchups Braves, Royals, twins,

rays, and nationals. Scott, who are your sleeper hitters for week nine? So you mentioned the Orioles there second and in their seven games nothing but Ritees. You know who that's good news for?

Ryan O'Hern, who has been awesome this year. Slowed down a little bit recently, but still great strikeout rate, still the best polarity of his career. And you don't have to worry about him sitting with all those Ritees on the schedule. So he's my favorite, Ryan O'Hern.

Also, I like Reese Hoskins, somehow only 59% rostered still, even though he's been excellent since mid-April. and his overall numbers look great now. Brewers have the fifth best matchup, as you mentioned. Trent Grisham, the Yankees are one of the teams playing in Colorado this week and their other series is at Yankee Stadium. So probably Trent Grisham is going to slow down at some point,

but I wouldn't bet on it happening this week. Kyle Stowers, I was a little reluctant to have him in my sleeper hitters last week because of the Marlins matchups were iffy, and he seemed like maybe he was slowed down, but he's obviously come through in week 8. So I'm going to keep him on the list here in week 9, and maybe by week 10, he won't qualify for the list anymore because he'll be too rostered.

Josh Young, been on a nice little Homer binge here recently. Rangers have pretty good matchups, including a series against the White Sox. Taylor Ward, also a little bit of a Homer binge here recently. Angels have the third best matchups. Ryan Alcastle, I knew there was another Oriole in here. We talked about how good their matchups are. I think the toughest pitcher they're going to face is Logan Henderson after that.

Lucas Gialito. That was pretty bad. Yikes. And Malkassel's been one of the biggest underachievers by the data this year. It's hitting the ball very hard. Actually, the highest pull air rate we've seen from him since that 2021 season when he homered 33 times. So I think better days are ahead for Malkassel. And he has actually picked it up recently, batting over 300 in May.

The power just needs to come. I think it will, looking at that data. We got to get a Philly in here since they have the best matchups. So Max Kepler is the choice. He's also a big underachiever, according to Statcast. Dalton Varsho, I mentioned the other day, his two home runs. That was Tuesday. Two home runs, 113 miles per hour.

Those are the two hardest hit balls of his career. And by a pretty good margin. So something's going on with him. Hopefully he'll start playing more consistently. as he works his way back from surgery. And Blue Jays have no lefties on the schedule this week, so that should help. Finally, Jordan Beck, he has those tough pictures he's facing in Colorado, but the splits favor him both at home.

And the fact, there are four lefties on the schedule for the Rockies. He has like a 970 OPS against lefties. All right, that was the weekly preview brought to you by Travis Matthew, apparel designed for confidence and comfort no matter where the day takes you. Big fan of Travis Matthew. Check out this shirt. It's like a cloud waffle collection. It is maybe the most comfortable shirt I have ever worn in my life.

It's kind of like a thermal, but even more comfy. It's awesome. Scott's wearing the Atlanta Braves, Travis Matthews shirt. We've mentioned they have... Which my wife complimented me on today. I don't know that there is a bigger endorsement than that. Very snazy. Yeah, they have an MLB collection on their website too, some really cool shirts,

some polos, some graphic teas, a couple other things. So yeah, make sure to check that out. big thanks to Travis Matthew for making clothes for any occasion that are not only comfy but stylish as well. Call to the bullpen for your brave, Scott, Rysel Iglesias, picked up his seventh save and he needed that one. It's been a shaky start this year. And then for the Rangers, Luke Jackson and Chris Martin are both dealing with injuries. It was Sean Armstrong, who got the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He allowed a walk, but picked up his second save of the week.

One percent rostered. any deep league interest in a Sean Armstrong. I mean, somebody's got to close games if those injuries linger. But yeah, I don't, I don't think it would be a long-term scenario even if it happened. And I don't think we can trust that Sean Armstrong is the replacement. Anyway, to stream or not to stream on Friday, we have Shane Smith. at the Cubs, Kate Horton facing the White Sox, Bouten Francis, home against the Tigers,

Andre Palante at the Royals, Stephen Colac home against the Mariners, J.P. Sears at the Giants, Andrew Heaney at the Phillies. Yeah, so J.P. Sears in San Francisco, I think that's a good fit for his skill set, fly ball pitcher. And Kate Horton,

not sure he'll go deep enough for the win against the White Sox, but the per inning production, Should be good. Saturday is a tough one. We've got Clark Schmidt against the Mets. Jake Irvin at the Orioles. Gialito facing the Braves.

Severino at the Giants. Landon Aroup versus the athletics. Tyler Anderson at the Dodgers. Woof. Yeah. Don't love it. If you're making me pick somebody, Geolito?

I was going to say, put my homer head on and maybe go with. Schmidt, but it could go poorly against the Mets. I was putting my anti-Homer hat on, Golito against the Braves. Yeah. Yeah, Schmidt, yeah, I think those are the top two choices, but you probably should start, stream nobody from Saturday, not start nobody from Saturday,

because there are probably some good pitchers going Saturday, but from the streamer selection, nobody. And then on Sunday, we have Jack Leiter facing the Astros. We have Mike Soroka at the Orioles, Colin Ray facing the White Sox, Jeffrey Springs at the Giants. Verlander versus the athletics. Colin Ray against the White Sox.

Let's close out this recommended two-start week strong. Mm-hmm. And then drop Bray because he's not actually good. Do I want anybody else from this crew? I guess Verlander against the athletics is probably okay. Mm-hmm. I wouldn't be surprised if Leiter has an okay start just because the Astros without Yordon Alvarez,

it's a pretty good matchup right now. but I don't love it. That would be my second name, but yeah, I'd rather just go with Colin Ray if you need to play her for Sunday. We are 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 next week. Bye-bye. Mount Podcasts.