Fantasy Baseball Today - Mets Promote Jonah Tong & Kyle Bradish Dominates! (8/27 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

Episode Date: August 27, 2025

The Mets are promoting prospect Jonah Tong (2:55)! ... Let's rank a bunch of rookie pitchers (6:41). ... Kyle Bradish really impressed in his season debut (14:47). ... Parker Messick looked great again (18:06). ... News (24:30): Nathan Eovaldi will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. ... Sandy Alcantara might be back (30:08)! ... Let's show these unsung hitters some love (32:22)! ... What's the latest on Luke Keaschall (38:31)? ... Any interest in Clayton Kershaw or Mitch Keller next week (43:27)? ... What do we make of these rough pitcher starts (47:15)? ... Hey, reali quick (55:03)! ... We wrap up with leftovers, bullpen updates and streamers (1:00:18). 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

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. Now here's Frank, Scott, and Chris. Nolan McLean has looked so great. The Mets figured, screw it. Let's call up Jonah Tong 2.

Welcome in to Fantasy Baseball today on Wednesday, August 27th. Frank Sample joined by Scott White. Today on the show, Kyle Breddish looked great in his return. Sandy Alcansara might be back. That's three really good starts in a row for him. And it's hitter appreciation night. But first, Scott returns with some big news. No, he's not going anywhere.

He's still here. He's on the podcast. The big news that we're talking about is Jonah Tong. Promoted by the Mets, he'll make his first career start against the Marlins on Friday. 22 years old, Chris and I were raving about Jonah Tong yesterday. Just insane numbers in the minors this season. 143 ERA. 0.92 whip.

He leads the entire minors with 14.2K per 9, a strikeout rate over 40%. Scott, what are your thoughts? What's your scouting report here on Jonah Tong? Where does he fit in among all these interesting upside pitchers that have emerged over the. the past couple of weeks really well you gave his 143 ERA on the season eliminate his first two starts of the season and it becomes a 103 ERA and then in his last seven starts it's a 0.51 ERA and then it's two starts of AAA it's a zero ERA so it's like it just kept getting better and

better for Jonah Tong. He has been the best pitcher in the minors this year in terms of performance. And while he doesn't get discussed often, he's not often brought up as like the best pitching prospect in the game. You just don't hear Jonah Tong mentioned in that light. Pitchers are less straightforward than hitters as far as evaluation goes. And I certainly wouldn't blanket anybody who wanted to give Jonah Tong that label. The performance speaks for its self. He kind of has a certain deception going for him that makes him so effective, and that is a straight over-the-top delivery that you don't see a lot in today's game because it's so much about vertical approach angle and you can get a better one often by

dropping your arm angle. But Jonah Tong delivers it straight over the top. And in spite of that, he still gets great carry on the fastball through the top of the zone, those swings and misses underneath the pitch. So he gets the shape on the fastball that is so effective, that's become so effective, so sought after in today's game, but he does it from an unconventional arm angle. And so it's just a really weird look for hitters.

They have a difficult time with it. And then his secondary stuff has made big strides this year. So I think Jonah Tong's going to come up, and I think it's always a guess. how a player is going to transition to the majors, but I think it's going to go really well. I don't think we have to worry about a shutdown situation because he is basically right at the same number of innings he threw last year.

And of course, you want there to be a little bit of an increase from one year to the next. So I think he has enough runway here that the Mets can just turn him loose down the stretch. Maybe he's so effective that they want to save something for the playoffs. But I don't think we have to worry about that until the end of September. I think Jonah Tong is somebody that you want to try and grab anywhere he's available, and he's pretty widely available. And I wouldn't be afraid of starting him right away, even.

I've already moved Jonah Tong in my starting pitcher rankings. Hang on, I need to refresh because I just did it today. I think I've got him in the top 50, though. Let's see. I have him 47th. Actually, a spot ahead of Chase Burns, who of course is on. the I out right now. But two spots behind David Peterson. Yeah, obviously must roster territory there, 47th among starting pitchers. The next question is, where does he fit in among all

these pitchers that have emerged recently? So, Hurston Waldrop, who had a weird start here on Tuesday, but obviously the numbers have been awesome for him. His teammate Nolan McLean, who's looked really great in two starts, Cam Schlittler, back-to-back quality starts with eight strikeouts in each of those. Bubba Chandler recently got called. up. You know, maybe he's a tier behind this just because we don't really know exactly what his role is right now. But where would you put Jonah Tong amongst that group, Scott Waldrop, McLean, Schlittler, and Bubba Chandler? I would put him at the very top in terms of rosterability and fantasy. Obviously, Bubba Chandler has the unconventional role right now. He looked good in his debut after a really rough few months at AAA.

So there are some clear questions there. McLean's look great, but I don't know. I don't think he has the strikeout upside of Jonah Tong. And Waldrop, I think, definitely doesn't. So if you want me to rank them rest of season, again, I just updated my starting pitcher rankings. So this should be pretty easy. I have Jonah Tong one. I have Hurston Waldrop 2,

McLean 3, and Bubba Chandler 4. And did you mention Schlittler? Schlettler. Schlittler? I have... Oh gosh, it's so close between Waldrop McLean and Schlittler that I hate to... I almost hate to put them in... Right.

Any kind of order? I will say Waldrop... Schlittler McLean. And Bubbett Chandler's pretty close behind, too. But Tong clearly number one for me. And honestly, I would try to roster as many of these pitchers. as possible. They could be, I know we throw around the term, league winner often, but I mean, these are guys that have a lot of

upside. Some of them have already flashed that upside. And with Jonah Tong, like you said, I mean, he was performing like the very best pitcher in the entire minor league. So I would be looking to drop other players, other pitchers maybe on my team that I think are more expendable than those names that we just spoke about. But, you know, someone like you say Kikuchi, 86% of rostered still, I would be fine, dropping him for, I think, all of those names. easily. I'd be fine dropping him for a lot of pitchers. Yeah. Yeah. Luis heals 84%. He had to start here.

It's like, I think there's talent there, but he just doesn't throw enough strikes. The walks are a problem. So I would be all right making that swap. Clay Holmes still 81% rostered would drop him. Yeah. Sean Mania is an interesting one, Scott, because the underlying numbers are still really good and he's getting lots of strikeouts, but he's also just not giving us any length. Would you be okay dropping Sean Mania? I would for Jonah Tong. Well, really for any of those. was four. I'd be okay dropping with dropping Mania for somebody who was more useful. It is like you said

11.5 Kper 9 now for Manaya which is a startling number. He just had eight strikeouts against the Phillies here on Tuesday but that was in four and two-thirds innings and that was the third of four less than five innings. Only one of his nine starts has he gone more than five

innings Sean Manaya so he just hasn't been that useful even though the strikeout numbers have been good. A couple of other names you could drop for all of those pitchers I think. Bryce Miller, I'd be okay dropping him, just giving up a ton of hard contact and home run since coming back.

Shane Ba is still 74% rostered. He had a quality start here on Tuesday, but obviously he's been bad for quite some time. Brandon Fott is still 72% rostered. Why is that a thing? So, yeah, there are other names. There are expendable pitchers right now. I would try to roster as many of these rookie upstarts

as you possibly can. I gave somebody to go ahead to drop Ryan Nelson for Jonah Tong. And you know, I like Nelson. Yeah. But I have Nelson, have Nelson 52nd, and again, I have Tong 47th. So, and Tong has upside to rise from there. I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if, you know, if things go really well his first outing or two,

he's probably inside my top 36 at starting pitcher. Somebody asked me about Strider and I paused. I didn't know what to say. What would you do there? I rank Strider ahead But I wanted So I don't know what you and Chris talked about after Strider's last start But there were some encouraging signs

He for one thing it was a quality start He did only have three strikeouts But it was more the process that went into it Because he the Braves had skipped him the previous turn Did you and Chris get into this? The Braves had skipped him the previous turn So he worked out at the, he did some work at the, the Maven facility there in Atlanta. You know, one of those facilities like drive line where they, they dive into the data and help

help pitchers figure out a better method of attack, whether that's mechanical, whether that's developing pitches, whatever. And specifically to help Strider regain the shape on his fastball, that was something he talked about. That was something Brian Snicker talked about. So like they have, they're clued in on what's going on what needs to be fixed here for Strider. And he did get a couple more inches of induced vertical break on that fastball. He got a few whiffs on it.

The velocity was down on it actually. But he was more concerned about optimizing the shape than going peak velocity with it. So I think it was the sort of talk and the sort of improvement on the fastball that we hope to see from Strider. and so maybe there's still a chance for him to salvage the final month here. So long story short, I do think I'd hold on to Strider and not give him up for Tong. But it's a close call. All right.

Let's take our first break. When we return, we'll get into the Players of the Night, and we'll do that right after this. Welcome back in Fantasy Baseball today. Let's get into the Players of the Night. I'm just realizing right now, Scott, that I did not change the, oh, my goodness, gracious from yesterday. So I am just trying to filibuster for a second

until I can get somewhere and find something that I can throw in here. And let's see. All right. There you go. And then forbid you use the same one two days in a row. Nah, I have a whole folder full, right? I got to change it up.

All right, here we go. Players in the night. Can you believe it? Wow. Exactly what everybody wanted to hear. All right, Scott. Let's get into Kyle Bradish's debut, season debut was awesome.

It was awesome. I was just saying I wouldn't be willing to move Jonah Tongue ahead of Spencer Strider in my rankings, but I did move Braddish ahead of him based on this start. They were 36th and 37th in my rest of season rankings, Bradish obviously 36. And this is why he was great. Struck out 10 against the Red Sox, his first start since Tommy John surgery, 10 over six innings walked none, two earned runs allowed.

This was after a minor league rehab assignment where he looked pretty impressive as well. His second to last rehab start, he struck out nine. And it's kind of strange the, I don't know if it's just me. I don't think it's just me. I think there's sort of a collective amnesia going on with Kyle Braddish. Like he came on so suddenly that people kind of forget just how good he was prior to Tommy John surgery. In 2023 and 2024, combined 38 starts. Kyle Bradish put together a 281 ERA, a 105 whip 9.6K per 9.

He was fourth in AL-Sah Young voting in 2023, his last fully healthy season. So, like, he was a big deal. And now he returns. He has a great start in addition to the 10 strikeouts and six innings, 16 whiffs on 81 pitches. The velocity looked great on all of them. He got a combined 11 whiffs on his third and fourth pitches. So a nice full arsenal here for Braddish. And I think is everything you wanted to see.

I think he's going to be great down the stretch. Yeah, I was a little bit worried about how he would look coming back from the Tommy John surgery because we've had other pitchers come back recently and not look so great. Right? Like Sandy Alcantra has not been himself all season. I know Spencer Shrider, it wasn't Tommy John. it was the internal brace, but obviously it was a serious elbow surgery. And, you know, obviously he's faltered lately as well. So I was a little hesitant here. And I guess it still could go

wrong for Kyle Braddish. But, I mean, this was a tremendous first start back. And as you mentioned, he was so good the last time we saw him last year. He was good the year before that as well. And he was somebody I was really, really growing to like before he started dealing with all this elbow stuff. So he's got two breaking pitches. Velocity has been up the past couple of years with his fastballs as well. So I'm with you. I'm in 59% roster for Braddish. He's still out there in a couple leagues.

I didn't know how high to get him in the rankings, and I'm still kind of working through that myself. But you have given me confidence, Scott, to get him all the way up inside the top 40. That's pretty impressive. I like it. Well, I mean, I got him and Shane Bieber back to back, 35 and 36.

Bieber, obviously, same thing. You had an awesome start first back from Tommy John's surgery. Velocity looked great. a guy within ace pedigree. I don't think it's wrong to say that about Braddish either, given the numbers I gave from 2023 and 2024. So very similar situation for those two, both immediately in my top 36.

All right. Let's talk about Parker Messick of the Guardians, who had another great start this time against Tampa Bay. Seven shutout innings, four hits, zero walks, six strikeouts, 16 whiffs on 98 pitches. This fastball changeup combination that he has, He doesn't throw very hard, but it's kind of a funky, left-handed delivery. His change-up is very deceptive, and those two pitches work very well together.

He's gone at least six and two-thirds innings in both of these starts here. He's only allowed one run total, 12 strikeouts to one walk in those two starts. I don't know if it's fair to say that he's a tier below all those other pitchers we talked about earlier. he wasn't a prospect of the same caliber as some of those names, but look, the Guardians typically do good job with pitching development, and obviously he's come up here and he's really, really impressed. So Parker Messick, 29% rostered. Looks like he might line up for two starts next week at the Red Sox, at the raise.

So, you know, facing the same team that he just faced here. Where are you at on Parker Messick? Is he very clearly behind all the other, you know, rookie pitchers? we spoke about earlier. He's behind them, but moving up. I mean, it's been encouraging, obviously, two great starts in a row. I do have to point out just to give the complete picture on Parker Messick that, as good as these two starts were, I'll combine one walk between them.

He struggled with control in the minors. So 67% strike rate in each of these first two starts, that's very good. It was 62% throughout his time in the minors this year. Not very good. Now, I guess just while I'm trying to say is two starts that go against a longstanding trend are not enough to convince me the trend is reversed. And that's just a non-issue for Parker Messick anymore. And so I think those control issues,

the miners could very well return. That's not a guarantee, obviously. Sometimes weird things happen. That's what makes this sport so difficult to evaluate. But it's only two starts that go against the trend. And so I'm not willing to just ignore the trend. So that's the main reason I'm putting Parker Messick below that other group of rookies. Like let's seem do it a third time, a fourth time.

And then we can say with more common, confidence, okay, he's going to be a good fantasy option moving forward. But what we've seen from Parker Messick is good enough that surely if you can find a spot for him, you should. I think that there is a chance that he has more utility than Bubba Chandler right away. Just because Chandler is still pitching out of the bullpen, you know, there were quotes that, you know, he could make some starts down the stretch here. Maybe that happened soon. But he was also struggling in the minors before getting called up here. He obviously is a prospect of much higher pedigree than someone like Parker Messick, but I think Messick has more utility right now. If we're

talking about if you need a pitcher for next week or maybe the following week after that. So I think Bubba Chandler is the only one I would take Parker Messick over. Or I'd said that backwards. Parker Messick, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you said it right. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. That's Fair. I will say that Bubba Chandler's first relief appearance, it was even longer than I expected. He went four innings. So it was basically a start. And since it was the final four innings, he got a save out of it, which, wow, that's nice. So, you know, that doesn't mean every relief appearance is going to end up with a save. But if he's following a guy who goes less than five innings, you could get a win. And, you know, if he's going four, maybe even more innings than that, it's, it's, It's not so different than a start. So with that first appearance on Friday for Bubba Chandler, it opened my mind to the possibility that, well, maybe he can be of some use in fantasy right now.

But I would agree Parker Messick feels a little more usable. All right. Some programming notes and things to promote before we get into the news and notes. I will be out the next two days, but obviously you're in good hands here with Scott and Chris. Don't be alarmed if the audio podcast is published a little bit later than usual,

maybe around 6 or 7 a.m. Eastern time. So if you're an early riser and you don't see it, that's why. But it will be there eventually over the next couple of dates. Also, we just received confirmation that Chris and I will be attending Baseball HQ's first pitch Arizona this fall.

Scott, the offer still stands if you want to make it out, but you've got some other things going on behind the scenes, so I don't know if that will work. But obviously, we would love for you to make it out one year, Scott, if you can do it. But I get it. It sounds like a good time.

I don't know that this offseason is going to be the time. And we can get into more. We can get into that later. What is first pitch Arizona for those wondering? It is a fantasy baseball conference out in Mesa, Arizona. It's from November 6th through 9th of this year. So just a couple months away. It features Arizona Fall League games, the AFL Home Run Derby,

live panels, live podcasts. We're planning to do a live FBT out there, hopefully on a Friday so we can do Coca-W. Friday. Way too early drafts. And it's just a really great time to hang out with other great people in the fantasy baseball industry. So again, just search up Baseball HQ first pitch Arizona. It'll be the top link wherever you're looking. Or if you go on X and go to the Baseball HQ account, they have links all over there where you can find out more information. They actually have a 20% discount if you sign up before September 12th. And there's more information

there about, you know, the hotel that we're staying at and all that fun stuff. So it's going to be a really, really great time. I encourage all you crazy fantasy baseball fanatics out there to join in because it is a lot of fun. Big thanks to those watching live. Make sure to hit the like button and subscribe on YouTube if you haven't already. And if you've subscribed all year, stick with us because obviously we're still going strong. Five podcasts per week through the end of the regular season. We'll do some fun stuff in the offseason as well. Let's get into the news and notes and this is a pretty rough one here. Scott, Nathan Avaldi has a rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder and is likely to miss the rest of this season.

Terrible news, Avaldi has been one of the most valuable pitchers in fantasy this season. A 173 ERA, a 0.85 whip in 22 starts. Unfortunately, he does have a history of injuries. Specifically, lots of arm injuries as well. He has only thrown more than 145 innings once in his last four seasons. So mostly really good when he's on the mound. It's just, you know, we don't usually get to. huge ace workload from Nathan Avaldi.

And obviously, if you lost him, any of the names that we just talked about, Jonah Tong, Cam Schlettler, Hurston Waldrop, Nolan McLean. If any of those names are out there, go add them. Because that could be your Nathan Avaldi replacement. It's the silver lining to this very bad news. But it's got to be the quietest 173 ERA ever, right? Yeah. It's every time I've looked up Nathan Avaldi's ERA this year,

I've been shocked by it, that it hadn't corrected more. Because this is a guy who the last time he had an ERA below 370 was 2013. And here it sits at 173. For 130-inning season, I mean, that's got to be one of the lowest marks of my lifetime, honestly. I mean, you got the couple Gregmatic seasons that were below that. And I think there was a handful more, but not many. Yeah, it's very, you know, we've seen Jacob deGron. and, you know, Kershaw have some crazy seasons like that.

And obviously those guys are- Like that year he won the Siong. Yeah. And, you know, a lot of those names, look, those, those pitchers are in a different stratosphere than someone like Avaldi. But credit to him, man, at this point in his career to kind of reinvent himself, throw his secondary pitches more. You know what?

That Areeta season was 177. It wasn't even as low as 173. That was pretty awesome season, too, though. That was crazy stuff there. So, unfortunately, yeah, bad news there on Nathan Avaldi. Bad news for Randy, Rodriguez, who was placing the aisle with a sprained right elbow retroactive to Saturday. And the Giants had a safe situation right away.

Ryan Walker got the ninth inning. He allowed a hit, but struck out two for his 12th save. Obviously, has familiarity in the role. He ended last season as the team's closer started this year. But Ryan Walker, 30% rostered. So if you need a Randy Rodriguez replacement, boom. If you need saves, boom. Ryan Walker is your answer.

Yordon Alvarez was activated by the Astros. He was in the lineup. Actually started in left field right away. He went 0 for two with two walks, but obviously just great to have him back. O'Neil Cruz also activated from the IL and in the lineup, and we need a strong finish here because it's been an extended midseason slump here for O'No Cruz. It's been more than half the season that he's actually, he's been more bad than good this year.

He got off to that great start, but it would be nice to see O'No Cruz finish strong. Jackson Trio could rejoin the Brewers as soon as this weekend against the Blue Jays. Jacob Lopez was placed on the IL with a left elbow flexor strain. He'll be shut down from throwing. The A's promoted pitching prospect Mason Barnett, and he has struggled big time at AAA this year, but does have some swing and miss potential, just a very deep league name to watch for now.

You know, AL only leagues, things like that. Pablo Lopez made another rehab start at AAA here on Tuesday. I did not have time to look up what he did in that one, but he is inching closer to making a return here to the twins. Michael King. I saw that the stuff was down for Pablo Lopez. That was a tweet from one of the twins beat riders. He got a bunch of whiffs on the changeup, I think,

but the actual velocity readings were not as, not where they were used to seeing them. All right, next up, Michael King will throw another simulated game this week. He's on the aisle with left knee inflammation. Max Muncie took live BP on Tuesday. He remains on track to return. in early September. Jackson Merrill has resumed baseball activities. He's on the aisle with a left ankle sprain. Francisco Alvarez will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday. Wilson Guterres is

appealing a six-game suspension that he was given after arguing balls and strikes on Monday. He was very animated. Obviously, he was like trying to fight the umpire. I mean, he didn't, I mean, from what I saw, I didn't see him make any contact, but that seems like a hefty suspension, man, six games for, like, arguing balls and strikes. I don't know. I didn't see it. Maybe there were something that I didn't. I read that he threw his bat in the direction of the umpire and it hit a coach instead.

I don't know. It took me too long to watch it. All right. To see if that ring. Yeah. What red. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. No Roboscott.

Come on. We're late in the season. Let's not, let's get away from Robo Scott. But yeah, we'll see what happens if, Contreras has that suspension reduced at all. The Guardians placed I wrote Carlos Hernandez, that's not true. Carlos Santana, that would be the name I'm looking for,

on outright waivers, and the Pirates DFA'd Andrew Heaney. Yeah, he did throw the bat in the direction of the empire and it hit a coach instead. Now, it wasn't like an overhand throw. It was a little backhanded toss, but, you know. Yeah, all right. Yeah.

Probably justified. Can't be throwing bats, as we learn from Victor Robles in the minor leagues as well. Sandial Ocantra might be back. Better late than never. He has looked a lot better lately. Seven innings, three hits, two runs, two walks, seven strikeouts here against the Braves. An offense that has been pretty hot recently. 13 whiffs on 104 pitches here.

And velocity was up in this one. He doubled the curveball usage. That's now three quality starts in a row. He's gone seven innings in back. to back-to-back starts. Also, seven-plus strikeouts three in a row here for San Diego Concert. So what do you think, Scott? I mean, this is probably the best that he has looked all season. It seemed inevitable that he'd bounce back, maybe not to Cy Young levels, but certainly to usable levels for fantasy. And so, too early to say, but I'm encouraged. I'm encouraged enough that I would

say this is another pitcher that it's pretty mostly is in CBS Sports League's 8.3%. What I've seen recently with this turnaround for Alcantra is, and it was true in this latest start, leading with the call

and the change-up, those being his top two pitches thrown, it's basically the Edward Cabrera plan. Like that's what's allowed Edward Cabrera to take off, fading his fastballs that he was he's always had difficulty locating uh i i don't know that sandy alcantara has that sort of issue with the fastballs that that's not part of his uh m o but it seems like the same sort of adjustment with regard to pitch selection has allowed

him to to find his footing here and so we can hope it continues for sandy alcantara and these next two matchups are a much tougher test for Sandy. He is at the Mets this weekend. If that one goes well, next week he is home against the Phillies. So if he looks good again against the Mets this weekend, I think you should have confidence starting San Diego Concerra next week against the Philadelphia Phillies. So San Alcansara, you know what? I'm thinking I'm back. That's right. He's back, baby. Hitter appreciation. I just wanted to find a chance to talk about these names a little bit earlier than usual. Just four hitters who have just kind of flown under the radar have had these ridiculous

seasons or stretches of seasons. Trevor Story, another strong game, two for four with a sock and a shoe. His 21st homer, his 23rd steel, he's already at 2020. He's got 83 RBI. He's hitting 260. This has been going on since the start of June. He had a really bad May, but picked things up right after that. George Springer has been ridiculous.

4 for 5 with two more homers and four runs scored. 10 games since returning from the IL. 381, 6 homers, two steals, a 1268 OPS. 3.5 fantasy points per game. Before this game here, that was more than Fernando Tate's, P. Crowe Armstrong, and Julio Rodriguez. So George Springer Man, the Fountain of Youth. Joe Adele has entered the 30 home run club.

He has nine home runs here in August. He actually has 23 homers since. the start of June. The batting average is low, it has been lagging based on his expected stats, but man, 30 homers, 81 RBI. Really, really nice step forward in Joe Adele's progression this season.

Last name, John Carlos Stanton. The guy cannot stop. Two for three with his 17th home run, five RBI. The home run went 451 feet in this game. And it's crazy because, you know, the last couple of years, he's kind of looked like a shell of himself.

He could barely move. I mean, even playing the outfit, the guy cannot move. But over his last 36 games, 351, 16 homers, 39 RBI. This is the best that Stanton has ever looked in a Yankee uniform. This is the best stretch of his Yankee career. And he's doing it in his, you know, mid to late 30s, which is just interesting. You know, him and Springer, just the fountain of youth for these two.

So just really wanted to shine a spotlight on these four names, Scott. Just kind of unsung heroes in the fantasy season right now. Yeah. Springer, we talked about him some recently. This is one of the best years of his career, probably top two or three in his career. And you wondered if the concussion would kind of derail the season he's had, but he's come back hotter than ever and just looks like an absolute stud for fantasy.

Trevor's story, I've had trouble getting him as high as I'd like in my shortstop rankings, just because it's shortstop, but I can probably get him up to 15th now, at least in Roto. I'm going to make that change after we get off the program here. And Joe Adele, yeah, I mean, good that the home runs have picked up. Stackcasts, he should be hitting for more average too.

But if anything, I mean, that's all the more reason to be encouraged to buy into what he's doing is that to, at least by the data, he's underachieving and I'd rather a player be underachieving than overachieving when it comes to projecting him moving forward.

The Stanton thing for him it's just the playing time but it's I mean obviously it's very important like we need you know projected play appearances and things like that and just knowing how much he's going to play which half the time we don't know when he's going to play so

we really need Aaron Judge to get back in the outfield to make this all kind of work seamlessly but it's like every time Staten's Out there right now, he's doing something big. So it's kind of hard to argue. Like the roster rates all the way up to 75%. So that tells me people just don't even care on once he's playing. It's just let me get him in there.

Well, he's mashing right now. So. Yeah, when the production is this prolific, then you can, you can withstand those days off a little more. It's hard for anyone to sustain quite the pace he's on near impossible, I would say even. So at some point, his fantasy value is going to depend on how much he's playing.

But it's been a surprising turnaround for Stanton after the way the last couple years went after he began this season with two bad elbows and was looking at a long recovery time there. Did not see this coming from John Carlos Stanton. All right, let's take our final break. When we return, we've got some waiver options. to talk about some rough pitcher outings as well.

We'll talk about all that right after this. Welcome back in Fantasy Baseball today. Let's take a look at some waiver wire hitters. This first one is more so a... Are we continuing to hold on? I've gotten some questions recently about Luke Keishel, who hit his third home run here on Tuesday. But the previous 13 games before this,

he was hitting 271. All right, that's good, but just two extra base hits. A sub-700 OPS. He's a rookie. he's prone to going through slumps. I totally get that. 72% rostered, Scott, do you think Luke Kishel should remain that highly rostered at 72%?

Or should that number be higher? 72% is probably fine. Any league where you have to start an extra middle infielder, he should be rostered. And if it's more of a head-to-head lineup where you just start nine hitters, one second baseman, he might be your best bet at second base, but he might not be.

And so if he's not, You know, roster space is limited in such a format. I get that. And you may have to turn him loose. But I think of the long run, those who hold on to him will be rewarded. Coulson Montgomery will not stop hitting home runs. Hit his 14th home run here. He has 16 hits in August.

Nine of those are homers. So I know we keep telling people, Scott, that he just can't keep hitting home runs like this, but he has been. He's the kid who only hit homers. Yeah, 65% roster for Monarch. Montgomery, third base shortstop eligibility. I think he's more useful at third base right now.

How would you rank him, Royce Lewis, and Mark Viantos, who's really picked things up over the past two weeks? Yeah, he has. And so I think it's probably pretty close between Montgomery and Viantos. I'd give the edge to Montgomery. The analysis remains the same. Yes, it's like he can't sustain this home run pace. And just when you think it's slowing down,

he homers in four straight games. So it's like you feel like an idiot when you keep saying it. But at the same time, if you stop saying it, that's when the inevitable will happen and the pace will slow. And now you've changed your stance. So you're just an idiot twice over, right? Nobody wants that. Having said that, third base, you mentioned it's the more useful spot for Colson Montgomery and Fantasy right now. There have been a number of high profile injuries at the position or wasn't the deepest to begin with.

like sometimes your best hope is just to hope. Like I'm starting Colson Montgomery in a couple leagues where I lost Max Moncey or Isok Paredes or somebody like that. And, you know, I have my doubts about him continuing to be a viable fantasy option since there's so little to dig into their but the home runs. But at the same time, like, what else am I going to do? The best hope is just a hope. And so I'm starting Colson Montgomery and I'm enjoying the home runs for however long they last.

And so like just because just because we give a take on the player that might come across as negative doesn't mean there is no scenario in which you should use them. It's in a vacuum, this is what I think of Colson Montgomery. However, the specifics of your situation, he might be your best hope. All right. Next up, I have two catchers here. Kyle Teal continued his strong second half, three for four with the RBI. and after the All-Star break, hitting 3-40 with four homers, one steal, a 903 OPS. And Gabriel Moreno is swinging a hot bat since coming back from the IL,

two for four with his seventh homer, three RBI, has multiple hits in three of four games since returning. He has homer twice there. Scott, who do you like more between Kyle Teal and Gabriel Moreno? I like Moreno, but I like Teal too. And catcher just keeps getting deeper and deeper. All right, two other hitters in deeper leagues. Jared Triolo, is there anything here? Five straight multi-hit games, has two homer and a steal during that span.

He has led off two of the last four games as well. And Nolan Gorman has looked better over the past month, hit his 13th home run. And here in August, 254, four home runs, 861 OPS. Any deep league interest got in a Jared Triolo or Nolan Gorman? Not a lot. It would only be deep leagues. Honestly. I mean, Gorman obviously has some power that he's demonstrated before, but we kind of know who he is at this point. It's just not that exciting. Yeah, I actually picked up Jared Triolo in Tout Wars this past weekend. It's a 15-te-team roto with OBP.

I am chasing steals, and he has four steals in the month. So it's just, you know, if you're looking for specific categories, this is the caliber of player you're going to get in leagues that. deep. So yeah, I think he has some utility in really deep deeper formats here. Again, that is Jared Triolo. Other waiver wire pitcher is Clayton Kirshaw a solid outing against the Reds. Five innings, one run, six strikeouts, the zero walks. Limited to just 72 pitches here has looked really good in August. He's all the way up to 77 percent rostered. He's at the Pirates next week. Mitch Keller bounced back with a quality start at the Cardinals. Six innings, three runs, nine strikeouts, 18 whiffs. We're nice. used to seeing that from Mitch Keller.

He gets the Brewers next week, so obviously don't really love that matchup. Justin Verlander turned in a quality start against the Cubs. He's at the Cardinals next week, and Patrick Corbin, out of nowhere, eight shutout innings with eight strikeouts against the Angels. And he

looks like a two-star pitcher next week, the Astros and DeBack. So not the most exciting name, Scott, but do any of these and their matchups jump out to you? I think there may be something to this Patrick Corbyn's start and he's had stretches this year where he's been useful surprisingly seemed like he had kind of fallen off the wagon there

and not lost his utility and fantasy but this start he kind of broke out a change-up that wasn't there anymore was sparsely thrown previously but he threw it 20% of the time in this start and all of a sudden he's getting a ton of whiffs. So it might be the sort of thing that rounds out his arsenal. Of course, he leads with the slider. He's got that cutter that's come along and helped him

to become a little more stable here. Maybe the change-up can bring him even further along as far as that goes. Now, am I eager to use Patrick Corbyn next week with the two starts Houston there? Arizona? No. But I could see potentially streaming them in a head-to-head points league, specifically, where I was just looking to load up in volume because that's the format that most rewards volume. I think it's at least in the discussion for Patrick Corbyn. Keller, all those whiffs, they mostly came on the fastball and the sweeper, and both of them were up in velocity. Those two pitches specifically, the fastball up about one, the sweeper up about one and a half. so that might explain it he was just throwing those two pitches harder and they got a bunch of wifts maybe maybe he should do that more often

easier said than done I know but it's not like I guess I'm just saying we need to see if before I can buy into Mitch Keller being a bigger whiff guy like we need to see that continue obviously with them throwing those pitches harder yeah and I think at this point in the season

you really should pay attention to matchups because we only have like four lineup setting scoring periods left. So Keller against the Brewers next week, don't love that. But as I mentioned with Kershaw at the Pirates, yeah, totally could be down with using Clayton Kershaw next week. One name in deeper leagues, Martin Perez.

Are we doing the Martin Perez thing against God? Because I'm not. Don't look at me. It was a great start against the Royals. It was a great time. Seven shutout innings, one hit, zero walks, five strikeouts. He is down to a 202 ERA, a 0.9. five whip. Small sample size, only seven games, six of those starts. I think we know who

Martine Perez is, but I mean, to his credit, he has pitched very well. It feels like a trap. It feels like the moment you say, okay, I'm just going to ride this hot streak for Martin Perez. It'll all blow up in your face. So the matchup would have to be exceptional, I think. Detroit next week. I'm not doing it. All right. We had some of Rough starts here on Tuesday. What do we do with these names? First up is Bailey Ober, a rough one at the Blue Jays. Five innings, ten hits, four runs.

Maybe he can get back on track next season, Scott. But the velocity way down here again, he's 68% rostered. I think I'm at the point where I'm just, I'm done with Bailey Ober for this season. If you hold on this long, drop them for any of the rookie pitchers we mentioned earlier. Yeah, that's,

that's fair because remember when he first returned the fastball velocity was up but then it's been down from the season average in his last two starts and he's gotten more whiffs with the fastball interestingly enough seems like he's trading some velocity for for better shape there on the pitch but it's just it's just not enough he doesn't have enough working for him right now bailey ober and i'm not sure what it would take for me to trust him with so little calendar left Mm-hmm. Next up we have Jesus Lazzardo, who kind of fell apart in the fifth inning here at New York Mets. He went four plus, four runs allowed, three walks, five strikeouts.

You know, it didn't allow a lot of hard contact through 63% of his pitches for strikes. He looked much better in his previous five starts before this one. I think it was a little bit unlucky. I think he also kind of ran into a pretty hot offense right now. So I'm not really worried about Lazzardo. The numbers from the previous five starts for Lazzardo at 2.30. 2ERA.84 whip 9.9K per 9. If every sixth start is like this, you're a pretty good pitcher. And I think Luzardo is. We spoke briefly about Sean Mania earlier in the podcast, but four and two-thirds innings, two runs, eight strikeouts, 19 whiffs on 90 pitches. I mean, you love the whiffs that he's getting right now, but gave up some hard contact. He has failed to complete five innings in three of his last four starts, 79% rostered.

It looks like he's at the Tigers next week. And this is another part of Jonah Tong joining the rotation. They're going to use a six-man rotation. So we're probably not going to get two-star weeks from any of the Mets pitchers either. What do you do with Sean B and I? Are you holding him or do you think he's a drop, given the lack of innings? Yeah, like we talked about earlier, I'd be comfortable dropping him for anyone who I felt was more useful. Now, it's not like a Brandon Fott situation.

Like, why are you? Why on earth would you be holding on? to this guy still. I think if all those rookie pitchers are picked up already, you're fine holding on to Mania. There's a chance he could, maybe with his starts being spaced out more, the Mets will feel more comfortable letting him go six.

And then you got those 11.5K per nine over a reasonable workload. Suddenly, Manaya is looking a lot more useful. But he hasn't been that useful yet. And we're running out of time. Matthew Boyd struggled here at the Giants, five in a third innings, five runs, two homers allowed in the, this one. Did have eight strikeouts, but also struggled with control. Last six starts for Boyd,

it's a 493 ERA, 124 whip. So perhaps finally seeing some regression from him. It feels like, you know, maybe he's deserved some of that earlier on in the season. He still has had a great year. There's no doubt about it. It's a rough stretch here, Scott. I think more often than not, I'm still using Matthew Boyd. What do you think? Well, I mostly focused on the last two starts because they've been similar in terms of result. And what I noticed with both of them is that he was throwing his best pitch, the slider. He was throwing it straighter. Like it was up more than a mile per hour in velocity, but a lot less drop, vertical drop on it.

And so I think he's kind of neutered his best pitch with the way he's thrown it, at least in those last two stars for Matthew Boyd. I don't know if it's by design or anything. It's probably something he can fix. But I don't think it's just happenstance that he's happened to have two bad starts in a row. And that makes me a little wary, but not to the point of sitting Matthew Boyd, as good as he's been this year. Yeah, he's at Colorado this weekend. And then it looks like he lines up for the-

Maybe in Daily League sitting in Colorado. That's a little scary. It looks like he lines up for the nationals at home next week. So that should be a pretty good spot there for Matthew Boyd. Dylan Sees, another bad start at the Mariners. Four in the third innings, four runs allowed, three walks, five strikeouts. Just the story of his season gets whiffs. That's not an issue, but he's inefficient.

He walks too many, gives up too many runs. He has only completed six innings once in eight second half starts. I just think we're so far in the season. Scott, I don't even care if someone else wants to pick up Dylan Sees and potentially use him against me, I think he's dropable. I think you drop till he's, man. Maybe I eat those words,

but he's, I mean, it's August 27th, Scott. He has a 482 ERA. Let's just. I'm not saying you have to start him, but if he has a monster September, if he has a monster, like, monstrous September, obviously that's not the most likely scenario, but it is a plausible one,

given the way he's been missing bats all season, given his track record, given that baseball's weird like that. And sometimes people have awesome months out of nowhere. I would be really reluctant to drop cease. And I can tell you this much, I think if he doesn't have that awesome September, and he goes into next year having left a bad taste in everybody's mouth, presumably he'll be not a big prize on draft day. I can see myself having a lot of shares

he'll be with a new team at that point and you know the the pendulum could swing the other way in terms of his volatility yeah I mean Chris has said this for years right with Snell and Sease it's buy them when they're coming off bad years fade them when they're coming off good years

and maybe I should have listened because I am one of those people that has been burned this year by Dylan Seas and it's been very frustrating Louise Castillo, a rough outing on the other side against the Padres, five innings, five runs, six strikeouts of three walks. His velocity down quite a bit in this one. His fastball down 1.2 miles per hour. He averaged only 93.6 with that pitch.

And his last three starts, 969 ERA, 231 whip here. It kind of feels like he's been a little bit lucky all season long. Lines up for two starts next week. Maybe do it in a points league, but man, in Rotter or categories, I probably stay away from Luis Casano. Yeah, that'll be the points league only tier for the two-star pitcher rankings,

Luis Castillo. It kind of feels like the death spiral here because his velocity's down for a second straight year and he's not much of a strikeout pitcher anymore. And like you said, it seemed like he was kind of getting away with it early this year. I was happy to roll with him while it was happening because, okay, Louise Castillo, he's been a success for a long time.

Maybe there's enough guile there for him to get by on. But it seems like it's unraveling. And beyond the two starts next week in a points league, certainly if those two starts go poorly, I think we're close to, we might be at that point saying that Castillo. as somebody you could think about dropping. Hey, real quick, let's take a look at some pitching leftovers here.

Lucas Gilito, a stellar outing at the Orioles. Eight shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Scott, where did this come from? What are your thoughts on Lucas Geelito? I mean, he has had a number of good starts this year. His previous one wasn't very good. I think two of the previous three were bad for Lucas G. Lido, but it wasn't terribly shocking to see him have this kind of start, particularly against

an Orioles lineup that has underachieved most of this year. I think he is somebody worth using with the right matchups, and certainly not somebody who belongs on the waiver wire, but also not the most consistent pitcher out there. I don't know. That's not a very, that doesn't define. him in a distinct way. You could describe a lot of pitchers that way, but I think that's where we are

with Lucas Gialito right now. It feels very much like kind of like a Kevin Gossman. I don't know that the upside on a start-to-start basis is as high, although this was a great one for him. This kind of feels like a random number generator

for G-Lito. You might get a great start. Might get a terrible start. I don't know. To a degree, yeah. But I think it, I'd have to look through the game log, but I think you could trust him with good matchups.

We're a true random number generator. I wouldn't say that about him necessarily. A weird start here for Hurston Waldrop at the Marlins, five in a third innings, eight hits, one run, one walk, zero strikeouts. Just three whiffs on 88 pitches. Is it, am I simplifying it too much, God, if I just say,

sometimes this happens to a splitter pitcher for Hurston Waldrop? I guess you could say, that. It's it certainly happens to pitchers whose arsenal is really their success is really tied to one pitch in this case, in Waldrop's case. Certainly it's that splitter. Kind of the movement on every pitch was all firm in this one, but the splitter is the main one and it didn't have its usual drop. And so Waltrip didn't have the success we had seen from him recently. he found a way to muddle through and and, you know, keep the game closed and ultimately the Braves ended up winning. But it was disappointing given the kind of run Waldrop had been on. I imagine this was the most he'd been started all year in CBS Sports Leagues. All right. Next up, Jacob Miziarowski with an interesting start against the D-backs, five innings, three runs. It was a one whip, but obviously the ERA ratio,

not great here. 10 strikeouts, 19 whiffs. You love that. This was just his third star back, his first time completing five innings since July 8th. Since the first half, yeah. And Mizirowski, 65% started

at the Pirates next week. So I am pretty comfortable getting him back in the lineup for that. Yeah, probably should. Now, my bold prediction is blown here because remember I had the bold prediction, Mizirowski doesn't have another five-inings this season. Well, he did. So so much for that. Hopefully he has more. Hopefully he has one against

the Pirates next week because I imagine he's going to be pretty widely started. All right. Next up, we have Shane Bosz had a rough first inning but then settled down for a quality start at the Guardians. Six innings, three runs, seven strikeouts had 16 whiffs on 92 pitches. Obviously, Shane Botz has been a mess. We need to see a lot more, but I guess this could be a step in the right direction? Could be. He's had great stretches this year. He's had stretches twice, I think,

where he convinced a lot of us, myself included, that he was breaking through, finding that ace form that made him the top pitching prospect in baseball prior to having Tommy John's surgery. So one isolated start where he looks great, is not enough to move the needle, I would say, given the past fakeouts for Shane Boz.

But I do think there is a lot of upside here. I do think he has a bright future still. I'm just not sure he's going to live up to it this year. In fact, I'm more, if I had to guess, I would say he won't. And that maybe Shane Boz is somebody to look at next year. And Hunter Brown had a bit of a weird start here against the Rocky, six and two-thirds innings, six runs, but only two of those were earned, had seven strikeouts to zero walks.

He really just had a rough third inning that included an error, and it kind of extended the inning, and then he gave up a two-run homer, so kind of messed up his... It didn't really because he still wound up with a quality start per se, but just... Actically. Weird to see the six runs allowed, I guess, against the Rockies for Hunter Brown. Some hitting leftovers, big game for Ozzie Albys,

who went three for five with a double dong, RBI. Both of the homers were over 105 miles per hour, and he has been better in the second half, I guess, to Albies' credit. William Contreras continues his big second half, three for five with his 15th home run. Bryce Terang hit another homer in August, his 15th overall, his ninth here in the month. Bryce and Stott has been running wild in August, came on as a pinch hitter. He walked and then stole two bags.

And so far in August, 32, two homers, seven steals, 948 OPS for Bryson Stott. He also is not playing against lefties, so that is a problem. Pete Alonzo has bounced back, had four hits in this game. His OPS by month this year, 1167, 693, 920, 548, 892. So very up and down season for Pete Alonzo. And lastly, Mike, Mike, Matt Chapman. that is a name, with a nice game,

one for three with a walk, a sock, and a shoe, his 17th home run, his ninth steal. It's been an overwhelming season for Chapman, but a lot of the underlying

metrics still look pretty similar to where he was at last year. So maybe a little bit overperformed last year and a little bit underperformance here from Matt Chapman. Anything on this group,

Scott? Yeah, so Ozzy Albiz is probably the one to focus on here. with the two home runs. You said he would spend better in the second half. The actual number is a 261. Batting average five home runs, five steals, and a 740 OPS.

That 740 OPS doesn't blow you away, but for most of his career, all the good years from Ozzie Albys, it's been mid-700s. So he's, obviously this is right after a two-homer game, which kind of inflates those numbers over a small sample like that. But it's, you know,

technically speaking in the second half, he's looked more like typical Ozzy Albies. What's most notable about this performance for Albies, though, is that one of those two home runs came off a left-handed reliever for the Marlins. It was his first home run off a left-handed pitcher this year, his first home run from the right side of the plate. And if you know anything about Ozzy Alps, you know he's the sort of switch hitter,

who kills it from the right side of the plate. Like normally he's just treading water from the left side and then he makes up for it with monster numbers from the right side. And that hasn't been the case. Like he's actually had better numbers against from the left side than from the right side this year. And that goes a long way,

not all the way, but it goes a long way to explaining why it's been a bad year. I find it encouraging because it's not just that he's been a victim of the environment, which he has no control over. He's just kind of been messed up from the right side of the plate this year, it seems. And that's something that he can do something about. So Chris and I are going to record a bold predictions for 2026 that's going to run on Labor Day. and there's going to be something about Ozzy Albee's and Bryce Terang in there for me.

So be sure to check it out, a little tease for you. All right. The call to the bullpen for the Guardians, Kate Smith got the ninth inning with a three-run lead. He allowed a hit but picked up his eighth save of the season. For the Blue Jays, Jeff Hoffman, implosion. Got the ninth with a one-run lead. He gave up four runs on two homers, took his seventh blown save,

and fifth loss of the season. On the other side for the twins, Justin Topa got the ninth with a three-run lead. He gave up a run on two hits, but picked up his fourth save. Just kind of feels like Justin Topa is the guy, right? For the twins? Sure seems like that.

I think Cole Sands is better. I'm surprised it hasn't been him, but Topa's gotten each of the last four saves for the twins. That pretty much says it all. For the Phillies, Yohan Duran got the ninth with the game tied, he gave up four straight hits without recording an out, and he took his sixth loss. For the Royals, Carlos Estevez struck out two for in the ninth for his league leading 35th save. And then later in the evening for the Padres, Robert Suarez tied Estevez once

again with his 35th save of the year. For the Dodgers, Tanner Scott picked up his 20th save. And for the Tigers, Will Vest got the bottom of the 10th with a two. one-run lead, the Manfred Man on second base. He gave up two runs on three walks and a hit, took his sixth blown save and third loss. And, you know, he's faltered a little bit here in the second half, and Kyle Finnegan has been so good since joining the Tigers. I just wonder at some point if they just throw more at Kyle Finnegan

and say, hey, man, you're the guy. Yeah, maybe. I honestly couldn't say the way age. Jay Hinch runs his bullpen. What's interesting about Vest, so let's see, Finnegan worked the ninth as, I'm not sure you mentioned that. Finnegan worked a scoreless ninth with a tie,

and then Vest came in with the save situation and blew it. Vest actually does have three of the Tigers past four saves. Yep. But it does seem like Finnegan handled the role that would normally go to the closer in this one. I don't know. It's, it pretty much seems like a 50-50 split right now, but anytime one of those two falters, it opens the door for the other to,

to claim the job outright. And so, yeah, I would say advantage Finnegan at the moment. All right, Scott, welcome back to stream or not to stream, your favorite, buddy. On Wednesday, we have Cade Cavali at the Yankees, Slade Sikone is facing the raise. Hmm, you Darvish at the Mariners. Ryan Bergert is at the White Sox.

Colin Ray at the Giants, Luis Morales against the Tigers. What do you think about Wednesday? Well, I'd rather not think about Wednesday, but since I have to, I am going to say that the best choices are Ryan Bergert. He has pitched surprisingly well for the Royals. Yeah.

Savale against the Royals, his opponent, on Wednesday. I could live with that too. You don't like it, huh? No. I mean, part of me just says Udarvish, just because he feels like you got a 50-50 shot at a really good start. Could be a really bad start. Random number generator.

Here we go. Right. U-Darvish. That kind of fits the description at the thing. this point in his career. Yeah. I'd rather not start any of them, but those are probably my three favorites, Bergerzegovale and Walker, or I'm sorry, and Darvish.

Yeah, I would go Darvish at the top, Bergeret next, and I like what Luis Morales has been doing. I picked him up in a few deeper leagues and, um, yeah, he did look good in his last start, especially. Yeah. I don't know how to feel about the tigers. They still rank as a good offense overall, but, uh, on paper, it doesn't see. doesn't look like a good offense.

Yeah. Even though it has been. All right. And then on Thursday, we have Braxton Ashcraft is at the Cardinals. Jose Cantana against the debacks. Jason Alexander faces the Rockies in Houston. I'm kind of surprised Alexander is still in the rotation, but since he is, that's probably your best bet.

Not that I'm eager to do it. Kintana against the Diamondbacks could be okay. I agree. Jason Alexander. I think Ashcraft is fine. And I like Kentana, I haven't trusted it all season. It's a tough matchup, but he's just been solid all year. So did Ashcraft go five. I guess he went five. Yeah, he did. And then Bob and Chandler followed him. Yeah. Chandler finished it out with four. But it could go the opposite. It could be Ashcraft for Chandler five, depending on how well Ashcraft is pitching. But he has pitched well. in his abbreviated start so far. All right, we're going to wrap there for Scott. I am Frank. Thanks as always for tuning into fantasy at 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. Paramount Podcasts.