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Joshua Baez's Historic Debut, Noah Cameron Shutout & More! (8/17 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

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 Joshua Baez's Historic Debut, Noah Cameron Shutout & More! (8/17 Fantasy Baseball Podcast)

The podcast discusses major MLB news and fantasy baseball implications. Joshua Bias's historic debut—three home runs in his first game—dominates the conversation, with hosts Frank and Scott debating his fantasy value. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, his power and speed upside make him a priority waiver pickup, though his roster rate is already high on CBS. Noah Cameron's continued dominance is highlighted, with his shift away from fastballs proving transformative, though Scott cautions against expecting ace-level sustainability. Other pitchers like Reed Deppers, Ryan Weathers, and Trevor Rogers are praised for recent improvements, with Deppers posting elite numbers over 15 starts and Weathers benefiting from ditching his four-seamer. Injury news includes Paul Schienz's schedule change raising red flags about his mechanics, Aaron Judge's potential month-long absence, and Vlad Jr.'s concussion, prompting replacement suggestions. The Nationals' move of CJ Abrams to second base hints at a potential Seaver King call-up, though it hasn't materialized yet. Logan Webb's back and shoulder tightness adds uncertainty to his next start. Overall, the episode emphasizes proactive roster management amid injuries and emerging talents.

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Welcome to the fantasy baseball today podcast from CBS Sports Got a fantasy question email fantasy baseball at CBS I dot com get ready to win your lead Now here's Frank Scott and Chris welcome to the banks Joshua buyers and welcome in to fantasy baseball today on Monday August 17th. I am Frank Samphold joint by Scott White today on the show Noah Cameron tossed a one hit shut out. He is on fire. We had a lot of injuries You need replacements. We'll get to waiver wire names and much more But there is only one place to start he has offered a center home or the left home or the right. Oh my goodness Oh my goodness indeed the carnal's promoted their top alphill prospect Joshua buyers on Saturday And he responded not one not two three homers in his debut the first time that has been done in major league history You had five RBI Homer to all fields center left right as you heard on the call The first home run an absolute bomb 108.6 exit velocity 449 feet and he is 23 years old He was a second-round pick back in 2021. We have talked a lot about Joshua buyers this season But man Scott you could not ask for a better debut than this one No, you can't there's never been a better debut for a hitter I would venture to say three home runs never been done and You know that first one especially was a bomb to center field 449 feet Yeah, like a guy who hit 33 34 home runs in the miners this year huge ex of velocities down there To see him put it to good use right away was definitely gratifying to those who had him stashed We have talked about a malat Joshua buyers this year as you say he was for the past several months Usually a part of my five on the verge in the the prospects report, but There was always a word of caution attached to that and basically Not a lot of contact being made over all very high strike out rate at triple A very low zone contact rate so he swings a misses a lot on pitches in the zone and in particular reading Reading about some of the analysis reading up on Some analysis from people on the cardinals beat this weekend. It seems like elevated fastballs are what give him the most trouble and so we'll see If that becomes an issue for Joshua buy is over time as the scouting report gets out It was facing Matthew Boyd in that first game Matthew Boyd who didn't seem to have a slider and obviously doesn't have a particularly hard fastball so Well, we'll see if if it becomes an issue for Joshua buy is over time But for now I Guy hits three home runs and his debut if he's available and you'll leave you pick him up And in fact, I think it's probably too late already in CBS sports leagues. Yeah, which tend to have Daily ad drops and tend to have a pretty active user base So already Joshua buy is this up over 80% rostered in CBS leagues, but if you have weekly Fabron or waiver wire run or he play on what the platforms were There isn't such an active user base. You still have a shot at buy as Again, he just had the best debut in for a hitter in history. So you pick him up like even Oh, do you sell high? I don't even know that's a conversation worth having because I presume most leagues trade deadlines are passed by now. Yep It really makes for simple straightforward analysis, but Obviously it doesn't It doesn't guarantee anything for Joshua buy is over the next six weeks You just have to be open to the possibility that You might be one of those rookies who comes up and makes a big splash right away You mentioned he's up to 80% rostered on CBS again. This is Josh bias that we're talking about That's 59% on Yahoo have to imagine it's even lower if you play on ESPN So on other platforms still could go out there and ad Joshua bias scout where would you rank him among the Recent young outfielders. I guess ones that have just been promoted or either other ones that have slowed down as well So I'm thinking about guys like Zach Veean who Homer again on Friday Someone like Max Clark who was called up a couple weeks ago. Maybe a month ago at this point But then other names like Esmeralyn Valdez who is kind of slowed down here. Where would you put Joshua bias among that group? I mean among those specific games probably one Probably number one. I mean Valdez has been cold enough for long enough that I'd take the shot on bias instead if that's if that's what it took And I think they profile similarly, but I think bias has more upside-down overall. He probably is gonna steal some bases And Valdez did and actually bias I think had more than 50 steals last year didn't run quite as much this year probably because he was too busy Humoring but But he has that as part of his skill set And even the strike out raid I should point out It got a little better over the course of this year not like steady improvement But it was 32% through May and it's been 27% since and that's meaningful improvement 27% is still bad against especially against triple A pitchers But it's observable and meaningful improvement that is worth mentioning It's been a little better than the overall rate over the last two and a half months Would you drop either of AJ Ewing who had slowed down and Sam Antonacci? He's kind of slowed down. He's not playing. It's left easy there. Would you drop those two in a shallow context for Joshua bias? I have a little more confidence in those two overall but They're not so high-ends that I think if that was my shot and Potentially winning the lottery here with bias. I'd still I'd still want to buy the ticket, you know Yep, now I get that again Amazing debut here for Cardinals prospect Joshua bias and the future is now. It's a fun time to be a Cardinals fan. Jordan Walker huge Breakout season this year obviously JJ weather hole having a great here as well and now you get Joshua bias on top of that So very very fun times in that St. Louis. Let's keep things moving and go over to Noah Cameron who tossed a one-hit Shutout at the angels He had eight strikeouts in that game to just one walk 21 swinging trikes on 115 pitches and he continues to do the thing that we want what is that thing? It's it's moving away from the force team fastball It's using his secondary pitches more his slider his change up both of those pitches were awesome in this one and Scott over his last five games four of those being starts 119 ERA 0.48 whip for Noah Cameron who's all the way up to 88% roster. There's not much actionable here, but Just got to talk about one of the hottest pictures and baseball right now Yeah, he had a little bit of a misstep last time out Against the Dodgers granted, but We wondered if maybe that was the end of this incredible run and then he bounces back with arguably his best start yet So you mentioned the overall numbers during that five yard a five-start stretch in four of the five starts He's had at least seven innings no more than three hits no more than one and run I'm in fact, I think it's a combined one and run between all four of those five starts and No fewer than seven strikeouts. So you don't Get starts better than that for the last five Cameron has delivered a start as good as you would expect for many pitcher and baseball and I Find the whole ex-span Splenation a little dubious that it could be this transformative calling his own pitches cutting back on the fastball not eliminating it entirely Just making it not the primary pitch anymore I Obviously he can't sustain this But it was good as a rookie and I kind of liked him coming into the year and I buy that I Buy that Cameron I Guess I'm mostly buy that Cameron is good again, but I don't buy that he's gonna be You know who's looks like in his last five starts not not even just literally like okay How do you buy a one eighteen ERA nobody's that good isn't that the number you said one eighteen one nineteen, but yes one nineteen But even just I I don't buy that Noah Cameron is suddenly an ace I do buy that like he's he's somebody you're gonna be happy roster you're gonna start him I don't know they're make up a point where you he gives you a reason to take him out You're lineup, but I doubt he gives you a reason to drop you over the last six weeks here. Yeah, I drop him and he is up to eighty eight percent rostered on CBS That being Noah Cameron. He's 70 percent started. So I think that number needs to be higher if you have Noah Cameron You got to pitch him the way that he's going right now. He gets the Tigers this week. It's not a you know incredibly tough matchup So yeah, Noah Cameron one of the the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. I do have three others that are trending up, like three kind of fringy names. I know like, Reed Debtmer's has kind of been a polarizing player. Most of his career, I guess you could say, as well as the season, but he was awesome. Against the Royals, H shut out innings, 11 strikeouts, 18 whiffs on 92 pitches here. He has a lot of three earn runs or fewer in six straight. And this is his second start with double digit strikeouts on the season, Ryan Weathers, another strong outing for him. This one at the Blue J7 and a third, one run, four strikeouts to one walk. Obviously not massive whiffs here, but it's one earned runner fewer in five straight games here for Ryan Weathers. Very interested to see what happens once Carl's word on his back. And Trevor Rogers, another quality start. This one at the raise, six innings, two runs, six strikeouts, 16 whiffs on 98 pitches, 10 of those on the fastball, which he did throw more in this one. And last 13 starts for Rogers. It is a 245-year-a 105-wip, 12% swinging strike rate. So doing some great things, these three, he's got any thoughts on Trevor Rogers, Ryan Weathers and Reed Deppers. Yeah, I really don't think Reed Deppers should be polarizing anymore. And I've been pointing this out his past several turns. So I'm going to point it out again. Updated numbers last 15 starts. That's basically half a major league season. And I haven't, I haven't cherry picked, I haven't removed any bad starts from those 15 starts. Last 15 starts for Reed Deppers. He has a 297-ERA.91 whip and 10.8-Kper-9. I mean, that's Cyan Caliber numbers. I'm not saying he's a Cyan contender, but I'm just saying over the last 15 starts, he's pitched that well. Held back by the angels not giving him run support, but I think also he'll help back by his own success. He'll have starts like this, H shut out innings with 11 strikeouts, eight two hit innings with 11 strikeouts. And people will want that version to keep showing up and variably he'll have a five and two thirds innings start with eight base runners allowed and people will get mad about that. But like every pitcher has ups and downs. The ups are so high for Deppers that he can afford to have a few more little missteps like that. That aren't really like awful starts, but they're just not as dominant as you're hoping for because you know what he's capable of in an individual start. But like just keep starting him because he's having a breakout season and he's been really good for again, 15 a 15 start stretch now. And then as for Ryan Weathers, you mentioned how good he's been. Recently it coincides with him more or less ditching his four seamer seven straight starts of throwing it 12% or less when for the season he throws it 23 24%. So he's cut the use in half more than that even in some starts during the seven start stretch. The strike out rate hasn't been as good, but like it's it was a pitch that wasn't doing any him any favors. I think the average X velocity on it is 95 miles per hour. So he's getting hit hard and just fading it has made a big difference for Weathers, not quite as big of a difference as it has for Noah Cameron. But enough that I think it has Weathers in the must roster range again. And I would have to think at this point, Will Warren is out of the rotation over him. I know earlier in the season that was questionable, Weathers wasn't pitching as well. And there were innings questions about him. But I think as late as we are into the season, I think that those questions are going to fall by the wayside. And Will Warren hasn't pitched nearly as well of late. Yeah, I think those are all fair points. I mean, the one thing with Weathers, you mentioned the innings, he is up to 134. And last year he threw just 38 in a third. His velocity was also down in this most recent start. His fastball down almost two miles per hour. His sweeper down a 1.4 miles per hour. So look, he still had success in the start. And it has been really good lately. But I do wonder if that factors into the Yankees decision at all. I don't think that it should just because again, he has been so much better than Will Warren. But he's 100 innings over where he was last year. So it's a talking point. Well, let me see. So he has two more years of control. He left after this one. So they do have more of a longer term investment in Weathers, not like he's just called up and they're looking at six, seven years of control. But still. Yeah, I don't know. He's pitched so well. And at some point, you do have to take the reins off. He's six years into his career at this point. Obviously not all of those are full seasons for service time. But he's been around a while. And obviously if he starts struggling, it changes the calculation, but he clearly isn't right now. All right, before we hit our first break, make sure to like this video and subscribe on YouTube. If you haven't already, let's take that break. And we'll be back right after this. What is Toyota Fortability? It's buying smart. Right now your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market, like the off-road Ready Tacoma, Rugged, Full-size Tundra, and legendary forerunner, all with the space tech and features to handle it all. 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And first up, we have Paul Schienz, who had his next scheduled start moved from Sunday to Wednesday. Don Kelly indicated that there is no injury. They just wanted to get him more rest. This just doesn't feel right, Scott. The vibes are just way off with Paul Schienz right now. I mean, it hasn't felt right for a while now. Now, it may not be health-related, it may be, and just not something that's detectable yet or not, something that the pirates are willing to report yet or whatever, 'cause they think it's too minor. It could be, I don't know. But did you, I don't think I was on after Paul Schienz last start. Did you and Chris talk about the Tom Verducci video that he put out? We might have mentioned it, but you could go ahead and break that down. Comparing Schienz delivery from earlier this year to the Strutwery struggle, basically, which began, I think in June. You know, at the start of the year, Paul Schienz was looking for like Paul Schienz. It really fell off mid-season, and he basically changed so that his delivery was more straight to the plate rather than having kind of a crossfire effect. And that seems to have compromised the effectiveness of his fastball. And that's basically it, yeah, just that. He pointed it out in video, of course, but doing a side-by-side, you can notice the difference in how Schienz is moving toward the plate on his delivery. And because it coincides with the struggles, there probably is something to it. So, you know, it could be health-related, but mechanics are always at issue two, and at least by what Tom Verducci has observed, it seems like it may very well be mechanical, which would be better, but obviously they have to take the time to fix it if that's the case. - Mm-hmm. Would you automatically start Paul Schienz, if you have him? It looks like if he does actually pitch Wednesday, it would be against the Tigers. - Pretty good matchup. - I can't say it's automatic at this point, but I probably wouldn't. - All right, Aaron Judge began playing catch on Friday. Aaron Boone said Saturday that Judge could be clear to return in about a month, but there is still no official timeline for Judge. Juan Soto did win Sprints Friday and said he intends to play again this season. He is on the IEL with a catch train. Nationals manager Blake Utteris said James Wood has been progressing from that left oblique strain more slowly than the team had hoped, so probably not back at all this week as well. So, you can keep James Wood in your IEL spot or on the bench. Speaking of the Nationals, they moved CJ Abrams to second base this weekend, so he will have presumably second. base and shortstop eligibility for next season. Scott, do you think this is prepping for a potential seaver king promotion, moving Abrams over to second base? I mean, it could be Kings been playing some second base himself in the minors. It hasn't actually happened yet, right? They made it sound like it was going to be immediate, but Abrams has not, has, did not appear at second base over the weekend. He can do start a shortstop. So that's weird then. I didn't actually look at, I assumed the play second base because that's what they said was going to have. No, no, he hasn't done it yet. So I don't know why it hasn't happened yet until it does. It's obviously just an idea, despite what was reported. Not seem new, Niaz is a better defender and maybe they're happy to just write out, write it out with him at shortstop, but he's not a long term answer there. And they have several middle and field prospects working their way up the pipeline. Seaver King would appear to be first in line. He's at a great year of triple A. And I would say the odds are better than not that we see him at some point over the next six weeks. So there was some reporting that they still plan to play CJ Abrams a couple of times per week at shortstop, but that he will be their primary second baseman. So I don't know. It's kind of weird. I think if you're going to commit to him playing second base, why not just do that and not really messing around with shortstop anymore. But I think it makes sense too, because he grades out terribly defense. So it seemed inevitable, but technically hasn't happened yet. Yeah. Vlad Jr. was placed on the seven day concussion I L after colliding with George Lombard on Friday. If you are looking for replacements, I mean, you probably have been looking for replacements all season for Vlad Jr. But Josh Bell and Abamellek Ortiz are both on Scott sleeper hitters for this upcoming week. So those are two first base corner infield types that you can use in lieu of Vlad Jr. Logan Webb left his start after 80 pitches Saturday due to back and shoulder tightness. And he did pitch well before leaving six innings one run seven strikeouts to zero walks. His velocity was fine across the board. Scott, did you see anything else here on Logan Webb? He is 77% started on CBS and he is at the red socks this week. I'm not entirely sure he's going to make a start. Yeah, I'm not either, but I haven't seen anything other than him leaving the game with the issue. He was pitching well, by the way. Yep. I would hesitate to play him. If we don't get any updates between now and lineup lock, I think you got to think it's a better safe than sorry situation. Jacob DeGrom had imaging on his right triceps, which confirmed the fatigue that he was dealing with. And it's good news that it's not anything more than that. But obviously it's an arm related injury for DeGrom who's dealt with a lot and still seems if he for his next scheduled start. So similar situation. Would you maybe play it safe and not use Jacob DeGrom this week? Yeah, the impression I got from reading the quote, which I don't have right in front of me, but the impression I got was that it was even less than if he seemed unlikely. He was going to make his next start. So I would sit Jacob DeGrom. Hunter Goodman has missed three straight due to left shoulder inflammation and it's bad timing because the Rockies have six games at home this week, four against lefties. So obviously it would line up pretty well here for Hunter Goodman. So let's let's follow the news and see if he is in the lineup on. Let's see if they play on Monday or if it's a Tuesday game. It is they play on Monday at eight 40. So hopefully Hunter Goodman is in the lineup for that game. We need that next up. Traitor and her left early Saturday after fouling a ball off his right knee. He was out of the lineup on Sunday. Thoughts on using Traitor and this week. I would robably use him still like I think it's probably it sounds like more of a day to day situation than a serious injury. He hasn't been amazing this year. So if you had good alternatives, it wouldn't be a bad idea to sit him just for that reason. But if he's your best option, then I think you're probably fine with it. I'm trying to look more into this Logan web thing. So I saw the diagnosis of shoulder tightness, which sounds more like a pitching injury. But apparently he just took a come backer off of it. And that's why he left not so much. He was hurt throwing a pitch, which makes me feel a lot better. You know, they they called him day to day. I think it was probably just precautionary. I feel better about using web this week based on reading that. All right. Next up, Bryce Terang missed all three games this weekend with left knee discomfort, but he's trending towards a return on Tuesday. So I think you should be all right to go with Bryce Terang there. Justin Robleski was placed in the aisle with left forearm inflammation. He lied four earned runs over six innings on Saturday. Two more homers allowed ten hard hits in that game. His velocity was up quite a bit. So perhaps that contributed to this arm related injury. And last four starts for Robleski, eight sixty nine ERA one fifty eight with eleven home runs allowed. So if you play in a league with no aisle spots or precious aisle spots, can we drop Justin Robleski? I think that's probably okay. He hadn't been pitching well recently anyway. And the Dodgers were going to have to manage his innings at some point. I'm not saying this is a fake injury, but I'm saying something was bound to happen to take him out of the rotation at least for a stretch. And I know they got five strong with Adam at this point with Blake's now looking really strong in his return and Tyler Glass now is close behind. So I don't know how much room there's going to be for Robleski even when he's healthy again. All right. Next up Dan's be swanston is going on the aisle with an oblique injury. So that should mean more playing time for Pedro Ramirez. If you play in a deeper league, you could take a shot on Ramirez replacements. Cole Carrick now has shortstop eligibility on CBS. He is seventy five percent roster. George Lumbar at seventy one. Willie Castro with the full home game full slate of games in course field this week. He's 51 percent rostered and then some slightly deeper names at shortstop on hell. Who's thirty five percent rostered. There's killing Cole pepper at thirty three. Chase my draw at fifty percent and Andrew Monasterio who's been playing pretty well getting lots of playing time twenty seven percent rostered for him. Not much help in my twenty fourteen dynasty league with the playoffs. Are about to begin now. No, no, no, no help for somebody who lost dance be swans there. Hmm. Who is the best of it? Like what are you? Who are you adding to try and replace? I don't want to say. I can tell you right now. I'm not picking them up, but I guess someone else might. I think the best pure short. Probably like Joseph Forties among those eligible shortstop. I think Jim Jarvis is out there. He's been playing a lot but not doing a lot. Yeah. It's not good. It's not great. I maybe should have traded for Swiss army and I physique you'll deron at the deadline as I had a deal in place to do before you came knocking. Haha. And sent me down another path. Little did I know about this dance be swans in injury coming down the pike. Hmm. That's that's how it is with injuries. You know, that's how it is, especially in a league that deep man. It is so tough. 2014 head to point sleek. I can tell Marta left early Friday with knee soreness and then miss Saturday, but he did return to line up on Sunday. Quinn Mathews is getting called up to start game one of the Cardinals double header on Monday. No clue if he will stick around. He's 27% rostered. It's got to have any interest in using Quinn Mathews. I would guess just one start at the reds on Monday. Not really. Not a lot of interest. Deep leaks maybe. It's a pretty good matchup. Roman Anthony will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday. He's been out since early May due to a sprained wrist and finger. He is still 86% rostered. So mostly he's still rostered, but I did see a few NFBC leagues where it's harder to hold on to injured guys where Roman Anthony was available. So leagues like that. I would try and pick him back up. It was originally reported that Cody Belinger would begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, but Aaron Bone, a boon apparently misspoke. And it sounds like Belinger will start rehab later this week, perhaps Thursday or Friday. Sam Wilbesiah started a rehab assignment at AAA on Sunday. So he is inching closer to return. Tyler Soterstrom went on the aisle with a left hip impingement and a couple outfielders on Scott sleeper hitters for this week. Cole Carrig, Stephen Kwan, Chandler Simpson, Willie Castro, Zach Gelloff, Ryan Walchemet and on Hill Martinez. Did you leave those two on there? Scott. I know you said you updated your sleep. Yeah. The only one I removed is Nolan Aranato because it sounds like he's probably going on the aisle and put Jake Berger in his place. But that's those aren't outfielders. So well, if you're using Tyler Soterstrom at first or corner, couple of first based sleeper hitters, we have Willie Castro, Josh Bell, Abamele Cortes and I guess Josh Berger. Jake Berger is on that list. Jake Berger. Not Josh Berger. Don't know who that is. - I'm not sure, Brad. Why's that somebody? Like a football or something? - I think I'm thinking of Josh Booty, not Josh Berger. (laughs) - I have no idea. Wilson took part in on field batting practice on Friday. You mentioned, no one Aaron Otto left Sunday with an intercostal strain. He did have a two home or game on Saturday, but I would guess that winds up in an IEL Stint. Griffin jacks through from 120 feet on Friday. He is on the IEL with an elbow injury. The Cubs reinstated Edward Cabrera on Sunday. David Peterson was moved to the bullpen, and Edward Cabrera was terrible. Three and two thirds, ending seven runs allowed. Apparently he was dealing with a blister. He's 51% rostered. I was gonna ask if you have any interest in Edward Cabrera, but being bad and hurt, it seems like a bad combination. (laughs) - No, I didn't even before he pitched to be honest. So the plot thickens on Josh Booty. He only professionally. He only did play baseball, but he was better known as a quarterback for the LSU Tigers. So football and baseball, but professionally just baseball, and now he's 51 years old. Life comes that fast. - That has been your Josh Booty up to here on Monday, August 17th. Joe Musgrove made another rehab start on Friday, four and two thirds, ending five runs, five strikeouts. He did get up to 70 pitches. His fastball average around 95 miles per hour, which is up to miles per hour from where it was two years ago. He is 35% rostered. I remain interested in stashing Joe Musgrove. - I'm not even sure it's the same Josh Booty. I'm sorry. It might be different Josh Booty. - I've only been doing it's going on. - I'm gonna stop talking about Josh Booty now. - And talk about Joe Musgrove. - Yeah, I think, obviously this results here on Friday weren't very good, but the velocity's been up. And I think that's more what we care about as he's working his way from injury. And that's it. - All right, Felix Booty. So could begin a rehab assignment in late August. He is seven percent rostered and perhaps somebody who could pick up saves in the month of September. So just pay attention to Felix Batista. Luis Severino is not expected to return this season. He's been out since May 30th with a shoulder injury. The Astros demoted Ronell Blanco to Triple A. You say Kucci could rejoin at the Angels rotation this week. He is 13% rostered, but he was having a pretty terrible year. Don't think we have interest in you say Kucci. And other names who went on the aisle this weekend Masataka Yoshita with a left hamstring strain, Abner Arebe with a rake forearm flexor strain and Colt Emerson was actually placed on the major league aisle with left wrist inflammation. He was not sent down to the minors as originally reported. Let's take our final break when you return but your waiver wire names from the weekend and we'll get to those right after this. Welcome back fantasy baseball today. And let's hit the waiver wire pictures from the weekend and the name up at the top, IMO. Jacob Lopez, another solid outing here. This one against the Rangers six innings, two runs, six strikeouts, 14 whiffs on 93 pitches. His velocity was down across the board. So something to watch. Don't know if it was intentional, but his slider was really good, even with less velocity here. And in six starts since re entering the rotation, 248 year A110 whip. And he is at the Astros this week who actually aren't very good against lefties. So 39% rostered. I feel like that number should be my tires got for Jacob Lopez. - I think so too. You missed out on the Great Two Star week already. So that's disappointing. And I think he'll remain volatile in that when things go wrong for him, they go really wrong but we're seeing him at his best right now and it's very useful. Jacob Lopez and we saw it down the stretch last year. I can, he can at his best he can be dominant and he has been lately. - I don't remember exactly. Did you have Jacob Lopez at the top of that list from last week, the Castillo, Mali, Leahy, Bonilla? - Group. - Oh, like in terms of how rostered they should be? - No, just your, like how would you rank them basically? Who do you like most for us of season? I think you had Lopez at the top of that list, right? - Of those names you mentioned, I think so but I mean, obviously I do now. Even if I didn't then, it was probably more important. - Yeah. Couple of names here between 60 and 80% rostered. So, shallow league names, Bryce Elder. He's 78% rostered. A lot of people picked him up for the Two Star week this week. The first star was terrible. This other one was much better. Six innings one run, five strikeouts to one walk. The velocity down here for Bryce Elder, who is at the Brewers this week. Don't really love that matchup. Branden fought a great outing here at your Atlanta Braves. Got seven shutout innings, seven strikeouts, zero walks. Different than the other starts we've seen. He actually picked up swinging strikes in this one. He looked really, really good. And Branden fought now, zero earned runs in four straight, seven innings in three of those. And nine starts since returning to the D-backs, 115 ERA.88 Whip. He is at the Red Sox later this week. Joey Cantillo, great outing at the podget, we'll get back to him in a second. But Cantillo is great against the podget, six innings one hit one run with seven strikeouts. He did throw that curveball a lot again, and it was very good. And Clay Holmes, much better in his second cup start. This one against the Cardinals, six and two thirds shutout, one hit one walk, three strikeouts for him. He gets the White Sox later this week. Scott, how would you rank these four? Clay Holmes, Joey Cantillo, Branden Fought and Bryce Elder. - I mean, I think I have to put Fought at the top at this point. But, you know, I'm still skeptical. You said last nine starts 115 ERA.88 Whip. That's amazing. What you left out was 4.9 Kper 9. - No. - You got it, which is, you know, even if it was 6.9 Kper 9, it could be like, yeah, you know, but it's a lot of weak ground errors. You could probably make it 4.9. It's like that you don't ever see a Kper 9 rate that low anymore. And so, I mean, obviously he had nine per nine and this late is starting against the brave. So I guess you could argue it's trending up. And, you know, it's, I just said he belongs at the top of this list. I think rather than just harp on the negative for Fought, you know, there are negatives for Bryce Elder, Joey Kentillo, Clay Holmes too. I just think it's easier to see the negatives with them. And right now, you could have Rose colored glasses for Fought. I don't know that you can just count on him to be a fixture in your line up the rest of the way. But, sure, he should be rostred at this point more rostred than these other three. And maybe the strikeouts will pick up and it'll be harder to say anything negative about him at that point. I'm open to weak ground ball specialists having fantasy value. I mean, it's, I think I've been pretty positive about Andre Palante all year. And so, I mean, if, if Fought can just miss Bats at even that rate, I think there's a path for him being successful here. But 4.9 is really low. - Mm-hmm. I do wanna just, again, give him credit, credit where it's due here for Brandon Fought. Especially the last three against the Braves Dodgers and Padres, Padres who are the best offense and baseball in the second half, really tough matchups. And he's doing what he's doing against these teams right now, these tough lineups. So shout out to Brandon Fought, who is not walking anybody. He is not giving up hard context. He's getting ground balls. But again, not missing many bats there at the Red Sox later this week. Did you have anything else you wanted to add on Elder Cantillo or Clay Holmes? - Oh, not really. I feel like we know the story with Cantillo, especially though, he did what he did against the Padres also. I think his worth pointing out and stressing. Elder, you know, Elder's turn around has happened with him fading the slider. He's six straight starts now and he's got a 3.34 ERA during that stretch, 120 whips, 6.9 Kpernine. So fading the slider, Elder's basically turned into Andre Palante. I don't know what the ground ball rate is for him during that stretch. I think it's improved over where it was earlier. But there obviously isn't the same history of success there. And I'd be very wary of it. Obviously his start prior to this one, Elder, wasn't very good. And was there something different for Holmes? Or did he just kind of, velocity was down a little bit from his first start? - Yeah. - I have the most hope for Holmes, I would say, other than, thought I guess he'd probably be second on this list in terms of how much I want to roster him. - Yeah, with Joey Cantillo, by the way, he's also at the Rockies this week. So as this one, far. I get using him, but really tough match of going into course field for Joey Cantillo. Three more names here. Michael McGreevy turned in a quality start at the Cubs. Six innings three, unearned runs with six strikeouts. He is at the reds later this week. Nick Ladolo, solid outing against the Marlins. Five shout out innings, two walks, two strikeouts for him. Did use his sinker a little bit more in this one. It was all right. The curveball has been playing differently since returning. I know he has a modified grip on that pitch. He's at the debax this week. Shane Bieber shut down the Yankees. Six innings one run, five strikeouts. Seems very fortunate for him. He gave up 12 hard hits in this one. He threw just 58% of his pitches for strikes. He had just five swinging strikes on 84 pitches. He is at Tampa Bay this week. I am not overly interested in using any of them. Probably McGreevy at the reds would be at the top of this kind of streamer group. I guess you could say. McGreevy, Ladolo, and Bieber. Yeah, I had to remove. Who did I remove? I had to remove Shane Drowin from the Sleeper Pitcher's list for this week because his matchup changed from a good opponent to a bad opponent. And I consider putting Michael McGreevy in as the replacement. Ultimately, I went with a two-star brand-in-young instead. McGreevy would have been 11th among my Sleeper Pitchers for this week with that starved at Cincinnati. McGreevy isn't as much of a ground ball pitcher as you might think as he's been in the past and he gives up hard contact. So I'm a little worried about him in Cincinnati. But he's been fairly reliable in spite of that. Obviously not tons of upside, but pretty high floor. Two follow-ups here. Obviously last week, lots of talk about Jackson Job and Sean Monaya. Job got rocked by the White Sox three and two-thirds and he's six runs. Two homers allowed in this one. Pretty normal pitch mix in velocity, but clearly just didn't have it, gave up lots of hard contact. And Sean Monaya not as good this tie around against the Nationals who typically hit lefty as well. I thought perhaps he could have more success with no James Wooden line up. But it was four runs, over six and a third. Two homers allowed. Still had seven strikeouts and 17 swinging strikes on 93 pitches and the Velocis up for Sean Monaya. So I don't think there's any way you could use Jackson Job coming off the start he just had. He gets the pirates. They're really good against Rayhanda pitching. Sean Monaya, while the final line was like kind of mixed here, I still like that he got a lot of whiffs and the Velocis use up. So at the White Sox as a spark, like I could see using Monaya in a point like this week. Yeah, I can see it too. I don't think it's the worst idea. I'm torn on him because of course I do like that he got all those whiffs against the Nationals, even if the overall result was less than awesome. I don't like that he brought back the sinker because remember that was the main source of enthusiasm, at least for me, when he dominated the pirates in his previous outing 11 strikeouts and seven innings, he went just he just brought back the two pitch focus that made him so dominant with the lower arm angle down the stretch in 2024. sinker has not played very well for him particularly from that lower arm angle. And it seemed like maybe he recognized that in the start with the pirates and just got rid of it. Well, he brought it back to about its normal usage against the Nationals here in this start. And so I'm less enthusiastic about Monaya because of that because it turned out to be just a one off that arsenal change. But you know, he's he's done apart from that 11 strikeout. He's been decent now for a few starts. And so I think he's at least in the streamer conversation. Slide over to the waiver wire hitters from the weekend. And I have a trio of athletics. Zach Gelloff has looked great since returning. He went two for five with his 14th home run to RPI believe that was on Sunday has three homers in his past six games. And he's 70% rostered has second third and outfield eligibility. I moved Gelloff up to 16 in my third base rankings. And yeah, I think he's close to a must roster player. He's been a really good when he's played this year. And obviously using him at third base is a big boost right now. Lawrence Butler has homered in four of his last five games. He has started 17 straight. And in the second half, he's hitting 242 six homers three seals 812 OPS and Henry Bolte who I know sky you just there's no way I could get you to buy it on Henry Bolte. But back to back three hit games. He homered on Saturday. Again three for five with a run on Sunday. And he's looked really good in August 339 three homers two seals 927 OPS. Your thoughts here on a trio of eights that go off Lawrence Butler and Henry Bolte. Gelloff is trending the right direction for sure. And I would say if you need help at any of those positions or just need a versatile guy again that's second third now field then he should be added. Yeah, I haven't mugged the sleeper hitters for this week. It is a full week of road games, which if you look at the splits for Gelloff doesn't favor him. I still have among the sleeper hitters because you know that picking picking a bump from a bunch of guys who are less than 80% rostered in bid august you have to you have to just cross your fingers sometimes and hope for the best. But you know most of his damage comes at home. It's worth noting. Butler was on last week's sleeper hitter list and turned out to be pretty good call I guess. You do have to play the matchups with him a little more being a left handed hitter in addition to probably doing the home way thing. I haven't don't have his splits off the top of my head. How Butler's been doing on the road? I can pull those up. Okay. And then Bolte I mean the problem is he has he has strikeout issues but even beyond that he puts the ball on the ground 60% of the time. Yeah he does. He is a treat. I think he's in a treating athlete. He's just the sprint speed and the bat speed but yeah the ground ball rate is is very high. He definitely hits the ball hard enough. I just question the angle off the bat and how often he hits the ball. So since he's headed out on a road trip this week like the rest of the athletics I don't know that now's the time to use Henry Bolte and like I'm open to him being good at some point in the future. I'm just not sure it's there yet. Yeah. Lawrence Butler by the way this is not the week to use him on the road hitting 169 with a 504 OPS. So yeah stay away from Lawrence Butler. What about Alec Bome who had a big weekend five for five with two runs and an RBI on Saturday two for four with his 14th Homer for RBI on Sunday and so far in the second half he's hitting 327 with three homers 21 RBI and eight 53 OPS. We know he had the terrible first month of the season. He has been much better basically since May onward. He's 54% rostered. Now first and third base eligible but obviously just much more useful at third base. Who'd you rather add I guess for third base Alec Bome or Zach Elf? Gel off pretty easily. The first month was terrible for Bome but in May he hit 277. Okay that's not bad. That's not where he's just seeing Alec Bome but it's not bad 277. June was 247. July was 226. August has been great but I guess I'm just saying like yes it has been better since April. April being as bad as it was but it's not like he's looked like Alec Bome again. And ball prediction I'm not sure he signs as a starter anywhere next year. It's free agent. Not a very good defender at third base right handed hitter with poor on base skills and a best C grade power. I don't know that he's I don't know there's going to be a full time or anywhere. Two guys who you can move all over the diamond Luis Renjivo hit another home run this weekend. 27 games with the Padres. 323 four homers 16 runs three steals and 884 OPS has second third in outfield eligibility and Tim Tallah. He's actually been good for a while now. He homered on Friday. He had two more hits on Saturday last 32 games 282 six homers 21 RBI five steals and hitting the ball hard during that stretch 93.2 average EV 11% barrel rate first second third and outfield eligible Scott who do you like more as like a versatile piece Luis Renjivo or Tim Tallah. Don't like either that much. I've kind of intrigued by Tallah with the way he's hitting the ball at least how hard he's hitting the ball. Yeah, I think there's probably a little more juice there. But it's it's not a lot of enthusiasm for me. All right two deeper catchers in two catcher leagues. Can we get at a water Valencia more playing time because he's looked pretty good in a small sample. He is six home run on Saturday. He also had two hits on Friday in 19 games. He's hitting 389 with six homers and a 1244 OPS and Rafael Flores of the pirates. He has started four straight. He went three for four with his fourth home run on Friday. I mentioned this last week, but his numbers in the miners terrible this year, but they were very good last year. He came over to the pirates in the David Beddar trade. But you know, two I would say 15 team two catcher leagues names here at Eduardo Valencia, Rothaeth. Flores, do you have any deeply interest there? - Yeah, and some of those deep two catcher leagues where I didn't like my second catcher probably because I lost one to injury. Like I had Miguel Amaya starting in one. It's like, okay, I'll throw a dollar Raphael Flores and if nobody else does, I'll slot him in for Amaya. That seems like a low risk move for a player who at least at this time last year looked, looked like he might be something and it was off to a good start. So there may be something there for Flores, but I'm talking a deeply two catcher scenario still only place where I'm taking that shot. - Yep, starter set these pitchers this week. Hunter Brown struggled with control once again this time against the Mariners, five innings, two runs, five walks, five strikeouts, only had five swinging strikes on 90 pitches and he threw just 56% of his pitches for strikes. His third outing with five or more walks this season and he is home against the athletics this week. They're dealing with a lot of injuries, obviously better to get them in Houston. What do you think about using Hunter Brown? He just hasn't looked right since coming back from that shoulder injury. - I think it's mainly just control and this is something we saw from him earlier in his career. So from a long term perspective, I'm not especially worried, but for the here and now, it does make him less the most start. I think this matchup is fine if you wanna use them, if you have other options that you're aching to use, though I think it's also fine to sit Brown. - What about Michael Soroka who fell one out short of a quality start at the Atlanta Braves for a Venge game, a long time coming revenge game there for Mike Soroka. Five and two thirds, two runs, five strikeouts to one walk. He, in his first two starts back, it's 10 innings, two runs, nine strikeouts to four walks. And he is home against the reds this week, 59% started. What do you think about Soroka? - I think it's okay. He wasn't on my sleeper pitchers list, well, I guess he couldn't be 'cause he's 91% rostered and come to think of it, I looked into it to see if I could put him on my sleeper pitchers list. So I guess he is more startable than, let's say, let's say the bottom half of my sleeper pitcher list. So I'd go with Ian C. Moore over him, two start Kyle Lehi, Dustimae, two start Andre Poulante, two start Tyler Malley, but if those are all off the board, then Soroka's fine. - All right, some other pitching leftovers. Ace is being ace is the Miz. Jacob Mizierowski and other strong outing this one at the Dodgers, six innings one run, six strikeouts to one walk. He had 17 whiffs on 98 pitches, has a quality start in three straight, and he looks completely built back up. I know we did have some scare like right before the all-star break, but looks like he is built back up. That's the Miz. Terrick Scoobal, a tough loss against the Brewer, six innings two runs, one of those earned seven strikeouts had 18 whiffs on 109 pitches, moved away from that sinker. So I thought that was a good sign for Scoobal. Chris Sale took a tough loss against the D-back, six innings one run, that nine strikeouts, zero walks, and Yoshi Noble Yamamoto, he had a great outing here against the Brewer, six innings one run, nine strikeouts, 13 whiffs on 97 pitches, and three earned runs are fewer in 13 of his last 14 starts. So very consistent here for Yamamoto. It's got anything on him, Chris Sale, Scoobal, or the Miz. - So if you'll remember, I pointed out a concerning maybe a little strong, but a trend I didn't like for Terrick Scoobal last time out. He had had three starts this year with 30% sinkers or more, and two of them were his first two starts with dodgers. And he wasn't getting many strikeouts in either, and I just wondered if that was part of the game plan with him, if you were gonna see a lesser version of Terrick Scoobal, because of his emphasis on the sinker. Well, in his third start with the dodgers here against the Brewer's on Sunday, he threw just 13% sinkers. So pretty normal usage got 18 whiffs on 100 nine pitches. Seven strikeouts and six innings won't blow you away, but it was against the Brewer's. He got a lot of whiffs. I think that concern to the degree it was a concern is basically gone. Mr. Rowsky, I still think they're gonna have to do something. Maybe it'll just be the last couple weeks of September. They give him a couple of three innings starts or something like that. Presumably they'll have the division more or less locked up by then, and obviously they'll want to use them as much as they can stand in the playoffs if they're looking to go anywhere. And the innings, they gotta be careful with that with Mr. Rowsky and they get afford to be because they have such a big lead best record in the NL central, or I'm sorry, in the NL baseball, all the baseball, in fact. The one hesitation there is that the cubs are by far the best wild card team. So right now the Brewer's lead is only five games for as good as their record is, but I'm talking like a month from now, how big will the lead be, how many, what will their magic number be at that point in time? And I could see them pulling the reins a bit on Mr. Rowsky if they've got it basically locked up. - All right, some more aces here, Dylan Cees, another double-ditted strikeout start against the Yankees, six and a third, two runs, 10 strikeouts, 14 whiffs on 104 pitches. His velocity remains down, this is now five starts in a row, where he's kind of started slow and then the velocity builds up over the start, but like, he's still been amazing during that stretch, so not sure that it really matters for Dylan Cees. Chase Burns, a great outing, gets the Marlin's seven shout out innings with eight strikeouts to zero walks. Hazel Sousardo, another strong outing for him, this one at the twins, six and two thirds, one run, nine strikeouts, 17 swinging strikes on 109 pitches, and Brian, woo, a quality start on the road. How about that at the Asheros, six innings, two runs, five strikeouts to one walk. Now that's two starts on the road, this past week, 11 innings, two runs, 10 strikeouts to two walks, so there you go. Good science here for Brian Wu, anything else on him, Luzardo, Chase Burns, and Dylan Cees. So Cees, I'm sorry, not Cees Burns, Chase Burns going seven innings was a surprise, in part because, let's see, it's been a long time since he had gone even six. Eight of his previous 10 starts were less than six innings, so it seemed like the reds were really cutting back on Chase Burns usage, and I was lowering him in my rest of season rankings, little by little as a result. So to come back with seven here, I think is a good sign, but not that there's been any drop in effectiveness. Cees, Dylan Cees' velocity has been down now, I believe it's five starts in a row, but his numbers during that time are better than his season long numbers across the board. 162, we are 8.81 Whip, 12.4 Cape R9. - Wow. - With the velocity being down. - Yeah. - So it seems to be working for him. I'm guessing it's probably intentional. Part of the Blue Jays continued efforts to have him in the strike zone more. And yeah, it's nice to see Brian Wu come through in a couple of road starts as you point out. It's a good two-star week for him. It's good to see. - All right, next group of pitching leftovers here, Sandy took a tough loss at the reds, seven innings one run, four walks to two strikeouts, but he has a quality start in 12 of his last 14 outings. Again, that's Sandy, our concert, Girocol, a tough loss at the Blue Jays, six innings, two runs, one of those earned five strikeouts here, three earn runs are fewer in H straight. I will point out the whiffs have been down once again, just an 8% swinging strike rate in three August starts for Girocol, Emerson Hancock, a great outing at the Astros seven innings, two runs, H strikeouts, 16 whiffs on 97 pitches. I've wanted him to use the sweeper more and he actually did that in this outing and it was a great one for Emerson Hancock. So very consistent overall the season, Sunny Gray, yet another quality start for him. He was at the pirate seven shutout innings, seven strikeouts to one walk, and he also has a quality start in 12 of his last 14 outings, going six plus innings in 13 of those. So lots of consistency there for him as well. Sunny Gray, Emerson Hancock, Girocol, and Sandy Al Contours, got anything on this group. - I don't think I have any noteworthy observations, really. I would say Emerson Hancock's performance was the most noteworthy, but I didn't see anything that really pointed to a change in approach or anything like that. I think it was just a good start. For Petr, he's had a good year, but this was a particularly good start for Emerson Hancock. I do wanna point out in the chat, somebody mentioned Brian Wu having an injury here on Sunday, and it's true he left with shoulder discomfort. It was reported. - Oh. - That's not great. - But Adam Jude of the Seattle Times said, "But he quickly shrugged it off post-game," quote, "Nothing I'm concerned about." We'll see if the mariners are concerned about it, but Wu thinks it's no big deal. Obviously putting them on the IEL for a couple weeks would make for a clear path for Kate Anderson. I don't know when Kate Anderson last started, but obviously Wu just started, so the spot to fill on the rotation would be five days from now. But yeah, something to keep in mind. You should already be stashing Kate Anderson, but this might be his ticket in. - Kate Anderson's most recent start was the 14th, so on Friday. So that could make some sense. Brian Wu, by the way, is home against the Cubs this week. So Cubs tough matchup, but you would hate to miss a Brian Wu home start. Obviously he's been so good at home this year, so we'll have to see if there's any more news on this. Before we set lineups here on Monday. - Last group of pitching leftovers, Eduardo Rodriguez. Keeps getting away with it. Another one, six innings, two runs, five strikeouts, a zero walks at the Atlanta Braves. Casey May shut down the Guardian, six shut out with three strikeouts for him. He has just a 5.4% swinging strike rate over his last four starts, so the lines have been okay. There was one really bad start in there, but the strikeouts have really gone away for Casey Mayes. Yuri Perez shut down the reds, despite the walks here, five walks over six shut out innings, also had five strikeouts, 16 whiffs on 100 pitches, and Logan Henderson out-dueled Terrick Scoobal at the Dodgers on Sunday, seven innings, one runs, six strikeouts, 15 whiffs on 93 pitches, has gone six plus innings and three straight. I think that's a really good sign there for Logan Henderson. It's got anything on him. Yuri Perez, Casey Mayes, and Erod. It's probably worth following up on Eduardo Rodriguez's previous start because that was against the Dodgers, he struck out nine, but most notably, he had this different looking change. If it was down three miles per hour, it was responsible for 11 whiffs. Through a 26% of the time, 11 whiffs. Velocity was done on the changeup again, and this later started against the Braves, but it got zero whiffs. Any 3 to 11% of the time. So it's not the magic trick that's going to make Eduardo Rodriguez look more sustainable in our eyes. Yet it continues to pitch well for reasons that elude us. And I don't know, I can't tell you to set him if he keeps doing these sorts of things for you, but I remain skeptical of it. Logan Henderson, honestly, the only concern we had about him was would the Brewers let him pitch that third time through the lineup, or would he just always be a five-in-a-guy? This is now three starts in a row, six innings or more. And in fact, the last two have been more than six innings, career high seven here, against the Dodgers, and three hits allowed. And he held the Dodgers to two hits and his start against them earlier this year. So Logan Anderson's really good. And is becoming increasingly so, increasingly good. - The last pitching left over, I just want to mention here, Gavin Williams is human, after all, he took a step back, five runs allowed, over four and a third, he walked four, two homers allowed in that start as well, but he was so ridiculously good before this. His previous six starts, 258 ERA 0.63 whip, 62 strikeouts to five walks, over 38 and a third, which is just an incredible strike out ray and just KetaWalk number there for Gavin Williams. So bad start, but he had been so money before that. Some hitting left over as Miguel Vargas had a big game here on Friday, four from five with a double-dong. He homered again on Sunday. He is now up to 28 homers and 12 steals on the season. Jack Caglione stayed hot, three for four, with a homerun five RBI on Friday, one for three with a steal on Saturday. And last 33 games, 302, eight homers, 27 RBI, three steals, Cag looks like he is locked back in. Ben Rice is going through it right now. He homered on Sunday. It was his 33rd, but his August has been a struggle. 102 batting average, two homers, 30% K-rate, a 473 OPS, the homerun Derby strikes once again. I wish Chris was here to hear about that. Mad Olson, a big game on Sunday, one for three with a sock in the shoe, his 36th homer, his third steal. Power has just been massive here for Mad Olson in the second half of the season. And Alec Burlison picking up the power as well. Hit his 21st homerun on Sunday, also homerun on Saturday. And hitting 340, six homers, 19 RBI, 1221 OPS here in 14 August games. So five names, anything to add, Scott Miguel Vargas, Cags, Ben Rice, Mad Olson, and Alec Burlison. - Have you checked in on how Jordan Walker's doing since the homerun Derby? - Yeah, pretty good. - No, he's not. - Oh, he's not. - I looked at him earlier. Maybe it's just like an August thing, but. - He did homer. Well, I think he had a big game on Sunday. So yeah, three for four with the homerun and that made his August numbers look better, but even so, since the homerun Derby's batting 250 with two homeruns. - Oh, yep. - But seems to be trending up, I think he's gonna be fine. His strikeout rate is only 21.6% during that time for what it's worth. So make it more contact. Yeah, I'm not actually worried about Jordan Walker, but I have seen others note that concern since, of course, he won the homerun Derby, was participating in it deep into the night. Not really worried about Rice either for what it's worth. And not much to add on the rest of his group. - All right, the call to the bullpen for the Cubs on Friday. Jacob Webb, Webb picked up his ninth save and I know Daniel Polencia has been rehabbing, so once he's back, obviously I think he'll just slap back in as the closer, but Jacob Webb has been the guy for now. For the pirates on Friday, Luke Weaver got the eighth inning with a five run lead facing the heart of the Red Sox lineup. He threw a clean inning. Kirby Yeads got the ninth. It was still a five run lead. He was charged with a run on three hits. Mason Montgomery came on to get the final out for his fourth save. And then on Saturday, Luke Weaver got the ninth down one run, so trying to keep it close. He gave up three runs on four hits. And there was a quote about Don Kelly saying that Mason Montgomery, they're gonna kind of mix and match and use them in different spots, but that he's been good in the ninth inning. So we just kind of hope that Luke Weaver would be the closer. I'm not so sure that is the case for the pirates. - Yeah, but there's only a sample of one, really, since the trade. Right up to leave this as the team's first save. Cush. How long ago was the trade deadline, August third, two weeks ago? - The pirates have completely fallen off during that sp-- - Yeah, they really have. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I want to be so quick to drop Luke Weaver if you had invested any capital in him, but it's not not looking good so far. - For the Metz on Friday, Kodai Senga got the ninth with a three run lead. He allowed a hit, but he picked up his second save and then on Sunday, he struck out two for his third save. He's 21% rostered and he is just looking like the guy as long as Devon Williams is out with the Metz. For the Orioles on Friday, Andrew Kitchwich got the seventh inning. It was Rico Garcia in the eighth and then Yaneer Kanau got the ninth with a four run lead. He was charged with three runs and it was Cam Sanders or Cam Saunders who got the final out for his third save. And then on Saturday, Andrew Kitchwich got the ninth with a one run lead. He allowed a run on three hits. He took his fourth loan save. He wound up with the win. Once again, it was Saunders who picked up his third save in the tenth inning of that game. Saunders in 15 games, 632 ERA 166 whip, but he picked up two saves this weekend. It's got to have any deep league saves interest in Cam Saunders. - Not really. It's kind of messy there, I feel like in Baltimore. - Yeah. - But I don't know. Maybe he moves to the front of a messy situation. I just, I feel like the Orioles and the Giants and I know you've been talking, I'm Sammy Natera for the Angels, but I'm starting to believe Ben Joyce is ahead of him there. - He picked up his second save this weekend Ben Joyce. - So maybe that's the neatest of the three situations, but that still is saying much. - Yeah. For the D-backs on Friday, Brandon Garcia got the ninth with a two run lead. He shook out two for his fourth save. But then I believe, he was working the seventh inning on Saturday or Sunday and he gave up a home run. So Garcia's the highest leverage reliever. It's not always going to be in the ninth inning unfortunately. For the Mariners on Friday, it was a brutal outing for Andres Munoz who gave up five runs for those earned, including a walkoff home. He did bounce back on Sunday for his 22nd save. It's been a down season for Andres Munoz 437 ERA 124 Whip. He's still the guy but it just hasn't been as dominant as previous years. For the Royals on Friday, Steven Cruz got the ninth with a one run lead. He picked up his fourth save for the Dodgers on Friday. Edwin Diaz got the ninth inning once again. A two run lead. He allowed three base runners on a hit by pitch and two walks, but he picked up his seventh save. The Dodgers seem extremely committed to Edwin Diaz. So it is, I don't even know how bad he would have to pitch to lose the role because I feel like he's kind of done that, but they're sticking with him. So good news if you have Edwin Diaz. For the Whitesox on Saturday, Grand Taylor got the eighth with a one run lead facing the top of the Tigers lineup. He picked up his 10th hold. It was left the Brian Hudson who got the ninth with any picked up his fifth save. And then on Sunday, Taylor was unavailable. Sean Newcomb got the final seven outs for his fourth save. You know, the Whitesox kind of makes him match a lot here, Scott, but I still think Grand Taylor would be my bet to get the next save, but they don't always use him in the ninth inning, unfortunately. Yeah, it's not a very strong bet. I don't know that they're ever going to just outright make him the closer as long as it's taken them to do that already, but he gives you great ratios and maybe he'll give you four or five saves the rest of the way. That and deeper categories leagues, roto leagues. I don't even know that you need to say deeper in those formats. I think Taylor is still worth rostering and maybe even using most of the time for the Nationals on Saturday Clayton Beater got the eighth inning with a one run lead facing the heart of the Metz lineup. He allowed three base runners, but held on to the lead. It was Giovanni Cruz who got the ninth inning. He allowed two runs on a walk in three hits. He took his second blow and save and first loss. The Nationals do not have a closer and they never will ever again. For the Angels on Saturday, we mentioned Ben Joyce struck out two for his second save and the Angels have five saves since the trade deadline to have gone to Ben Joyce to have gone to Sammy Natera, Jr. And one has gone to Jose Firmin. But I believe Joyce has each of the last two, the most recent two. Kind of messy. Things aren't great, but yeah, I think Ben Joyce and Natera are the names to know there. And then for the athletics on Sunday. Well, Cody Sango over all of them for what it's worth. And being only 21% rostered like I think he's a guy. Yeah. Yeah. Until he blows it, but he's looked good so far. And then for the athletics on Sunday, Hogan Harris struck out two for his 12th save. He is 24% rostered. He's also kind of just looking like the guy for the athletics. Would you rather have Hogan Harris or Cody Sango? Sango. Okay. And to stream or not to stream on Monday, we have Brandon Young at the raise. Mitch Bratt is at the Red Sox walker, Bueller at the Metz, Martin Perez at the Twins. Bailey Oberg against the Braves, Luis Castillo at the Cubs and Ret Louder home against the Cardinals. I guess you get to our Quinn Matthews and that makes as well at the Reds. I don't know if there's anybody I love here. Bailey, my top choice would be Brandon Young at the raise who slipped to the middle of the pack in terms of run scored. Luis Castillo's awfully tempting coming off the start he just had, but it could be a one-off with the increased change of use like we saw with Sean Meniah ditching the sinker and Cubs tough matchup obviously. But I guess I'd say Castillo is a reluctant second choice and then maybe Martin Perez as my third choice is Petro Lately. And then on Tuesday, we have Will Warren at the Orioles, Kader, Montero at the Pirates. Carson, Wiz and Hun is at the Guardians, Andrew, Advocates, Cardinals, Merrill Kelly at the Red Sox, Tyler Malley at the Twins, Zebby Matthews against the Braves and Torch Clawson at the Astros. I'm coming off three straight good starts with better whiffs. I think Tyler Malley's got to be the top choice. Don't mind Andrew Abbott against the Cardinals. Hopefully he doesn't get biased. I don't know, third choice is rough. Montero has been keeping runs off the board but the Pirates are really good against Rides. George Clawson, Will Warren's Astros. Will Warren's been bad Lately. Yeah, I don't love anyone as a third choice. I guess if you're going to make me pick somebody, I'm going to say Montero at the Pirates but don't love it. All right, we're going to ride there for Scott. I am Frank. Thanks as always for tuning into Fantasy Baseball today. Please make sure to follow and leave a five star rating on Apple or Spotify and we will get back in tomorrow. Bye. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hello and welcome to Pluto Fall. If you know the name of the movie you'd like to see, the Matrix, Transformers, Rise of the Beast or Bean Girls. That is so a f**k. Just stream it for free on Pluto TV. Stream now, pay never.

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. Joshua Bias made MLB history by hitting three home runs in his debut for the Cardinals, with five RBIs and homers to all fields.
  2. Noah Cameron tossed a one-hit shutout against the Angels, continuing a dominant five-start stretch with a 1.19 ERA and 0.48 WHIP.
  3. Reed Deppers, Ryan Weathers, and Trevor Rogers are trending up as reliable starting pitchers, with strong recent performances.
  4. Paul Schienz's next start was moved to Wednesday, raising concerns about his mechanics and effectiveness, though no injury was reported.
  5. Aaron Judge is progressing but may return in about a month, while Juan Soto intends to play again this season; James Wood is recovering slowly.
  6. The Nationals moved CJ Abrams to second base, potentially paving the way for prospect Seaver King, though Abrams hasn't played there yet.
  7. Vlad Jr. was placed on the concussion IL, with Josh Bell and Abamellek Ortiz suggested as replacements.
  8. Logan Webb left his start due to back and shoulder tightness, casting doubt on his next start.

Summary:

The podcast discusses major MLB news and fantasy baseball implications. Joshua Bias's historic debut—three home runs in his first game—dominates the conversation, with hosts Frank and Scott debating his fantasy value. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, his power and speed upside make him a priority waiver pickup, though his roster rate is already high on CBS.

Noah Cameron's continued dominance is highlighted, with his shift away from fastballs proving transformative, though Scott cautions against expecting ace-level sustainability. Other pitchers like Reed Deppers, Ryan Weathers, and Trevor Rogers are praised for recent improvements, with Deppers posting elite numbers over 15 starts and Weathers benefiting from ditching his four-seamer. 's concussion, prompting replacement suggestions.

The Nationals' move of CJ Abrams to second base hints at a potential Seaver King call-up, though it hasn't materialized yet. Logan Webb's back and shoulder tightness adds uncertainty to his next start. Overall, the episode emphasizes proactive roster management amid injuries and emerging talents.

FAQs

Joshua Buyers is a Cardinals top prospect who made his MLB debut on Saturday and hit three home runs, the first time that has been done in major league history. He had five RBIs with homers to all fields.

The main concern is his high strikeout rate and low zone contact rate, particularly against elevated fastballs. However, his strikeout rate has improved from 32% through May to 27% since, and he has power and speed upside.

Yes, you should pick him up if he's available, especially on platforms like Yahoo or ESPN where his roster percentage is lower. He just had the best hitting debut in history and is worth the lottery ticket.

Noah Cameron tossed a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts against the Angels, and over his last five starts he has a 1.19 ERA and 0.48 WHIP. He's been one of the hottest pitchers, and you should start him.

While Cameron's recent numbers are elite, he can't sustain a 1.19 ERA, but he has improved by using his secondary pitches more and cutting back on his fastball. He's a reliable starter you'll be happy to roster.

Reed Detmers, Ryan Weathers, and Trevor Rogers are trending up. Detmers has a 2.97 ERA over his last 15 starts, Weathers has allowed one earned run or fewer in five straight, and Rogers has a 2.45 ERA over his last 13 starts.

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