Speaker 1Baseball has always been a game of inches, now it's also a game of seconds. T-Mobile and MLB have teamed up to bring ABS Challenge to all 29 ballparks across the US. This isn't a minor upgrade, this is the most significant new technology in the history of the sport. And it's powered by T-Mobile. With every pitch thrown, ABS Challenge uses real-time precision to verify the call, giving them the support they need. No delays, no guesswork, just accuracy at the speed the game demands. Thanks to ABS Challenge, T-Mobile is helping power the moments that define the game. When performance and reliability are non-negotiable, MLB turns to T-Mobile. That's not a coincidence. That's what happens when the most innovative network in the country powers the most data-driven sport in the world. T-Mobile powers MLB's most ambitious technology, and America's best network powers your connection to baseball. Home or away, every pitch, every game, every day. T-Mobile, it's better over here. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights. Are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. T-Mobile, best mobile network in the U.S. According to Ookla Speed Test, based on analysis by Ookla of Speed Test Intelligence Data First Half 2026. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. Hey, before we jump back into the show, let's take a quick break. But not just any break. This is a refreshing break with Snapple. We all know about Snapple's iconic real facts, so let's take a minute to go over some of my faves. Snapple real facts, 14-17. Before 18-19. Before 18-59, baseball umpires sat behind home plate in rocking chairs. Snapple real facts, 14-83. More than 100 baseballs are used during a typical professional baseball game. Snapple real fact, 2-53. The first TV remote control introduced in 1950 was called Lazy Bones. Snapple real fact, 21-05. Professional athletes used to perform in vaudeville in the off season. So grab a Snapple, take a second, and enjoy the moment. Because let's be honest, this might be the most refreshing part of your life. Snapple, make your break more interesting. Alright, now let's get back to the show. Just two weeks left in the season. Let's preview week 26. Up next on Fantasy Baseball Today Express. Welcome to FBT Express on Saturday, September 12th. I am Frank Stample, joined by Scott White, taking a look at the schedule for this upcoming week. We have nine teams with seven games. That includes the White Sox, Reds, Rockies, Tigers, Angels, Dodgers. Twins, Mets, and Padres. Twenty teams with six games, and one unlucky team with five games. That includes the Nationals. What about the Rockies? We did it. We got it. Seven home games in Coors Field. Four against the Padres, and three against the Mariners. Starters hit these fringe two-star pitchers for the upcoming week, and Scott what do we know about Jose Soriano? He's been not so great since going over to the Blue Jays. He has two home against the Tigers and at the Rangers.
Speaker 2Yeah, I didn't expect a rank of so high among the two-star pitchers, but he's eighth. There are a lot of two-star pitchers in theory. I'm sure a lot of spot starters will be inserted second to last week of the year. In theory, there's 35, and Jose Soriano comes in eighth. I guess I'm going to call him advisable in most cases. If ratios are your main concern, maybe not, but otherwise, yeah, good match-ups.
Speaker 1Troy Melton, it looks like the lack of strikeouts are starting to catch up to him a little bit. He is at the Blue Jays and at the White Sox this week.
Speaker 2Yup. He's ninth, so if you don't want to start him, I get it, but he's among the best you're going to do. Not must start, but in the next highest category for me.
Speaker 1Kate Anderson. Kate Anderson coming off his first quality start, picked up his first win of the season, first win of his career. He is at the Angels, at the Rockies, so we do have those Jekyll and Hyde match-ups.
Speaker 2And he's 11th among the two-star pitchers, so I have him just ahead of the head-to-head points only tier. Obviously feel a lot better about it if that Rocky start was in Seattle instead of Colorado, but Kate Anderson showed in his last turn that he can be used. And the Angels match up is a pretty good one. So with two starts there, again, unless ratios are your main concern, I lean yes.
Speaker 1Sandy Alcantara is limping to the finish line here. He is at the D-backs and at the Padres.
Speaker 2Yeah, his last three starts have been so bad. I'm not going to give it a flat no, but it would have to be just points leagues where you're prioritizing volume.
Speaker 1Tanner Bybee has also slowed down lately. He is home against the White Sox and the Athletics.
Speaker 2I'm just saying no thanks to this one. I don't think the upside justifies the downside.
Speaker 1And Casey Mize has not been great since going over to the Padres. He's at the Rockies and home against the Marlins.
Speaker 2It's a no for me.
Speaker 1All right. Who are some two-star pitchers that you are looking to add and stream this upcoming week?
Speaker 2Not great. It's not a great selection here. My favorite among those who could actually pick up is Quinn Matthews. He's looked decent his last three turns. The walk total was high in one of them still, but missing some bats, limiting damage. He gets the Giants and the Nationals this week. Nationals aren't what they once were, and Giants, of course, a very good matchup. So if you need a two-start streamer, he's probably your best one, Quinn Matthews. Will Warren, back-to-back starts where he actually worked deep into the game. I think that puts him back in the conversation here, not with a lot of trust. Fastball's been up, so that helps. But he gets the Twins and the Diamondbacks both on the road. Not terrible matchups. Probably I'd only look to him in points leagues, Will Warren, unless you're just really chasing starting pitcher stats in a Roto League. Griffin Jacks, not totally convinced he's back. He had a good start. Good outing results-wise against the Braves last time, but the velocity was down, and he didn't get many whiffs. Athletics and Red Sox are the matchups this week. Obviously that athletics matchup is in Tampa Bay. I don't know if it's obvious, but I'm telling you, it's in Tampa Bay. Again, points leagues, I could see doing that for Griffin Jacks. Not with a lot of confidence, though. And then Ryan Johnson, only 8% rostered, and justifiably. I think he's good, but he does have a .214 ERA over his past six starts, leaning heavily on a cutter with a .188 batting average against. Like to see more whiffs. Feel better about Ryan Johnson if he had those. But matchups are Seattle and Minnesota. That first one especially is really good. I could see doing it in a points league.
Speaker 1All right, let's take a quick break, and we'll get to more right after this. Baseball season is in full swing, and there's no better place to be. Then Cal Shee, America's number one prediction market platform. Atlanta is currently trading at 7% to win it all, meaning a $100 trade pays out over $1,200 with a win. On Cal Shee, you're trading against other people in a live market. No house, no odds makers. And as the odds move, you can buy in or out any time throughout the postseason. Download the Cal Shee app and use code FAN to get up to $500 in bonus credits when you trade $25. K-A-L-S-H-I, Cal Shee. Trade on anything. 18 plus only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Cal Shee products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see calshee.com slash regulatory. Welcome back, FBT Express. And let's slide over to the one-star streamer. Scott, who do you have for week 26?
Speaker 2I like this group a little bit more. The top two, you're probably... You're probably tired of hearing about Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter. Till their roster rates get up to 80%. I think they're fixtures here. Lopez especially, he's at Cleveland. So you gotta like that matchup. Painter gets the Mets. Not quite as favorable now that Juan Soto's back, but still good enough with the kind of run he's been on. I say the kind of run he's been on. A misstep for each of these pitchers last time out, but I think encouraging enough signs overall that we'll give him a pass for that, particularly with a good matchup coming up in preseason. Particularly since all we have to compare them to for these purposes are the rest of the waiver wire, which is pretty bleak right now. Cal Quantrill, he gets the Blue Jays. That's obviously a favorable matchup. And while I'm not confident in the skill set, it's nonetheless true that in his last nine starts, he has a 164 ERA. So you got a stream. That's not a bad choice. Emmett Sheehan. Great coming back from the minors. Double-digit strikeout effort last time out. Seems to have regained his place in the Dodgers rotation. He gets the Giants. Andre Palante, high floor guy, quality start machine. He also gets the Giants. Christian Javier. This one's a surprise. He gets the Royals. That's a decent matchup. And I say it's a surprise because he's put together back-to-back outings that were really good. And not only that. He's got the highest swinging strike rate of his career. He's throwing his average fastball velocity. Christian Javier is the highest since 2022. 2022 was the year he looked like an ace. 254 or 8.95, whip 11.7K per nine. So there's a lot to like here, actually. And I think the Royals matchup, you might want to take advantage of it.
Speaker 1All right, sliding over to the hitters, the best matchups for this upcoming week. We have the Tigers, Padres, Rockies, Dodgers, and Guardians. The worst hitter matchups, Pirates, Nationals, Athletics, Reds, and Giants. Scott, who are your favorite sleeper hitters for week 26?
Speaker 2Ty France, somehow only 56% rostered. Easy money. Padres have second best hitter matchups four games in Colorado. I don't think the matchups even matter. France has just been really good for a long time now. Pick them up already, use them. You won't regret it. A couple of Rockies hitters here with the full week of home games. Cole Carrick is always a good choice in that situation. T.J. Rumfield, he's actually pretty good on the road. One of the few Rockies hitters who is, but better at home. And I trust him to take advantage of these matchups. Further down the list, number 10 actually on the list, I'll lump him in here because he's another Rocky. Kyle Karros, OPS over 800 at home for the year. He just got back from the concussion IL, but has started three straight games, homered on Thursday. So I think we can trust Kyle Karros with a full week of home games. Marlins didn't quite make the five best hitter matchups, but they weren't far off. They have nothing but righties on the schedule, which is very good news for Griffin Conine, who has been hitting a lot of home runs in the second half, but is a platoon player. Jacob Marcy's been hot. So not as much upside as Conine, but we'll trust him to take advantage of those matchups as well. Leo Bernal, or Leonardo Bernal, if you play on CBS, the Cardinals catcher, I don't often put catchers on this list because it's hard to get an extra catcher in the lineup, but he is playing more than the average catcher. In fact, he's started every game since being called up, some at first base, some at DH, most a catcher, only 7% rostered. He's hitting well. Cardinals do have some favorable matchups this week. Tommy Edmond with the Dodgers having the fourth best hitter matchups. He seems like a good play. And then, and then the familiar Orioles duo of Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Kobe Mayo, both of them lefty mashers of the highest order. Half of the Orioles games this week are against lefties, so not a bad time to use them.
Speaker 1All right, we are going to wrap there for more extensive Fantasy Baseball coverage. Listen to our full-length podcast, Fantasy Baseball Today, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else podcasts are found. Thanks for listening to Fantasy Baseball Today Express, and we'll see you next time. We will be back again next week. Bye-bye! Bye-bye! ♪♪♪
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