American League

Angels

• Jo Adell’s playing time is shrinking. Since May 20th, Adell has a .381 OPS and 42% K%. Read the rest of this entry »

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even a larger entry fee ($2.5K to $15K). They were originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and there are ten of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues. Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• Ben Joyce added a splinker.

Strickland, who has thrown sinkers in previous years, learned this grip from Angels pitching strategist Bill Hezel. It’s more like a one-seam sinker as opposed to the conventional two-seamer, and as a result, Strickland’s sinker is averaging about seven more inches of vertical break this season compared with 2022 (he did not appear in the Majors in ’23).

….
Joyce has not shied away from using his splinker in game action. He estimated that he threw it on 10 of his 27 pitches on Friday. He went heavy on it again as the opener on Sunday, throwing it for around 20 of his 42 pitches.

…

Although Joyce’s fastball averages a tick under 101 mph, it’s been hittable. So has his upper-80s slider. The splinker comes in at a third speed — the mid-to-high 90s — and moves differently due to its lower spin rate. And because the release point for all three is similar, it’s more difficult to identify which pitch is leaving Joyce’s hand.

This pitch is a one-of-one. While Johan Duran’s splinker is the closest comp, Joyce throws slower and with more spin. Read the rest of this entry »

7:32	Jeff Zimmerman:

Read the rest of this entry »

In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters. Read the rest of this entry »

Note: I spent about two minutes looking over each team and writing notes. I’m sure I missed some things but something is better than nothing.

American League

Angels

• Kevin Pillar is starting against righties (three straight) while batting between third and fifth.

• Michael Stefanic has started in four of the last five games, two while leading off.

Astros

• With José Abreu gone, the first base job is up for grabs. It might be a platoon with Jon Singleton facing righties and Mauricio Dubón facing lefties.

Athletics

• Tyler Soderstrom has moved up to hitting third or fourth with nine straight starts.

Blue Jays

• It’s turned into a mess with Davis Schneider only starting in three of the last five games. Also, Ernie Clement has started two straight at third base.

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has started in 25 straight games.

Guardians

• Kyle Manzardo has only started in five of the last ten games.

• Tyler Freeman is sitting more having started in only five of the last seven.

• Since being promoted, Daniel Schneemann has started in six of nine games.

Mariners

• Ryan Bliss (.500 OPS) has started nine straight at second base.

• Tyler Locklear has started in five of the last six games at first base. Ty France should be off the IL soon.

Orioles

• Austin Hays (vs LHP) and Colton Cowser (vs RHP) are in a left field platoon.

• Since returning from the IL, Jorge Mateo has started in four straight games.

Rangers

• Since coming off the IL, Wyatt Langford has started in 14 of 15 games and moved to hitting fifth. Since returning, he’s hitting .289/.327/.404 with 0 HR and 4 SB.

Rays

• Just a mess.

• The only player who seems to be getting more playing time is Jose Siri (five straight starts against lefties and righties). In June, he is posting a .781 OPS with a 37% K%.

Red Sox

• David Hamilton with six straight starts at shortstop.

• Masataka Yoshida is off the IL and batting fifth.

• Enmanuel Valdez (vs RHP) and Jamie Westbrook (vs LHP) are in a second base platoon.

Royals

• The bottom of the lineup is a mess with no one worth targeting besides maybe Freddy Fermin in deeper two-catcher leagues.

Tigers

• Colt Keith (vs RHP) and Andy Ibáñez (vs LHP) remain in a second base platoon.

• Ryan Kreidler has started in three of the last four games at shortstop with Javier Báez on the IL.

Twins

• While the normal platoons exist, the first base/third base/DH situation has cleared up with Alex Kirilloff getting demoted.

White Sox

• I’m unsure of the outfield with Tommy Pham and Andrew Benintendi coming off the IL.

• Lenyn Sosa (.590 OPS, 1 HR, 2 SB) has started 12 of 13 games at third base.

Yankees

• DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera are splitting time at third base rendering both useless in fantasy.

• Giancarlo Stanton is still only DHing and has sat some with Judge and Soto at the DH.

National League

Braves

• Steady but the outfield will be strained even more with Michael Harris II headed to the IL.

Brewers

• Jackson Chourio with six straight starts.

• The team has three different third basemen over the last three games (Joey Ortiz, Andruw Monasterio, and Oliver Dunn).

Cardinals

• Pedro Pagés (.481 OPS) with four starts at catcher in the last five games.

Cubs

• Nothing actionable.

Diamondbacks

• Geraldo Perdomo is off the IL and started in three of the last four games at shortstop while batting ninth.

Dodgers

• No changes.

Giants

• Heliot Ramos is now batting second.

Marlins

• Tim Anderson off the IL and playing shortstop.

Mets

• Tyrone Taylor (.649 OPS, 2 HR, 6 SB) is sneaking back into the outfield picture with four starts in the last seven games.

Nationals

• Joey Meneses with three straight starts at first base with Joey Gallo on the IL.

Padres

• No changes.

Phillies

• With J.T. Realmuto on the IL, Nick Castellanos is now hitting second with Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs splitting the catcher duties.

• David Dahl has started in four straight games but his playing time may end with Brandon Marsh about to come off the IL.

Pirates

• No major changes.

Reds

• No change with left and right field still in platoons.

Rockies

• Nolan Jones is off the IL and batting fifth.

• Adael Amador (.333 OPS) has started five straight and is batting ninth.

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even a larger entry fee ($2.5K to $15K). They were originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and there are ten of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues. Read the rest of this entry »

With two prominent players, Mike Trout and J.T. Realmuto, just needing meniscus surgery, I examined hitter production before and after surgery. With a limited sample, some struggles should be expected. Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• Mike Trout is not “running, hitting or throwing”.

Rendon is ahead of Trout in the rehab process. Trout has yet to progress to light baseball activities after he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on May 3. Trout has utilized the Alter-G treadmill but hasn’t tested out running, hitting or throwing like Rendon has. Still, Washington said Trout remains on schedule and hasn’t suffered any setbacks.

Read the rest of this entry »

7:33	Jeff Zimmerman:

Read the rest of this entry »