Paul Sporer: Hello everyone, thanks for coming out!

Zebulon 5: Zebby is one of the most fun names in baseball right now, yeah?

Paul Sporer: Absolutely!! I love Zebulon! It’s not just a fun name, either, he did well in the minors and has a profile that can absolutely find success, especially with Joe Ryan’s injury clearing the playing time path. I’m on the Zebby Matthews train to see where this goes

Paul Sporer: New SP rankings are live, btw, in case you missed ’em in the Chat post: https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/2024-in-season-starting-pitcher-rankings…

Paul!: Too early to forecast, but please do: Langford or Chourio ROS? Beyond? It seems like Langford will never be able to hit the fastball, while Jackson is making strides all around…

Paul Sporer: Love both but firm lean to Chourio between the 2. He just has the more robust fantasy profile right now and I think he will in the future, too, especially if we don’t see Langford’s power come together.

Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome

Jeff Zimmerman: Here are the winning bids in the three Tout Wars 15-team leagues.

Jeff Zimmerman:

Jon: Would you drop Crochet for Springs? Springs looked great today and Crochet is likely to get shut down

Jeff Zimmerman: Yes

Daprez: Thank you for doing these chats! I’m in a 6×6 roto with Betts, Casas and Edman returning. Could you rank these guys in order of droppability? Toglia, Mayo, C. Doval, Lux, J. Dominguez & India. Or do I release Edman?

Paul Sporer: Hello thank you for coming out!!

Darren: What’s your take on the closer situations in KC and Arizona? Do you think anyone runs away with the job or will they be committees for the rest of the year?

Paul Sporer: In fluid situations like that, someone can always grab hold of the job by catching fire. Just tough to know who it’ll be, of course. My bets are on Erceg and Puk.

Fant’sy Feast: Is Will Smith a huge upgrade over Ben Rice in a 1C, 12-team H2H with OBP and Slugging instead of Avg? Maybe I am so used to waiting to draft catchers and then using non-catching Cs that I just don’t recognize the big boost?

Paul Sporer: I know Will Smith has been sputtering pretty much since May with a .198/.292/.387 line, but it has still come with 12 HRs and 35 RBIs which are 29 and 86 full season paces. I see a .215 BABIP over this time  and have to think there is some bad luck in there. He is K’ing more than normal at 23% during this period (16% the last 2 yrs) and he is hitting more flyballs than normal which will also curb BABIP. Bottom line is that I’m staying the course w/Smith here. Rice is interesting, but not I can’t take him over Smith

DatDudeJG: Is something wrong with Luis Castillo?  He used to be a must start all the time but he’s been so up and down this year.  Reminds me of him in his early years.  Thanks for the chat!

Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome

Jeff Zimmerman: Here are the winning bids in the three 15-team, mixed Tout Wars leagues.

Jeff Zimmerman:

Turn Two: Looking towards next year in an NL Only keeper league.. better shot at being a future closer Kopech or Pearson (both or neither?)? Both seem to have +Stuff

Jeff Zimmerman: Neither IMO. Wait and some closer situations will clear up. Also, look for closers at the end of their contract where someone else will need to step in.

Vic: In a 15 Tm Mixed would you drop Tyler Phillips for Faucher, Littell or Thompson?

Paul Sporer: Hellooo everyone! Thanks for coming out!

Qane: Thinking about a deep league deal for Luis Ortiz or Tyler Phillips, How do you feel about them ROS? Both have been on quite a good stretch. Will they keep their jobs? Both are already close to their career high in IP. Concerns? Any preference? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Higher on Ortiz with a major component being an easier path to IP. Philly isn’t gonna push Phillips unless they just absolutely need for some reason

#1MetsFan: Whats for lunch

Paul Sporer: A sandwich from a place called ThunderCloud Subs here in Austin!

#1MetsFan: Pretty happy with what Stearns did this deadline. What would you grade it?

Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome

Jeff Zimmerman: Here are the winning bids in the three 15-team mixed Tout Wars leagues

Jeff Zimmerman:

JoeG: Could Graterol be in the mix for Saves when he gets the call ? Also Drew Rasmussen if Fairbanks gets traded ?

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t think so on either one

Honkus Wagner: Any speculation on Morel’s playing time? feel like this is in prep to trade Yandy and he’s the 1B going forward with Caminero at 3rd

Paul Sporer: Hello everyone! How’s it goin?

Brad: Luis Garcia Jr or Angel Martinez for the next 3 years. Who ya got?

Paul Sporer: Garcia Jr. for me! But Angel Martinez has enough intrigue that it’s at least close

Adenolith: What’s up with Crochet? Are they just going to give him 4 innings at a time the rest of the year? This seems impossible to plan around.

Paul Sporer: 74 pitches through 4 which doesn’t mean he couldn’t go 5, but he wasn’t at his most efficient so they decided to pull the plug. Save some juice for a potential trading team, too, without just flat out sitting him. I actually don’t mind this handling from the CHW standpoint

anthony: Is Nolan Jones worth a stash if an IL slot is available? does he return to any semblance of last year?