Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Angels
• Yoán Moncada (vs RHP) and Oswald Peraza (vs LHP) are in a third base platoon.
• Bryce Teodosio (.250/.306/.364, 0 HR, 3 SB) continues to start every game in center field. Read the rest of this entry »
8/22/25
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2-START PITCHERS FOR WEEK 21
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The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
Rostering hitters who only hit against one type of pitcher can be challenging. You must pay extra attention in a world where paying extra attention is the only way to win. So there you have it. In this article, we’ll pay extra attention to playing time patterns to see if we can find a few sneaky additions who may add a handful of dingers to our fantasy pile before the season is over.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Astros
• Spencer Arrighetti’s fastball velocity is down 2 mph.
Here is your friendly reminder to follow Lance Brozdowski’s substack. (Editor note: SERIOUSLY, Lance is SOOO good, check out his YouTube, too!)
Astros Spencer Arrighetti has struggled since his return from a fractured right thumb (8.59 ERA, 4.57 xFIP, 10% K-BB). His velocity is down 2 mph, sitting 92.2 mph in these three post-IL starts compared to 94.2 mph last season. He started throwing a sinker to right-handed hitters since returning, perhaps as a way to mitigate the velocity drop.
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
Transcript is now available
Football’s fast creepin’ on us, but we’re staying dialed in on the dog days of baseball knowing we’ve only got 6 weeks left of everyday regular season ball before the long, cold winter.
Getting ready for basketball season:
Read the rest of this entry »
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
Welcome to this week’s Position Player Playing Time Changes! A lot of Orioles-related maneuverings this week, led by top prospect Samuel Basallo finally getting the call.
| Name | Team | Positions | Old PT | New PT | PT Change | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Basallo | BAL | DH,1B,C | 14% | 75% | 61% | Welcome to MLB! |
| Ryan Ritter | COL | 2B,SS | 16% | 64% | 48% | Has been starting 2B since activation |
| Daylen Lile | WSN | RF,LF | 27% | 72% | 45% | Starting regularly even with Crews back |
| Dylan Beavers | BAL | RF | 22% | 62% | 40% | Could sit against some lefties but starting regularly |
| Alec Bohm | PHI | 3B, 1B | 59% | 93% | 34% | Back from IL |
| Joey Wiemer | MIA | RF, LF, CF | 9% | 43% | 34% | Back in MLB |
| Miguel Andujar | CIN | LF,1B,DH,3B | 35% | 63% | 28% | Has been playing against RHP, too |
| Noelvi Marte | CIN | RF, 3B, DH | 50% | 76% | 26% | Outfield play keeping him in lineup |
| Miguel Vargas | CHW | 3B,DH,1B | 61% | 86% | 25% | Back from IL |
| James Outman | MIN | CF,RF | 30% | 55% | 25% | Back in MLB |
| Bob Seymour | TBR | 1B | 10% | 35% | 25% | Welcome to MLB! |
| Yordan Alvarez | HOU | DH,LF | 44% | 68% | 24% | Nearing IL return |
| Tyler Fitzgerald | SFG | 2B | 25% | 49% | 24% | Back in MLB |
| Matt Shaw | CHC | 3B | 52% | 76% | 24% | Hot hitting makes him definite starting 3B |
| Reese McGuire | CHC | C | 4% | 27% | 23% | Amaya sprained ankle |
| Austin Martin | MIN | CF, LF, 2B | 26% | 49% | 23% | Playing against all lefties, some righties |
| Thomas Saggese | STL | 3B,2B | 15% | 37% | 22% | Playing every day for now with Donovan out |
| Cody Freeman | TEX | 3B, DH | 10% | 31% | 21% | Back in MLB, has started over Jung twice in two games |
| Connor Norby | MIA | 2B,3B | 31% | 52% | 21% | Nearing IL return |
| Jacob Wilson | ATH | SS | 39% | 60% | 21% | Nearing IL return |
| Ronny Simon | PIT | LF, 2B | 3% | 23% | 20% | Has been starting, hitting leadoff since call-up |
| Rowdy Tellez | TEX | 1B | 16% | 35% | 19% | Continues to get lion’s share of 1B time |
| Paul DeJong | WSN | 3B, 1B, 2B, SS, DH | 39% | 57% | 18% | Adding 1B flexibility to his toolkit |
| Isaac Collins | MIL | RF,LF | 57% | 73% | 16% | Rookie of the Month win solidifies him as regular |
| Andrew Vaughn | MIL | DH,1B | 47% | 63% | 16% | Should keep playing when Hoskins returns |
| Edouard Julien | MIN | 1B,2B | 41% | 57% | 16% | Playing a little more lately |
| Dylan Crews | WSN | CF,RF | 70% | 86% | 16% | Back from IL |
| Jac Caglianone | KCR | DH,RF,1B | 49% | 64% | 15% | Nearing IL return |
| Jordan Walker | STL | RF | 52% | 66% | 14% | Playing pretty regularly since IL return |
| Robert Hassell III | WSN | CF, LF, RF | 52% | 66% | 14% | Continues to take time from Young |
| Evan Carter | TEX | CF | 58% | 72% | 14% | Back from IL |
| Max Acosta | MIA | SS,2B | 3% | 17% | 14% | Welcome to MLB! |
| Austin Riley | ATL | 3B | 50% | 63% | 13% | Nearing IL return |
| Enrique Hernández | LAD | LF,RF,2B,3B | 7% | 19% | 12% | Nearing IL return |
| Ildemaro Vargas | ARI | 3B,2B,SS | 6% | 18% | 12% | Back from IL |
| Tommy Edman | LAD | CF,SS,3B,2B | 60% | 72% | 12% | Should return within a couple weeks |
| Daniel Schneemann | CLE | SS,3B,RF,2B,CF | 56% | 68% | 12% | Entrenched himself in two-hole |
| Brett Baty | NYM | 2B,3B | 42% | 54% | 12% | Taking more PT from Vientos |
| Owen Caissie | CHC | RF, LF | 1% | 13% | 12% | Tucker days off will give him more time |
| Casey Schmitt | SFG | 3B, 2B, SS, 1B | 66% | 78% | 12% | Starting 3B with Chapman out |
| Trey Sweeney | DET | SS | 18% | 30% | 12% | Has been getting a little more time lately |
| Andrés Chaparro | WSN | 1B, DH | 10% | 21% | 11% | Back in MLB |
| Ezequiel Duran | TEX | SS,2B,3B,1B,LF | 17% | 28% | 11% | Versatility, García injury helps |
| Nathan Lukes | TOR | RF,LF,CF | 52% | 62% | 10% | Loperfido option helps him |
| Davis Schneider | TOR | LF,3B,DH,2B | 33% | 43% | 10% | Loperfido option helps him |
| Chase Meidroth | CHW | 2B,SS | 76% | 86% | 10% | Back from IL |
| Jonathan Aranda | TBR | DH,1B | 30% | 20% | -10% | Injury timeline remains murky |
| Josh Jung | TEX | 3B | 83% | 73% | -10% | Lost two straight starts to Freeman |
| Rhys Hoskins | MIL | 1B, DH | 48% | 37% | -11% | Will he have PT when healthy? |
| Eli White | ATL | RF, LF, CF | 37% | 26% | -11% | Acuña return from IL |
| Dylan Carlson | BAL | LF, CF, RF | 70% | 59% | -11% | Beavers call-up |
| Willi Castro | CHC | 3B,RF,LF,2B,CF,SS,1B | 61% | 49% | -12% | Shaw emergence |
| Daniel Johnson | BAL | LF,CF,RF | 17% | 5% | -12% | Beavers call-up |
| Mark Vientos | NYM | DH, 3B, 1B | 81% | 69% | -12% | Losing PT to Baty/Mauricio |
| Jake Burger | TEX | 1B,DH | 60% | 48% | -12% | Losing PT to Tellez/Freeman |
| Darell Hernaiz | ATH | SS,2B,3B | 44% | 32% | -12% | Wilson nearing return |
| Javier Sanoja | MIA | SS,2B,CF,LF,3B | 51% | 38% | -13% | Playing less of late |
| Mauricio Dubón | HOU | 3B,2B,SS,CF,LF | 48% | 34% | -14% | Roster is almost all healthy, finally |
| Taylor Trammell | HOU | LF,CF,RF | 27% | 13% | -14% | Melton return |
| Oneil Cruz | PIT | CF,DH | 86% | 72% | -14% | Concussion |
| Aaron Schunk | COL | 2B,3B,SS | 18% | 4% | -14% | Optioned to AAA |
| Taylor Walls | TBR | 2B,3B,SS | 52% | 37% | -15% | Groin strain |
| Kristian Campbell | BOS | 1B, 2B, DH, CF, LF | 43% | 28% | -15% | Lowe signing makes 2025 future murky |
| Jackson Chourio | MIL | CF, LF, RF, DH | 79% | 63% | -16% | Won’t begin rehab assignment until later this month |
| Ryan Noda | BAL | DH,RF,1B | 19% | 2% | -17% | Sent to AAA |
| Otto Kemp | PHI | 1B,2B,LF,3B | 24% | 7% | -17% | Sent to AAA |
| Edmundo Sosa | PHI | 3B,2B,SS | 40% | 22% | -18% | Bohm activation |
| Sam Haggerty | TEX | LF,RF,2B,DH,CF | 48% | 26% | -22% | Ankle inflammation |
| Adolis García | TEX | RF,DH | 91% | 68% | -23% | Sprained ankle |
| Matt Chapman | SFG | 3B | 97% | 73% | -24% | Hand inflammation |
| Nathaniel Lowe | BOS | 1B | 87% | 62% | -25% | Will play less with BOS than he did with WSN |
| Abraham Toro | BOS | 1B | 42% | 17% | -25% | Will play less with Lowe signed |
| Graham Pauley | MIA | 3B, 2B, DH, 1B | 63% | 34% | -29% | Strained oblique |
| Ryan Mountcastle | BAL | 1B, DH | 79% | 49% | -30% | More of a short-side platoon bat now |
| Miguel Amaya | CHC | C | 43% | 12% | -31% | Sprained ankle |
| Joey Loperfido | TOR | LF,CF,RF | 56% | 25% | -31% | Sent to AAA |
| Max Muncy | LAD | 3B,1B,DH | 73% | 39% | -34% | Oblique strain |
| Brendan Donovan | STL | 2B, 3B, DH, RF, LF, SS | 86% | 52% | -34% | Groin strain |
| Victor Scott II | STL | CF | 84% | 48% | -36% | Sprained ankle |
| Adael Amador | COL | 2B | 61% | 9% | -52% | Sent to AAA |
| Kyle Stowers | MIA | RF, LF, CF | 86% | 27% | -59% | Oblique strain |
