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Starting Pitcher Chart – June 2nd, 2026

David Banks-Imagn Images

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.

I’ll have updated SP rankings out this week! Targeting Thursday for that, stay tuned.

  • 1 bad IP v. HOU led to Early’s only Dud of the year but maybe it unlocked something for him because he’s been electric since: 1.79 ERA/0.96 WHIP/20% K-BB. The 5% BB stands out because control was an issue through his F7 starts (11% BB), though his ERA has never eclipsed 3.80 so even as he worked through that, he was still delivering value.
  • In a season of impressive pitching breakouts, Martin stands out. After shelving his slider and curve to show-me status last year (4-5% usage for both), he’s dialed ’em up nearly 3x to 15% and 12%, respectively, and as a result his K% has surged 10 pts to 27%!! Paired with 13% SwStr, there is some realness to this and I’m running him everywhere confidently right now.
  • Elder caught his first Dud of the year and there could be more on the way as it’s still hard to fully buy into his success with just a 13% K-BB, but if you can take the ratio risk there’s plenty of Win upside.
  • Vásquez has been a bit wobbly in his L2 (7 ER in 10 IP w/4 HRs and 2:4 K:BB) but this is what I mean when I say we’re not jumping off at the first sign of trouble w/someone. Last year, that would’ve been enough to run from Vásquez given how flimsy his skills were (5% K-BB). His 12% this year isn’t amazing, but much more palatable than a single-digit rate. Let’s check-in after the 2-start this week (NYM on the wknd).
  • I debated the 3-x on Soroka given how good he’s been this year but LAD is always tough to go against with any non-ace. Health, not skills, remains the biggest hurdle for Soroka as he hasn’t reached even 90 IP since his 2019 breakout season. I would definitely run him in weekly 10-teamers to get the 2-step even with it being 2 pretty difficult matchups (WSN this wknd).
  • Huge 2-step this week for Prielipp. After running out to a 2.88 ERA/0.96 WHIP in his first 5 MLB starts, he’s gotten his socks knocked off in his L2 at BOS and at CHW, allowing 11 ER in 8.3 IP (6 BB definitely a big part of the issue). I’m willing to give him a shot against the Murakami-less White Sox in order to get the KCR start in weekly setups. In daily setups, I can see skipping this in shallow-medium formats.
  • Matz has 6 good and 3 bad starts on the year but the latter have smothered the former resulting in a 4.67 ERA/1.24 WHIP through 44.3 IP. Most of my confidence to start him comes from how impossibly bad my favorite team has been lately (casual 4-22 record over their L26, very fun to watch everyday!).
  • It was great to see the 11-K game from Roy Reuben Chandler but we knew that wasn’t the end of his control issues (he even walked 3 during the big strikeout game). HOU is down to 12th in wOBA on the year after a really fast start and now they essentially boil down to Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker, Jeremy Pena,  and friends… wherein the friends are essentially free outs. Just don’t let those three get you and they’re very beatable.
  • McDonald is yet another interesting arm with a difficult 2-step on tap (at CHC this wknd) but one I’m certainly open to running. A 7 ER Dud v. CHW has inflated the ERA to 4.34 but the 17% K-BB and 2.92 SIERA draw my attention. In fact, as I dive in deeper, I would favor T-Mc over Matz and Chandler for both today and the whole week.
  • I’m nervous about all five 1-x guys and wouldn’t bat an eye at sitting any of them. Baz and Abbott at least have decent matchups while Cantillo, Jump, and Cameron are all on the road facing Top 10 offenses. Even still, I’d likely run all three in weekly formats for their 2-steps… at least in 15-teamers.
  • Comments sold me on giving Nola, May and even Grayson 1-x. If I could figure out how to half an x, I would’ve given Grayson that, but I’m just nervous from being burnt in the past by him (mostly due to health, in fairness). Edit to add: I guess a slash one way or the other is technically half an “x” so that’s what he gets!

I’ll have more comments in the morning. Got a late start and need to get some rest!

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FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 11

Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.

Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.

Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.

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Where Have Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Home Runs Gone?

Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Since 2021, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been one of the best hitters in the league. As we enter June, he has just three home runs and his worst power numbers for several years. At this pace, he will finish with nine homers — the same as he managed in the shortened 60-game season in 2020. His top-20 average ADP has resulted in returns that barely put him in the top 20 at first base, and that poses the question: Can this regression be explained?

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Justin Mason’s Baseball Chat – June 1, 2026

Here is today’s chat transcript:
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Roto Riteup: June 1, 2026

Walls are still undefeated:

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Starting Pitcher Chart – June 1st, 2026

Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.

The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, and recently added opponent’s K% (also v. SP handedness), my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. 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 for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.

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Sunday Night Waiver Wire & FAAB Chat

7:32
Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome

7:32
Jeff Zimmerman: Here are the winning bids from the two 15-team Tout Wars redraft leagues

7:32
Jeff Zimmerman:

7:33
ryan: any hope for framber? or drop him for taj/ginn?

7:34
Jeff Zimmerman: My projections have Taj first as a 4.08 ERA talent, then Framber at 4.12, and then Ginn at 4.38.

7:34
JR: Is River Ryan going to save my season?

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FAAB & Waiver Wire Report: Pitchers (Week 10)


Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

My son competed in the State Track Meet this weekend, so I’ll only had time to cover the pitchers while Jack Dorfman covered the hitters.

In this article, I cover the players using CBS’s and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both 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. I start players being added at CBS who started the week on less than 40% of rosters.

The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference, grouped by hitters, starters, and relievers. Read the rest of this entry »


Starting Pitcher Rookie Check In: Bubba Chandler, Parker Messick, and Nolan McLean

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

We have covered several hitters for our rookie check-ins. Though we will cover more in the future, we wanted to shift our attention to three starting pitchers worth highlighting that were rookie-eligible heading into the 2026 fantasy baseball season. Several rookies have been performing well, with some struggles. We’ll continue examining rookies throughout the season, including some advice on whether to buy, sell, or hold in keeper and dynasty formats.

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Roto Riteup: May 29, 2026

Fooled the play-by-play man, but he didn’t fool us!

On the Agenda: 

  1. Quick Hits
  2. Various News and Notes
  3. Streaming Pitchers

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