Justin Mason’s Baseball Chat – April 7, 2025

Justin Mason: I will begin at the top of hour. In the meantime, please follow me on all my social media’s (twitter, tiktok, facebook, youtube, bluesky, and instagram) at JustinMasonFWFB! I am doing regular podcasts on the FWFB podcast as well as three episodes a week for the Sleeper and the Bust so definitely make sure you are subscribed there as well!

Bog: Please rank ROS: Eflin, G Williams, Ober.

Justin Mason: Ober, Eflin, Williams.

OF overflow: For the month of April, how would you rate Dominguez, Jung Hoo Lee 이정후, Jordan Walker, Sal Frelick, Chris Morel? Would you change that rating list for ROS?

Justin Mason: I think that is the order I would put them in. Might move Walker up if he can keep hitting.

Bob: Playing in a 12 team points H2H league. Bibee and Ober were dropped, would you pick up one over Lodolo?

Justin Mason: I would pick up either over Lodolo. Ober before Bibee for me

Brian: Will Kyren Paris start getting regular playing time or at least enough to make him a viable pick up?

Justin Mason: I think he can. The Angels get banged up pretty quickly and are already dealing with injuries to Moncada not to mention both Adell and Rengifo missed time last week with injuries. Paris was the most picked up player in Main Event leagues this weekend.

Guest: Can the Phillies find a taker for Taijuan Walker?

Justin Mason: Probably not, but I don’t even think they’d look to do it either. He gives them depth in the rotation and that is important when you are trying to win.

The Old Professor: 12 team 6×6 ( ops) Roto league.. Albies or Christian Campbell?

Justin Mason: Albies

dan: how worried are we about Yainer? If it was any position besides catcher, I’d probably be running to drop

Justin Mason: I am not worried at all. It’s been a week and a half

Coach73: Your thoughts on Hunter Bigge?  I have Fairbanks and Uceta and Montgomery are already rostered by other owners.

Justin Mason: I like Bigge, but he is probably third for fourth in line for saves so outside of holds leagues, he doesn’t have a ton of value.

maris9: Mason Montgomery worth a pickup?

Justin Mason: probably not outside of holds leagues.

Guest: Hi Justin, any concern for Yordan Alvarez?

Justin Mason: Nope. He will be fine.

BaseballBaby!: Hi Justin! Seeing a slumping William Contreras. What do you think is going on with my man?!

Justin Mason: I am not overly worried. Maybe a bit of a transition period moving positions, but I think he will be fine as well.

High5Ghost: 12 team mixed….Hunter Goodman or Yainer Diaz? Diaz just hit the wire.

Justin Mason: Diaz

Chucky: Are you replacing Casas in the lineup with either CES or Bohm?

Justin Mason: I would with CES

maris9: What you make of this Kyren Paris? For real or fools gold.

Justin Mason: It will all come down to contact for Paris. He has a bunch of speed and some power, but has struggled with consistent in-zone contact. If he can make just league average contact, there is a lot of upside

Chasing Saves: Any saves specs out there? Halvorsen and Bender are available but that’s about it.

Justin Mason: Halvorsen and Bender are good ones. Dennis Santana and Tommy Kahnle if they are still available.

A Jolly Good Oberkfellow: 12 team, points league. Have the so far undynamic duo of Cam Smith and Matt Shaw at third. Someone dropped the early season craptastic Joey Ortiz? Who would you favor to remember how to hit?

Justin Mason: I think I take the upside of the rookies. My only fear is that they won’t have the rope to stay on their respective rosters if they don’t figure it out.

Lee: Cam Smith and Vargas — Roto 10 AL league with 15 keepers — worth keeping at very low price, if no bench and I must play them?

Justin Mason: Smith is worth it. Vargas probably not.

bdubs: Rank: Alvarez, Santana (is the return of Bednar closing an inevitability?), Bender, Halvorsen.

Justin Mason: I am assuming that is Alvarado? If so, Santana, Alvarado, Halvorsen, Bender.

JG: Hi, 14 team, redraft, h2h 6×6, Roki Sasaki just got waived, is he worth taking a flyer on and using my # 1 pick on waiver order, last man on my staff is AJ Puk as I have 3 RP even though there are only spots for 2 UPs on any given day.

Justin Mason: I think he could be, but there is a lot of risk with how he has pitched. The Snell injury gives him more rope to figure it out though

Blue light specials: Points. H2H. Are these buy lows a good risk/return. Nola, Keller, Seminole, Albies, Arraez? Any buy lows that you like a lot? Thank you

Justin Mason: Nola and Albies for sure. If Seminole is supposed to be Semien, I would buy low on him too

White Sox: Is there a reliever in the White Sox pen worth owning?

Justin Mason: nope

Justin Mason: I literally just dropped Clevinger in a league yesterday

Beano: NL 10 team 5×5 – Is Harrington a worthy pickup or is he a “next year” guy?
And if I may, please rank these FA hitters: J Rojas, T Tawa, T Saggase, A Call, S Marte

Thanks!

Justin Mason: I grabbed him for cheap in a bunch of leagues. I think they are going to give him a few more chances.

Justin Mason: Marte, Rojas, Call, Tawa, Saggase

Al: Looks like Jason Foley has thrown 3.2 perfect innings with 4 Ks at AAA. Think there’s a chance he gets called back up somewhat soon and works his way back into the closer role?

Justin Mason: He could but I think it will be a fluid situation in Detroit all season long

I Sing of Arms and Troubles: AL Only league. Could you rank these arms? Povich, Wesneski, Shane Smith, Woods Richardson? Which are below the Middle Reliever threshold? (Think Will Vest or the Booser)

Justin Mason: Wesneski, Smith, Povich, SWR. I would say the last two are below the MR threshold.

Guest 000: Roman Anthony up soooooon to move Cedddane to util/4th OF?

Justin Mason: I really hope so. I am stashing in a bunch of leagues. I think he is up in the next 2-3 weeks.

Hot Bats: Trent Grisham (embarrassingly) leads my AL Only OBP team in homers. Should I hold him or move on to a steadier bat (Malloy, Oswaldo Cabrera, Ty France are the sorts of bats out there)?

Justin Mason: Just ride the hot streak

Borbin Burnes: Have you looked at Burnes’ pitch velocity graph? His cutter suffers a really noticeable dip in velocity in August and doesn’t recover at all. It’s honestly kind of concerning

Justin Mason: I haven’t dug into it, but I think I will now. He is a good enough pitcher to make it work without the velo, but that is concerning.

Curious George: My easiest 15 second check on a hitter I haven’t been watching closely is usually xwOBA and wOBA. This is a bad heuristic when it comes to players who succeed by pulling the ball in the air. Do you have any quick checks you use for contact quality for players in that category? (Paredes, Arenado, Altuve, etc)

Justin Mason: I am looking to see if there is anything out of line in Z-Contact, O-Swing, EVs, IFB, GB, FB among others, but remember that we don’t have enough data to draw much from anything yet.

Rob: Wondering if you would start Ben Rice over Xander Bogaerts (at UT) in a 15-team mixed points? Seems like upside versus safety.

Justin Mason: I think that is the right analysis. I would look and play schedules right now.

Guest: am I probably giving Bleday too much rope? sacramento and coors and he still hasn’t hit ish

Justin Mason: Underlying numbers look fine. Just a few too many groundballs. I think he will be fine.

Cold Bats: MJ Melendez. Even in my AL Only league, I’m getting an itchy trigger finger for a hotter bat like Brendan Rodgers. Anything I can point to, other than it being April, for hope?

Justin Mason: I am fine making that move. He isn’t a bat I would feel tied to.

Oof: Would you drop the Martian, Santander, or Jung Hoo Lee in a shallow points league for Noot?

Justin Mason: I would entertain dropping Lee for him but not the other two

TORPEDO MAN: hey justin! are there any early season trends you’re seeing (ie, less/more steals, less/more Ks) that can give any insight to fantasy strategy? thanks partner!

Justin Mason: Right now I am mostly just watching game and enjoying them while we are waiting for sample sizes to normalize. Definitely looking at team SBs to see if there are teams being more or less aggressive on the bases. For instance, the Pirates are on an unreal SB pace right now, so I am streaming their hitters in. For the most part, just enjoying baseball being back and staying on top of news and watching a ton

Chris: When do you see nick Kurtz getting up? Before elridge?

Justin Mason: I don’t think Kurtz is up until late summer, if at all this season, but I do think Eldridge could be if he is healthy. Right now the latter is hurt so that could push him back as well.

Guest: What do you think of Wilyer Abreu’s hot start? Did you see him gun down Noot at 3rd yesterday?

Justin Mason: He has been so impressive. I think he will slow down a ton, but you have to ride this hot streak as long as it goes.

Matt: So is Wilyer Abreu just peak Mike Trout now? Even everything under the hood looks great.

Justin Mason: lol. If this was happening in July we probably wouldn’t give it much thought. That being said, ride it for now

Coco Vandi: Hi Justin.  6×6 roto obp & qs dynasty, no cost.  who should i be targeting for ss if looking to trade bryce miller?  thanks in advance

Justin Mason: McLain? Volpe? Seager?

Beano: Brewers patching together their pitching staff with C Patrick, T Alexander — and these guys have looked pretty good. In a vacuum (which I know is a dark and dusty space) would you roster either of these two guys?

Justin Mason: Probably not outside of the deepest of leagues.

Guest: Ben Rice or Torkelson?

Justin Mason: Tork

Bob: Do you think Tork can keep up the hot start? The K% is scary especially in a league with a strikeout penalty

Justin Mason: The swinging strike rate is actually really good and he is making great in-zone contact. I am a buyer

1B Help: Is Nate Lowe or Torkelson more sustainable ROS? Both have high BABIPs. Tork has better OBP but if Lowe makes contact, he destroys the ball.  Also, how do they compare to Willson Contreras as 1Bs? (He’s going to lose C eligibility soon).

Justin Mason: Tork for me. I think I would rather have contreras, but you should be playing him at C all year.

Guest: What’s a secret that you’ve never told anyone?

Justin Mason: I am an open book. No secrets here

Guest: Gore vs LAD in QS 12’s? it’s 42 and damp here, if LAD sits anyone at all I think I go for it, if not…?

Justin Mason: I think I close my eyes and roll with it.

Chucky: Are you ready to take the plunge and install Gunnar back into a weekly lineup? A 1 for 13 week will render these kinds of questions valid.

Justin Mason: Yeah, you play the stud

Guest: If I trick-or-treat at your house this year dressed up as a pitcher that was injured at the end of the 2024 season but is being drafted high in 2025, will that sufficiently scare you into giving me the entire bag of candy?

Justin Mason: You get raisins.

Justin Mason: point awarded lol

Need a Steer on Steer: Is Spencer Steer still hurt? He has been horrendous so far, yesterday’s homer notwithstanding. Are you sitting in weekly leagues for now if you have a decent replacement?

Justin Mason: I probably would especially with them heading to SF. I was scared off by the shoulder in drafts

Egg Danger: Starting Eflin in AZ tonight?

Justin Mason: I am

Oh Buehler: Is Walker Buehler cooked? He’s riding the bench after burning me twice. Should he be dropped?

Justin Mason: I am not ready to drop him, but I am benching

High5Ghost: Good morning Justin! You really helped me out with a Will Smtih roster decision I made a few years ago, & I was hoping you could do the same today with Max Muncy and Luis Castillo.

Justin Mason: Just hold tight, they will be fine

JT: Hi, 14 team, redraft, h2h, 6×6, Current pitching staff is as follows: T. Skull, L. Gilbert, B. Miller, B. Ober & F. Peralta. As a result of loading up on pitching my offense is short. Is 1 of the last 3 SP on staff enough for a 1 for 1 offer for C. Seager? If not what needs to be added (very little?) ? Also can you rank the last 3 pitchers for me, hoping to avoid having to use my 1 and 2

Justin Mason: I think a Miller or Peralta for Seager deal would be perfect. Might need to throw in a sweetener with Peralta though

Guest: (Ketel got hurt on a ball that was gone in 16/30 parks.) sucks to already have an injury, feel the bug coming all year here?

Justin Mason: Hate to see this for him so early especially a guy that has been relatively healthy the last couple of seasons. I hope he can come back fine, but these injuries always scare me

SPs: Can you rank these guys ros for points leagues: Gavin Williams, Tyler Megill, Chase Dollander, Jack Leiter, and Wesneski.  Do any two standout?

Justin Mason: Williams, Megill, Leiter, Wesneski, Dollander

Guest: Need a UT bat this week – should I go with Paris, France? Also same question but for holiday vacation plans this summer.

Justin Mason: Paris for me. I prefer the South of France for my vacations though.

Justin Mason: Point awarded

Guest: Gunnar was obviously the better prospect by the time he reached MLB, and had a warmup the September prior, but Shaw’s early plate-discipline-without-power is giving me similar vibes. but maybe I’m just still burned from trading Gunnar for Semien/Bednar in a keeper in May 2023 and determined not to make another “mistake”

Justin Mason: Give Shaw time. He is a really good prospect though not on the same level as Henderson.

dobs: z veen or c smith ros

Justin Mason: Smith

Guest: Saves only league. Is it worth dropping any of romano, halvorsen, doval for bender and/or kahnle?

Justin Mason: Drop Doval for Kahnle

What’s in a Name?: Hi Justin, would you roll with Mahle or Landon Knack this week in 15-team H2H 5×5? Thanks again.

Justin Mason: Knack

JT: 14 team, redraft, h2h, 6×6, M. Wallner or L. Robert Jr ? Have Robert on the team now but is he broken?

Justin Mason: I think you have to go Robert but I am worried because I was coming into the season

Jack: Will the Marsh as the everyday CF experiment be over soon? I know it’s early but he’s shown who he is time and time again

Justin Mason: I think it probably should be but he is a good defender that will continue to play

Billy Bob: OBP league, need MI till Neto is healthy. Morel, Story or India???

Justin Mason: Story

Rube: How have you been handling your main event team that was closer-lite?

Justin Mason: I grabbed Santana and I am just streaming in relievers in and out. right now I just have Santana and Kenley, but I will be grinding it all season long

Guest: Will need to drop one soon when Strider comes off IL, OPS league where I have K Campbell and X Edwards:Bogaerts / Luzardo / Baz / Gore / Woo

Justin Mason: I would probably drop Luzardo if there isn’t a natural opening before then

kim: CJ Abrams or Devers ROS standard Roto? Offer on the table. Thx

Justin Mason: Abrams

Guest: martin perez QS fool’s gold?

Justin Mason: absolutely he is

Jeff: Hayes or McMahon. OBP league

Justin Mason: McMahon

Age of Casparius: is this finally abner uribe’s breakout year?

Justin Mason: Probably not

Mia Khalifa: so carpenter is only going for 4 games this week w/2 lefties? sit or start?

Justin Mason: depends on the other options, but I am starting him

What’s in a Name?: Does Zebby get the call this month? MIN’s backend starters are not good.

Justin Mason: I think he does

Autumn Falls: Mr. Mason… Ober – buy low or sell low… please don’t say April

Justin Mason: Buy low.

Ray in the Bronx: Sit Ray in 12T? Yankees be scary…

Justin Mason: nah

BLC: You holding Povich as a back end starter in 12 teamers? Results have been subpar so far and Kyle Gibson will arrive soon, but Povich’s 20.8 K-BB% and 3.22 SIERRA at least have me questioning if I should hang on.

Justin Mason: I don’t think so

Sky Bri: over/under on Holliday getting 25 games at ss this year?

Justin Mason: under

KC: Who do you like ROS: Colt Keith, Jacob Wilson윌슨, Joey Ortiz?

Justin Mason: Keith

Saucy Mittenz: Is Brendan Rodgers back!?

Justin Mason: point awarded

Lo: When you would play Michael Toglia? Just a home?

Justin Mason: for right now, yes, only at home

Overpay: In an AL only 5×5, Bo Bichette is projected as a $19 player. I am considering holding him for $28 due to positional scarcity. When should you or should you not make such a significant overpay?

Justin Mason: figure out your league inflation rate. it is pretty easy to do and then you can go from there

Nick: Can you remind me it’s been a week and a half and I shouldn’t worry about being in last place?

Justin Mason: IT HAS ONLY BEEN A WEEK AND A HALF!

Justin Mason: Point awarded

JP: Rank Tylor, Max Meyer, and Grant Holmes?

Justin Mason: Meyer, Megill, Holmes

Liam: What are we thinking about Grant Holmes rn, just a tough run of luck to start the year but worth holding (12t h2h cat)

Justin Mason: Yeah, I would still hold. I just traded for him in a league

Mark: Zac Veen getting called up. Think he does anything?

Justin Mason: really depends on if the Rockies will give him full run, but it’s not like he was amazing in the minors last season either. I would temper my expectations.

The Dreaded “Second Opinion”: Am I crazy for starting Rice over Olson for as long as Rice remains hot?

Justin Mason: I wouldn’t do that

Guest: better pickup – molloy or tova?

Justin Mason: Tovar? I would take him over Malloy

August Ames: well hopefully my question gets answered since I don’t see any my girlfriends’ questions posted… Veen going to play or get jerked around?

Justin Mason: Rockies gonna Rockie, but I don’t know why they would bring him up this early to sit.

hamilton porter: dylan crews and james wood both running a k rate over 40%. what gives?!

Justin Mason: Not worried about Wood right now. Being a little to patient at the plate but the contact numbers are fine and the swinging strike rate is great. Crews scares me a bit because he is being too patient too but also has a 16% swinging strike rate and not making contact. I do think both will be fine though

Revise & Resubmit: Who are three hitters you’ve moved up in rankings due to what you think are sustainable small-sample results?

Justin Mason: I am not making major moves right now. There are no samples big enough to do that. The only guys I would move up are ones were I was wrong on playing time and they look good. Ben Rice for example.

Jake: 30 tm Points league- Coby Mayo or Nick Kurtz?

Justin Mason: Kurrtz

Johnny Sins: When does Bednar get called back up and does he get the job back right away?

Justin Mason: I think he will be down for at least 2-3 weeks and if Santana is good in the meantime, he could keep the job

High5Ghost: I wish I had listened to you and passed on Vientos. Paredes & Maikel Garcia are both on the wire in my 12 team mixed. Do I ride it out with Vientos or grab one of those two?

Justin Mason: I would grab Paredes.

Justin Mason: Not much time left and a ton of questions I want to get to. So let’s speed round as many as I can

Scooter: Who would you rather have in 12 tm mixed 5×5 with OPS instead of BA: Aranda (1B/2B) or Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/SS)? I have Otto Lopez at 2B so looking for backup option on my bench.

Justin Mason: IKF

Winker, Taylor, Soler, Spy: 12T 5×5 OBP H2H redraft. Yandy Diaz and/or Rhys Hoskins droppable? Guys on wire include Mountcastle, Conforto, J. Walker, Polanco, K. Paris, K. Hayes, Grisham, Mangum.

Justin Mason: I would drop Hoskins for Walker or Conforto

Winker, Taylor, Soler, Spy: 12T 5×5 H2H redraft. Hold Jobe or drop for Gavin Williams?

Justin Mason: Drop

Chucky: CBS had Thomas Harrington as a two start this week, now nuthin’. Any news that I’ve missed? Injuries? Demotion?

Justin Mason: Feels like it might be a tandem thing with Harrington coming in second

Jim Leyland Palmer: Please rank these options for pick up for OF needy team (10tm 5×5): Heliot Ramos, Nootbar, Grisham, Lee

Justin Mason: Nootbaar, Ramos, Lee, GRisham

Jim Leyland Palmer: And would you drop Taylor Ward for either?

Justin Mason: I would for Noot

Beano: Any update on Strider’s return date? And do you see Quintana doing some good soon in Pittsburgh?

Justin Mason: I think Strider could be back next week. Quintana is in Milwaukee but I don’t think he will be for another couple of weeks

Jim Leyland Palmer: I need of saves, who would you pick up between: Alvarado, Puk, Luke Jackson, Kahnle. Thank you

Justin Mason: Jackson

hamilton porter: any guess as to who takes snell’s rotation spot in the short term? knack, wrobleski, miller seem to be top options. wrobleski is the only lhp.

Justin Mason: KNack

Minor League Stash: Our league has an NA slot where you can stash a minor leaguer. Who would you stash there: Painter, Chandler, Kurtz, Simpson, someone else? (Veen is out since he’s supposedly being called up)

Justin Mason: Chandler

Kam: Goodman or Wells in a 1 catcher OBP league?

Justin Mason: Wells

If The Dick Fitts: Start me against TOR tonight?

Justin Mason: I would in deeper leagues

Guest: Looking for a pickup who might last beyond just a week.  OBP league and steals would be helpful…

Justin Mason: Pittsburgh is stealing at a record rate. Look for guys there?

Guest: Pick one Joey Ortiz, Hayes, Muncy?

Justin Mason: Muncy

Love Is A Battenfield: Better ROS in a 12T 5×5 H2H redraft: Gavin Williams or Jose Soriano?

Justin Mason: Soriano

Guest: Hunter Goodman or Gabriel Moreno ROS?

Justin Mason: Goodman

Ben: Nootbar must own in 10tm format?

Justin Mason: probably borderline in a 10

Guest: Hold Colton Cowser in 9 team deep league?

Justin Mason: probably not

The Old Professor: Vinny P or Torkelson in a Roto?

Justin Mason: Vinny P but closer than I thought it would be

Olerud Slides: How worried should I be about Bryan Reynolds and the injury limiting him to DH?

Justin Mason: I am not worried yet

Lord Thunder: Is Max Muncy (LAD) due for one of his scorching hot streaks soon, or is there reason to worry?

Justin Mason: yeah, he should be fine

Marc: I’ve been platooning Shaw and Baty. Is it time to bench Baty?

Justin Mason: I would keep him in the lineup at the end of the week because they are heading to Sac

Joe14: Seems like Romano is a drop in a Non Holds roto. Correct ?

Justin Mason: the philles will play matchups so I don’t think he will be set up all the time

McD: Adolis Garcia was just dropped (!) in my points league (walks count, no K penalty, close to Yahoo standard scoring for pts). Have to make a claim, but how do you rank the following – Maikel Garcia, H Goodman (backup catcher for O’Hoppe), Matt Shaw

Justin Mason: drop Goodman

Nicky: How do I view the most added players in sharp leagues? You made a comment about Paris being the most added in Main Events. Also, got a favorite reliever in a deep HLD+SV 5×5 league out of Ronny Henriquez, Jack Dreyer, Bryan Baker, Ryan Thompson, and Hunter Bigge? Slim pickings, I know…

Justin Mason: you can view them on NFBC under player movement. I also do an article everyweek for fantasy pros on them. It will be out tomorrow.

Guest: My wife keeps telling me we need to work on our relationship but I keep saying that it’s only 10 days into the season and we should wait longer to jump to conclusions. Who’s right? Also, should I drop her ROS?

Justin Mason: Drop and move on

Justin Mason: point awarded

Micah: Are you buying the improvements Brendan Rodgers is showing so far this season?

Justin Mason: nope

Bob: Do you think Jordan Hicks might start for most of the season this year?

Justin Mason: I think he will

Brian in Cape Porpoise Maine: Better 2032 fantasy player: Vladito or Juan Soto?

Justin Mason: Soto

Justin Mason: point awarded

Justin Mason: Ok, I am over time.

Justin Mason: Ok, I am over time. please follow me on all my social media’s (twitter, tiktok, facebook, youtube, bluesky, and instagram) at JustinMasonFWFB! I am doing regular podcasts on the FWFB podcast as well as three episodes a week for the Sleeper and the Bust so definitely make sure you are subscribed there as well!