Justin Mason’s Baseball Chat – August 24, 2026

Justin Mason: Chat will begin at the top of the 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! You can also join the Sleeper and the Bust discord! https://discord.gg/ar7XUV9T

lmb326: Need to inject some life into my offense for my utility spot who do you like better, Vinny P, Lawrence Butler, Nolan Arenado.
and what are we doing with Julio Rodriguez. Do we keep him in our lineup or is it time to bench him

Justin Mason: I lean Vinny P here. I am still riding with Julio at this point.

AU86: Redraft using QS and K/9 – pls rank: Liberatore, Klassen, Painter, Alvarez.  Thanks

Justin Mason: Klassen, Painter, Alvarez, Liberatore

AU86: 2 Catcher league – redraft – looking to replace Heim.  Please rank – Ruiz, Ballesteros, Flores, Gasper

Justin Mason: Flores, Ballesteros, Ruiz, Gasper

MD: Painter @LAA or Bennet @NYY?

Justin Mason: Bennett

MD: Would you sti Abrams this week in a weekly lineup league? I’m nervous about the IL potential, have Perdomo to fill in, and am pretty comfortably in first for a roto league

Justin Mason: I think if he is in the lineup today, im benching him

Brian Burns: 11 T 5×5 Roto OBP, Need RBI’s and OBP sit Lombard vs HOU & BOSx4 and P/U E. Suarez @ CHC & SF, McNeil vs MIN & BAL, or Tawa vs CHC and @ SFx4.   Thanks.

Justin Mason: Sit tawa

ajstopes: Is what Jacob Lopez is doing at all real?

Justin Mason: It is real in some respects, but this is kind of what he does. He will run hot for extended stretches and then run cold when he struggles with his mechnics and starts having command and control issues. No issue riding it out for now, but it could come crashing down at any moment.

JoeG414: D.May or A.Painter ?  12 T   Mixed Daily Roto     Thanks

Justin Mason: May

ajstopes: Is Bryce Miller cooked?

Justin Mason: I dont think he’s cooked, but just not as consistent as we saw earlier in the season.

AU86: D. Myers or H Ramos – ROS?

Justin Mason: Myers

ajexpress: Justin, I traded Otto Lopez and Josh Adamczewski for Lombard and Pedro Ramirez last night (categories league.) What side would you prefer (categories league OBP R RBI HR SB). Specifically, do you have opinions on Pedro Ramirez. Thanks

Justin Mason: Lombard side. Ramirez is an accumulator. Not a ton of power or speed, but has enough to matter along with a very good hit tool and a decent approach. Better for deeper leagues, but as long as he is playing he will rack up stats especially average.

AU86: Please rank ROS (redraft, OBP) – Tawa, Edman, Adell, Marsee, Lawlar

Justin Mason: Edman, Adell, Tawa, Marsee, Lawlar

sahilpshah: Is there any hope for Bryce Miller the rest of this year or in 2027?

Justin Mason: He has shown the signs he still has arm talent left, but I do wonder if the future will be in the bullpen.

Ken K: Thanks for the chat Justin. Is Dillon Dingler a bench even in a two catcher 10 team roto? 4 for his last 56 and looks gassed. Thinking of running with Perez and Stephenson.

Justin Mason: I think I am still starting Dingler over Stephenson

chipjosh: Is Tucker droppable at this point or are there any signs of a rebound heading into H2H fantasy playoffs?

Justin Mason: I think in a shallow league he’s droppable. The contact skills are still good, but the power has evaporated. I would have a hard time dropping him, but I understand it.

Don: 8 tm points.  Last move for ROS.  Please rate ROS:  Glasnow, G.Taylor, Benge.  All would help, leaning the hitter, but hard to pass on Dodgers Glasnow

Justin Mason: Glasnow, Benge, Taylor.

aes96: In an 11-tm AL Only keeper league, am I crazy for taking a chance trading for Skubal (for a non-keeper expensive Mackenzie Gore) and hoping he signs back in the AL for 2027?

Justin Mason: I think he signs with a team like the Dodgers or the Phillies, but if its for a non-keeper, whats the risk?

Brian Burns: 11T 5×5 Roto Saves only, need saves start 4 rp’s (add Joyce) or add Klassen.  Don’t need other SP ratios, just saves.

Justin Mason: Joyce

AU86: Please rank for next 2 starts – Liberatore (BAL, PIT), Alvarez (COL, MIA), Lugo (@TOR, @CLE).  Thanks

Justin Mason: Alvarez

Salty: Who would you least rather be: the player who was demoted to activate Byron Buxton hours before the Field of Dreams game and missing out on a once in a lifetime moment or a player who made a comically bad play (like the ball bouncing off of Canseco’s head for a HR) that lives in infamy?

Justin Mason: I’d rather not be the Canseco guy that everyone remembers for doing something embarrasing

Justin Mason: point awarded

Backdoor Slider: Am I wrong in being a bit intrigued with Liberatore? The ERA is unsightly, but the K/BB has me thinking a bit of BABIP issues.

CarMars Favorite: Confidence in the Liberatore two step this week?

Justin Mason: He just allows too much contact and his stuff is too hittable. I never understood the hype on him and still dont.

thermos: In a 12-team 6×6 (OPS) keeper league, I have Devers and Eldridge with Bellinger coming off the DL.  OF are PCA, Carroll, Joshua Baez and Ewing.  I’m contending and trying to decide if Bellinger is worth dropping Culpepper for the long term.  Flags fly forever but Bellinger hasn’t been fantastic.

Justin Mason: If I am going for it, I am dropping Culpepper

David Chenok: Should Riley owners who need BA abandon ship and start a replacement level player?

Justin Mason: depends on your other options. He is hitting .266 since the break, but a lot of it has been BABIP luck and his xBA is .245

Salty: Story has looked really rough during his rehab.  Would you rather roster him or a guy like Tim Tawa (whose ABs seem pretty secure at the moment) as a MI reserve?

Justin Mason: Tawa

Salty: Do you think either Justin Martinez or F Bautista finish with 5+ saves the rest of the way, or is that just wishcasting?

Justin Mason: wishcasting

jorourke87: Looking at recent usage, it looks like Genao is the stronger hold for a bench bat over Rocchio and probably the better keeper too. I’m in a spot where I need to cut at least one today for my weekly 5×5 12-tm roto. Would you prioritize Genao there? Would you be cutting both to try to add Story?

Justin Mason: I would go for Genoa

Don: Thanks as always …drop France, still holding B. Miller?

Justin Mason: I can drop both

AU86: OBP redraft – would you drop (yikes!) C Montgomery for Jared Young 제러드 or Adell?

Justin Mason: ill take young in an OBP

Vogt your conscience: Do you trust Urquidy in a 12 H2H playoffs?

Justin Mason: nope

Brian Burns: I should have worded differently…I have a bench spot for Lombard should I pick up 11T 5×5 Roto OBP, Need RBI’s and OBP sit Lombard vs HOU & BOSx4 and P/U E. Suarez @ CHC & SF, McNeil vs MIN & BAL, or Tawa vs CHC and @ SFx4.   Thanks.

Justin Mason: oh ok. I am picking up McNeil unless I really need power and then I amgrabbing Suarez. McNeill has a nice home schedule this week.

Vogt your conscience: Please rank ROS: Griffin Conine, Josh Bell, Bohm, Burger.

Justin Mason: thats the order

AU86: Need K/9 and good ratios – please rank: Montgomery (PIT), Sabrowski (CLE), Smith (SF), Miller (BOS)

Justin Mason: Montgomery, Smith, Sabrowski, Miller

Kyle O’Brien: I was able to snag Herz in a 12 team dynasty league that prioritizes strikeouts. What type of pitcher do you think we get from him end of 2026 and into 2027?

Justin Mason: youll get strikeouts, but probably a lot of walks, so a bad whip. I doubt he is relied upon to go deep into games so no wins either.

JoeG414: Who do you just more to start in a daily roto: Vladimir Guerrero Jr , Daylen Lile or Roy Hobbs ?

Justin Mason: Hobbs

Justin Mason: point awarded

David Chenok: Thanks for the Riley answer.  Same for Teoscar—apart from the numbers his approach looks awful.

Justin Mason: I think the poor contact skills finally have caught up to Hernandez with him aging and not being able to make up with his power.

David Chenok: Could start Culpepper or Grissom instead of Riley or Teoscar—no juice, but at least I’d get a few hits?

Justin Mason: I think I would go Culpepper and Riley

Justin Mason: Need more questions!

Justin Mason: This time of year, less people in the chat means I can answer more things from the same people. Don’t be shy

Hazmat Corntail: River Ryan will throw ___ innings for the Tigers this year (fwiw I’m starting to think zero)

Justin Mason: 15

AU86: Do you see J Soto and/or J Wood contributing in Sept?

Justin Mason: Soto, yes. Wood, No

Don: Bryce Miller RP by playoffs?

Justin Mason: I think there is a pretty good chance of that

Ross DiBello: daylen lile, jarren duren or lawrence butler: Pick 2 (OBP and OPS added)

Justin Mason: Lile and Butler

AU86: with Pages out, do you see Edman getting everyday ABs?  I know he has been playing most everyday even when Pages was healthy

Justin Mason: I dont know if he will get every day at bats because they want to be careful with his health, but I do think he will play fairly regularly

sahilpshah: How long of a leash are you giving Foster Griffin? He’s been alright but doesn’t look as sharp as early in the season

Justin Mason: short leash especially in H2H leagues.

InsertWittyNameHere: Is it collusion if you make a shitty trade with someone else so that they overtake someone else in the standings? Always curious about this but finally this year it may be applicable.

Justin Mason: No, thats a good strategy

Brandon Schuller: My current IL…J. Wood, N. Kurtz, H. Goodman, K. Griffin.  Oh, and I had to drop Rooker.  Will Griffin, at least, help me at all this year?

Justin Mason: yeah, he should be back in the first week in Sept

AU86: D Myers (CIN) or Marsee (MIA) ROS?

Justin Mason: Pretty close but I will lean Marsee here

qane: A typical first round last March might have gone Judge, Ohtani, Witt, Soto, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Acuña, Tucker, Skenes, Skubal, Elly, Crochet. In a WAAAY too early guess, and assuming baseball isn’t cancelled, which of those guys fall out of the 1st as PCA, Wood and Caminero seemingly move up?

Justin Mason: Tucker wont be a first rounder. Neither will Skenes

Hazmat Corntail: Are we starting to see the real Cole Carrigg?

Justin Mason: yeah, I was never a believer, so this feels more like the guy I expected.

tripleshy: Points Playoffs begin today, 2-week matchups and need OF help. Who are you starting? Baez, Keaschall, Ewing, Bleday look like best options

Justin Mason: Ewing

sahilpshah: Is Taylor Ward a cut in a 12 team OBP league?

Justin Mason: I cut him in a 12 last night

Justin Mason: Need more questions!

Joel Warger: Willie Castro’s 7gms or Kody Clemens‘ 6 but 3 are @ ATH for 2B this week? 12tm standard 5×5. Thank you!

Justin Mason: Clemens

AU86: real baseball question – assuming good health for all… who are Dodgers SPs in postseason…Skubal, Yamamoto, Snell…then Glasnow, Ohtani, Sasaki??

Justin Mason: yeah, that is probably right. I would guess they just only use Ohtani as an opener or a reliever in the playoffs.

wetsox: Is Jared Jones worth holding?

Justin Mason: only in a keeper

Don: Does Rooker and Langford rebound by 2027 draft

Justin Mason: I think so. Ill have a better idea after I start projections.

Hazmat Corntail: after yesterday’s rehab outing disaster I’m ready to quit the Bautista stash. Give him more time or just move on and maybe revisit if next year happens?

Justin Mason: revisit next year

JoeG414: Royce Lewis has cool down. But has 1B,2B & 3B which is helpful. But, could he be a drop if needed ? Will wait at least after the Sacramento series

Justin Mason: I would wait until after Sac

sahilpshah: How are you feeling about Kyle Bradish?

Justin Mason: Stuff has not been sharp. Struggling with command and control at times. Overall, not very impressed by him.

dakantor: Thoughts on Josh Báez after the first couple of weeks? Is he overmatched? Just getting in the groove?

Justin Mason: He is going to be the type of guy that has massive explosions and then is cold. he just doesnt make enough consistent contact.

wetsox: What about Hunter Brown?Worth holding. Thanks for doin this.

Justin Mason: Im still holding

David Chenok: Would you start Rumfield on the road instead of either Riley or Culpepper?

Justin Mason: no

AU86: Will PHI catch ATL for NL East crown?

Justin Mason: I think they will but I am biased as they were my WS pick at the beginning of the season

AU86: G Holmes, Roupp, or Zebby – ROS?

Justin Mason: Holmes

AU86: Does F Peralta come back strong in 2027?

Justin Mason: Hard to tell. I picked him up last night in a 15 just for a healthy arm, but I am not super confident he will turn it around.

Hazmat Corntail: Is Blackburn doing anything special in becoming a top holds guy all of a sudden? We do Holds so I’m looking at him, Senzatela, and Minter

Justin Mason: I would take Minter over him, but I do think he is a decent option down the stretch

AU86: How many games in 2027 – over/under 120?

Justin Mason: under

Robert Babicz: Need HRs & RBI, Mayo, Bell, Suarez or Arenado ROS & Keeper

Justin Mason: Suarez

elfpants: 5×5 NL only 9 team keeper roto league – Does it look like Justin Crawford has turned enough of a corner to consider keeping for next year?

Justin Mason: depends on the price.

Justin Mason: More questions!

arendakessian: Ottoneu season long scoring, daily lineups FGpts league is coming down to the wire. 1st place (me) and 2nd place are within ten points of each other. Trade deadline in a few days. Is a Joc / Luis Garcia Jr 1B platoon gonna cut it for me ROS, or do I need to improve there? One option is I could move Yandy to 1B and try and trade for an expensive star bat to play at UTIL, but no luck there so far. LGJ is also my preferred 2B on RHP days, but have Gleyber there too for insurance. My OF is Springer, Seiya, Tatis (also 2B elig), Tucker, and JRod. In essence, struggling to figure i

arendakessian: **struggling to figure out where / how to continue the push

Justin Mason: If I could make the trade I would, but I do think that platoon could be enough for you.

AU86: Does W Jenkins contribute in Sept?

Justin Mason: If he comes up he could. I dont know why he isnt up yet.

Hazmat Corntail: Any alarm bells ringing with Clay Holmes only having 5 K’s in 16 IP so far?

Justin Mason: nah, he is a guy who will pitch to his strengths and rely on the defense. The K’s will be sparse.

AU86: What were your impressions of K Anderson first MLB start?

Justin Mason: I wasnt as overwhelmed as I thought I would be but I do think he will be good long term. I think there was some jitters jumping up two levels for his MLB start and there is a massive difference the talent he is facing. Bumps are to be expected, but I think the sky is the ceiling.

Brandon Schuller: You buying Messick as a top 20 starter long term?

Justin Mason: pretty close. I had him as a top 35 guy heading into the season. Want to do a deep dive before I anoint him top 20 though.

Hazmat Corntail: Even if Raffaela doesn’t hit the lofty ideals that people had in their Bold Predictions columns in the spring, would you consider this year a step forward, even if he doesn’t go at least 20/20?

Justin Mason: I think until he learns the strikezone better, he will always be this guy that people have lofty expectations for that disappoints. He is just Boston’s version of Michael Harris

Beano: NL 10 team 5×5 I have D Smith but I don’t see many SF saves. Would you waive him for D Peterson or w Dion?

Justin Mason: I think I would stick with Smith

sahilpshah: Shane Bieber has been rebounding lately — are you buying it?

Justin Mason: Not really

arendakessian: Follow up on my ottoneu question earlier, do I just have to ride it out with JRod, Springer, and Tucker at this point?

Justin Mason: I dont think you have to with Tucker

AU86: assuming B Donovan is back right after the 7 day concussion protocol is done…Donovan or J Young (NYM) ROS?

Justin Mason: Donovan

AU86: Cronenworth or Edman ROS – OBP league?

Justin Mason: Edman

Datt Mamon: May be too broad of a question, but was wondering if you had Marte and thought about dealing him in the offseason, who are some younger targets you might be interested in (not necessarily as part of the trade but more who would replaced Marte on your roster)?

Justin Mason: Hard to know what his value will be in the offseason. I think the uncertanity would drive his price down too far and I would likely just hold him and see once things are more settled if I can flip him later.

Justin Mason: Out of questions

Justin Mason: send more

Justin Mason: less than ten minutes left

Francisco Torres: If you had to pick one of Spencer Jones, Sam Antonacci, Heriberto Hernandez, or JJ Bleday for the last bench spot in a 14-team cats league with OBP, who would it be?

Justin Mason: Hernandez

Don: Who’s your #1 2027

Justin Mason: ohtani still

sahilpshah: Real baseball question — who is taking the third AL Wild Card spot? And how many teams with a losing record will make the AL playoffs?

Justin Mason: I think I am probably taking the Guardians  for the last spot, but I think it could be any team at this point. I think two teams with losing records get in

Francisco Torres: And a follow up…I get the sense you’re around Sacramento. Favorite Sac restaurant??

Justin Mason: Im actually in the Bay Area so about an hour away so I dont know many in Sac. My brother lives there, but we dont hit a lot of places when I visit

Peter Castro: Hi Justin, Who are a few Prospect Stashes other than Ralphy Velasquez who might matter down the stretch?

Justin Mason: Thats tough because I am not a prospect guy. I think that is a better question for Eric

Hazmat Corntail: More of a general baseball question, but is Alec Bohm playing in the wrong era? I look at his numbers and think a 3B hitting .270 with 17 HR and 80 RBI would’ve been perfectly acceptable in the 80’s

Justin Mason: He is definitely a throwback. I really thought he was going to be special when he was drafted lol

lmb326: L butler turning it around? Nice home series this week. Is he better than nimmo for the week?

Justin Mason: I am starting him in Sac this week for sure

jamield: do we see ryan sloan this year?

Justin Mason: I dont think so

Beano: Will m Shaw or Samad Taylor come back this week and get ABs? I’m especially curious about what the Cubs will do with Shaw

Justin Mason: I dont think Shaw gets enough plate appearances to matter outside of super deep leagues.

jt1229: must win week for me to keep playoff hope alive, 6×6 h2h with 7 start max where categories are: whip, era, k, w, qs & saves, will need to stream a start, whats your rec and ranking:  detmers vs phil, nola @ sea, may @ mets, jones @ st louise or lampert/weneski @ nyy

Justin Mason: May, Detmers, Lambert, Wesneski, Nola, Jones.

jamield: thanks Justin; will Dylan Beavers contribute in a meaningful way ROS?  Coors next week

Justin Mason: Probably not. Maybe a bit of power

tdmoc: shallow H2H points, would you take any of Wetherholt, Luis Garcia Jr, Xavier Edwards over Luis Arraez ROS?

Justin Mason: Maybe Wetherholt? but probably not

Wayne Kiger: H2H pts, start one this week E Perez or Henderson?

Justin Mason: Henderson

JoeG414: Hitter Stream tonight Pedro Ramirez at AZ M.Kelly or Nick Sogard (on fire )  at Mia Sandy ?

Justin Mason: Ramirez

Justin Mason: Thats my time!

Justin Mason: 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! You can also join the Sleeper and the Bust discord! https://discord.gg/ar7X