Justin Mason’s Baseball Chat – July 13, 2026
Here is today’s chat transcript:
| 11:51 |
: 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
|
| 12:00 |
: Standard cats league – is Benge for Tolle an even swap?
|
| 12:02 |
: I think it is. From a straight skills perspective, I prefer Tolle, but I think there is a chance he is shut down early if the Red Sox determine they arent in the race, so that give Benge a leg up rest of the way in a redraft.
|
| 12:02 |
: 13 team mixed redraft using OBP and SLG – pls rank: L Thomas (KC), Mangum (PIT), Dominguez (NYY), Marsee (MIA), Vaughn (MIL). Thanks
|
| 12:02 |
: Dominguez, Marsee, Mangum, Thomas, Vaughn
|
| 12:02 |
: redraft using QS and K/9…please rank…Jones (PIT), Weathers (NYY), McDonald (SF), Liberatore (STL), Manaea (NYM)…thank you You Aren't a FanGraphs Member It looks like you aren't yet a FanGraphs Member (or aren't logged in). We aren't mad, just disappointed.
We get it. You want to read this article. But before we let you get back to it, we'd like to point out a few of the good reasons why you should become a Member.
1. Ad Free viewing! We won't bug you with this ad, or any other.
2. Unlimited articles! Non-Members only get to read 10 free articles a month. Members never get cut off.
3. Dark mode and Classic mode!
4. Custom player page dashboards! Choose the player cards you want, in the order you want them.
5. One-click data exports! Export our projections and leaderboards for your personal projects.
6. Remove the photos on the home page! (Honestly, this doesn't sound so great to us, but some people wanted it, and we like to give our Members what they want.)
7. Even more Steamer projections! We have handedness, percentile, and context neutral projections available for Members only.
8. Get FanGraphs Walk-Off, a customized year end review! Find out exactly how you used FanGraphs this year, and how that compares to other Members. Don't be a victim of FOMO.
9. A weekly mailbag column, exclusively for Members.
10. Help support FanGraphs and our entire staff! Our Members provide us with critical resources to improve the site and deliver new features!
We hope you'll consider a Membership today, for yourself or as a gift! And we realize this has been an awfully long sales pitch, so we've also removed all the other ads in this article. We didn't want to overdo it.
In case you didn't read all that, here's the short version. Membership includes: ✓Ad-free browsing ✓Unlimited FanGraphs & RotoGraphs articles ✓Historical & platoon projections ✓Leaderboard & player-page stat heatmaps ✓One-click data exports ✓Customizable player-page dashboards ✓Dark & Classic site modes ✓Weekly Members-only mailbag ✓FanGraphs Walk-Off, your year in review ✓Optional homepage photo removal ✓Gift articles to non-members |
| 12:02 |
: Weathers, Jones, Manaea, Liberatore, McDonald.
|
| 12:03 |
: 14 tm 6×6 h2h where pitching categories are: ERA, WHIP, W, K, QS and SHOLD, rate the following trade, I had to activate Soderstrom and Langford from IL with Wood and Tucker as my other OF, I traded away DeLauter and M. Meyer for Gilbert.
|
| 12:04 |
: I think I prefer the pair here. The difference between Gilbert and Meyer isnt greater than DeLauter in my opinion, but considering you would have had to drop someone, I understand it. C+
|
| 12:04 |
: Do you have any concern about Schlitter fading or being limited as he approaches his previous innings high? IIRC he’s at 119 IP with a previous high of 149. He’s basically free to pitch the whole year at this point, right?
|
| 12:05 |
: I have no real concerns. The Yankees need him to continue to pitch.
|
| 12:05 |
: Nimmo or Rumfield OBP league?
|
| 12:06 |
: Nimmo, but closer than I would have originally thought
|
| 12:06 |
: Prefer Kittridge or Wells?
|
| 12:06 |
: I put bids on Kittridge last night.
|
| 12:06 |
: 14 tm 6×6 h2h, can never have too much pitching, but I think I do, top 4 of Skenes, Gilbert, Greene and Eury; rank my last 3 pitchers on depth chart and what are reasonable hitters I can request for my pitching depth, top 50, 60,70 -> E. Eovaldi, G. Cole and K. Bradish
|
| 12:07 |
: Cole, Eovaldi, Bradish
|
| 12:07 |
: keeper 5×5 OBP league, keep any 8 guys you want then one minor leaguer each season – someone offered me Caglianone + 2nd round pick for Tatis. Would you make this deal if I’m in a rebuilding year?
|
| 12:09 |
: This is way closer than it should be, but I am still taking Tatis side here
|
| 12:09 |
: Who’s your stash preference? Condon, Baez, or somebody else?
|
| 12:09 |
: Baez for me. Been stashing him in a few leagues.
|
| 12:09 |
: Additionally, love your chats. Thanks for doing these.
|
| 12:09 |
: Thank you! Missed doing this last week when I was on vacation!
|
| 12:10 |
: Just added Freddy Peralta in my 10tm 5×5, good guy to hold onto in shallow formats for a better 2nd half? The talent is a lot better than the rest of the wire
|
| 12:10 |
: I think so. He has definitely taken a step back, but he should still be rostered in most formats because he’s been unlucky too and I think will be traded at the deadline.
|
| 12:10 |
: Agree or disagree: all star game stats should count in fantasy because that’d be neat
|
| 12:11 |
: Disagree, but I do think that the pitchers should do a shooting gallery style competition where they destroy stuff with fastballs
|
| 12:11 |
: point awarded
|
| 12:11 |
: has Pfaadt figured something out besides frustrating owners? apparently new arm slot? I realize it’s a small sample size
|
| 12:13 |
: I have always been a pfaadt fan so I am probably biased but I have definnitely seen an improvement in location. The stuff hasnt played up any better, so this isnt a full turnaround, but it something to watch.
|
| 12:13 |
: I picked him up in multiple leagues last night.
|
| 12:13 |
: Saves+Holds format. Please pick 2 of the following RPs: Yates (LAA), Sewald (AZ), Kittredge (BAL). Webb (CHC). Thank you.
|
| 12:14 |
: Sewald, Webb, Kittredge, Yates
|
| 12:14 |
: Have dilemmas, not much room on the bench: 1. C Jensen or A Rutschman–I could keep both and stream, but I’d rather drop one… 2.Merrill, Grisham, Montgomery, Nootbar and Bleday–would like to drop 2. Probably equal need for avg and power…3. Hancock or Lodolo, ROS?
|
| 12:16 |
:
|
| 12:17 |
: 14 tm 6×6 h2h is M. Muncy a reasonable ask for K. Bradish? if too light how much more needs to be added to either side.
|
| 12:17 |
: I think its fine.
|
| 12:17 |
: 12 team 4 keeper league with OBP and QS- Got offered Gilbert and Austin Riley for my Miguel Vargas and Christian Scott. Should I pull the trigger?
|
| 12:18 |
: I still want Gilbert and Riley in a redraft, but this is an interesting question in a keeper and is pretty close.
|
| 12:18 |
: 14 tm 6×6 h2h, have been trotting out Riley at 3B for most of season, is he a drop for R. Lewis? IS M. Busch a drop for R. Lewis?
|
| 12:19 |
: I am ok dropping Riley for Lewis in a redraft.
|
| 12:19 |
: Please rank ROS: E. Duran, Stott, Xander.
|
| 12:21 |
: Duran, Xander, Stott
|
| 12:21 |
: OBP + SLG league, Bazzana or Antonacci ROS?
|
| 12:21 |
: Bazzana
|
| 12:21 |
: …is there any chance Naylor rebounds in the second half or did playing half his games in Seattle finally catch-up to him in a way that it didn’t after the trade last year?!
|
| 12:23 |
: I do not think he has a power surge, so he likely falls short of 20 bombs, but otherwise he will be fine. He already has 18 SBs and his xBA is .270
|
| 12:23 |
: Choose 1, ROS: Austin Riley, Alex Bohm, Cracked Bat
|
| 12:23 |
: Riley, Cracked Bat, Bohm.
|
| 12:23 |
: point awarded
|
| 12:23 |
: will Mangum continue to get ABs when O. Cruz returns?
|
| 12:24 |
: They will find ways to get him in the lineup, but he has to hit to keep them and that becomes more difficult once Cruz returns and if they make any deadline deals.
|
| 12:26 |
: NL-only. I need starting pitching, and Skenes, Logan Webb and Chase Burns are available in trade. Unfortunately, they each have been bad in the last 31 days, though Skenes’ outing yesterday was very good. Are these guys all ok ROS? Who will be best, in which order please?
|
| 12:26 |
: Seeing Skenes’ velo being down is scaring me a little so if I am buying one of these guys right now its. Webb. Before the Colorado start, he was pitching amazingly and I think he will be fine.
|
| 12:26 |
: Any juice left with Ginn or is he not even a team streamer any more? AL Only so replacing with save spec.
|
| 12:26 |
: yeah, I dont trust him at all in Sac
|
| 12:27 |
: Christian Scott flirts with being dominant, but his efficiency isn’t quite there. Do you expect him to improve in that regard as the seasons continues? Thanks!
|
| 12:28 |
: He should get better as the season goes on, but this is what we see from guys that come back from TJ. They struggle with command and control and there consistency. I think he will continue to struggle, but I am a buyer for 2027.
|
| 12:28 |
: You had mild interest in Noah Schultz once. Did he show anything in the solid start yesterday or was that just the Kurtz-less A”s?
|
| 12:29 |
: Until he figures out the control issues, he will be a guy that tantalizes you with the upside but disappoints start to start. I want to buy because the upside is so massive, but he will likely hurt you more than he helps.
|
| 12:29 |
: feel like he’s a constant tease…anything to see with Josh Lowe? power/speed combo enticing but seems to fade away as soon as you pick him up
|
| 12:29 |
: nah, nothing to see here.
|
| 12:29 |
: EValez Pitt. Even with his high strikeout rate he continues to mash. What happens next?
|
| 12:30 |
: He is going to eventually swing his way back to the minors. The contact rates are truly abysmal, but it will be fun to watch until it falls apart.
|
| 12:30 |
: rank the following 2B RoS: Nico, Bazanna & Keaschall
|
| 12:31 |
: thats the order
|
| 12:31 |
: 14 tm 6×6 h2h, is Jazz worth a gamble on RoS, is Bradish and Bazanna a fair exchange or am I still short?
|
| 12:31 |
: I think yhou are still short, but Id try.
|
| 12:31 |
: Thanks for the chat, Justin! For the second half, are you inclined to stick with struggling vets like Suarez and Adames or would you look to replace with youth like Eldridge and Bazanna/Mead? 11 team mixed, thanks!
|
| 12:32 |
: I think I am sticking with Suarez. We have seen his ability to turn things around in an instant and salavage a season before. I am fine dropping Adames for Mead or Eldridge.
|
| 12:32 |
: thinking of selling yordan as i think a injury is coming (pains me to say). in a 12 team h2h cats league, whats a good package to target?
|
| 12:33 |
: If you are selling Yordan, I want a top 10 pitcher or hitter back. I know the injury risk is scary but so is seeing his stats on another team
|
| 12:33 |
: honestly, it needs to be top 5
|
| 12:33 |
: In your opinion, what current closers get moved at the deadline and who fills the spot?
|
| 12:36 |
: Chapman – replaced by Whitlock Jansen and Finnegan – replaced by ? Lange – replaced by Erceg |
| 12:36 |
: most people are aware that max meyer probably is going to get slowed / shut down as he reaches new innings high. who is realistic to target in a trade for him
|
| 12:36 |
: Id look for a top 50 hitter.
|
| 12:36 |
: I’m seriously hovering over the drop button for Raleigh. Just an absolute disaster. Can you talk me out of it?
|
| 12:37 |
: I think he could turn it around, but there is nothing in the numbers to suggest he will. There has to be an injury or something going on. I think he is droppable
|
| 12:37 |
: is Vaughn a wasting asset in MIL? too many mouths to feed. great for team success. bad for fantasy.
|
| 12:38 |
: he really is. Would love to see him get traded to a team that will give him an everyday shot.
|
| 12:38 |
: Just got Mune and Vinnie back, I’ve been playing Eldridge at 1B. I can’t keep all three. Obviously I’m starting Murakami, but who’s the drop out of Vinnie and Eldridge in a redraft? I have so little faith in Vinnie anymore.
|
| 12:38 |
: I think I would drop eldrige in a redraft, but I might first try and trade Mune if I could because I think the regression will be rough at some point for him and this may be the last chance to move him.
|
| 12:38 |
: Who’s better ROS, Robbie Ray or Will Warren? Gotta make a cut
|
| 12:39 |
: I think I am cutting Ray but it is very close
|
| 12:39 |
: Does Clay Holmes become less interesting ROS with reports of trying to stay with the Mets?
|
| 12:39 |
: A little, but I think he should be fine when he is back.
|
| 12:39 |
: How’s Curtis mead looking to you? How many homers does he have left for this year? Does he get to 30?
|
| 12:41 |
: I think he falls short of 30, but I do think he will be good the rest of the way. He is doing a lot of great things with fantastic in-zone contact and showing power.
|
| 12:41 |
: Will Jose Caballero have a season of 15 homeruns and 40 stolen bases with a .250 AVG?
|
| 12:41 |
: I think he does.
|
| 12:41 |
: Need to open an IL spot for Kyle Harrison, is it safe to drop Rodon? Looks like he won’t be back until mid-August most likely and that’s assuming he has no setbacks
|
| 12:41 |
: yeah, that is the move
|
| 12:42 |
: Hi, Jason! Kittredge or Mason Montgomery. Please rank for both SVs only leagues and SVs + Holds.
|
| 12:42 |
: Montgomery in both.
|
| 12:42 |
: Would you cut Colt Emerson for Rocchio, Bush, Vinnie P or Tork in a 12T redraft roto league?
|
| 12:42 |
: for Vinnie P, I would
|
| 12:42 |
: Rank these bats ROS in cats 6×6 obp league: Riley, Lewis, Pena, Keaschell, Durbin, Bleday
|
| 12:42 |
: Pena, Lewis, Riley, Durbin, Bleday, Keaschall
|
| 12:43 |
: can you rank these guys ROS, standard 5×5 H2H: Langford, Busch, Carrigg, Antonacci, Benge, Moniak
|
| 12:43 |
: Langford, Benge, Busch, Moniake, Antonacci, Carrigg
|
| 12:43 |
: will Smith-Shawver be a factor during Aug/Sept?
|
| 12:43 |
: I dont think he will
|
| 12:43 |
: What happened to Manzardo? Batting 4th while JRAM recovers in itself is insane.
|
| 12:44 |
: The power dipped and his lack of in zone contact skills made him a mediocre bat once it did.
|
| 12:45 |
: Does Chandler Simpson have a big second half? Seems like he is running more lately. I understand you’d need to factor in the lack of power/RBI.
|
| 12:45 |
: the lack of other things will always be an issue, but he is going to steal so many bases in the second half.
|
| 12:45 |
: N Nunez or C Durbin at 2B? My top SB guys RN are Sal Stewart & Jordan Walker. 14 team mixed head-to-head. Thanks as always!
|
| 12:45 |
: Nunez
|
| 12:45 |
: Rank these catchers ROS in h2h cats obp league: Jensen, Basallo, Moreno, W Smith
|
| 12:46 |
: Basallo, Smith, Jensen, Moreno
|
| 12:46 |
: I’m thinking of trading for Alcantara. Do you think he stays put rest of the season?
|
| 12:46 |
: I think he does
|
| 12:46 |
: What is going on with Devin Williams? Guy has been anywhere between great and really bad (mostly bad). Thoughts on selling low?
|
| 12:47 |
: I was just talking to Joe about this yesterday. He has not been as good (control problems), but there has been a ton of unluckiness to it. Inflated BABIP, low strand rate. I think he will bounceback in the second half and is a decent buy low.
|
| 12:47 |
: I dropped Jeffers instead of a struggling Jensen for mead. Am I right to keep stick with Jensen through the last two weeks?
|
| 12:48 |
: yeah, you were right
|
| 12:48 |
: In OBP would you take Bazzana or Royce Lewis?
|
| 12:48 |
: Lewis
|
| 12:48 |
: Jax or Lambert in the 2nd half? 12tm standard 5×5
|
| 12:48 |
: Jax
|
| 12:48 |
: 12x OBP/SLG Daily lineups – With Murakami back I’ve got a lineup crunch. He’s my DH with Harper at 1B. That means I have to choose between McGonigle and Neto at SS, Or McGonigle or Lewis at 3B. And in a few weeks (hopefully) JRam will come back and then things get crunchier. Do I move on from someone now? Or just just play matchups and accept that I’ll have to live with a titular starter on my bench every day? If Harper would just clomp around in an OF corner a few times this would solve so many problems …
|
| 12:49 |
: I would see what I could get for Murakami. I think there will be some massive regression coming his way and this is a good time to sell. Otherwise, play matchups.
|
| 12:49 |
: Khalil Watson or Anthony Seigler?
|
| 12:49 |
: Seigler
|
| 12:49 |
: Currently in 5th place 12tm ottoneu 4×4 got offered $31 Corbin Carroll for my $10 Bryce Miller, that’s a pass right? No surplus value and Carroll is a better 5×5 player with no steals right?
|
| 12:50 |
: I think I still lean Carroll here, but honestly, without the steals, Miller might be the right call. I just worry Miller regresses
|
| 12:50 |
: NL only 5×5. Offered Merill, soto, trea turner and sale (all unkeepable) for wheeler, jesus made and forest griffin (all keepable) which side is better?
|
| 12:51 |
: I you are rebuilding, the Made/Wheeler side for sure. Just seems like you should be able to get a little more, but I am fine with this
|
| 12:51 |
: Good morning Justin! 14 team head to head mixed. I have Eldridge at 1B & Stewart at 3B. I could move Stewart to 1B and play any one of Royce Lewis, C Mead or K Karros at 3B Make that move or stand pat? Leaning the latter. Thx!
|
| 12:52 |
: I think I stick with Eldridge. The upside is insane
|
| 12:52 |
: Thoughts on Hunter Brown for Ian Seymour trade?
|
| 12:53 |
: I love Seymour and think he will be a stud, but I am not doing this yet
|
| 12:53 |
: Taillon wasn’t very effective before the IL. Any reason to think he will be after his IL stint?
|
| 12:53 |
: nope
|
| 12:54 |
: Is Griffin Jax ever going to pitch into the 6th with any regularity? His skills are great, but how much is the non-QS penalty?
|
| 12:54 |
: I dont think he does. The rays will be careful with him
|
| 12:54 |
: Would you drop Naylor for any of these dudes if I don’t need the steals badly: CWalker, Busch, Burger, Paredes
|
| 12:54 |
: Maybe walker, but probably not
|
| 12:54 |
: Have two 3B that I view as fairly similar talent-wise (Miguel Vargas and Royce Lewis) in a daily moves roto league; do you have any favorite stats to use for deciding who to play in that kind of situation?
|
| 12:55 |
: I am mostly looking at the opposing starter. right/lefty matchups, talent, home park.
|
| 12:55 |
: How annoying is it to be right about Andrew Vaughn (he’s hitting .311), and yet knowing it doesn’t matter because he doesn’t even start half the time?
|
| 12:56 |
: its been so frustrating because he was a massive target for me this season and the fact he isnt playing in spite of the talent, has been maddening
|
| 12:56 |
: K. Bradish for M. Harris … have surplus pitching ,don’t need the OF but would rather have an extra OF than an extra SP, what do you think
|
| 12:56 |
: sure
|
| 12:56 |
: His name came up earlier. Just sayin’, Geno Suarez hit three homers last week, and when he’s on a heater, that capital C on his hat stands for Centigrade. Dude hit 49 bombas last year.
|
| 12:56 |
: see! There you go. Never drop Suarez
|
| 12:57 |
: Hi Justin! 12 team, 6×6 dynasty auction league, $350 salary cap. Should I try to trade Gavin Williams and Max Muncy (10 and 2 dollars, respectively) for a 56 dollar Vladdy? I’m rebuilding/retooling for next year and Vladdy is on the block
|
| 12:58 |
: No, I wouldnt do that. I think the cheaper assets are more valuable to have the money available and Vladdy likely doesnt go for that in auction
|
| 12:58 |
: Is Jared jones a top 20 dynasty pitcher?
|
| 12:58 |
: I dont think he is quite there.
|
| 12:58 |
: Does Yelich have anything left? Somehow he’s still hitting leadoff but that’s his only remaining skill.
|
| 12:58 |
: is Yelich worth a gamble RoS or is he cooked? categories are OBP, HR, TB, R, SB & R
|
| 12:59 |
: I think he is either hurt or he is just cooked.
|
| 12:59 |
: Will Kyle Karros finish the season as a top 10 3B and with how steep the drop off is after the top 5 will he enter next year as one?
|
| 1:00 |
: I dont think he is top 10 yet or will be, but he does have an interesting profile if the Rockies continue to let him play every day. There just isnt enough fantasy juice to be top 10 though.
|
| 1:00 |
: Thats my time!
|
| 1:01 |
: 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
|
Justin is the co-host on The Sleeper and The Bust Podcast and writes for Rotographs covering the Roto Riteup as well as other periodic articles. In addition to his work at Rotographs, Justin is the lead fantasy writer/analyst and co-owner for FriendswithFantasyBenefits.com, and the owner of The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational. He is also a certified addiction treatment counselor. Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinMasonFWFB.
NL-only. I need starting pitching, and Skenes, Logan Webb and Chase Burns are available in trade. Unfortunately, they each have been bad in the last 31 days, though Skenes’ outing yesterday was very good. Are these guys all ok ROS? Who will be best, in which order please?
His name came up earlier. Just sayin’, Geno Suarez hit three homers last week, and when he’s on a heater, that capital C on his hat stands for Centigrade. Dude hit 49 bombas last year.