Paul Sporer’s Baseball Chat – July 29th, 2026

Paul Sporer: Pardon my lateness!! I had a commitment that was well-timed to get me home right in time for the chat assuming no delays… big assumption! Anyway, I’m here now and we can push past 2 pm CT to cover.

JoeG414: Good Afternoon Paul.  12T Roto Yahoo yearly Innings limit. Wesneski on the IL as a stash. If he pitches well today , activate him for next week / drop Baz.. Or is Clay Holmes a better stash. Thanks

Paul Sporer: I love Wesneski, but I think Holmes is the better stash. Wes has looked great in his rehab and he might be one of those guys gets through the summer right after TJ (as with Bradish last year) without showing the standard inconsistency of TJ returners. I’m skeptical, though, just bc so few TJ returners pull the Bradish run (and his was 6 starts, this is 2+ mos. so it’s not even a great comp anyway as we saw w/time at the outset of this year that Bradish suffered through many standard TJ return issues). Holmes has pitched and pitched well this year and I think he can be even more exciting if he’s traded.

henrywilson: Hey Paul! As a Tigers fan, do you think Skubal will be shipped out?

Even as a Red Sox fan, I would really love to see the Rays push some chips in and go get him.

Paul Sporer: If they hold on today and then sweep tomorrow, I really don’t see it as they’d be leapfrogging their nearest competitor and could be 1 gm out depending on how others in front of them do. It is tough not to see them as the best team in the AL cluster. Maybe 2nd to Seattle, who are also underachieving. I know there’s a risk of getting just the comp pick for Skubal but I’m not gonna be mad if they polish off this series (it’s feeling good at 7-0… btw, I originally mixed up the gm count and though yesterday was game 1 of the set — today it he rubber match) and then go out to ATH and take 2 of 3 and keep Skubal for the push.

They didn’t just hit a 2-wk streak, they’ve been one of the best goin since June 1st, that’s almost as much time as they were shitty. And truly, only May was bad (6-22). Anyway, long way to say, keep him!! Barring a meltdown here that leads to like 4-5 straight Ls, ride w/him & add pieces!!

JoeG414: Follow up.    Wesneski- if pitches well today ) or Baz ?

Paul Sporer: Not the biggest Baz guy so I wouldn’t be fully against sticking w/Wes if he pops off today

Thomas: Thanks for the chat, very helpful. Standard 5×5 10 team AL only roto league. Please rank the following for 2026: Aranda, Manzardo, Schanuel, Encarancion-Strand, Pasquantino.   Thanks!

Paul Sporer: I’d go Aranda, CES, Nolan, Vinnie, Manzo. Manzo could move up if you have a direct power need as he offers that, but only that.

Gregg: When do you think Joshua Baez gets the call to MLB?

Paul Sporer: Maybe after they move some pieces here in the next few days? Although I say that and I’m not entirely sure who that’d be. It makes a ton of sense for them to move Nootbaar. I’m a fan and think he still has upside if he can find some consistent health, but he’s 29 next month and with Baez as an easy replacement, it seems like it’s gotta get done.

Salty: Sasaki has pitched pretty well his last few starts.  Starting in mid-Aug and assuming a 6-man rotation sticks, his schedule is vsKC/@COL/@ATL/vsSTL/vsCIN/@CIN – too many sticks of dynamite in that schedule to chance it, or his stuff plays anywhere and he’s worth buying in on?

Paul Sporer: Too many sticks for me. He’s looked good for multiple spells before unraveling again. I think we’re still in the development stage with him

Paul Sporer: Updated my Tigers to fix my error thinking yesterday was game 1 v. Baltimore. It was gm 2 and they’re up 7-0 in the rubber match rn

MD: I sat B Lowe this week after a prolonged slump. Awesome.

Paul Sporer: That’s why I generally just let my studs run through their cold snaps. While not a superstar, Lowe’s had really consistent production stymied only by health. Hopefully he stays dialed next week when you get him back in. Big ups to Eduardo Rodriguez for holding them scoreless for EIGHT STRONG! He’s been unreal this year. No idea how he’s thriving w/this paltry K-BB (only 2 K but at least 0 BB today) but he’s cookin!

Paul Sporer: We can’t rule out growth a la someone like Jordan Walker but we can’t just hold everyone for that potential. And of the 610 PA we’ve seen of Mayo in the majors, it’s hard not to see a stereotypical swing-and-miss power guy. It’s essentially empty power insofar as HRs can be empty. Obv any single HR contributes to 4 of 5 categories but w/his AVG so low, it impacts his counting cats and there’s just no real juice there right now. I’d be OK to move on

MD: Is the verdict out on Mayo? Our minors draft starts on Friday, deciding whether I should drop him as a 1st round pick ($4 upon call up) and try to obtain a 3rd rounder ($2) from someone who can’t use it

Paul Sporer: Usually helps to post the Q first…

SucramRenrut: Is Gallen done, even in a deep keeper? Maybe you can start him at home against certain teams, but geeeeeez.

Paul Sporer: Oh ya, he’s totally off the board at this point

Gregg: What movie did you see last night? Share your review!

Paul Sporer: I went and saw Motor City and yes, I picked it entirely off the name. Looked like a fun enough action thriller type movie so I booked it. Turned out to be sort of a music video / rock opera using very little dialogue and letting the songs and insane action tell the story. It was fun, definitely glad I went. I hadn’t been to the movies in far too long for someone who lives 5 minutes from my theater and has the monthly pass that allows me a ticket a day. Gonna see Odyssey soon, too. Plus a handful of things already booked for August!

Phillip Denny: Tommy Edman has quietly been on fire since he came back in June and he’s only rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues. How is the word not out yet on Tommy Tanks?

Paul Sporer: Completely forgotten these days! We’re a good bit removed from his stud days, though, and that plays a role. I would’ve thought residence in the Dodgers lineup would’ve been enough to keep his stock high. But ya he’s dialed in right now with a .333/.412/.500 w/2 HR, 3 SB, 18 R/RBI in his last 104 PA which coincides with his last major pickup period in the Main Event (Jun 21).

Those are 15s, so he was sought after but not triple digit bids and the backup bid was often well behind. Avg win was $32 with a $21 backup. He’s relevant everywhere right now as he contributes across the board. He’s been inching up the lineup, too, batting 6 in each of his last three.

Paul Sporer: Y’all if the Tigers f’n blow this……

bdolven: When Spencer Horowitz comes back, whos the keep, him or Heliot Ramos?

Paul Sporer: Gimme Horwitz! Great plate skills make him a batting AVG asset in addition to matching or exceeding the power production of Ramos, who himself is a solid player. I just REALLY like Horwitz!

JoeG414: Every year there is a player that you drafted who makes you not want to draft him again . This is year is Vladdy & Bichette for me. Who is that player for you ?

Paul Sporer: Jackson Merrill would’ve been the slam dunk answer a few weeks ago, but he’s rallying to get back in my good graces.

Paul Sporer: 10 HRs in his last 48 gms and now the AVG is climbing with a .308 in his last 27 gms. But I thought he was gonna be a monster bounce back this year.

SucramRenrut: Jordan Montgomery has been 90-92mph in his rehab starts. As good-ish as he’s looked, is there any chance he’s ever actually decent in the bigs again?

Paul Sporer: Maybe it’s just my historical fandom of him, but I lowkey excited for him. Allllways going into a TJ returner eyes wide open that it could be a stonecold bust but my primary objection to them is more drafting them than anything else. Waivers is a different story, can’t be that picky when options are sparse. His strong control has been present early in rehab with only 1 HR allowed, so it doesn’t seem like he’s just peppering the zone simply to throw strikes, but also commanding it well enough to keep the ball in the park. Now that is 19 rehab IP, so not bankable. It’s encouraging enough for me to be interested in 12s and deeper when he arrives.

AU86: 13 team mixed 6×6 using OBP and SLG.  Need to drop a bat when Gelof returns.  Who to drop – Dominguez? L Thomas?  G Torres?  Thanks

Paul Sporer: Probablyyy Thomas as he’s nearly a lock to be dealt and probably into less playing time. Perhaps a straight up short side platoon.

QuentinP: You jinxed it! 7-5 now :((((

Paul Sporer: I know, I knooowwwww

Paul Sporer: I even used tempered language knowing it wasn’t over

Paul Sporer: Ahhhhhh

Beano: Is sewald done as the DBacks closer?

Paul Sporer: Runs in 4 of his L5, HRs in 3 of 4, it’s roughhh. They’re firmly in this, they can’t just stick w/him blindly. I think Torey gave him the ol’ vote of confidence before yesterday’s meltdown so who knows where it stands right now. ‘Twould be prudent to gather some Loaisiga or Morillo shares perhaps, particularly if you have Sewald!

Paul Sporer: Oh jeez, leadoff walk and then Gleyber tries to get lead run instead of the guaranteed out — 2 on, 0 out. I’m gonna go watch the rest of this. Back next week to hopefully wade through a buncha trade fallout!

Gregg: Re: movies. I think you would like Obsession!

Paul Sporer: #1 on my stream list. Tonight seems like a good time…. let’s discuss next Wednesday!