Paul Sporer’s Baseball Chat – July 8th, 2026

Paul Sporer: Hey y’all, thanks for coming out!

NicklePickers: Have you anything from Noah Schultz to make him worth holding after the break? AL Only, so replacement is a MR like Speier or Kevin Kelly.

Paul Sporer: Nothing I’ve really seen specifically, but in your league setup I think his raw talent is too good to let go right now. BBs are the issue, but he isn’t just getting pasted every time out. I’d hold a bit longer for sure.

JoeG414: Hey Paul.  Is Luis Lara a hold vs Royce Lewis in a daily roto.  (need to drop one with Sorderstrom coming back). Even so Lara’s playing time could be an issue in the beginning, hold for his upside alone.  12T Deep Daily Roto   Thanks

Paul Sporer: Definitely Royce. His upside is much higher. He had a great June and I’m not moving off him after 5 meh July games. (Also a long-time mega Royce fan, so my bias does lie w/him)

David Wiers: Canzone a must-own guy now?

Paul Sporer: David! Great to see you! I would say yes in just about any format right now since he’s hitting lefties. Let’s see how far this goes. I unfortunately cut him in a roster crunch in May worried he was just a platoon bat (and I had Raley, too). Boy, I could’ve really used that .314 June AVG!!

Chuck Slothower: We’re not dropping Cal Raleigh for Jensen or Moreno yet, are we?

Paul Sporer: No no, not yet. Gotta go another month or so before anything that drastic. He could have that kind of Dansby run that fundamentally flips his season. If Dansby can have it, a power masher like Cal certainly can

MF Luder: Wyatt Langford feels like a good buy low coming off injury?

Paul Sporer: The talent remains amazing so yes, but is he starting down his Royce Lewisian path? As with Lewis, I remain committed to Langford until I reasons to be concerned that injuries are impacting his talent

NicklePickers: Ginn’s velo was down yesterday. Supposedly he’s sick, but the numbers were going down prior. Time to cut bait or keep as team streamer in al only?

Paul Sporer: Maybe see out the weekend start at CWS and go from there? A road-only starter is tough in any format, but AL only pickins get crazy slim so I can see his merit. I just NEVERRR want to use him at home and he’s lined up for Washington out of the break and 1 road/1 home slated after that. Anyone worth a damn to pick up? My guess is no in AL Only which is why I’d hold at least through this wknd to see if he rebounds

MF Luder: 18 team h2h points league. Jackson Holliday vs Colt Keith ros?

Paul Sporer: I’d go Keith, he’s showing some signs of life whereas I’m seeing nothing outta Holliday. Since June 1st, Keith is at least 102 wRC+, while Holliday is just at 70.

Chuck Slothower: Last bench bat in a 12-team H2H: Heliot or Eldridge?

Paul Sporer: I always find myself like Heliot Ramos more and more every time I watch him. No major reasons, either, I just like him. That’s not quite enough to win this battle, though. In a 12-teamer, I want more game-changing potential and Eldridge has that over Ramos with his pop. Plus, I’ve been impressed w/the improved whiff rate of Eldridge, so he gets the nod here in a close-ish battle

Salty: Which number is greater:  Number of goals Messi scores during the rest of the WC, or number of no-hitters the rest of the way?     I say Messi wins by one…

Paul Sporer: I’ll take Messi, too, but I think we get multiples of both so Messi needs at least 3 goals to secure the dub

rudy hess: Verlander forever!
my question drop jung ho lee for dom canzone? 12 tm roto, need a boost in offense

Paul Sporer: JV gets the legend slot to head out to Philly. Love that, honor the legendary players and let the youngsters hang around these dudes for a weekend in case they missed prime JV or Kersh. He announced he’ll hang it up after this as I imagine the injuries are just too much. JV is my favorite pitcher ever and I look forward to seeing him get inducted in 2032. As for your actual Q, I’d go Canzone. As mentioned earlier, he’s raking and his ability to hit lefties right now keeps him from platooning

wildor81: Hi Paul, Is Machado cooked? I am in 26 team, 50 man roster, salary cap dynasty league. Need power bat badly. The guy wants my 2026 1st round amateur draft pick for a 1 1/2 of Machacdo service at 7,700,000 a year. I did just get Polanco but I hardly trust he will stay on the field.

Paul Sporer: If power’s what you need, he’s still doing that so I’d say no on being cooked. 18 into the break (assuming no more this wk) totally works. It’s the .188 AVG that stings as his base hits just aren’t fallin. A .190 BABIP is nuts and there’s gotta be some bad luck in that. A 9 pt. drop in Hard Hit no doubt plays a role, too and is his lowest mark since 2016. I’m down to make this move for the pop and hope the AVG comes through for you on pure regression alone

MD: You giving up on Fairbanks yet? Would you drop him in favor of Wells if he’s available?

Paul Sporer: To go for Wells, sure if he’s your only real cut. In deeper leagues, I have a hard time moving on, though, bc he’s still their guy right now. I know it’s been downright Lidgian or Chaconesque thus far and it may remain so but he has 12 SVs, tied for 11th-most (18 players have at least 12 when accounting for those ties). Sometimes ya gotta eat some shit ratios for the SVs.

oconnellk22: Would you drop Braden Montgomery for either Ewing or Garret Mitchel?

Paul Sporer: Either’s fine. I love Braden Montgomery long-term, but he’s not some must-hold right now.

Paul Sporer: 🚨 Pup break! We’ve got Henry (Char’s brother) here today, too, and they both just woke up, so lemme take them out for a few mins. 🚨

ctwitkow: 14 tm H2H 6×6 league – are you sticking with Ryan Weathers or cutting bait… has been pretty up and down lately.

Paul Sporer: He’s been maddening for sure. Biggest question would be who are you getting if you cut him bc despite that frustration, his upside is still solid. That said, the HRs are a major problem so he’s not uncuttable. If you can reply with some potential replacements, it’d help bc I’m open to it for the right guy

Bean Counter: Is Wyatt Langford the new Byron Buxton? Dude can put numbers up. Just can’t stay on the field. BTW-I have both in my 10 team AL only…and am still in the hunt.

Paul Sporer: Buxton even a better comp than my Royce Lewis one since they’re both OF. But ya so far he’s on that path. Talent is so good that he’s impossible to quit

JoeG414: Is Sheehan a hold ? Talent & team is there. Results haven’t been. Has only went 5IP in 2 /4 starts. 12T Deep roto

Paul Sporer: Yes I’m holding. I think some of Wrobo’s good fortune will shift over the Sheehan who has had way better skills than his teammate but Wrobo sits at 10-2. Sheehan’s ugly HR rate means nothing is guaranteed but I think he works that down in the 2H, too

David Wiers: I still catch all of your (and Eno’s over at The Athletic) chats! Y’all remain the very best!

Paul Sporer: ❤️❤️

Anon: Fun fact: Chandler Simpson has only 7 batted balls over 325′ and none over 350′ this year. For his career, it’s 15 and 2 with a long of 354′. He might squeak one down the line at some point, but that’s basically zero HR. Even Dee Strange-Gordon managed to pop a HR now and then and even managed 400′ once (during the Statcase era). That’s just a tough roster right there.

Paul Sporer: A perfect example of my reluctance to draft rabbits, especially high end ones. Late round fliers like Nasir Nunez are one thing but someone like Simpson was faaar too expensive for me as a top 200 pick

ajstopes: Three starts in – are we bailing on Bieber?

Paul Sporer: I wasn’t really in coming into the season as I just didn’t think we’d get a stable season coming off injury. I’d maybe wait and see if he can shutdown the inept SDP offense on Friday and if it’s another modest-to-bad outing, chop ’em!

Doug Drabek: Thanks for the chat Paul! Rebuilding in a 20-team 5×5 … trying to choose between Carson Benge or Joshua Baez for the next few seasons, leaning Benge. That how you’d lean as well?

Paul Sporer: That’s close as I like Baez a lot as a prospect, but I gotta go Benge who’s already doing it at the big league level. He might hit a classic rookie wall and slowdown a bit during the dog days this year, but pacing 20-20 with a nice .262/.322/.408 line has been impressive

Person: higher 2027 ceiling, Volpe or Cole Young

Paul Sporer: I think it’d be too shortsighted to just slam dunk Young given how both are going right now. Volpe is still a capable power-speed guy who is still just 26 y/o. And we haven’t seen Young deliver the same kind of speed since his early MiLB days. I’m torn because I really like Young, but I think Volpe has the better fantasy upside for 2027 bc of the speed.

jsweets2112: Luke K from the Twins worth a roster spot?

Paul Sporer: Hmmm, 15 teamers and deeper only right now. Maybe catching a bit of a wave here to start July (1.425 OPS, 2 HR) so I can see giving him some burn in deep lgs. I did like him some coming into the season at a thin 2B, but I think I and those who liked him overrated him because of the shallow 2B aspect. I’d still buy low in keeper/dynasty situations as I think his stock has dipped to a buyable low.

jorourke87: Hey Paul, sorry I’m late! Would you be holding Sproat over Bennett in a 5×5 rn? Thanks!

Paul Sporer: Got ya in just under the wire!! I liked Sproat coming into the season, partly just Milwaukee love and their ability to develop, and that’s enough to keep him on my radar, but in this battle, I gotta go Bennett. He’s also on a good dev team with Boston and they’re getting the most out of him right now despite his modest K output. To his credit, Sproat has been better of late (19% K-BB since June 1st) but gimme Bennett in this one

randerson20: Thanks for doing these. Gotta drop one in a QS league — drop Tolle, Cantillo or T. Bradley?

Paul Sporer: Gotta be Cantillo, a Sporer fave, but QS definitely not his game w/those BBs often sapping up his pitch count

jt1229: 14tm 6×6 h2h … Max Meyer for Yelich … which side do you like more ? I am need of offense and want to take gamble on Yelich but all underlying #s look not good at all.

Paul Sporer: At 34 w/his injury history, Yelich is too risky to take for Meyer. I think Meyer’s brilliant first half and prospect pedigree that suggested he could be a stud is worth more than an aging Yelly. Shoot higher and if it must be Yelich, your trade partner has to throw a 2nd piece IMO. Another decent bat or a replacement arm w/a modicum of interest

tdmoc: shallow H2H points league – do I finally put down Kyle Tucker and pick up someone like Brandon Marsh, MH2, Michael Busch?

Paul Sporer: How shallow? I think it’d have to be a single-digit team league to cut Tucker anywhere, otherwise I gotta ride it out. Michael Harris being available suggests something like 8-9 teams so not impossible to cut Tuck, but I’m inclined to roll a bit longer since he’s actually doin a little something lately: .368/.478/.474 line in L11 gms. Still no pop there, but maybe some hits fallin can unlock him. It’s close, I lean keep, but cut for MH2 is defensible

seymour114: I’m in a roster crunch and my RPs have largely been bad. Which, if any, of Palencia, Ben Brown, or Helsley would you cut for T. Walls?

seymour114: Said Walls, meant Wells.

Paul Sporer: Ooh that’s tough. Helsley is seeking a 2nd opinion which is almost never good news. It’s him or Brown. Brown apparently could get an “extended absence” and they were equating it to his 2024 injury which left him out from June on per Rotowire:

June 25, 2026
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.

Analysis
Counsell also noted that Brown’s injury is “very similar” to the one the pitcher dealt with during the 2024 campaign. That year, Brown was sidelined in early June and wound up not appearing in another game for the remainder of the season. The Cubs will have a better idea as to Brown’s timetable in one month, but the right-hander is looking at an extended absence.

Paul Sporer: I lean Brown slightly unfortunately. I was SO excited about him and Cade Horton this year

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much for coming out y’all! I’m taking the All-Star break off next week, so back on July 22nd!