Nick Lodolo is pitching well but struggling with strikeouts, while Shane Smith is impressing early in the season. Dylan Cease faced a tough outing, raising concerns among managers. Injury updates on key players like Fernando Tatis are crucial for fantasy strategies. Rising talents like Chandler Simpson are discussed alongside potential replacements. The hosts highlight the importance of adapting lineups amidst player inconsistencies and injuries, plus the need to explore waiver wire options for pitching help.
01:09:20
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Nick Lodolo is performing well with quality starts, but his lack of strikeouts raises concerns about long-term viability.
Shane Smith's impressive early performances, including a near no-hitter, suggest he could be a valuable fantasy addition moving forward.
Significant injuries to key players like Fernando Tatis highlight the need for fantasy managers to stay agile and seek out replacement options.
Deep dives
American Express Business Card Benefits
The American Express Business Platinum card offers significant advantages for business owners, allowing them to earn 1.5 times membership rewards points on select purchases. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who consistently spend on business-related expenses, as it can lead to substantial rewards that help further business growth. Additionally, cardholders gain complimentary access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide, including the exclusive Centurion Lounge, ensuring that they can work productively while traveling. Terms and points cap apply, emphasizing the need for users to stay informed about the card's limitations and benefits.
Fantasy Baseball Updates and Strategies
The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest fantasy baseball trends, focusing heavily on player performances and injuries. Among the discussed pitchers, Nick Lodolo's solid start is tempered by concerns regarding his strikeout rates, while Shane Smith impresses with a no-hitter into the sixth inning, suggesting potential as a valuable addition. The hosts emphasize the importance of monitoring player performances closely, particularly with many injuries affecting star players, which can significantly impact fantasy rosters. This highlights the necessity for fantasy managers to remain adaptive and proactive when navigating their lineups.
Emerging Pitchers and Performance Analysis
Shane Smith and Landon Rupp are both highlighted as emerging pitchers worth considering for fantasy leagues, showcasing strong initial performances this season. Smith's ability to maintain a no-hitter for a significant portion of his outing indicates his potential for impact in future starts. Conversely, Lodolo's quality starts raise questions about his long-term viability due to a lack of strikeouts and lower break on his curveball. The hosts suggest considering trades for players like Lodolo if they seem to be performing better than their underlying metrics would suggest.
Impact of Player Injuries on Fantasy Strategies
Significant injuries among players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Zach Eflin, and Matt McLean are causing shifts in fantasy team strategies as managers scramble to adjust their lineups. The discussion includes how injuries can create opportunities for under-the-radar players to step into more prominent roles, thus highlighting the importance of staying informed on player health. The hosts suggest that fantasy owners should look for replacements among emerging talents or those coming back from injury and monitor their performances closely to capitalize on any surges in form. This is underscored by the necessity to adapt quickly and make timely roster moves as situations evolve.
Evaluating Player Performance and Trade Potential
The episode dives into evaluating players like Dylan Cease, who has struggled early this season but possesses underlying metrics that suggest potential improvement. While his immediate performance has been disappointing, discussions about his ability to strike out batters and his FIP indicate that he might be better than his current stats show. The hosts advise that it might be an opportune moment for fantasy managers to explore trade possibilities for such players, as other managers may undervalue them based on surface-level stats. This emphasizes the need for strategic evaluation in both acquiring and trading players based on potential rather than just current performance.
Nick Lodolo is delivering quality starts but without strikeouts (2:45). ... Shane Smith looks really good so far (5:41). ... How do we rank Smith, Landen Roupp and Easton Lucas (9:00)? ... Dylan Cease got lit up by the A's (12:23). ... We got a bunch of injury updates to Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis, Matt McLain and more (17:46). ... Who are the top injury replacements (27:34)? ... Jameson Taillon has turned in back-to-back quality starts (40:42). ... These aces did not perform on Tuesday (42:37). ... What's up with these first basemen (46:55)? ... Nationals, Brewers and Cubs bats had big nights (49:37). ... We wrap up with leftovers, bullpens and streamers (55:30).
Fantasy Baseball Today is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.
You can listen to Fantasy Baseball Today on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast."
