The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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Welcome to Breakfast with the Beats with Mike Carter and Dave Funnell. On today's episode,

1. Mike and Dave go over their best free agent pickups of the week:
   1. Dave - Jeremiah Jackson
   2. Mike - Max Muncy
2. Beat writer round-up:
   1. Does Yankees manager Aaron Boone view Ben Rice as a platoon player? 'Hell no'
      https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7196965/2026/04/15/ben-rice-yankees-platoon-aaron-boone/
      by Chris Kirschner
   2. Once a far-away dream, the Pirates' talented, homegrown rotation has become reality
      https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/pirates-are-mlb-s-team-with-an-entirely-homegrown-starting-rotation
      by Jason Mackey
   3. 'He crushed it': Schultz K's 4 in MLB debut as proud family cheers him on
      https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/noah-schultz-makes-mlb-debut-for-white-sox?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
      by Scott Merkin
   4. Hoerner's minor swing adjustments paying major dividends for Cubs
      https://www.mlb.com/news/nico-hoerner-has-career-high-five-rbis-to-lead-cubs-to-win
      by Jordan Bastian
3. Help!
   1. What should Mike do with Matt McLain?
4. Major League Mental Health: Kazuma Okamoto vs Tatsuya Imai
   1. How Okamoto is handling the Major League learning curve
      https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/kazuma-okamoto-adjusts-to-his-major-league-life-in-toronto
      by Keegan Matheson
   2. Houston Astros' Tatsuya Imai 'not able to adjust to the American lifestyle,' interpreter says
      https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7196880/2026/04/14/astros-tatsuya-imai-injury-adjustment/
      by Chandler Rome
5. Listener Question:
   1. Carlos Estévez or Kirby Yates?
6. Mental Health Moment:
   1. How do we handle the struggles of work? How do we make it through the day?

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• Milestone episode, recap of missed show, Target Field experience
• Players discussed: Garrett Crochet

8:00 – Reds Struggles & Early News Notes

• Cincinnati lineup issues, demotion of Noelvi Marte, Rece Hinds discussion
• Team performance impacting fantasy value
• Players discussed: Noelvi Marte, Rece Hinds, Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suárez

15:00 – Blue Jays Trade & Playing Time Shifts

• Toronto acquires Lenyn Sosa, impact on lineup construction
• Clement’s role stability and everyday at-bats discussion
• Players discussed: Lenyn Sosa, Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez

22:00 – Astros Injuries & Rotation Opportunities

• Multiple injuries create openings; deep dive on pitching replacements
• Strong endorsement of Arrighetti as a pickup
• Players discussed: Spencer Arrighetti, Colton Gordon, Jeremy Peña, Lance McCullers Jr. Jr.

32:00 – Orioles Rotation & Depth Moves

• Dean Kremer re-enters rotation, Cade Povich optioned
• Evaluation of reliability and streaming viability
• Players discussed: Dean Kremer, Cade Povich

38:00 – Brewers Injury Fallout (Yelich IL)

• Christian Yelich injury opens DH opportunities
• Gary Sánchez emerging as short-term value
• Players discussed: Christian Yelich, Gary Sánchez

45:00 – Cleveland Bullpen & Spec Saves

• Hunter Gaddis return and bullpen hierarchy discussion
• Speculative saves approach
• Players discussed: Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith

50:00 – Diamondbacks & Catcher Playing Time

• Merrill Kelly return, Gabriel Moreno injury
• Playing time implications for backup catchers
• Players discussed: Merrill Kelly, Gabriel Moreno, Adrian Del Castillo, James McCann

58:00 – White Sox Call-Ups & FAAB Targets

• Noah Schultz debut and FAAB expectations
• Antonacci speed profile and lineup role
• Players discussed: Noah Schultz, Sam Antonacci

1:08:00 – Rehab Updates & Stash Decisions

• Key injured players returning and stash strategy
• Players discussed: Spencer Strider, Anthony Volpe, Gerrit Cole

1:18:00 – Additional News (Injuries & Playing Time)

• Ryan Pepiot setback, Harrison Bader injury, Drew Gilbert opportunity
• Mets situation with MJ Melendez and Jorge Polanco
• Players discussed: Ryan Pepiot, Harrison Bader, Drew Gilbert, MJ Melendez, Jorge Polanco

1:30:00 – Player Recommendations by Category (FAAB Core)

• Power targets: Dominic Smith, Luke Raley, Trevor Larnach
• Speed strategy: matchup-based steals (vs Miami/Tampa)
• Opportunity plays: Jeremiah Jackson, Andrew Benintendi
• Pitching streamers: Jesse Scholtens, Sean Burke, Emerson Hancock

1:45:00 – Ratios, Bullpens & Speculative Adds

• Ratio arms: Aaron Ashby breakout usage
• Bullpen chaos: Cubs (Ben Brown), Texas, Tampa, Royals
• Speculative adds & prospects
• Players discussed: Ben Brown, Jakob Junis, Robert Garcia, Carlos Estévez

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John and Patrick recap some of the best performances of the week, including Max Muncy and Mike Trout turning back the clock, and a few surprising pitching performances from Dean Kremer and Carmen Mlodzinski. Plus, injury updates and streamers for next week!

Timestamps:

3:16 - Injury Update

10:40 - Max Muncy and Shota Imanaga

18:08 - Bo Bichette and Braxton Ashcraft

25:00 - James Wood and Drew Rasmussen

30:47 - Mike Trout and Dean Kremer

36:50 - Byron Buxton and Ryan Weathers

45:26 - Sal Stewart and Carmen Mlodzinski

51:44 - Streamers

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube

Connect: @ThisWeekPL | thisweekplpod@gmail.com

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Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) are joined by Carson Picard to talk about BABIP and why it's more than just luck.

They start by discussing what BABIP actually is: getting into the original idea and what it specifically measures. Then, they talk about why using BABIP as "just a luck stat" leaves a lot of information on the table. They also talk about why BABIP has been steadily declining since the mid-2000s. The discussion transitions to talking about Carson's set of articles, covering both hitter and pitcher BABIP. Starting with pitcher BABIP, they cover both the internal and external factors that drive a pitcher's BABIP. The hitter conversation centers on which stats correlate best with BABIP and how Under% drives the storytelling. Finally, they conclude by talking about hitters with different 2026 profiles.

Articles discussed: Understanding BABIP Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Carson Picard; Pitching and Defense: How Much Control Do Hurlers Have, Voros McCracken; Ahead in the Count: Predicting BABIP, Part 1, Matt Swartz; Introducing the Newest Hitter xBABIP, Mike Podhorzer; New Hitter xBABIP Based on BIS Batted Ball Data, Alex Chamberlain; A New BABIP for a Statcast Era, Andrew Perpetua; BABIP Panic, Russell Carleton

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Nick Pollack and guest Eno Sarris discuss Eno's most recent set of ranks.

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski look at the schedule ahead of week five and highlight pitchers worth adding before values rise.

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) determine whether we should be employing patience or panicking with struggling closers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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• Intro - 0:00
• Kyle Schwarber -- 8:00
• Brice Turang -- 13:45
• Riley Greene -- 17:45
• Luis Robert Jr. -- 23:10
• Taylor Ward -- 27:20
• Willy Adames, Matt McLain, Miguel Vargas -- 32:00
• Freddie Freeman -- 36:00
• Mike Trout -- 41:25
• Bryan Reynolds -- 44:50
• Francisco Lindor -- 47:16
• Junior Caminero -- 50:30
• Jackson Merrill -- 53:40
• Colt Keith -- 54:30
• Mark Vientos, Brenton Doyle, Cam Smith, Hunter Goodman -- 59:45

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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This week on Hacks & Jacks, Scott and Brett dive into the landscape of hitters across MLB – some of which have been great and some not so much. It's awesome to see guys like CJ Abrams and Andy Pages off to such a hot start but how sustainable  is their success and what should fantasy managers be on the lookout for? And for guys like Francisco Lindor and Nick Kurtz who have been dreadful to open the season, what level of concern should fantasy managers have in regard to their lack of success so far? The crew takes a look under the hood to figure out what performances are real and which ones are fluky make-believe numbers that won't stick around. The answers to these questions and much more are all here for you on this episode of Hacks & Jacks.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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Breakfast with the Beats

Welcome to the brand new, rebranded podcast, Breakfast with the Beats. In today's premiere episode, Mike Carter and Dave Funnell discuss the following:

1. Who they are and what they've been up to.
2. Where's Chris?
3. Beat Writer Round-up:
   1. Is the Jordan Walker breakout happening?
   2. Are the Astros doomed because of these injuries?
4. Help!
   1. Dave wants to know about Sam Antonacci
   2. Chris needs to decide if he should keep or drop Shane Baz
5. Stash or Pass?
   1. Should we keep Josh Hader on our benches?
   2. Is Mookie Betts going to play sooner than expected?
   3. What's the latest on Jordan Westburg?
6. Underrated Relievers
   1. Rico Garcia, Braydon Fisher, Erik Sabrowski, and Cole Winn are all discussed as next in line, but how long of a line is there?
7. Mental Health Moment
   1. How do we handle the situation of having ailing parents?

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John and Patrick check in on some hot starts for a few young outfielders, as well as a few surprising pitching performances from the past week. Plus, injury updates and streamers for next week!

Timestamps:

3:34 - Injury Update

13:04 - Max Muncy and Reid Detmers

19:46 - Jordan Walker and Bryce Elder

28:32 - Jackson Merrill and Ranger Suarez

37:03 - Cam Smith and Brandon Williamson

45:02 - Jakob Marsee and Taj Bradley

52:55 - Austin Riley and MacKenzie Gore

1:00:31 - Streamers

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube

Connect: @ThisWeekPL | thisweekplpod@gmail.com

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Nick Pollack and special guest Eno Sarris discuss early season observations and starters who are catching their eye early this year.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard navigate through The Shallows, giving you a lot of current injury news, it's the return of From the Crew where the guys answer your listener-submitted questions, and it's also the return of Sink or Swim, where the guys discuss what to believe in some really hot and really cold starts. First up is the Captain's Report, featuring countless injury updates on Hunter Brown, Matthew Boyd, and Cade Horton, along with highlights on the brawl between Jorge Soler and Reynaldo Lopez. Next, the guys answer your listener-submitted questions in From The Crew, and then it's the return of Sink or Swim where they discuss the five hitters and five pitchers who have gotten off to either hot or cold starts and whether you should believe it or not. Welcome aboard The Shallows!

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) break down bullpens that have yet to be decided.

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski go over the upcoming slate, highlighting pitchers to add before their production improves.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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• Intro - 0:00
• Jordan Walker — 3:00
• TJ Rumfield — 9:25
• Colt Keith — 14:43
• Janson Junk — 20:15
• Mickey Moniak — 24:30
• Mark Vientos — 29:10
• Cole Young — 35:00
• Sean Burke — 38:13
• Max Meyer — 47:00
• Jonathan India, Kyle Isbel — 52:50

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Hosts: Brett Ford | Scott Chu

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) talk about bat tracking data and why context matters so much for these stats.

They start by discussing bat speed as the best proxy for true batted ball power, but note that it's not as simple as the best swing speed is all that matters. Making the most of a slower bat speed can be just as effective at the same time. They briefly touch on swing speed risers and fallers, such as Cam Smith, Colt Keith, Jesus Sanchez, and Randy Arozarena. Then, they talk about swing length and its relationship to swing speed. This includes topics such as swing acceleration, relationships to plate discipline stats, and what a swing length change means for a player. After that, the conversation turns to swing path, as they break down swing tilt, attack angle, and attack direction. Finally, they talk about intercept point and how a hitter's mentality can shape the changes in the numbers.

Articles discussed: Under the Hood of the Aging Hitter, Joshua Rodrigues; Brice Turang is a Great Model for How to Increase Bat Speed, Esteban Rivera; Swing Changes Through Motion Capture - Hitting Biomechanics, Driveline Baseball

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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0:42 - H2H Heroes starts with a couple of bats, and while Chad picked Cam Smith, C.J. Abrams was worth a look, too.

10:05  - Chad planned on one hitter and one pitcher, but how do you decide between Sandy Alcantara and Cam Schlittler?

1949 break 1

19:50 - When it comes to hitters on the wire, Chad will prioritize long-term value because the upside (multiple seasons worth) is so much higher than for a one-year rental type. And that influences how he reads waiver content.

2935 break 2

29:36 - Pitchers, on the other hand, Chad is more inclined to focus on the present, at least relative to hitters.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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0:00 – Intro and News

• Heavy early-season injury/news dump replaces traditional mid-show topic
• Key players discussed:
  • Mookie Betts (injury, Dodgers replacements: Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland)
  • Juan Soto (calf injury; Mets fill-ins: Tyrone Taylor, Jared Young)
  • Alejandro Kirk (thumb fracture; catching fallout)
  • Byron Buxton (minor injury update)
  • Sal Frelick (Brewers OF shuffle: Luis Matos, Garrett Mitchell, Brandon Lockridge)
  • Jordan Lawlar (fractured wrist)
  • Pavin Smith (IL) → opens door for José Fernández, Adrian Del Castillo
  • Mickey Moniak return (Rockies playing time outlook)
  • Justin Verlander (IL; Tigers rotation implications)
  • Cade Horton (IL; Cubs replacement candidates: Colin Rea, Ben Brown)
  • Cody Ponce (ACL) + Patrick Corbin signing
  • Johan Oviedo (IL; drop discussion)
  • Zach Eflin (elbow concern; Dean Kremer vs Cade Povich speculation)
  • José Buttó (IL; Blade Tidwell opportunity)
  • Prospect extensions/debuts: Konnor Griffin, Colt Emerson, Cooper Pratt

~33:00 – Razzslam / Cutline FAAB #1

• Strategy for first FAAB run in best ball formats
• Aggressive spending encouraged (up to ~60–75%)
• Focus on replacing injured/non-playing assets
• Importance of long waterfall bids
• Roster construction discussion (pitcher/hitter balance, positional coverage)

~47:00 – Power Categories (HR, RBI)
Targets discussed:

• Austin Hays
• Jordan Walker
• Joey Loperfido
• Rhys Hoskins
• Luke Raley
• Mark Vientos

Focus on platoon advantages and favorable weekly matchups

~54:00 – Speed Categories (R, SB)
Targets discussed:

• Troy Johnston (leadoff opportunity emerging)
• Mickey Moniak (volume + Coors effect)

Emphasis on lineup position + matchup-based streaming

~59:00 – Opportunity (AB, AVG)
Teams with 7-game weeks highlighted
Targets discussed:

• Lenyn Sosa (White Sox vs LHP-heavy schedule)
• Jerar Encarnacion (Giants 1B opportunity)
• José Fernández / Alex Freeland (injury-driven playing time)

~1:05:00 – Pitching Volume (W, K)
Targets discussed:

• Dean Kremer / Cade Povich (Orioles rotation opening)
• Martín Pérez (matchup-based streamer)
• Jansen Junk (two-start week)
• Colin Rea (Cubs replacement option)

~1:10:00 – Pitching Ratios (ERA, WHIP)
Targets discussed:

• Keaton Winn (Giants high-leverage reliever, ratios + upside)

Strategy: early-season ratio stabilization via relievers

~1:12:00 – Closers (Saves)
Bullpens discussed:

• Royals: Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm, John Schreiber (Carlos Estévez injury context)
• Rays: Brian Baker vs Griffin Jax situation
• Diamondbacks: unstable; long-term AJ Puk stash
• Angels: Jordan Romano vs Kirby Yates

Focus on role clarity, usage patterns, and speculative adds

~1:18:00 – Wild Card (Stashes)
Targets discussed:

• Max Muncy (Athletics everyday role, balanced production)
• Leo De Vries (future stash; elite prospect watch)

Additional discussion: Dodgers pitching usage (six-man rotation, spot starts)

~1:22:00 – Closing Comments

• Reminder to submit FAAB early (holiday weekend)
• Don’t overreact to slow starts—bench stars if needed, don’t drop them
• Importance of maintaining full active lineups in all formats

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John and Patrick recap the first week in fantasy baseball in 2026, with outstanding performances from Shea Langeliers, Emerson Hancock, and Sandy Alcantara. Plus, we're back with injury updates and streamers from next week!

Timestamps:

3:34 - Injury Update

17:41 - Shea Langeliers and Cam Schlittler

27:08 - Luis Robert Jr. and Michael Wacha

33:52 - Brandon Lowe and Emerson Hancock

41:37 - Yordan Alvarez and Lance McCullers

47:08 - Oneil Cruz and Kodai Senga

53:38 - Otto Lopez and Sandy Alcantara

1:02:47 - Streamers

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Connect: @ThisWeekPL | thisweekplpod@gmail.com

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard navigate through The Shallows, giving you current news, a fascinating discovery about BABIP, and it's the debut of Let's Go Fishing, where the guys tell you who to reel in and who to throw back into the water when it comes to free agent pickups and early season drops. First up is the Captain's Report, featuring injury updates on Jacob deGrom, Cody Ponce, and Chase DeLauter, along with highlights on Noelvi Marte's curious playing time, Giancarlo Stanton's record start to the season, and first impressions of the ABS system. Next, Carson reveals a fascinating discovery about one of the noisiest advanced stats, BABIP, and then the guys debut a brand new segment called Let's Go Fishing, where they discuss the pickups and fliers worth taking along with players who are candidates to be dropped already. Welcome aboard The Shallows!

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski go over the starting pitchers they are targeting ahead of week three.

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) identify bullpens where fantasy managers can find saves early in the season.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Nick Pollack and guest Eno Sarris look at their favorite (and least favorite) starters over the first week of the season. 

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• Intro - 0:00
• ABS discussion — 5:00
• Pete Crow-Armstrong, Liam Hicks, Matt McLain — 13:00
• Isaac Collins, Cam Smith, Michael Harris II, Jackson Merrill — 20:00
• J.T. Realmuto, Spencer Steer, Adley Rutschman — 32:25
• Kodai Senga — 37:33
• Dustin May — 41:27
• Dylan Cease — 42:00
• Janson Junk — 44:00
• Randy Vazquez — 49:35
• Shota Imanaga, Sandy Alcantara — 52:30
• Mike Burrows, Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga, Eury Perez — 54:00
• Dylan Cease, Shota Imanaga, Sandy Alcantara, Dustin May — 56:33
• Jack Leiter, Roki Sasaki, Mike Soroka — 57:57
• Joe Boyle, Sandy Alcantara, Jake Irvin — 1:04:40
• Dylan Cease, Kyle Harrison — 1:12:30

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Hosts: Brett Ford | Scott Chu

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Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss how to use a variety of batted ball metrics.

They start by talking about how average exit velocity can be deceptive, and isn't the best way to evaluate how hard hitters hit the ball. Instead, they pivot to talking about HardHit% and get into power stats such as max exit velocity and 90th percentile exit velocity. Then, they move into batted ball metrics that go beyond just how hard the ball is hit, such as Air EV (line drives and flyballs) and barrel rate. Kyle also touches on why PullAir% is an important stat that influences power outside of exit velocity. They wrap up by bringing it all together in xwOBACON, a one stat that measures everything on batted balls.

Articles discussed: Fixing HardHit%: Pitcher Percentile Risers and the Case for K+SC%, Alexander Chase; Exit Velocity: Modeling Average Maximum Athletic Effort, Jonathan Judge; Introducing a Dynamic Hard Hit Rate and "TrueHit", Connor Kurcon; Now Let’s Tweak Hard-Hit Rate Using Spray Angle, Alex Chamberlain; They Don’t Make Barrels Like They Used To, Ben Clemens

Players mentioned: Dominic Canzone, Roman Anthony, Chase Meidroth, Angel Martines, Rhys Hoskins, Coby Mayo, Hunter Goodman, Cal Raleigh, Ozzie Albies, Elly de la Cruz, James Wood, Jordan Walker

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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2:30 - Chad’s H2H Hero of the Week: Chase DeLauter

4:53 - Pete’s H2H Hero of the Week: Wilyer Abreu… both homer picks!

9:09 - Is it too early to think “my team isn’t going to be very good this year?”

20:08 - ThecretThauce’s “overreaction” to debate is that Jacob Misiorowski leads MLB in BBs and Ks.

25:35 - Just how bad is the Giants’ offense?

33:34 - Skubal Trouble thinks Shea Langeliers will be C1 this year.

40:22 - Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease have career years? Dylan Cease Cy Young? What about Bryan Woo?

50:50 - Rookie stuff! Sal Stewart over Konnor Griffin this year? What about some other rookies? Pete and Chad predict their AL and NL Rookies of the Year.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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1. Intro and News (0:00)

Opening Day scheduling frustrations and early-season quirks
FAAB season officially begins
Jacob deGrom scratched; Jacob Latz opportunity
Tanner Bibee shoulder inflammation concerns
Mickey Moniak IL → impact on Jake McCarthy, Jordan Beck, Brenton Doyle
TJ Rumfield early playing time in Colorado
Christopher Morel IL → Griffin Conine, Davidson De Los Santos
Milwaukee injuries: Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn

Playing time shifts: Garrett Mitchell, Jake Bauers, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton
Tommy Pham signs with Mets (minor league deal)
Rehab updates: Zack Wheeler
Bullpen alert: Carlos Estévez struggles → KC closer speculation (Lucas Erceg, John Schreiber)

2. Power Categories (HR, RBI) (20:00)

Rhys Hoskins – everyday role in Cleveland, undervalued power
Miguel Andujar – steady playing time in San Diego
Mark Vientos – platoon-dependent value
Matt Wallner – power upside if playing time stabilizes

3. Speed Categories (R, SB) (32:00)

David Hamilton – elite SB upside with newfound playing time
Jake McCarthy – everyday leadoff vs RHP
Jake Meyers – underrated speed contributor
Nasim Nuñez – deep league SB target
Bryce Matthews – speculative add with 40+ SB upside if role expands

4. Opportunity (AB, AVG) (45:00)

Schedule notes: AZ, ATL, NYM, SF with 7-game weeks
Casey Schmitt – everyday role + multi-position eligibility
Nathan Lukes – hitting near top of TOR lineup vs RHP
Joey Loperfido – emerging playing time in Houston
Favor hitters with early-week volume advantages

5. Pitching Volume (W, K) (58:00)

Two-start targets:

Chris Bassitt
Zach Eflin
Breakout watch: Joe Boyle (improved control)
Deep streamers:

Davis Martin
Justin Verlander (widely available in 12s)
Taijuan Walker (risky Coors start)
Strategy: balancing early aggression vs ratio protection

6. Pitching Ratios (ERA, WHIP) (1:10:00)

Reliever targets for ratio + strikeout boost:

Erik Sabrowski – elite stuff, improving control
Strategy:

Prioritize multi-inning relievers
Target teams with heavy bullpen usage
Use relievers to stabilize early ratio volatility

7. Closers (Saves) (1:18:00)

Philly bullpen uncertainty: Jordan Romano vs alternatives
Angels speculation: Reid Detmers long-term closer upside
Texas chaos: Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, committee risk
Minnesota: Cole Sands emerging option
Kansas City: post-Estévez meltdown watchlist

8. Wild Card (Stashes) (1:25:00)

Bryce Eldridge – potential early call-up
Dylan Crews – stash if dropped
Alex Freeland – short-term upside with path to more
Strategy: prioritize upside over replacement-level veterans early

9. Closing Comments (1:28:00)

Stay patient—don’t overreact to small samples
Avoid unnecessary drops this early
Build long FAAB waterfalls
Focus on opportunity + upside without forcing moves

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitchers from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard navigate through The Shallows, giving you current news, players they drafted the most on their teams, and it's the debut of Charting the Course, where the guys tell you what hype you should and shouldn't react to as the season gets underway. First we have the Captain's Report, which prospects made the team and who were sent to AAA, plus their predictions for MVP, Cy Young , Rookie of the Year, and World Series champ. Erik and Carson also go through which players they drafted the most during draft season. And finally it's the premiere of a new segment, Charting the Course, where the guys tell you what you DO and DON'T need to pay attention to as the season gets underway. Get excited, it's Opening Day! Welcome aboard The Shallows!

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) react to reliever usage from Opening Day 2026 and make predictions for the 2026 campaign.

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers for today's and tomorrow's games, and outlining which pitcher's from yesterday are worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) and Carson Picard (@CarsonPicardPL) detail everything you need every morning to update your fantasy baseball team. Tune in daily to be updated on news, injuries, pickups to consider, and today's streamers.

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• Intro - 0:00
• George Springer - 5:45
• Jackson Merrill - 13:18
• Brice Turang - 20:00
• Cal Raleigh - 26:50
• Isaac Paredes - 31:40
• Zack Wheeler - 38:45
• Chandler Simpson - 50:25
• Cody Ponce - 57:15
• Ceddanne Rafaela - 55:00
• Kevin McGonigle - 1:02:00
• Trevor Rogers - 1:15:30
• Andy Pages - 1:09:30

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Hosts: Brett Ford | Scott Chu

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski look at roster moves across the league and talk about the pitchers they are adding ahead of the first weekend of the season.

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Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss the importance of WHIP and how it can be analyzed with Str-ICR to find underappreciated pitchers. 

They talk about the basis of WHIP: first, why it's an important stat, and how it can be forgotten when analyzing a pitcher. Is it still important in today's analysis? Then, the discussion pivots to the most volatile part of WHIP, batted ball results. Ideal Contact Rate (ICR) groups all contact that's bad for a pitcher, and is an easier way to understand the quality of contact a pitcher is giving up. The two discuss the significance of finding the right batted balls to measure, and how ICR can be combined with Strike Rate as a proxy for estimating WHIP. This concept comes from an article Kyle wrote two years ago (https://pitcherlist.com/introducing-str-icr/). Finally, they mention players who stand out between their 2025 Str-ICR and 2026 projected WHIP.

Players mentioned: Mick Abel, Jose Soriano, Cade Horton, Spencer Strider, George Kirby

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0:00 – Intro, NFBC weekend, and episode setup
Discussion of draft season activity, NFBC Main Event context, and defining “wild card” players in fantasy baseball drafts.

Players discussed: none

8:00 – FAAB rules, roster strategy, and stashing players
Breakdown of NFBC rules around undrafted players, debut timelines, and why early FAAB periods are critical for securing upside.

Players discussed: Jared Jones, Zack Wheeler, Carlos Rodon, Konnor Griffin

20:00 – Early-season strategy: avoiding zeros and bullpen value
Exploration of why avoiding zeroes in lineups is critical early in the season and how speculative relievers can provide value in saves and ratios.

Players discussed: Brad Keller, Jeremiah Estrada, Garrett Clevenger, Taylor Rogers, JoJo Romero

32:00 – ASK Game (Rookie Catchers)
Evaluation of rookie catchers based on playing time, opportunity, and stash viability.

Players discussed: Harry Ford, Carter Jensen, Samuel Basallo, Freddy Fermin, Keibert Ruiz

45:00 – ASK Game (Rookie Outfielders)
Breakdown of rookie outfielders with uncertain roles but significant upside.

Players discussed: Justin Crawford, Carson Benge, Dylan Beavers, Johan Rojas, Luis Robert Jr., Juan Soto, Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Jorge Polanco, Mike Tauchman, Tyrone Taylor, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Taylor Ward

1:02:00 – ASK Game (Rookie Starting Pitchers)
Discussion of stash-worthy rookie pitchers, weighing early-season opportunity versus long-term upside.

Players discussed: A.J. Blubaugh, Robbie Snelling, J.R. Ritchie, Konnor Griffin, Sal Stewart

1:15:00 – Wild card stashes and speculative adds
Identification of players worth stashing or adding before they become high-demand FAAB targets.

Players discussed: Anthony Volpe, Kirby Yates, Reid Detmers, Robert Stephenson

1:24:00 – Final strategy thoughts and roster construction
Summary of key takeaways on managing stash spots, balancing risk, and optimizing roster flexibility heading into Opening Day.

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John and Patrick round out the offseason by looking at a few spring training battles that have yet to be resolved and their impacts on drafts in the upcoming weeks.

Timestamps:

5:35 - Twins Rotation (Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Simeon Woods Richardson)

12:20 - Dodgers #5 Spot (Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski)

15:47 - Tampa Bay's Closer (Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Baker, Edwin Uceta)

18:53 - Red Sox #5 Spot (Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Johan Oviedo)

23:39 - Guardians #4 and #5 Spot (Parker Messick, Joey Cantillo, Logan Allen)

26:21 - Tigers Shortstop (Kevin McGonigle, Zach McKinstry, Javier Baez)

29:36 - Pirates Shortstop (Konnor Griffin, Nick Gonzales)

34:13 - Brewers #4 and #5 Spot (Kyle Harrison, Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Brandon Sproat)

38:52 - Diamondbacks #5 Spot (Merrill Kelly, Michael Soroka)

45:10 - Padres #4 and #5 Spot (Walker Buehler, JP Sears, Randy Vasquez, German Marquez)

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard are joined by Kyle Bland, Director of Analytics & Research at Pitcher List, as they set sail aboard The Shallows, giving you current news, previews of the starting and relief pitcher positions, highlighting players to target, avoid, and swing for the fences, and answer your questions with the return of From The Crew. First we have the Captain's Report, featuring a WBC results chat and Spring Training news for the Cincinnati pitching staff and Gerrit Cole's return to the mound. Erik, Carson, and Kyle also preview starting pitchers and relief pitchers...with a twist! And finally it's the return of From the Crew, where the guys answer listener-submitted questions. Welcome to The Shallows!

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) answer pressing questions about every National League bullpen ahead of the start of the 2026 season.

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Nick Pollack and special guest Eno Sarris discuss their largest gaps in their rankings heading into the 2026 season. 

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Hosts: Brett Ford | Scott Chu

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski review Nick's most recent top 100 list and go over the biggest risers on the list.

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Keep or Kut - Pete (@PeteBBaseball) and Chad (chadyoung.bsky.social) go three three ADP tiers and identify players they simply have to have in keeper leagues. These are players whose ADP represents a value this year and have potential to be great keepers, even if you have to pay an increasing cost for them, next year. We used FanTrax ADP and here are the rules we followed:

1. One player each from inside the top 100 ADP, one from ADP 101-200, and one outside the top 200.
2. Players should have keeper value, but they also have to be valuable this year. You are competing, so you aren't going to punt a pick and a roster spot to stash Jesús Made for a year or more.

4:35 - Pete goes pitching in the top 100, targeting Logan Gilbert for the possibility to combine his history as a 200-inning workhorse with his newfound 2025 K-rate.

10:04 - Chad wants to buy the dip on Jackson Merrill, whose ADP would make him a multi-year keeper if he rebounds like we expect.

18:06 - Chad sticks in the outfield, this time going for Heliot Ramos, whose ADP is just straight too low.

26:55 - Another outfielder, this time from Pete who loves the power from Daulton Varsho, even if you get nothing else from him.

36:39 - Once we get outside the top 200, a lot of prospects are interesting, but we tried to stay away from them, and Pete finds himself targeting Francisco Alvarez.

43:21 - Chad wraps things up with a look at why Jackson Holliday is on multiple of his rosters.

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Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) are joined by Alexander Chase to discuss auction values and other draft evaluation tools for upcoming fantasy drafts. 

They compare the importance of industry rankings and calculated auction values, then get into how auction values are built using calculators. The group also breaks down auction values specifically: establishing how playing time is such a strong tool and the balance between playing time & talent. Finally, they discuss the individuality of using these tools, such as why knowing your league format matters and how to leverage them in a draft room. 

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard set sail aboard The Shallows, giving you current news, their favorite players to draft and fade in rounds 15-22, and previews of the shortstop and outfield positions, highlighting players to target, avoid, and swing for the fences. First we have the Captain's Report, featuring all the news you need to know from Spring Training and the WBC, including Hunter Greene's latest injury and Corbin Carroll returning to the lineup already. Erik and Carson also go through rounds 15 through 22, player by player, highlighting their favorite players to target in each round and the players they most want to fade. It's also the continuation of the position previews, shortstop and outfield...with a twist! Welcome to The Shallows!

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) answer pressing questions about every American League bullpen ahead of the start of the 2026 season.

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• Intro - 0:00
• Wyatt Langford reaches 70 combined home runs and steals - 6:51
• Parker Messick finishes as a Top 30 SP - 14:30
• Matthew Liberatore finishes as a Top 50 SP - 19:05
• Ben Rice finishes as the Top 1B - 25:50
• Jake Burger finishes as a Top 10 1B - 33:13
• Jack Leiter finishes as a Top 20 SP - 40:15
• Griffin Jax finishes as a Top 10 closer with 30+ saves - 45:58
• Kevin McGonigle wins AL Rookie of the Year - 51:45
• Eury Pérez wins the NL Cy Young Award - 58:12
• Cincinnati Reds win the NL Central - 1:04:45

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Nick Pollack and Eno Sarris review their favorite sleepers for the 2026 season. 

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We're deep in the throes of draft prep season and your friendly neighborhood fantasy hitting experts are talking draft prep and draft strategy. Scott and Brett discuss risers and fallers in Scott's next version of the Top 300 Hitters List. The pair also break down the differences in fantasy league formats, comparing the nuances and vital differences in draft and management strategy between roto, head-to-head categories and points leagues.

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski finish their series on Nick's Top 100 SP for 2026 by focusing on late round SP options.

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2:00 - Zack Wheeler's value has moved quite a bit without much happening, and Chad and Pete aren't aligned on how much it should have moved. Plus, we discuss other injured pitchers and what we plan to do with them.

15:19 - How much did the Jurickson Profar suspension mess up Chad's outfields and what should he do about it? There aren't really any newly-interesting OF.

20:40 - Chad thinks there is real upside in the Rockies outfield, but you may not be able to roster more than one of those upside plays.

28:15 - Even as things are changing, it is much harder to trust the good (breakout performances and velocity gains) than the bad (injuries and suspensions) and that has implications for the depth of the player pool.

31:19 - In weekly lineup leagues, remember you don't need to trust everyone on your roster from day one - you can stash someone as long as you have a lineup you feel good about.

37:40 - Is this a good time to hit the trade market? It's much easier in keeper leagues than redraft.

49:28 - Looking at some intriguing Spring prospects: Spencer Jones, Joshua Baez, and Mick Abel.

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski discuss more of Nick's Top 100 SP for 2026.

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Whether you prefer paying up for elite closers or waiting and building a bullpen through value picks and waiver wire churn, this episode will help you navigate one of fantasy baseball’s most unpredictable categories.

Episode Breakdown

0:00 – Intro and episode overview
We open the show discussing the volatility of the saves category and why bullpen roles change so frequently in fantasy baseball.

Players discussed: Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams, Josh Hader

3:00 – Draft philosophy for saves
Kevin and Adam discuss whether fantasy managers should draft elite closers early or take a “save-a-lot” approach by targeting multiple value arms later in drafts.

Players discussed: Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams, Josh Hader, Mason Miller, Ryan Helsley

11:30 – The elite closer tier
Discussion of the top-tier closers who provide strong strikeout rates, stable roles, and league-leading save potential.

Players discussed: Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams, Josh Hader, Ryan Helsley, Mason Miller, Félix Bautista

23:00 – Mid-tier closers with strong job security
Relievers who may not go in the early rounds but still project to deliver reliable saves totals with strong skills.

Players discussed: Tanner Scott, Robert Suarez, Kenley Jansen, David Bednar, Yohan Duran

36:30 – Riskier closers and uncertain bullpens
Teams where the closer role could shift during the season and relievers whose job security may not be stable.

Players discussed: Luke Weaver, Andrew Kittredge, Jeremiah Estrada, Matt Brash, Cade Smith

50:00 – Late-round saves targets
Relievers going later in drafts who could still provide meaningful saves or emerge as their team’s closer.

Players discussed: Matt Brash, Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Garrett Whitlock

1:02:00 – Speculative relievers and potential breakout arms
Setup men and high-skill bullpen arms who could move into the closer role if situations change.

Players discussed: Jeremiah Estrada, Dylan Lee, Aroldis Chapman, Matt Brash, Hunter Gaddis

1:11:30 – Final saves strategy thoughts
We wrap up with key takeaways for approaching the saves category and how to manage bullpen volatility during the fantasy season.

Players discussed: Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Mason Miller, Tanner Scott

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John and Patrick start their draft prep, looking at players who might not be available on Opening Day, reviewing a few hitters from Patrick's article "10 Fantasy Baseball Hitters to Target After Pick 300", and recap a few lessons learned from the initial drafts this season.

Timestamps:

4:14 - Players in the top 300 who may not or will not be available on Opening Day

• Jeremy Pena
• Josh Hader
• Bryce Miller
• Hunter Greene
• Quinn Priester
• Kyle Stowers

26:28 - Hitters to Target after Pick 300

• Andres Gimenez
• Jeff McNeil
• Tyler O'Neill
• Mike Yastrzemski

40:30 - Takeaways from TGFBI and OC Drafts

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Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski review Nick's Top 100 SP for 2026, focusing on #51-60.

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Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard set sail aboard The Shallows, giving you current news, their favorite players to draft and fade in rounds 8-14, answering mailbag questions in a segment called From The Crew, and previews of the second and third base positions, highlighting players to target, avoid, and swing for the fences. First we have the Captain's Report, featuring all the news you need to know, including the Jurickson Profar suspension, World Baseball Classic team USA pitching news, impressive homers from  Kevin McGonigle, Aaron Judge, and an impressive exit velocity reading from Junior Caminero. It's the return of From The Crew as well, where the guys answer listener questions! Erik and Carson also go through rounds 8 through 14, player by player, highlighting their favorite players to target in each round and the players they most want to fade. It's also the continuation of the position previews, second and third base...with a twist! Welcome to The Shallows!

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) break down relief pitcher ADP and determine the best spots to draft every fantasy-relevant relief pitcher.

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• Intro - 0:00
• Steve's TGFBI
• Van’s TGFBI Board
• Ronald Acuna Jr. - 13:00
• Elly De La Cruz - 18:00
• Mason Miller - 25:40
• Junior Caminero - 33:15
• Ketel Marte - 39:35
• Hunter Brown - 42:15
• Freddy Peralta - 47:40
• Rafael Devers - 51:00
• Mookie Betts - 54:18
• Eury Perez 1:00:00
• Cody Bellinger 1:09:15

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The Plus Pitch Podcast with Nick Pollack from Pitcher List, reviewing all Fantasy Baseball starting pitchers from yesterday's games and staying on top of the news that matters.

Stay on top of everything with Nick's daily Starting Pitcher Roundup article, SP Streamer Rankings article, and weekly updates of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers at PitcherList.com.

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Rick Graham (@IAmRickGraham) and Jake Crumpler (@jakecrumpler) break down the top candidates in leagues that factor in holds. These are the top setup men in baseball, and they combine decision-making with elite ratios and strikeouts.

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They also explore how bullpen arms, mid-rotation starters, and late-round targets can quietly influence ratio outcomes over a full season.

Episode Topics and Timestamps

0:00 – Intro and ratio category overview
How ERA and WHIP differ from counting stats, why ratios are often won or lost early in drafts, and the importance of minimizing volatility.

6:30 – Elite ace foundations
Players discussed:
Gerrit Cole, Corbin Burnes, Zack Wheeler, Spencer Strider, George Kirby

Discussion focuses on command profiles, workload reliability, and which aces provide the strongest WHIP floors entering 2026 drafts.

20:00 – Strikeout aces vs ratio risk
Players discussed:
Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Pablo López

Adam and Kevin debate pitchers with elite strikeout upside but varying WHIP and ERA volatility, and when risk becomes acceptable depending on roster construction.

34:00 – Mid-round ratio stabilizers
Players discussed:
Logan Webb, Framber Valdez, Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray, Justin Steele

Focus on pitchers who may lack elite strikeout totals but consistently support strong ratios through command, ground balls, or efficiency.

48:00 – Breakout candidates and skills growth
Players discussed:
Grayson Rodriguez, Bryan Woo, Tanner Bibee, Cole Ragans

Evaluation of pitchers showing improving command metrics, pitch mix development, and potential ERA/WHIP growth entering 2026.

59:00 – Bullpen impact on ratios
Players discussed:
Andrés Muñoz, Devin Williams, Emmanuel Clase, A.J. Puk

Discussion on using elite relievers to stabilize ratios, protect WHIP, and offset volatile starting pitchers.

1:07:00 – Draft strategy recap and closing thoughts
Key takeaways include building a ratio foundation early, avoiding stacking high-WHIP arms, and strategically mixing innings volume with efficiency-focused pitchers.

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The discussion centers on why fantasy managers must actively chase volume, how innings pitched drive both categories, and which late-round starters and speculative arms can help managers compete without paying early-round pitching prices. The hosts also explore streaming strategy, team context, bullpen support, and how draft construction impacts in-season flexibility.

Below is a breakdown of the episode with estimated timestamps and players discussed.

00:00 – 09:00 | Intro + Draft Season Philosophy

Topics

Draft season approach and league activity

Why Wins remain a category you must intentionally target

Relationship between innings pitched, team quality, and fantasy success

Players Mentioned

Tarik Skubal

Paul Skenes

Garrett Crochet

09:00 – 22:00 | Why Volume Matters for Wins & Strikeouts

Topics

Correlation between workload and strikeouts

Importance of pitching deep into games

Team offense and bullpen effects on wins

Drafting SP tiers vs elite aces

Players Mentioned

Yusei Kikuchi

José Soriano

Reid Detmers

Luis Severino

Mitch Keller

Brandon Pfaadt

22:00 – 38:00 | Mid-Round Targets for Strikeout Volume

Topics

Targeting pitchers projected for stable rotation roles

Using projections vs role certainty

Drafting innings over pure ratios in this build

Players Mentioned

David Peterson

Clay Holmes

Will Warren

38:00 – 52:00 | Late-Round Wins & Strikeout Targets

Topics

Endgame starters who stick in rotations

Opportunity-driven pitching value

Accepting ratio risk when chasing volume

Players Mentioned

Will Warren

David Peterson

Cade Cavalli

52:00 – 1:05:00 | Streaming Strategy & Roster Management

Topics

Streaming pitchers to capture breakout arms early

Building ratio cushions to allow aggressive streaming

Managing roster churn early in season

Players Mentioned

Justin Verlander

Seth Lugo

Michael Wacha

1:05:00 – 1:11:29 | Final Targets + Draft Takeaways

Topics

Early-season matchup plays

Why reserve-round pitchers matter

Maximizing roster flexibility for volume accumulation

Players Mentioned

Cade Cavalli

Justin Verlander

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