1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: What's up, friends, and welcome into Fantasy Pros MLB. I'm 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: Chris Welsh. Joe Rico is with me and we are 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: tackling the first edition the first time this season waiver talk. 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: But for pitchers, we've got a hitting one out there. 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: We are talking the pitchers that you want to attack 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: in this first run of waivers. These are the guys 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: that we're interested in in very small sample sizes. Of course, 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: we got to make these decisions early on, but these 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: are the players that have got our attention for whatever 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: week you're dealing with, and if you got daily waivers, 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: you can pick these guys up now if you're going 12 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,639 Speaker 1: into whatever week two three, these are players we think 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: that are definitely on Sunday going to have if they 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: didn't already have some deep waiver targets on them. Three pitchers, 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: three different categories, and mister Joe Rico, we are going 16 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: to kick this off talking about the highest priority of pickups. 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: So this is essentially these are the guys that doesn't 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,639 Speaker 1: really matter, you know, whether they're a streaming option. We're 19 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: not looking necessarily the matchup, We're not just getting them 20 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: for a single category. These are just players that very 21 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: early on, we want to jump on and we want 22 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: to make sure we own. If some of the things 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: from the very first starts we saw continue on, it 24 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: might be game changers. So who is your pitcher? 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: It's Kyle Harrison with a bullet. I am adding him wherever. 26 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: A lot of my leagues are weekly waivers, and there 27 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: are a couple of them where he is still on 28 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: the free agent pool. So this Sunday, there's going to 29 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: be crazy bitting going on for Kyle Harrison after what 30 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 2: we saw the other day. The strikeout upside I think 31 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 2: is immense. That fastball. He was really leaning on his 32 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: fastball with like he typically does, but I've never seen 33 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 2: his fastball look that good. It was a forty two 34 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: percent WITHFF rate, get an eighteen percent swinging strike rate 35 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: in general, and the stuff is I think, probably as 36 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: a whole better than we've ever seen it. With the 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: caveat that it's a small sample size, but stuff does 38 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: tend to normalize in the small samples. It's a one 39 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: to twelve stuff plus with one sixteen on the fastball 40 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: that he's using like fifty five sixty percent of the time. 41 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: I think the Kyle Harrison amongst all the pitchers, because 42 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: we've seen a lot of really good breakout, you know, 43 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: Jose Soriano and Lighter and Lance McCullers, Andrew Painter. It's 44 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: been a nice couple of days for pitching. I think 45 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 2: Harrison is pretty close to the top of my priority list. 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: He's on about thirty percent of Yahoo rosters. He's a 47 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 2: guy that I feel has a really secure rotation spot 48 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 2: for a good team. There's no risk of this team 49 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: winning sixty five games and Harrison ends up with three 50 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 2: wins or something. I think that he is a guy 51 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: who's going to make thirty starts. He's going to give 52 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: you double digit wins, he's going to give you good ratios. 53 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: And you know, we're talking long term pickups, but even 54 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: in the short term, if you're thinking, I don't know 55 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: if I can really afford him, it's a shallow league. 56 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: Next two starts at the Royals versus Washington. So a 57 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 2: long term pickup with that short term streaming viability as well. 58 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: So the pitcher I went with did get some love 59 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: on the Sunday waiver pool that happened. I don't think 60 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: everybody was quite attuned to dialing in as much as 61 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: they were on the start. So the percentages are still 62 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: like in that. I think the twenty thirties they may 63 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 1: have bumped up a little bit, especially due to the leagues. 64 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: But we saw a big change out of Emerson Hancock. 65 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: Emerson Hancock with the Seattle manners. One thing you and 66 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,119 Speaker 1: I both kind of attuned to here is like players 67 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: with just like really good team context. Now there a 68 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: slight question could ultimately be that you know, is his 69 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: rotation spot going to be safe because Bryce Miller is 70 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: going to come back at some point. Not really a 71 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: team that's going to run out of six man rotation, 72 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: and from top to bottom it's usually at least if 73 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: you want to look at the top four like it's 74 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: the dudes. But Emerson Hancock is going to make a 75 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: case for this starting role simply because of just one 76 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: big change, and it was his sweeper usage. Fastball wasn't 77 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: anything special. Actually, if you look at it from year 78 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: over year, the fastball looked like it was down a 79 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: little bit. It was down like about an a half 80 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: a mile per hour. He was spinning it more, which 81 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: is encouraging, But he went from a three percent used 82 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: sweeper the previous year to using it almost twenty six 83 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: percent of the time. So he paired four seam with 84 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: a sweeper and a sinker. That sweeper had an almost 85 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: forty three percent with rate. It was absolutely unhittable and 86 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: he may have just unlocked this next level. It's a 87 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: great pitching environment, there's great run support around. He does 88 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: have more of a caveat than Kyle Harrison, though there 89 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: are some you know guys are gonna be helping with 90 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: the Brewers coming up here soon. But the early onset 91 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: for where he was able to go out and strike 92 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: out nine, he went six, struck out nine, literally unhittable 93 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: on that first start. I think it's really encouraging and 94 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: I want to hold on to see if this continues 95 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: on if this fastball, sweeper sinker combination ends up unlocking 96 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: another level of strikeouts and may just really make him 97 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: be a trustworthy pitcher moving forward. I think you got 98 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: to go and pick up Emerson Hancock just to see 99 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: if this thing is going to be working out. All right, 100 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: we are going to go and talk about some category 101 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: special it's a little bit different in the pitching department. 102 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: But before we do anything, we're talking about the high 103 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: priority waiver guys. Well, you can get in before anybody 104 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: else and instantly identify the best pickups available in your league. 105 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: With Fantasy Pros Waiver Wire Assistant, see exactly how each 106 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: ad and drop scenario impacts every scoring category for your team. 107 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: You take up a pitcher that's a little bit more 108 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: whip heavy, maybe they're not is quite of a strikeout guy? 109 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: What does that do to your overall? Look? Well, we 110 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: can do that with the waiver assistant over on Fantasy Pros. 111 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: You can sink your league and that's how you do 112 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: it in seconds at fantasypros dot com, slash MLB my 113 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: playbook or is Fantasy Pros app and you can get 114 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: personalized expert advice for all of your waiver decisions when 115 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: we're not here for you. 116 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: All right. 117 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: So one of the things you can do, obviously is 118 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: you can attack specific categories strikeouts. I want to lower 119 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: my whip? Does this guy get more wins? You and 120 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: I took I think the most obvious blanket, but I 121 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: think it does the most obvious target in the pitching 122 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: department early on. Get your saves, boys, Get your saves 123 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,799 Speaker 1: as early as you can. That is a category specialist 124 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: for sure, and it's what you and I are both tackling, 125 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: and I think you and I both picked the most 126 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: obvious choices of I say, obviously the percentages aren't exactly there, 127 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: but the guys that you should be most aggressive on 128 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: if you were looking to get some saves, yours is 129 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: a guy that has replaced a very, very valuable closer 130 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: who his stuff is just not there, and you went 131 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: with Lucas Erseg. 132 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there will be a little bit of 133 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: uncertainty with with Lucas Erseg, just because people will still 134 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 2: want to believe in their investment of Stevez. No, no, no, no, 135 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: I took this guy in the top one hundred and 136 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: twenty picks. He'll come back and he'll take that job. 137 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: He was down like seven miles an hour. I think 138 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: he's pretty toast. But then people also say, well, look, 139 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: Shreiberg got to save the other day. Maybe at shreiber 140 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: I don't want to be investing in this situation. I'm 141 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 2: fully on team Erseg. He is the most talented arm 142 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: in this road to in this pen and the only 143 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: reason that John Schreiberg got the save on Monday was 144 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: because Ersek had pitched the previous two days and they 145 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: didn't want to over use him early in the season. 146 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: But Lucas Erseg, I think he's a guy that should 147 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: have been the closer last year. I've never been a 148 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 2: huge Stevez fan. I don't think he's that great of 149 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 2: a pitcher, but now they have a built in reason 150 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: to just replace him with a guy that I think 151 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: is the much better pitcher in Ersek, and a guy 152 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: that I think should have that job the rest of 153 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: the way. Estevez, I think he's cooked. I could be 154 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: wrong on that. Maybe he comes back and takes that 155 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: job over again at some point, but it looks like 156 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 2: there's a pretty bad injury when you're down that significantly, 157 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: and other than him, there's nobody in that bullpen that 158 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: I think is even really remotely close or worthy. People 159 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: might say Schreiber, maybe Matt Strong, but I think it's 160 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: Erseg's job to lose, and he's still available in a 161 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 2: vast majority of leagues. 162 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, nurseg has experienced. I'm not in the camp that 163 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: Estevez is one hundred percent cooked, but I think you know, 164 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: we can smell it. We can smell the dinner's almost ready. 165 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: I think I'm waiting because it was so dramatic, absolutely 166 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: so dramatic the fall in Velo that I want to 167 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: see if there was like a big mechanical thing for 168 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: when he comes back, I do not think. I'm pretty determined. 169 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: I don't think this team would let him come back 170 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: unless if it was a mechanical thing and it not 171 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: be fixed. I want to me make more cleary here. 172 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: If he comes back in the villa is back down, 173 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: I think that's the team and everybody going like this 174 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: is what's normal. If he comes back and the stuff 175 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: is back up, I think they fix the problem and 176 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: he's gonna immediately take the closure role. All of that said, 177 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: I'm one hundred percent with you. There's no chance I'm 178 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: letting Lucas or say sit out on the wire because 179 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: I think he's a good closer on a team that 180 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: I think is gonna win games. And there's a big 181 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: question of that other guy. And there's an easy scenario 182 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: we can paint that carl Sesveez does not get back because, 183 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: like you said, his stuff was so bad. The guy 184 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: I'm picking is also in the saves department, and it 185 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: is Jordan Romano. Now, Jordan Romano is not on a 186 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: great team context. I don't think anyone thinks the Angels 187 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: are winning ninety games, so I think maybe the most 188 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: obvious might be, like, will the save opportunities be there? 189 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: But he had a great spring and he's had a 190 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: pretty good early on set forty K percentage stuff looks good. 191 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: Carrying over the whiff numbers on both the slider and 192 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: four seem very early on have been encouraging. He's a 193 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: former closer, and I think obviously they do have guys. 194 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: They've got Pomerans and you know, when Kirby Yates's back, like, 195 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: they've got guys that could take that over. 196 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: But I think Jordan Romano has been one of the. 197 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: Biggest, most pleasant surprises for that team, and I think 198 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: he has got the job at least for a while now. 199 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: If he starts blowing up and doing kind of what 200 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: he did on the back end of Toronto, like, sure, 201 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: he could lose this because there's other guys with opportunity, 202 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: but he has had an entirely great spring and in 203 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: a very good early start that I think Romano's low 204 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: ownership percentage. People are getting hyper focused on who's the 205 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: closer for the Cardinals, what's going on with the rays stop, 206 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: go pick up Lucas Erseg, get yourself, Jordan Romano, and 207 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: get your saves early. On all indications, I think Jordanmano 208 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: could be one of those guys that was the Free 209 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: ninety nine closer and could have thirty saves at the 210 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: end of the year. I'm picking up Jordan Romano as 211 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: a category specialist for sure. Last up, we are going 212 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: to look at some deep league stashes, some starting pitchers 213 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: that might just be a little bit more beyond streaming. 214 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: But before we do, make sure you're with You're with 215 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: Joe Rico and I on Wednesday we were live or 216 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: me and Joe Pizapia on Leading Off. It's live on 217 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: Twitch every weekday twelve thirty pm Eastern. You can catch 218 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: the show. You can be a part of the show. 219 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 1: Penuts and Cracker Jass asks us questions, help dictate the show. 220 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: Get it before anybody else because the show ends up 221 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: popping up on YouTube about an hour after, So if 222 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: you miss it live, you can always watch it there 223 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: or on the podcast feed. But come and hang out 224 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: with us for news and insights and a whole bunch 225 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: of fun around fantasy baseball over on twitch dot tv. 226 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: Slash Fantasyproslet's twitch dot Tv Slash Fantasy Pros. You can 227 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: download the app, watch us live and hang out. Let's 228 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: end this bad boy with some deep league stashes. These 229 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: pictures probably available in a lot of spots outside of 230 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: big performances. I can almost guarantee you not drafted unless 231 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: it's like, you know, big fifty team draft and holds 232 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: your picture for a deep league stash is. 233 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 2: Who Yeah, yours is more true to the question the 234 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,599 Speaker 2: deep deep league because he's not really rostered anywhere. My 235 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 2: guy is about thirty percent rostered. But he's a guy 236 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: that nobody ever gets excited about. It's Michael Waka. Every year, 237 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 2: every year, it's always shooting for upside. We need the 238 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: sexy names, we need to draft the prospects, and I 239 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 2: get it, upside is important. But these stabilizers like Michael 240 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,479 Speaker 2: Waka do not grow on trees. So in the NFBC 241 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 2: last year, their big twelfth team contests, the online Championship, 242 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: the eightieth percentile ratios in that contest, and this is 243 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: like one of the biggest twelfth team contests. It's tons 244 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 2: and tons of teams ninety or eightieth percentile, three fifty 245 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 2: two ERA and a one to sixteen whip. Michael Waka 246 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 2: over the last four major league seasons has a three 247 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: forty six ERA and a one eighteen WHIP. Does that continue, 248 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: I'm not sure because he is getting older, but he 249 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: started off the year really well. Six clean innings, seven strikeouts. 250 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: He's essentially he's been an elite starting pitcher for the 251 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 2: last four years. The whips have been good, the era's 252 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: been good, the strikeouts are not amazing. But he's giving 253 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 2: you amazing, amazing volume, which is not easy to come by. 254 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 2: Six hundred innings over the last four seasons. There's only 255 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 2: a handful of pitchers who've been able to do that, 256 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: and some of them are names that you don't really 257 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: want their volume, you know, the Cacuchies of the world, 258 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 2: the Kyle Freelan's. There's some dodgy names, the Patrick Corbins. 259 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: You're getting good volume with Michael Waka, and he's available 260 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 2: in a lot of leagues. He's on like five different 261 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: teams every year. People pick him up and drop him, 262 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 2: but he should just be a guy that you keep 263 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 2: for the entire year and maybe if you want to 264 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 2: sit him in a tough matchup. Sure, this is a 265 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 2: better picture than waiverwire fodder, though I completely agree. 266 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 1: I actually put together like a little waiver thing on 267 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: my Patreon at in this League dot com, and I 268 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: put Michael Waka on one of those lists that you 269 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: got to pay attention to because of literally everything you said. 270 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: So even though mine might be a little bit deeper, 271 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: I do agree, like Michael Waka is just a great 272 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: notch in that fantasy tool belt at the end that 273 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: I don't think, like you said that those innings, even 274 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: though they can, you know, stack up, that they're going 275 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: to be like not trustworthy innings. There's solid innings and 276 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: maybe there's a few spots you don't sit them. I 277 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: completely agree with you. My side is a lot lower. 278 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: His ESPN percentage was under three percent. Probably yeah, yeah, yeah, 279 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: not picked up a lot. I probably across the board. 280 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: I'm not looking at the second and it's gonna live change. 281 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: It's probably still under like ten percent. But Michael Soroka, 282 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: I was at this game a Diamondback's opening day, not 283 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: trying to be a homer here, but Michael Soroka was 284 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: nothing short of phenomenal. And it's a little dicey because 285 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: Merril Kelly's gonna come back, and there were a lot 286 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: of people that were shipping Michael Soroka back to the 287 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: bullpen because he had experience with it last year. They're 288 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: gonna have to make a tough decision. I don't think 289 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 1: that decision is going to be against Soroka, who did 290 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: pitch in the WBC came out and maybe some of 291 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: the changes and maybe some of what he did was 292 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: Tiger's centric. We'll have to see as it stabilizes. But guys, 293 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: he was throwing his slurve as the number one used pitch. 294 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: He threw it forty eight percent of the time that 295 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: sucker registered a forty five percent with rate. It did 296 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: not generate batting average against it. Then allowed him to 297 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: throw his four seam less and then it was just 298 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: essentially like sinker or seems slurve. He stopped using his 299 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: change up as much, which was a decent pitch last year, 300 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: but he had this three pitch arsenal he kept going to. 301 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: He struck out ten tigers. He threw an immaculate inning 302 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: to end his outing, an immaculate last inning, eight nine 303 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: tenth strikeout. So obviously it's a little bit of a 304 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: strike heavy team, a strikeout heavy team. But as I've 305 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: said in previous shows, you've got one of the best 306 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: defenses in baseball out there, the best in field defense 307 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: for a guy that is throwing a sinker. You've got 308 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: a great offensive overall front from outfield, speedy guys scoring 309 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: you runs. I think Michael Soroka's a legitimate chance to 310 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: not just be a streamer, but a guy that you're 311 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: gonna want to hold in your rotation, especially if some 312 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: of this stuff carries over. So I'm really encouraged by 313 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: what we saw out of the strikeout numbers last year. 314 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: He had a twenty five percent k percentage and a 315 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: seven percent walk rate. If that boosts up to twenty 316 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: seven to twenty eight percent, you might see some big stuff. 317 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: So we'll see. We'll be careful about it, but we 318 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: want to pick up Michael Walker and we want to 319 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: pick up Michael Soroka just to see if it's going 320 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: to work out. Who are you guys picking up, especially 321 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: in the pitching market on waivers. Drop it down below, 322 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: let us know and then we can review it back. 323 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: Hopefully these guys helped you out, and if you need more, 324 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: go to check out the waiver assistant for Fantasy Pros. 325 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: We got you covered there. Fantasypros dot com slash MLB 326 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: my playbook to get you hooked up. That's gonna do 327 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: it for Joe Rico. I'm Chris Welsh. Thanks for hanging 328 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: out with us, good luck on the waivers, and we'll 329 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: talk to you next time right here on Fantasy Pros. 330 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Baseball podcast. 331 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 3: If you love the show, the best freeway to support 332 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 3: us is by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts 333 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 3: or Spotify. Follow us on x, Instagram, and TikTok at 334 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: Fantasy pros at. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube 335 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 3: dot com slash Fantasy Pros MLB.