I wanna wake up in the city that doesn’t sleep! Sorry, was singing off the title. So, Nick Yorke (0-for-3 and his 1st steal) was called up by the Pirates. He was acquired by the Pirates in a trade for Priester. That’s right, Yorke for Priester. Better than $23 in trinkets? I don’t know, who’s to say? Never a good sign when you search a prospect and you find nothing from Itch since 2022. He last appeared in his top 100 prospects for 2022, then disappeared. Could’ve pinged Itch to ask why, but I can guess, which is more fun. I’d guess Itch would say, “Red Sox had a bunch of betters bats, who could actually field and guys kept passing Yorke in the system. You couldn’t just guess this? Why are you pinging me? You know I hate you…You know what, forget I asked…What made Yorke alluring originally was his power and speed and contact, and that is still there — 12/21 combined across two levels with two teams, and a 18%-ish K%, while hitting .355 in AAA for the Pirates. He could be an under-the-radar flyer next year if he breaks camp with the Pirates, which would be my assumption. Wouldn’t be shocked to see him reappear for my prospect lists for 2025, and I am standing outside your house with a sword. Please come outside so I can show you my favorite Shogun scene.” Um, what? For this year, Yorke is a flyer and you can likely do better. For keepers, stay alert! Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Paul Skenes – 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 2.07. Don’t fully understand the point of letting him throw more innings, but you can’t complain about starters not going deep in games and starters going too deep in the season–Actually, you can. That’s what I do all the time.
Andre Pallante– 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 9 Ks, ERA at 3.87. Streamed him in a bunch of places because I’m a dirty, dirty boy. Streamonator hates his next, but I’m stream-crazy.
Matthew Boyd – 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, ERA at 2.52. “You trust me? You??? Trust??? Me??? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” That’s the very maniacal, and not cool at all Matthew Boyd. Hopefully, his next start is less passive aggressive.
Pablo Lopez – 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 10 baserunners, 4 Ks, ERA at 3.84. On July 5th, his ERA was 5.18. He had a 3.90 ERA in July, 1.71 in August and 2.25 in September.
Jake Irvin – 7 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 4.07. One has to not only be a Ding Dong Merchant but the union leader of the United Ding Dong Merchants fighting for more Ding Dongs to have Jake Irvin in a two-start week and not start him, like I did. Just so dumb, I’m disgusted with myself. [dives across the table at you] Of course I could use it! Sorry, but what kind of question was that? Could I use it?! The nerve of imaginary you! The one consolation is the Streamonator thinks his next start this week is harder. It’s no freakin’ consolation!
Francisco Lindor – Could miss anywhere from two to five days. Hard to see how a guy can be a possible MVP when he can’t even play for my team’s H2H playoff.
Sean Manaea – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 3.26. He’s gonna be basically free in next year’s drafts and people are gonna look at your team and be like, “You drafted Manaea as your number three? That sucks,” and they will have no idea what they’re talking about.
Ranger Suarez – 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 baserunners, 5 Ks, ERA at 3.13. He’s taking the world’s slowest crawl to “becoming a 3.50 ERA pitcher.”
Aaron Civale – 5 IP, 1 ER, 8 baserunners, 6 Ks, ERA at 4.48. Civale War just started showing on Max. Has nothing to do with Aaron. Weird, huh? Started this schmohawk in every league where I could for his 2-start week. Please let me get two wins out of this.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 4 IP, 0 ER, ERA at 2.63. Bdon and I talk at length about Yamamoto on this week’s podcast. Trying to pinpoint exactly where in the top 40 starters we think he’ll go in 2025. It’s riveting (if one misunderstands the word riveting).
Ozzie Albies – Will start a rehab assignment. I’d guess he’s back for Friday. If he can hit 22 homers in the last ten games, he could salvage his season.
Max Fried – 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 baserunners, 7 Ks, ERA at 3.49. At some point, Fried’s gonna be like, “Oh, yeah, by the way, I’m pitching without an elbow.” No idea when that will be; thought it would’ve happened already.
Adrian Del Castillo – Optioned to Triple-A. You know your glove is bad when you’re hitting .313 and you get sent down to the minors when the minors are over.
Ketel Marte – 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 32nd homer. Next year he’s gonna hit 15 homers all year or 35. There’s no in-between.
Hunter Goodman – 1-for-3 and his 12th homer, as the Rockies’ catcher. Why did they release Elias Diaz? Are the Rockies terminally stupid?
Ezequiel Tovar – 1-for-4 and his 24th homer, hitting .264. Rockies used to be a club I targeted all their hitters. Now, even ones worth targeting like Tovar, I am so meh on.
Yu Darvish – 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 baserunners, 3 Ks, ERA at 3.21. About as iffy as they come — feels like he’s holding it together with some chewing gum and string — but I just need him to hold it together for two more starts.
Jackson Merrill – 2-for-3 and his 24th homer, hitting .290. BDon discuss on today’s podcast who should be drafted first next year out of the Jacksons, Merrill or Chourio? We both think Chourio, but Merrill is easily in front of him for this year on the Player Rater.
Jurickson Profar – 4-for-4, 2 runs and his 23rd homer, hitting .285. He’s gonna be the biggest bust in history next year. The Dolly Parton of fantasy baseball. Or continue to make me look dumb.
Reese Olson – 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 3.50, as he was activated. Sadly, they only activated his left arm and he’s a righty.
Colt Keith – 1-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 13th homer. This is not accurate but watch how accurate it sounds: No Tigers hitter in the last decade has hit 30 homers.
Bobby Witt Jr. – 2-for-4, 5 RBIs and a slam (32) and legs (29). Locking up the AL MVP! (If Aaron Judge is caught betting on Yankee games in the next week.)
Seth Lugo – 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, ERA at 3.05. Seth, don’th failth meth nowth. Pleaseth!
Shota Imanaga – 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 baserunners, 11 Ks, ERA at 3.03. If his ERA dips under 3 to end the year, his ADP will go up by two rounds. Even if there’s no real difference between 2.98 and 3.01. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know.
Dansby Swanson – 2-for-5, 4 RBIs and his 15th homer. Everyone on the Cubs got in on the act, except Busch (0-for-4). Hope you hedged.
Brent Rooker – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs and his 38th homer, and 2nd homer in as many games. Have a general sense where players will be going already in 2025. I can feel out most guys. Rooker? I haven’t a clue. I’d guess around 50, but could be off by two rounds.
Reid Detmers – 5 1/3 IP, 7 ER, ERA at 6.05. Before this start, Detmers called Guinness World Records and asked for a representative to be on hand as he went for the world record for “Being A Douche For Sucking So Much While Being Streamed By Everyone.” Congrats, I guess.
Andrew Benintendi – 2-for-3, 4 RBIs and his 18th and 19th homer, three homers in three games, and three straight wins for the Shite Sux. Okay, now I’m gonna be really pissed if the Shite Sux don’t lose the most games ever.
Yoan Moncada – Activated from the IL. He only played 11 games this year previous to his injury in April. After not playing since April 9th, Moncada was still second in bWAR for position players on the White Sox. That is so freakin’ funny.
