Jenstad raved about Zach Neto’s across-the-board production: 8 homers and 8 steals in just 33 games, driven by a 50 % hard-hit rate and 17 % barrel rate. Despite a 28 % strike-out clip that mirrors the Angels’ team philosophy, Neto is slashing .326/.364/.636 since activation and has scored 28 runs during that span. Jenstad said only three or four shortstops would come off the board before Neto if drafts were held today, making him a must-start in all formats and a legitimate buy-high target for managers needing both power and speed.

Jeff Erickson told listeners to buy—or simply stop worrying about—Rafael Devers after the third baseman torched May pitching to the tune of a .402 average and a league-leading RBI total entering Friday night. Erickson chalked Devers’ April slump up to the fact he missed all of spring training with shoulder irritation, noting that diminished bat-speed readings in early April have already bounced back to 2023 levels. With the rust gone, Fenway’s cornerstone slugger is back to posting 50-percent hard-hit rates and top-10 barrel percentages, metrics that historically translate into 35-homer, 110-RBI pace over a full season. Erickson advised sending aggressive offers before the narrative fully flips, suggesting a package headlined by a top-25 outfielder (e.g., Christian Yelich) in redraft leagues. He also expects Devers’ DraftKings salary to jump $600-plus within a week, making this the last window to roster him at a discount in DFS tournaments.

Scott Jenstad said Taylor Ward belongs at the very top of this week’s pickup list after an outrageous May in which the outfielder has already launched 9 homers and driven in 27 runs. Jenstad acknowledged Ward’s profile remains "boom-or-bust"—his average launch angle keeps the BABIP volatile—but emphasized that fantasy managers cannot ignore the counting-stat avalanche. Ward is locked into the No. 3 spot in an Angels lineup that just rattled off an eight-game winning streak and quietly paces the league in runs scored since May 1. Even if the batting average settles around .255, Jenstad thinks Ward’s combination of everyday volume, above-average hard-hit rate, and the license Phil Nevin gives him to swing early in counts puts a 30-plus homer, 90-RBI season firmly in play. He recommended double-digit FAAB bids in 12-team mixers and labeled Ward a core cash-game piece on next week’s thin Monday slate where he’ll face two soft Oakland right-handers at Angel Stadium.

Jeff Erickson said he’s steering clear of Ryan Yarbrough’s upcoming two-step. While the soft-tossing lefty draws a favorable opener against the Angels, the back half is at Dodger Stadium, where Los Angeles ranks first in wRC+ versus southpaws. Yarbrough’s strike-out rate sits under 17 %, meaning he relies on batted-ball luck that’s unlikely to hold against Mookie Betts and company. Even after an 8-K gem versus Texas, Erickson believes the strikeout spike is a mirage and expects ratio carnage in Chávez Ravine. He prefers streaming options that don’t require surviving the league’s best lineup.

Jenstad cautioned managers not to overbid on Zebby Matthews despite the hype. The 23-year-old fanned nine Royals in four frames but has yet to face more than 18 batters in any outing. Rocco Baldelli remains married to the two-times-through-the-order rule, leaving Matthews with consecutive 3- and 4-inning starts and virtually no chance at wins. Jenstad loves the arsenal—plus command and mid-90s heat—but expects a season of frustrating four-inning no-decisions that sap value in 12-team formats. He would only stash in deeper leagues where ratios and strikeouts outweigh the win category.

Jenstad pegged Ryne Nelson as a sneaky Week-ahead add because Arizona lines him up for Pittsburgh and potentially Washington. Nelson just limited the Dodgers to one run over five innings at Chavez Ravine, showing improved control (1 walk) while sitting 95 mph. The downside is an 8 % swinging-strike rate that leaves little margin for error, but Jenstad likes the floor against a Pirates team bottom-five in OPS versus righties. If Eduardo Rodriguez returns and bumps Nelson to a single start, it’s still the better half of the matchup grid; with two, Nelson jumps to must-stream territory in 12-team leagues.

Scott Jenstad recommended tossing a few speculative bucks at Jacob Lopez after the rookie shredded Philadelphia for 8 strikeouts, 3 hits and 1 walk in his second MLB start. Jenstad noted Lopez carried a 28 % strike-out rate in Triple-A last season and still misses bats with a flat-plane four-seamer and plus changeup. Walks (career 10 % in the minors) are the red flag, and Jenstad warned that summer heat in the A’s temporary ballpark could add homer risk. Even so, with starting-pitching options thin, he views Lopez as a swing-and-miss lottery ticket worth rostering in 15-teamers and streaming in deeper 12-team leagues while the rotation spot is his.

Scott Jenstad pegged Kyle Harrison as the top starting-pitcher pickup of the week wherever he was dropped. The 23-year-old southpaw threw four innings of two-run ball with four strikeouts Sunday while sitting on a 60-pitch cap after a brief bullpen stint. Harrison owns a long minor-league track record of 30 %-plus strike-out rates and still flashes a plus fastball/slider combo that can miss bats in bunches. Jenstad acknowledged the Giants will be cautious with innings and that Justin Verlander’s pec strain could heal quickly, but Harrison’s upside—especially in Oracle Park—outweighs the workload risk in 12- and 15-team leagues starved for starting pitching.

Jeff Erickson said it is time to cut or at least bench Ryan Pressly after digging into the underlying numbers. Pressly’s strike-out rate has cratered from 23.8 % last season to an ugly 12 % through 18 innings, and his swinging-strike rate has fallen in three straight years (17.7 % → 15.5 % → 12.5 % → 8.5 %). Whiff rate on the four-seamer slid from 18 % to 9 %, while the slider’s whiff rate was halved (30 % to 15 %). Erickson noted the Cubs used Pressly in the sixth inning last week, a clear sign the organization no longer trusts him in save situations. With no long-term financial commitment and Palencia currently closing, Erickson views Pressly as a luxury stash, not a must-hold, in anything shallower than 15-team formats.

Jeff Erickson urged managers desperate for saves to grab Daniel Palencia right now. Palencia has collected Chicago’s last two saves and has been deployed in classic ninth-inning leverage while Ryan Pressly tries to locate his missing fastball in the sixth. Erickson conceded Palencia’s 11 % walk rate keeps the WHIP shaky, but the role trumps the warts. He expects the Cubs to ride the hot hand because they owe Pressly nothing after this year and surrendered only a fringe prospect plus some salary relief to Houston. As long as Palencia holds the job, Erickson sees a month-long window for 6-8 saves that could swing tight roto categories.

Scott Jenstad said Colton Cowser should be the bat fantasy managers stash this week. Cowser heads out on a rehab assignment in the coming days and is fresh off a 2023 campaign that featured 24 homers and a Double-plus walk rate in the upper minors. Unlike Parker Meadows, Cowser has already shown he can dominate advanced pitching, and Baltimore’s thin outfield depth means he could slide right back into a near-everyday role once activated. Jenstad is prioritizing Cowser in 15-teamers and even stashing him in some 12-team formats where bench space allows.

Scott Jenstad told listeners to leave Parker Meadows on the wire unless they are in very deep leagues. He reminded everyone that Meadows hit only .244 with nine homers and nine steals in roughly a half-season last year, paired with a 25 % strike-out rate and a pedestrian 31 % hard-hit rate. Those numbers do not scream instant impact, and Jenstad doubts Detroit will hand him everyday at-bats the moment he is recalled. He summed it up as, “give me the guy who was actually good last year”—referring to Colton Cowser—over a stash whose track record is mostly tools and wish-casting.

Scott Jenstad advised passing on Matt Vierling in mixed-league FAAB because Detroit’s outfield is about to get crowded. Once Parker Meadows finishes his rehab assignment, the Tigers will have six left-handed bats—Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry and Vierling—competing for four lineup spots, and Jenstad suspects Vierling will sit versus righties, the less favorable platoon split. With Spencer Torkelson entrenched at first, Vierling lacks a clear DH path, and Jenstad noted Colt Keith has already begun losing at-bats, hinting at further roster shuffling. In short, Jenstad doesn’t see the volume necessary for Vierling to matter in anything shallower than AL-only formats.

Scott Jenstad backed the idea of scooping Carlos Correa off waivers, saying he would have bid more than the $50 his co-manager paid. Jenstad expects Correa's batting-average floor to stabilize once his early-season nagging issues fade, reminding listeners the shortstop hit .310 last year and still projects for 15–18 homers even without stolen bases. With Byron Buxton and Matt Walner returning soon, Jenstad sees the Minnesota lineup lengthening, which should boost Correa’s RBI/run totals. In a landscape where reliable everyday shortstops are scarce, Jenstad labeled Correa a set-and-forget option and a worthy FAAB investment despite the lack of speed.

Scott Jenstad recommended dropping Roki Sasaki in anything shallower than a 15-team mixed league. Sasaki will only begin a throwing program next week and, according to Jenstad, is still “way, way off” from returning to the Dodgers’ rotation. Even before the setback, the right-hander looked unrosterable: a walk rate north of 12 %, strikeout rate below 20 %, and a string of abbreviated outings that hinted at lingering discomfort. Jenstad argued that unless managers are confident Sasaki will come back dealing—a leap of faith given the control issues— the roster spot is better used on streaming arms or speculative closers. He would hold in deeper NFBC-style 15-teamers where replacement level is thin, but in 10s and 12s the opportunity cost is too high.

Scott Jenstad advised dropping triple-digit but not all-in FAAB bids on Marcelo Mayer because the rookie has a clear runway at third base while Alex Bregman nurses an oblique injury that cost him 50 games the last time it flared up. Jenstad acknowledged the floor—Mayer owns just an .807 OPS at Triple-A and has never posted an outright ‘knock-the-door-down’ season—but noted several encouraging skill gains: the 22-year-old has trimmed his strikeout rate from the mid-20s to 19 %, is walking more, and ranks in the 48th percentile of Triple-A hitters with a 48 % hard-hit rate. Boston’s alternatives are bleak (Nick Sogard, Abraham Toro, David Hamilton all sub-.250 OBP), so even mediocre production should keep Mayer in the lineup. Fenway’s short right-field fence also plays to his emerging pull-side power, giving him 15-homer, double-digit-steal upside if he sticks. Jenstad summed it up as “big upside, real risk”—worth 12-15 % of remaining budget for teams needing corner or middle infield help.

Scott Jenstad pointed out that Arizona hitters have one of the sneakiest schedule edges of Week 10: six straight games at Chase Field—three against the Pirates and three versus the Nationals. Pittsburgh’s staff sports a 4.65 ERA outside PNC Park and will send rookies like Jared Jones plus only one Paul Skenes start, while Washington’s rotation enters with a collective .341 wOBA allowed to left-handed hitters. The combination of hitter-friendly weather, altitude, and shaky bullpens means everyday bats such as Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, and even deeper options like Joc Pederson (if active) or Jake McCarthy deserve lineup bumps. Jenstad suggested that shallow-league managers stream Diamondbacks corner infielders, while DFS players can capitalize on modest salaries for the bottom half of the order on the six-game Monday holiday slate.

Scott Jenstad advised loading up on Cubs hitters in both weekly lineup leagues and DFS cash games for Week 10. Chicago leads the majors with 25 more runs scored than the next closest offense and now gets six games against two pitching staffs ranked in the bottom five in ERA: three at Wrigley versus the Rockies and three in Great American Ball Park against the Reds. Jenstad highlighted that Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong are already driving in NL-leading run totals, and the lineup remains lethal one through nine. Colorado arrives with a 5.51 team ERA on the road, while Reds pitching just allowed back-to-back comebacks after conceding 17 runs over the weekend. With no weather concerns and the Cubs’ bats in peak form, Jenstad sees across-the-board category juice and recommends streaming any fringe Cubs bat—think Christopher Morel or Nico Hoerner—while also stacking them in DFS tournaments.

Scott Jenstad said fantasy managers should act now on Shea Langeliers because the underlying skills suggest a true breakout is brewing. Langeliers has chopped his strike-out rate from 27 % last season to 16 % over the past month while simultaneously pushing his walk rate northward. The power never left—he is carrying a 46 % hard-hit rate and already put one 430-foot shot on the batter’s eye this week—but the new contact profile dramatically raises his batting-average floor. Jenstad noted the BABIP is still depressed, which means batting-average regression should be coming as long as the strike-out rate stabilizes in the low-20 % range. Add in his surprising sprint speed for a catcher and a full slate of summer games in a spacious park, and Jenstad expects Langeliers to settle in as a top-12 fantasy catcher ROS rather than a waiver-wire streamer.

Scott Jenstad advised fantasy managers not to panic over Mason Miller’s 6.11 ERA after Saturday’s blown save. Miller still sports a 40 % strike-out rate and a ridiculous 20.7 % swinging-strike rate while averaging 101 mph, metrics that point to true dominance. The inflated ERA stems from a .414 BABIP, a 13 % walk rate that is higher than last year’s profile, and a couple of poorly located 101-mph fastballs that left the yard. His underlying xFIP sits at 2.21, indicating massive positive regression once the BABIP stabilizes and the walks tick down. Jenstad’s takeaway: keep starting Miller with confidence or trade for him at a discount before the luck turns around.

Jeff Erickson highlighted that Trea Turner has quietly returned to "old-school" Turner value because he is running at an elite clip again. After swiping 19 bags all of last season, Turner already has 14 steals (four this week) while pushing his OBP to .363 thanks to a modest walk-rate bump. Although the power hasn’t shown up yet (five homers, hard-hit rate down), Erickson argued the huge jump in stolen-base volume offsets the power dip and positions Turner as a high-end fantasy shortstop. If the homers come anywhere close to last year’s 26, managers could get a true five-category stud at what currently looks like a discount.

Scott Jenstad said Kyle Schwarber should be treated as a far more complete fantasy asset than in prior seasons. Schwarber is slashing .255/.397/.540 with 18 homers, 40 RBI, 40 runs and four steals, but the real story is a career-best 21.5 % strike-out rate after living near 30 % the past three years. With the whiffs down, his BABIP sits at only .250, leaving room for even more average upside. A 58 % hard-hit rate and 15 % barrel rate confirm the power is intact, and a 168 wRC+ dwarfs his previous high of 145. If the K-rate stays in the low-20s, Jenstad believes Schwarber can maintain a league-average batting average (or better) instead of being a drag, making him a top-tier, five-category contributor in OBP and standard formats alike.

Erik Halterman recommended buying the dip on Adolis Garcia, who ranks 12th in Ideal Attack Angle but is batting just .222 with six homers (20-HR pace). Fears of an early decline due to his aggressive approach appear overblown: Garcia’s bat speed is unchanged from 2023, his strike-out rate is a career-best 24.5% (down from 28%), and he still owns a 49% hard-hit rate and 15% barrel rate. Those metrics mirror or exceed last season’s totals when he hit 25 homers. Halterman believes the elite attack-angle consistency, intact raw power, and improved contact skills indicate Garcia has not hit the age-related cliff and should return to 30-plus-homer form once variance evens out.

Eric Halterman said Will Warren is back on the fantasy radar after reworking his arsenal. Over his last three starts the Yankee right-hander owns a 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 37 % K rate and 4 % walk rate, thanks to an even four-seam/sinker split that helps his sweeper play better against opposite-handed bats. Even with an early-season slump baked in, Warren carries a 4.05 ERA versus a 2.97 xFIP and 3.22 SIERA while striking out 30 % of hitters. Halterman expects at least mid-rotation value if the walks remain under 10 %, and sees true breakout potential should the command gains stick.

Eric Halterman identified Daniel Palencia as the Cubs reliever to grab for saves right now. Ryan Presley and Porter Hodge have ERAs north of 5.00, clearing the path for Palencia’s 2.16 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 15 outings to earn ninth-inning chances. Though the 25 % strikeout rate and 11 % walk rate are merely average and a .171 BABIP hints at some luck, Stuff+ grades his 99 mph heater and wipeout slider as the best weapons in Chicago’s bullpen. Halterman doubts Palencia holds the job all season—Chicago could add a veteran at the deadline—but says fantasy managers hunting immediate saves should act before the committee firms up elsewhere.

Eric Halterman urged adding Hayden Birdsong now that Jordan Hicks slid to the bullpen and opened a permanent rotation seat. Birdsong blanked Kansas City over five innings in his season debut and owns a 1.91 ERA, though Halterman pointed to a 3.57 SIERA that keeps expectations realistic. A 24 % strikeout rate, 8 % walk rate and pitcher-friendly Oracle Park give him a solid floor, and Birdsong has historically missed more bats as a starter in the minors. If the control gains hold, Halterman believes Birdsong can settle in as a mid-rotation arm who piles up strikeouts and ratios good enough to matter in mixed leagues.

Eric Halterman recommended adding Chase Meidroth again now that he is healthy and back atop the White Sox lineup. The rookie owns a career 17 % minor-league walk rate and 425 OBP, and is holding a .381 OBP with an 11 % walk rate through 27 MLB games. Concerns about speed have faded after eight steals already, pushing him from two-category to three-category contributor (average, runs, SB). With just a 1 % barrel rate and 56 % ground-ball rate, Halterman does not expect power, but daily leadoff plate appearances and green-light baserunning make Meidroth a priority grab in any league that counts OBP or steals.

Eric Halterman advised scooping up Will Benson while everything is clicking. After striking out 40 % of the time last year, Benson has trimmed that to 26 % since returning to the majors and is torching pitchers to the tune of a .353 average, five homers and a 1.303 OPS over 11 games. The former first-rounder already flashed a 14-HR/16-SB season in fewer than 400 PA, so any contact gains unlock 25-plus homer and 20-plus steal pace. Halterman warned that Benson will likely sit versus lefties and could cool off quickly, but says the temporary impact in roto leagues is too big to ignore while Jake Fraley’s calf injury keeps Benson in the lineup.

Erik Halterman urged fantasy managers to scoop Miguel Vargas off the waiver wire. Vargas sits fourth among qualified hitters in Ideal Attack Angle, pairs that with an 8% barrel rate and a 17% strike-out rate—numbers similar to last year’s breakouts Josh Naylor and Luis Garcia Jr. After opening the year with a .139 average over 20 games, Vargas has slashed .316/.368/.592 with six homers and only a 10% strike-out rate across his last 26 games. Halterman believes the superior attack-angle consistency and recent plate-discipline surge signal that 2024 could be the season everything clicks for the 24-year-old, making him an immediate add in season-long formats.

Eric Halterman said Matt Shaw deserves to be re-added now that he is back from Triple-A and making contact again. Shaw slashed .286/.364/.606 with six homers and five steals in 24 games for Iowa, chopping his strikeout rate from 27 % in his April cup of coffee to just 10 %. Halterman expects only average power, speed and batting-average tools, so keeping the whiffs down is critical. Chicago still has almost no competition at third base, giving Shaw a long runway for everyday at-bats. In his first three games after the recall he recorded five hits, two steals and only one strikeout, reinforcing the idea that he can provide balanced roto production with secure playing time.

Erik Halterman labeled William Contreras a buy-low, arguing that a fractured middle finger, not declining skill, is suppressing production. Contreras ranks sixth in Ideal Attack Angle and has improved his plate approach—chase rate down, contact rate up, strike-outs trimmed from 21% to 18%, walks up from 12% to 16%. While bat speed is down 2 mph and his hard-hit rate (49%→41%) and barrel rate (10%→5%) have dipped, Halterman attributes that to the finger injury he’s been playing through since early May. Once healed, the elite attack-angle profile and refined plate discipline should translate back into 2023-level power, making Contreras a worthwhile trade target despite short-term risk.

Erik Halterman advised trading for Brenton Doyle, noting the outfielder ranks third in MLB in Baseball Savant’s new Ideal Attack Angle metric (5–20 degrees) behind Corbin Carroll and Kyle Schwarber. Despite a bleak .208 average and .594 OPS that resemble his 2023 struggles, Doyle’s skills have actually improved: he cut his strike-out rate from 35% in 2022 to 25% last year and sits at 24% this season, while his barrel rate climbed from 9% to 11% to 13%. Halterman attributed the slow start to a mid-April quad tweak and a bereavement-list stint, not skill erosion. With elite attack-angle consistency, rising barrel rate, and sustained contact gains, Halterman sees Doyle as a classic buy-low for season-long fantasy leagues.

Marcus endorsed a top-heavy Padres stack of Fernando Tatis Jr. ($6,000), Jackson Merrill ($5,800) and Manny Machado ($4,800) versus Atlanta spot-starter Grant Holmes. Holmes carries elevated walk, home-run and barrel/hard-contact rates, exactly the profile Marcus targets when looking for slate-breaking upside from an elite offense.

Marcus likes stacking Giants lefthanders Mike Yastrzemski ($3,900), Jung Hoo Lee ($4,100) and Heliot Ramos ($4,000) against Jake Irvin. Irvin has allowed a 13.9% barrel rate, 1.49 HR/9 and strikes out only 16.1% of hitters, creating the ideal conditions for a multi-homer stack in Nationals Park.

Marcus suggested using a Nationals mini-stack—headlined by James Wood ($5,200) and CJ Abrams ($5,500)—in tournaments. Giants opener Kyle Harrison is expected to work only a couple innings and has struggled with both walks and homers during his big-league sample. The short stint should expose San Francisco’s weak middle relief early, giving Washington’s young core multiple cracks at shaky pitching.

For salary relief, Marcus pointed to Spencer Horwitz ($2,200) against right-hander Quinn Priester, whose 1.8% K-BB rate is one of the worst on the slate. Horwitz gives DFS managers a near-minimum first baseman with platoon advantage in a plus matchup, freeing up cap space for expensive stacks.

Marcus acknowledged Lucas Giolito’s wild DFS range—27.2 and 17.3 DK points in two starts, –6.4 and –3.0 in the others—but likes taking the risk at $6,600. The Orioles own the second-highest strikeout rate in baseball over the last month, giving Giolito a realistic shot to land on the profitable end of his boom-bust spectrum in large-field tournaments.

Marcus wrote that Mitch Keller ($7,200) is "a safe bet for 13-17 DraftKings points." Keller’s pitch efficiency keeps him on the mound deep into games, and a Brewers lineup that lacks thump gives him a high floor. He slots neatly as an SP2 in cash builds where gamers want predictable innings over pure upside.

Marcus labeled Jack Leiter ($7,400) a volatile but enticing GPP play. The rookie has logged his two longest outings of the year in back-to-back starts and now draws a White Sox lineup that ranks near the bottom of every offensive metric. While Leiter’s strikeout stuff has been inconsistent, the matchup gives him a clear path to a ceiling game at suppressed ownership.

Marcus prefers Framber Valdez ($8,900) over the other top-tier pitchers because the Mariners have fanned 22.4% of their plate appearances over the last 30 days, the highest K-rate among the three featured opponents. Valdez sits between Michael King and Bryan Woo in salary but carries the friendliest matchup, giving him the best combination of floor and ceiling for cash games or single-entry builds.

Dan Marcus said Max Fried is under-priced at $8,300 despite pitching in Coors Field. He argued the great offensive environment is offset by a Rockies lineup that has been "sub-par even in Denver." Fried owns a 23.9% strikeout rate, a tidy 3.39 SIERA and is one of the only arms on the slate with both punch-out upside and run prevention skills. With Saturday’s pitcher pool thin, Marcus views Fried as a strong SP1 who lets DFS players spend up for bats without sacrificing ceiling.

John Venezia urged managers not to let Taylor Ward remain on waivers simply because of his .196 average and .682 OPS. Ward already has 11 home runs and has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with three homers over his last six games, signaling another one of his familiar hot streaks. After posting 25 bombs last season, Ward projects to finish 2025 with a more palatable .240-.260 average once the cold spells level out. Venezia views the current 55% roster rate as too low and recommended bench-stashing Ward now so you have him active when the power binge continues.

John Venezia recommended grabbing Will Benson while the outfielder is scorching. Benson is available in 94% of Yahoo leagues but is slashing .308/.400/.654 with three homers and eight RBI through just 26 at-bats (eight games). That line comes with a .357 BABIP and a 194 wRC+, signals that some regression will come, yet Venezia stressed the upside of rostering a power-speed bat in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Fantasy managers can stream Benson in plus matchups now, and if the hot streak extends his ownership will spike, making the current 6% roster rate a bargain.

John Venezia advised adding Jonathan Cannon despite Chicago's overall struggles. Cannon is rostered in only 8% of leagues yet has strung together four consecutive quality starts. Over 50 innings he holds a 39-to-17 K:BB, and notably has not issued a walk in his last three outings. Venezia credited a revamped cutter that now sports a 22.5% whiff rate and a 26.9% put-away percentage—more than double last season’s mark—as the driving force behind the surge. With Cannon among the hottest pitchers over the last few weeks, Venezia called him a low-cost pickup who can supply immediate innings and ratio help.

John Venezia said Justin Verlander should be scooped off waivers even as a back-end fantasy starter. The Giants right-hander owns a 4.31 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and 16 walks over 48 innings, but Venezia pointed out that Verlander has logged four quality starts in his last five turns. The big reason is a resurgent slider that carries a 32.7% whiff rate, its highest mark in the past three seasons. Because he is rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues, Venezia views Verlander as an under-owned veteran who can stabilize ratios while adding strikeout upside as the slider continues to miss bats.

Morgan suggested pairing Jonathan Aranda ($4,100), Yandy Diaz ($3,800) and Chandler Simpson ($3,500) against Cal Quantrill, who sits on a 7.00 ERA with Miami and a 5.32 mark the past three seasons while letting fellow righties torch him for a .417 average. Aranda is barreling everything (.321 AVG, six HR). Diaz brings bankable OBP (.369 career) and already owns six homers and eight doubles. Simpson offers elite wheels—nine steals in 25 MLB games and 73 in Double-A last year—giving the stack power, on-base skills and stolen-base upside. Morgan expects Tampa’s contact-oriented core to chase Quantrill early and feast on Miami’s bottom-five bullpen.

Morgan suggested pairing Jonathan Aranda ($4,100), Yandy Diaz ($3,800) and Chandler Simpson ($3,500) against Cal Quantrill, who sits on a 7.00 ERA with Miami and a 5.32 mark the past three seasons while letting fellow righties torch him for a .417 average. Aranda is barreling everything (.321 AVG, six HR). Diaz brings bankable OBP (.369 career) and already owns six homers and eight doubles. Simpson offers elite wheels—nine steals in 25 MLB games and 73 in Double-A last year—giving the stack power, on-base skills and stolen-base upside. Morgan expects Tampa’s contact-oriented core to chase Quantrill early and feast on Miami’s bottom-five bullpen.

Morgan built a Fenway stack of Alex Bregman ($5,400), Jarren Duran ($5,100) and Wilyer Abreu ($4,600) to attack Spencer Schwellenbach. The rookie righty owns a 4.86 road ERA, 1.6 HR/9 and a 24.2% line-drive rate—metrics that tend to get punished by Fenway’s short porch. Bregman is thriving in Boston with a .309/.391/.580 slash and 11 homers. Duran supplies table-setting speed (five triples, 12 steals) and an .859 OPS vs righties over the last three years. Abreu, sheltered from lefties, is riding a .983 OPS over the past three weeks and carries an .875 mark versus right-handed pitching overall. Morgan anticipates two-to-three combined extra-base hits and double-digit DK points from the trio.

Morgan reminded readers that Jung popped 23 homers as a rookie and already owns seven bombs and six doubles in just 37 games this season. At $3,600 he gets Ryan Gusto, who has a 4.80 ERA and allows righties to hit .261. Given Globe Life’s power-friendly dimensions and Houston’s taxed bullpen, Morgan expects Jung’s hard-hit rate (47%) to translate into extra-base upside at a salary that feels at least $1K too low.

Morgan pinpointed Carpenter ($4,500) as a bargain bat because the Detroit slugger owns a .515 career SLG (.554 last three seasons) against right-handed pitching. He now faces Jose Berrios, who is sitting on a 4.97 FIP and 1.56 HR/9 in 2025. Morgan notes Comerica’s new shortened fences and Berrios’ declining four-seamer velocity as reasons Carpenter could leave the yard at a sub-$5K salary.

Morgan compared Crow-Armstrong to a discount Kyle Tucker for DFS purposes: 12 homers, 14 steals and platoon success versus righties. At $5,000 he draws Jonathan Cannon, whose 3.60 ERA masks a .271 average allowed to left-handed bats. Morgan projects multiple chances for PCA to swipe a bag or take Cannon deep in a crosstown Wrigley wind game.