Week 4 Fantasy Baseball Podcast: Hot waiver pickups, closer news, pitcher streams, more


We're nothing if not honest here, so before we get into all the good stuff in the fifth episode of the Hot Corner Podcast (available on YouTubeSoundCloud and iTunes), we have to call ourselves out for a mistake in this one: For about 30 seconds, we forget what team Wilson Ramos plays for. Blame it on the fact the Mets first game this year was against Nationals, but either way, our bad. We correct ourselves, but we still understand if you no longer trust our fantasy baseball knowledge and don't want to listen. (We also say Caleb Smith is a righty, but that was a slip of the tongue, so let's not focus too much on the mistakes, ok?). Just know, if you skip this one, you'll miss all sorts of must-know info on hot waiver pickups, closer battles, SP streamers, and "Beverly Hills 90210" star James Eckhouse. Can you live with that?

We open up by discussing popular waiver wire adds, including Brandon LoweScott Kingery, and Garrett Hampson, then move on to starting pitchers you should consider this weekend in daily transaction leagues and DFS contests. Yes, professional streamers Jordan Lyles and Derek Holland are on the list. We also talk about the latest closer developments involving the Royals, PhilliesRed SoxBravesBrewers, and Rays. We close by complaining about super-nerdy, esoteric fantasy baseball pet peeves that you can undoubtedly relate to.


Along the way, we also discuss special guest stars, the "Don't Eat This, Eat That" interenet phenomenon of last decade, Colorado's hitter-friendly May schedule, Francisco Cervelli and Tucker Barnhart being due, leadoff-hitter Mitch Garver, whether Tim Anderson or Austin Meadows (or someone else) will be the first 10/10 guy this season, new advanced stat Fly-Ball Index, Mike Leake going into the Hall of Fame as a "fantasy streamer", why it's more fun to stream SPs in day games, Joey Votto choking up with one strike, Dan Gladden's theory on why road games in San Diego are so difficult, how it's unfair for teams to have good hitters against your pitchers, fans who get excited over routine fly balls, Josh Hader's usage, why you definitely should be able to assume a double play, Jose Iglesias's weird pre-game fielding routine, the classic Tom Brokaw vacation SNL sketch, Manny Ramirez intentionally working a count full so he could get more RBIs, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Podcast: Hot Corner Ep. 5

Timestamps and quotes


Garrett Hampson: "Are you sure he was younger last year?" "I'm positive."

Brandon Lowe: "He is [OF eligible] on Yahoo." "Well, Yahoo just hands out eligibility."

Freddy Galvis: "Don't we know what Freddy Galvis is?" "Oh, we know who he is."

Various catchers: "I can't imagine a world where I pick up Josh Phegley."

Dwight Smith Jr.: "20/20 seems like a lot." ... 'OK, how about 22/16?" ... "I'll give him 15/15." ... (scoff) "He'll hit more homers than that."

Scott Kingery: "I was shocked when I was looking up his stats and saw he played 147 games in the majors last year...and I don't remember one of them."


Jordan Lyles, Pirates vs. Giants: "Everyone has streamed Jordan Lyles at some point."

Caleb Smith, MIA vs. WAS: "He's over 10 K/9 in...113 career innings. Pretty good!"

Derek Holland, Giants vs. Pirates: "If you don't need [to stream], there's no reason to reach." "I guess so, but it's just fun to reach."

Mike Fiers, A's vs. Blue Jays: "I thought Fiers would've been owned more..." "Well, he's not that good."

Tyler Mahle, Reds @ Padres: "He hit a double the other day." "Helps his own cause...Joey Votto ain't gonna do it!"

Eric Lauer, Padres vs. Reds: "Every road trip to San Diego is bad because the family comes with, and it just ruins everything."

Bonus talk about Corbin Burnes: "[His high BABIP] is your better argument [for Burnes staying in the rotation], by the way, than being like, 'He gave up homers to good players; those don't count!"


Catcher stolen bases against: "Clearly a targeted thing by the Rockies to run on [Francisco Mejia], and it worked. Maybe that's something other teams start doing."


Red Sox: "Where is [Brett Gardner's grand slam on Wednesday] at Fenway? Does it get to the warning track?" ... "Mookie's sitting under that."

Royals: "Last week you pronounced Wily Peralta done, and he immediately moved back into the closer's role."

Braves: "Minter's pretty locked in...until they sign Kimbrel."

Phillies: "It's funny, I would say [Victor Arano] is probably not near the closer gig, but the way things have gone in Philly this year, he's probably a game or two away."

Brewers: "If a non-fantasy baseball fan listened to this, which they never would, but if they did, they'd be like, "It's all about getting outs. It's about winning games.' Thanks. I get it."

Rays: "I would say Alvarado [gets] two-thirds of the saves."


Closers in non-save situations: "Worse is when they're warming up for a save in the eighth and the team puts a run on the board."

Infield/bloop hits: "There's nothing I hate more than when I see a third baseman or shortstop coming in for a barehand when they don't need to barehand."

Not being able to assume the double play: "That's an error. We all know it's an error."

Batters swinging when you own a speedster on first: (As Ryan O'Hearn) "Hey, [Adalberto] Mondesi -- you better go if you want to go, bro. I'm making no promises."

Latest News

Fantasy Football QB Tiers 2021: Quarterback rankings, draft strategy
2021 Fantasy QB Tiers
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 200 Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Top 200 Rankings
Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Football Sleepers 2021: One breakout pick from every team
32 Teams, 32 Sleepers
Fantasy RB Sleepers