Leading Off: April 3rd, 2025 (Ep. 965)

Welcome in everybody to Fantasy Pros MLB. This is leading off live as b Joey b joe Pi's if you're with me, of course is the Welsh and it's all of you, the Peanuts and the cracker Jacks live here on our Twitch, Twitch dot tv Slash Fantasy Pros. That's the place to be if you want to watch us live. And I see every single day more of you showing up, more of you watching on Twitch, which is cool. But if you can't watch us live on Twitch you just don't have the time, or if this is a bad

Uh yeah, we're definitely like I don't know if it's a brick, but it's probably like one mushroom. You know. We have to go down the one tunnel and then we can get a couple of gold coin. We're very very close Mario and Luigi. What everybody's always asked for. I gotta be honest with you, I don't know how we do a show. Is that? What's the theme? We can't be like, oh, you know, hey, it's a show, ha Tani, and we can't do the voices the whole show. So I don't know what the what we'll roll.

I just I think we do the show straight and just don't acknowledge the fact that that's what we're wearing. That. I think that's I think that's the bit. That's just that we never acknowledge it. It's just a regular show, that's what it is. But we've got a lot to get into today.

Turtles across us and stuff.

Yeah, Turtle's flying across special effects. That's gonna be great. But just like there was a you know, return after Super Mario Brothers, the first one you had, of course Super Mario two, it's Joe Pizapia two. Because show Hao Tani hit a home run yesterday. I'm back baby. I'm finally got my number one home run. It's just a matter of time now. So I gave everybody that we could start just like I always do and now I'm coming for you. Uh so, I guess here's the only question.

But I just want to point out, like Gallon strikes out thirteen, we have all these great stories. Joe makes it about himself the start of the show. Everybody I got am I not that he walked the game.

Off.

It's about Joe getting on the board the most the most MEMI me of all time. I'm very happy for you. Yep, light it up. There you go, you you guessed show. Hey Otani for a homer what a bold called? Joe? Glad you're on the board. Hopefully Cali leaves you off on every single week like they left me off last week and not giving you proper.

That's gonna be the worst, right. I don't know if you're gonna make the board today. We'll have to wait and see. Oh but yees shoey Otani got a home run. Also, Raphael Devers got a hit. Hooray two for four with a double yesterday. Now he did go over twenty one first so that was you asked my.

Question, called it and he's like, who, what's gonna happen? First he said, Devers is gonna get a hit, and it was nice to see. Maybe it's gonna boy over a little bit. Everybody on his case, but just need a little bit to go his way. He's a great, great hitter. I'm still a little bit in the by territory. But I know you're not. I know you still hate him.

I don't hate him. I am just concerned. Two hits does not assuage my concerns. And if you don't know what that means, look it up. Learn a word today. Also, the Red Sox continue to throw money around because Christian Campbell got paid. That's right, eight years, sixty million dollars for Christian Campbell. We actually have a live look of him receiving this money. We can show you that really quick. Here. So Christian Campbell. Another extension, crouchet gun extension. Here's Christian

What is that supposed to be? That looks like something from Mario Like he's sitting on a.

Money does it's like a Mario Kart money cart. Yeah?

I don't like that one. Actually, I really don't like that. And the money too does. It doesn't sit well with me. Look at how the mine doesn't.

I'll take all that money.

Why does he look like he played in nineteen thirty two?

I know it's very nineteen sixty four. It's very nineteen sixty four Red Sox. I don't know why, but this AI was very much like this today. So it's like he I guess Carl Yastremsky and he are going to be teammates.

By way, again, just point out by the East Coast biases that you're doing. You're talking about Christian Campbe, which is a day older. I started the show with Otani. How about could tell Mark, well, yeah that you hit a homer. You didn't even mention that.

Tawi hit a home run for me, he walked the game off, and you're like, I'm on the board, but you're not even mentioned.

Could tell. Mark Tate got assigned a contract extension with the Diamondbacks this year, twice as much money as Christian Campbell. Could tell, locked up probably for his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks's gonna go down as one of the best Diamonbacks of all time. And he is locked in with Corbyn Carroll for years ago come. But we're talking about Christian Campbell and his little little money cart. There's a little money It almost looks like an animal, like there's

Still driving a cart of some kind, that's for sure. All right, Let's move on to Ivan, the great Ivan Herrera three home run, six RBI, my favorite sleeper catcher of the year. Very excited. Here's a question here from uh Matton. Excuse me, Yeah, Matt on the mound, Yeah Matton, Matt on the mountain. But the mond on the mound. Uh Matt on the mound wants to know I or Yanire Diaz. It's still Diaz. But I've been heard I had a great day. Let's not get crazy here.

Uh.

And it is National Burrito Day apparently, so I just found that out, which that's inspiring. I do love burritos. Burritos are more important than work.

Do you need a special like I'm a pretty uh, I'm a basic on on the burritos.

Just give me just shocking beans.

And g a little avocado, like on there's some sour cream.

Do you need like all the differents the carne asada, Give me chiso, give me, give me, give me all the different burritos, depending on my mood, give me.

If you'll give me fire, give me that which I desire.

Yeah, I know. But look, great day for Ivan Herrera, and I think this goes to show you if you were in those single catcher leagues. We get talking. Herrera's probably somewhere between the twelve and fifteen catcher on the board, and he has gotten off to a great start and starting to heat up as well. Jordan Walker playing very well,

Absolutely. I mean, Sonny Gray is struggling right now. He get blasted of it yesterday. I think they're gonna look to move him sometime in the season. They'll get Aeronatto out and they're gonna let these guys keep keep rolling. That was like the big positive thing. I think Jordan Walker is starting to come in. I'm feeling good about that.

But maybe he.

Starts to push the territory of the Logan o' hoppies or the shee Leangaliers. But very very good.

Maybe yeah, maybe Tyler who does social media for us, The batting practice clearly paid off for Devers. Yes, clear. If you missed yesterday's show, go back and watch that. It was very entertaining. We showed you live action Rathfield Devers batting.

We have a clip of it on Social two which I got to watch this morning when I woke up and it made me laugh again.

It's very good. It's very good. Nice job by Tyler there doing that. All right, let's get to more of the headlines because there's a lot to get to. Skien struck out six thirteen swings and missus out of one hundred two bitches. This off the sheet, but Welsh put it back on because you really want to talk about skeens no decisions. I thought you did. No, I thought I took this off.

I added one thing on the sheet, which is my little setup for a little bit later.

I'm looking forward to that. I like to see. I usually surprised Welsh in the show. He's going to surprise me today, So I'm excited to see that no decisions were a big theme yesterday. Freddie Peralta eight innings for the first time. It is twenty nineteen, twenty nineteen. The last time he threw eight innings. He was terrific. Eight strikeouts, no walks, two HiT's, one run, no decision called Reagans ten strikeouts or five innings he got, no decision, gave

Yeah well okay, so but I did say I did a strikeout parlay, which worked out. I had Reagan's and Crochet. But what killed me was I was playing around with the ault line on Reagan's and Crochet. You go seven and then eight, and they both got to eight. Reagans looked really good. That's actually more of the theme I would throw into yesterday. Outside of no decisions. It was bouncebacks. Not gonna do it because I know we're going to

You mean Mackenzie Gore the thirteenth best pitcher in baseball or wherever he.

Was on Dan Fail Are you okay? So is this last start going to be you completely out on McKenzie Gore?

Now, No, I'm in on Gore where he was, which is hey, a guy you can get strikeouts with, who's gonna have an era a push wishing four and is every now and then going to drop some really good outings. But I'm not a guy that I'm starting every single week without a doubt. I'm not there with McKenzie Gore. I don't think he's in that ring. Do you think he's a must start every week?

Gore, I'm not okay, I mean must start.

He's not left in my rotation. I'm looking at the matchup. I'm trying to figure out and I understand. The first start was against the Phillies and he was great, but I'm gonna be very careful. Two start weeks, Sure, good matchups. Sure he's pitching against the Rockies. Yeah, okay, I'm in. But you know, I think you gotta still manage him a little bit, that's all.

Maybe it was still a fine start. Five innings, he struck out five. He only gave up two runs when it was all said and done, he gave up a ton of contact and a ton of hard hit contact. Part of the problem, this is the thing to monitor. What happened was the difference between the two starts. The slider went away again. He went fastball, curveball. Slider was like twenty percent in the first start. It was down to seven percent in this last one. So I you know,

Well, I think they just like the hats you have cool hats I had.

I think the dog hat fund again. Go back to the hat fund we need at the Welshu on Venmo and we will get new hats. But I'm very apologized that you have to look at my stupid hair. Could We'll put a couple of hats in next week.

Springs, by the way, also Springs, you know, not the best start yesterday, but he gave up basically one hard hit and it was the three run homer to Suzuki. He was fine outside of that, so if somebody's panicking about him, forget it. Let's talk about some other questions. How do we feel about Zack Gallen the rest of the season. I feel pretty good. It's a nice turnaround there,

It'd be bladey. Though. There is a really funny video that was out there. I saw last night of Bledet talking to one of the what is it like Mizuno or what one of the bat reps, and he was going through ordering torpedo bats. He specifically ordered torpedo bats that he's about to have, So we'll see if that goes. But all that aside, I would it would be lighter. I had somebody ask me yesterday is Jack Lider a

He's been that. I hope he becomes something else, but that's what he is currently up until he has six good starts in a row, and then I will remove that tag. By the way, this is the best green name ever because I love Righteous Gemstones, Baby Billy's Bible Bonker. I mean, I just watched them latest episode from this week.

It is nuts a season half, but Baby Billy is one of the best characters.

So good anyway, favorite burrital place in New York. Now, I have a favorite burrito place, but I do have a favorite empanada place, Empanada Mama in Hell's Kitchen. There's a couple of locations about the Hell's Kitchen, one specifically, best sangree you'll ever eat. The Panadum menu is unbelievable. Ask Andrew Erickson. Welsh. I took him there in August when he came over and hung out for the weekend. Blew his mind. We had the best time.

We'll do real burritos when you come to Arizona. You guys have pizza. We have burritos here.

There you go. Some more news to get to closer alert, perhaps a new one. Dennis Santana pitched a scoreless ninth Bednar sent down. Is Santana the new guy for Saves in Pittsburgh?

Welsh, Yeah, it looks like it. That's been a big question all around the last couple of days, and then we talked about this on the live stream. Bednar sent down Holderman is the guy that was actually on roster resource. I had been telling some people I think it's Santana because Holderman blew two saves. He ended up coming in early, gave up another earned run. Dennis Santana came in, was pretty good fastball hits ninety five, horrible command on it,

It was a funny moment. The announcers Gary Coda and Keith her Nandez and the Mets extra innings yesterday there was a hot mic moment and Keith Hernandez goes, well, that was a piss poor inning. I love it. I think right as they were coming back for freak, it was just awesome. Like immediately I went to the internet and there was If.

Anybody watches, I think you should leave. With Tim Robinson, the pants thing is very similar to like the tables bit where they're like, but what about the tables, He's like, stop asking about the tables, Like, that's the pants With Dennis Santana, that's my meme.

Are we worried about Clay Holmes. I'm not worried yet, but I do want to throw this out there that all through spring, Francisco Alvarez was the catcher for these guys, and Francisco Alvarez people love throwing to that guy. I'm not saying that the other catchers in New York. Actually they had performed very well in instead defensively, especially yesterday, but I think there is something about working with a catcher and getting a rhythm and things like that. So

Cheap as diamondback. AJ Puck very important too. You talked about closers. AJ Puck another save opportunity. It wasn't clean, but he came in with guys on and he gave up that stupid flyball homer to Volpi. So I think people are kind of look at that and be like, eh, but that's too safe. Yeah, he has locked those down, and I think that is a really good spot.

I saw a really hilarious somebody in my home league change their team name. They had profar so now where they are profarmance enhancing Drugs. They changed their team too, and I thought that was really I like, that's clever. All right, let's get to the subs for today, because I've got a lot of them. Got new subs today, got a lot of people coming in. Might be burrito day, but we care about subs.

Oh yeah, we do well. Our boy CF Nuniez subscribed with Prime the Prime continue want to point out to people, really incredible. We've gone over six hundred followers. We've pushed a bunch more subs. We had subs while we were out yesterday. Mike Wish joined up with using the Prime. Lots of you guys can do it. You can hook up your Prime account and you can get a free sub gets rid of the ads, can get you in the home run contest. You're supporting us. We love you

I got a piece for you. We're gonna be talking about the rookie lookie in a second. I want to bring up Matt on the mound again. Who to stash long term? Kobe Mayo or Kyle Teal? I think you see Teal first. I'll take yeah, I kind of he's got the easier path, right.

I agree with you. I've said this in my Prospect video, Like Teal isn't maybe super popular for a lot of people, but he's been mashing. There's no place for Kobe Mayo right now. They even had the potential with the injury to Colton Cal's aer, like maybe you could move stuff around. They still didn't do it. So I think Teal is a really good stash right now.

Look, if you love the show, tell your friends. I know what he's said. Oh you know, I don't want to give away all my secrets. Stop that help us have careers that Please, don't be so selfish. If you love the show, share it, tell your friends, tell everybody about it, send it along. Have you watched these two idiots talk baseball. It's a good time. We appreciate it. Let's get into the rookie. Lookie, Matt Shaw two, it's two RBI, two runs two of everything was like Noah's

Like I told you, Joe, what did I I've been talking about Nick Kurtz. I love Nick. He played in the AFL. He's one of those guys. Only two guys. There's three players in the last like seven years in the AFL. I can remember went straight from the draft into the AFL. It was Nico Horner and then this year Jack Kagleon and Nick Kurtz came and played. He's a monster. We talked about on the prospects segment. The only freaking problem is the soda Strum and Rooker are

Zach Veen two for five four to be a stolen base Veen is a very volatile, immature, but fun entertaining fellow. Still big strikeout there too, But it's just so it's so stupid, Like the Rockies are not going anywhere and they go out there and bring in Mickey Moniac for Frick's sake instead of letting this kid play. It's just it's so stupid. Also, Chandler Simpson two for five two and a stolen.

They've done this forevers though. Remember it was like, hey, we got these great prospects, but we signed Daniel Murphy who's thirty seven years old.

And the best part about the Murphy was, we have all these prospects who play second base or first base. Yeah, so let's sign Daniel Murphy who could basically only kind of play second base a couple days a week and only play first bad. And it was before the DH game to the National League. That's just the dumbest.

It was the old Gary Gampson thing. Remember everybody wanted Gary Hampson.

Was Ryan McMahon early on. There was another guy in that mix too. It was all these guys who kind of played second or first, but nobody's really good at it. Three up and three down. Zach Gallon was awesome, thirteen strikeouts against the Yankees. Hunter Green struck out eight second straight starting. Zach Wheeler got the over. Remember lock it in anytime you see the Rockies, look for the over. It's a high number. Eight and a half. I tend to shy away from We went over it yesterday. Yesterday

And I want to talk Gallen's important to talk about for a minute, because I got it. I was so worried because I saw him in person or the first start, the pitch mix completely changed. It's what you want again, fastball thirty one percent and guess what it was back in the zone. That was the biggest problem. Veilo was still a little bit of an issue. Knuckle curve was disgusting. He had thirteen whiffs on eighteen swings. And the change up was really really great as well, sixty three percent

All right. With the good comes the bad. Here's a three down for you. We have Blake Snell five hits, five runs, so not the best one for him. Sean Burke, who was really good in his first start. Another one's guy's good the first start and not so good the second time around six runs, four and a third innings, and Mark Vento's ozero for five. Now at the end, he did have a hard hit ball that he ended up getting on base in a crucial moment in that game.

Yeah, I could have had the one piece the one piece up while you were doing that read. I think that would have been great speaking if.

You want to get your one piece up, Guisa Tracks. Let's get to injuries. Frankie Montas has begun a throwing program that's good, very positive. Who we bounced us from the rotation that's yet to be seen. Jack Lighter did leave Wednesday start against the Reds with a blister issue, so we're gonna keep an eye on that. Hunter, excuse me. Gunner Henderson another rehab start zero for three, so he's still kind of working his way through. We're expecting him

I was just gonna say the Gunner thing. He was originally supposed to be activated today. They said it was a scheduled day off, so he's going to be activated Maniana on Friday, So that was.

A little bit. I love it people get excited for the Kaisa treks read as they should the sponsor of the show. They're paying money. I want you and if you want to get more excited, Kais Trucks just saying, get that testosterone up. X rays came back negative for Carlos Rodon's right four army was struck in the right arm with one hundred and fifteen mile an hour a line drive off the Battle Cantel Marte on Wednesday, so

I'm actually kind of interested in that, I could be. Honestly, I didn't even realize he was at that spot where he was starting to drop some innings. They got a lot of injuries. You know, Brian Bayo has been struggling. I'm not sure how much they would push gi Aledo.

I don't know if.

He's in the level of like Stash, but you.

Think the roster percentages on CBS, God, let's play the game.

I bet it's I mean, I know CBS is high. I would bet it's like thirty percent.

Thirty three. Oh you're so good, so good.

Yeah, I just don't know like what that's going to end up looking like. But if it's a really competitive league, like yeah, maybe, but I think they're gonna baby him early on. He'll be a little bit better latter half of the season. Also, who's the spot he's going to take in a rotation because you've got ber How how the hell of the only two?

I don't know.

I can't think right now.

Well, BeO has been working his way back from into two fact and we know it's low testosor not Viagar. But that's not funny. It's funnier when we talk about the other way. We're trying to have some fun here.

I mean, come on, speaking of Kaisa Treks, Dick Fits, Richard Fitz is in the road.

Richard Fitz, thank you. If the Richard fits you know the rest. All right, Uh, let's move on here to our best bets of the day. And here we go, ladies and gentlemen. So for me today, I'm taking the over Philly and Colorado will getting together with two subpar pitchers. The numbers just nine and a half. Let's go nine and a half over. I think the team total of Phillies might be over this just on its own today.

Yeah, I love your Ellie one too. I almost did that. I was looking Ellie. Actually weirdly, his total base is zero point five, so it's one total base and it's under minus two hundred. Those are still big odds, but not very favorable they feel with him in Nestra Cortez. I'm not so sure about that. I like some of the I kind of went away from the game totals, I'm not in love with today. I'm trying to be very stinuous about it. I was one in one yesterday.

Yeah. I love this this picture match up here Taiwan Walker and sends it Tela in this Rockies Phillies game.

Here's my problem with that.

I get the first starts of the year too.

No, dude, I totally agree with you. But it's like I just I could get things could get weird like Colorado. Many just absolutely stink it. Does Philly have to do that himself.

I'm going to be in the bullpen by the fourth inning. Philly's what I'm counting on.

Philly's team total might be really interesting if you like to play those full game team total if they beat up on Sensitela. But Cinctela has put some good start last time into last year he put up a few, so we'll see. I just avoided it.

But yeah, I like this one from who Dad any gold dust. The Rock and Booker t backstage during the Kaisa Tricks read funny should say that I'm wearing my I'm a Paul Haman guy shirt today?

Who is that for?

Represent Is that just Paul Haman?

No? No, I know Paul Hayman. But I mean, is that like a wrestler shirt.

It's a wrestling yeah, Paul Haman, you know, Paul Haman. I'm a Paul Hayman guy.

That's fine. I was like, is that seeing Punk's branded shirt or something like that?

It's not a Sam Puncture, It's a Paul Hayman shirt because I'm a Paul Hayman guy.

See him.

Punk is also a Paul Hayman guy.

So it was brock less Marines historically couple idiots.

Sorry, gotcha? There go. All right, let's get out of here on some more bets. By the way, in case you are going to be placing bets, don't forget uh to use the url Fantasy Bros dot com slash leading off. New customers get two hundred dollars and bonus bets if you win your first bet of five dollars. Again, that's over on FanDuel and the link is Fantasy Broos dot com slash leading off. So I'm not on the board, but I'm on the board. So finally got one home run.

There we go, Oh my goodness, there he is.

Oh a big beautiful boy. I'm so proud of he.

Why is keeff Man mb that I should be seventeen? But it's fine, I'm on the board.

I'd rather you be six others.

No, you can't do that. The bit was funny one time. It won't be funny anymore. But shout out to the Fisher King, George, Razor Ramon and Wonky all at the tippy top with six homers. We got a bunch of fives. I got three. I'm in the top twenty. You guys could do it. Six is not a ridiculous lead. You can join up today if you're a part of the Fantasy Pros Discord Fantasypros dot com slash chat you can

Looking for the best was heeled Joe last year when I was on top for like your good heel, your good heel, ah, so much better as a heel than a baby face. Elie Dela Cruz going yard today? Also plus four to forty to go yard, so you might want to sprinkle that bad boy a little bit, So let's talk about that. Who is your home run call for today? The third of April.

I did mention it. I'm going to go Cody. I'm gonna go with the Bellinger here four and a half to one to get onto the Diamondbacks, to get to Merril Kelly. I am interested in Harper that's happening here very very shortly. I think Ellie is a really good bet. I think they're gonna be like wildly put into the home run contest. So just trying to play around with

Hey, you got a two more, You got a two run home run lead on me. So there you go. Let's try to lightning around a couple questions here. Arnatto opinions look strong out of the gate. I got Kevin Aro and Bregman, and I feel like I should flip him when he's hot. I agree, flip him now, Kevin, Aaron, Bregman or the guys I'd rather have. But if somebody's gonna bowl you over for Bregman on like a nice quote unquote by low, trade on him and give you better pieces. And you think Aeronauto can get you by

I would take the Will Warren side Joe Boyle is going to probably be some form of relief like Montgomery is. Maybe he'll be a starter, a really good underlying stuff, bad command, but I would go with Will Warren.

All right, here's another one too. Let's go to Mike's question. You think Stowers will keep up the production? He came up with high expectations. He's looked pretty good. You know. Conine's a nice little ball player too. And Otto Lopez we're gonna be talking about on the Waiver War video. We're gonna be breaking him down coming up soon after this. What do you think about Stowurs so far? What you've seen so far to him?

Yeah, I think there's relatively impressive. He's barreling, he's hitting the ball really hard, he's walking some. Do I think it's going to continue? No, I really don't. But you know, in like a deeper league, I think there's some things in play here right now. Expected batting average is way lower than where he's at, but he is putting up some hard hit numbers. I think we'll have a better idea from an underlying perspective probably in like two weeks.

Red Sox fan wants to know drop win for Lawler.

I say no, probably not, No, I don't think you do.

And last one here, how worry about the Braves start? And this is from Collings seventy one. Not at all, not at all, because eventually you're gonna get Strider back and Acunya back and they're Owen seven. Who cares, it's just a bad stretch. Interesting enough, though, Welsh they were minus one fifteen for this division. They've moved all the way to plus three twenty. So if you'll like the Braves to win this division, now is the time to throw some coin on it.

Well did you see I think it was a stat no team has ever gone ohen seven and made the playoffs. I think that was the stats. The Braves so maybe it was stressed division. If I could, I probably should have pulled that.

And also, no team has gotten off to a seven and oh start after winning the World Series. I believe either or or something I heard to that effect, or they've tied the best one ever or something to that effect. We could just be making up stats.

I might be making up shats. But oh, you know, no team in MLB history has ever made the playoffs after starting Owens seven. It's been forty two years since a team that started Owens seven finished with a winning record. This was on Talking Baseball, So winning record and playoff on the line history says maybe that three and a half or whatever to one is not your good bet.

Still waiting for Joey and wassherbretect who will win first? Dodgers or who will lose first? Excuse me, Dodgers or Padres Padres?

Oh yeah, probably the Padres Padres Padre. Can't believe two teams, by the way, undefeated. The NL West is like twenty six and seven right now, the entire division. It's crazy.

CALLI hates this, by the way, he's a huge Padres fan here big time. And last one here buwich or Grant Holmes, I gotta go Bubbala.

I'm the Bubbala. I'm a Boobich guy. I've been saying that, so there you go.

All right. That'll do it for us, but the story of the game goes on for the Welsh. I'm Joey P. We'll see you next time, Gibs. Enjoy your baseball.

Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Baseball podcast. If you love the show, the best freeway to support us is by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on x, Instagram, and TikTok at Fantasy Pros, and subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube dot com slash Fantasy Pros MLB