Fantasy Baseball Today

We welcome back former cast member Al Melchior! Our first topic is how to draft steals in a H2H Categories league (3:50). Can you punt steals in that format? ... Let's give Al some tough questions to answer. Is he downgrading the Astros (12:00)? Is he downgrading Mookie Betts (15:00)? Also find out what he thinks about Cody Bellinger this year. And who is he taking #1 overall (17:05)? ... News and notes (21:40) as COL makes a surprise bullpen announcement, we have a Shohei Ohtani timeline and we talk about the new TEX ballpark. Then Al gives us five players he likes in 2020. A bounceback OF (30:50), Mark Canha (34:05), Starlin Castro (37:50), a young stud SP (40:00) and an old stud SP (43:30) ... Your emails at [email protected]

Fantasy Baseball Today' is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox and wherever else you listen to podcasts. 

Follow our FBT team on Twitter: @CBSFantasyBB, @AdamAizer, @CTowersCBS, @CBSScottWhite

For more fantasy baseball coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/

To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/

Busy show! We begin with the revised Mookie Betts trade and tell you why Ross Stripling is currently a loser and Gavin Lux might be as well. Then we talk about the Emilio Pagan trade (6:35) and who is TB's closer, plus a new proposal to change the MLB playoff format (9:30). How are we feeling about it? ... Wondering how many HRs and RBIs you need to win a Roto category? We'll tell you what to target in each category (14:55). Then we've got some random Fantasy questions (28:50) about Carlos Santana, Jack Flaherty, Yoan Moncada and Juan Soto ... Our favorite late-round picks (45:42) including a couple of suspended SPs, a couple of overlooked closers, a late steals source and a bounceback candidate ... Email us at [email protected]

Fantasy Baseball Today' is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox and wherever else you listen to podcasts. 

Follow our FBT team on Twitter: @CBSFantasyBB, @AdamAizer, @CTowersCBS, @CBSScottWhite

For more fantasy baseball coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/

To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/

We've got some players who are being drafted too late like Josh Bell (4:40), Corey Seager (8:40), Nelson Cruz (13:35) and a young SP coming off a disappointing MLB debut (15:15) ... Which players are being drafted too early? We've got a stolen base machine (18:30) and a HR machine (25:05) who are being overdrafted. Then we've got the latest news on James Paxton (29:15), Julio Urias (32:00), Ross Stripling (35:50) and more. And Adam suggests a late round sleeper (41:30) ... Plenty of your emails (44:22) as we answer questions about Tommy Edman, Shohei Ohtani and more. Also, find out about the most disgusting insect on earth and we debate J.T. Realmuto vs. Gary Sanchez (57:30) ... Your emails at [email protected]

Last season, Heath drafted a SP with each of his first four picks. How did that work out? Can you win with that strategy? We also answer a quick question about Jo Adell (8:00) before getting into the mock draft ... So, how much should we be valuing SPs in this format (12:00)? Lucas Giolito went ahead of Jose Altuve for crying out loud! Should Gerrit Cole be drafted second overall (23:05)? Was George Springer a reach at 17th overall (25:43)? Was Fernando Tatis a steal in Round 5 (28:00)? Can you win if you draft mostly hitters early (31:00)? And how should you value Shohei Ohtani (32:55)? ... We go through the first five rounds with our commentary (35:00) ... Your emails at [email protected]

All angles of the Mookie Betts trade. Biggest Fantasy winner (2:40), if Betts should move down at all in the rankings (6:08), biggest Fantasy loser (12:00), the impact on Kenta Maeda (17:25) and Brusdar Graterol (22:22) ... Let's talk steals (26:00)! A listener proposes a different way to draft steals and we tell you how we feel about it. Then Scott gets philosophical about stolen bases and gets into how his strategy is evolving (34:30) ... Scott explains his Eloy Jimenez ranking (37:50) and we wonder if Manny Machado can return to greatness (42:42) ... Your emails at [email protected]

Which once great players can get back to the Fantasy elite? We'll discuss some names, but first let's get into the news (3:00) as a Mookie Betts trade could be close and Trevor Story got a new contract. Will he run less now that he got paid? ... Who can return to greatness? We make cases for and against a number of players, beginning with Andrew Benintendi (11:30), Wil Myers (15:35) and Paul Goldschmidt (17:40). Then we've got a couple of closers (21:25) and a couple of guys named Carlos (32:00) ... Can Corey Kluber be an ace again (39:00)? Will Travis Shaw rebound (46:40)? What about a former ace looking to put a lousy 2019 behind him (49:03) and a former MVP looking to stay on the field (53:15)? ... Your emails at [email protected]

Scott White and Chris Towers break down Scott's first edition of Sleepers, Breakouts, and Busts for the 2020 season. But first, they discuss prospects-only drafts (1:15) and then the history of players coming back from PED suspensions (5:05). ... Then we run through Scott's sleepers (17:10), breakouts (29:40), and busts (39:40). ... your emails at [email protected]

Scott White and Chris Towers do their first mock draft review of the year, focusing on the first 12 rounds of a recent industry experts Roto mock draft. How should you handle the 12th pick in a 12 -team draft — should you go hitter/hitter, hitter/pitcher, or pitcher/pitcher? (2:15) ... Then Scott and Chris break down their teams’ strengths and weaknesses (17:50) ... And give their thoughts on the first dozen rounds of the draft, focusing on their favorite and least favorite picks. (30:30) Your emails at [email protected]

BIG episode! Scott White and Chris Towers give their initial thoughts on Outfield and Starting Pitcher as we close up our run through the tiers for each position and catch up on the latest news. Eugenio Suarez underwent shoulder surgery and the Reds signed Nick Castellanos, so we break down what it all means for the Reds (3:50) ... Then we break down the outfield tiers, beginning with the Big Five at the top of everybody's draft board (15:20) ... After that, we move on to the starting pitcher tiers, where Scott and Chris disagree on how many pitchers you need from the top of the list (43:00) ... Your emails at [email protected]

Several star players are apparently on the trade market, but Mookie Betts is the biggest name. How much would his value change if he were traded (1:43)? Also, is Mitch Haniger worth drafting now (5:56)? And how do we feel about Starling Marte (10:30) who is also on the trading block? ... Emails (13:28)! Questions about Eduardo Rodriguez as a possible ace (17:31), Yordan Alvarez's position eligibility, players who could really struggle if their HR rate decreases (26:25), saves+holds (31:40) and what to do with the Catcher position when you need to start two of them (37:50) ... Which of 2019's breakout SPs could disappoint this season (39:15)? Shane Bieber? Lucas Giolito? Charlie Morton? And who are our favorite breakouts hitters and SPs (44:00)? We also answer your keeper questions (49:30) ... Your emails at [email protected]