On The Wire - Adam Howe and Kevin Hasting kick off their 2026 fantasy baseball category previews by breaking down power (HR & RBI) and why it has quietly become harder to replace later in drafts. They discuss draft targets, late-round power bats, platoon plays, and roster construction strategies to hit modern home run benchmarks.

0:00–8:30 — Episode Intro & Why Power Matters More in 2026

Category-preview format explanation

Impact of PitchCon and offseason prep

Why managers are falling behind in HR/RBI

Establishing modern power targets (24–25 HR per hitter)

8:30–20:00 — Power vs Speed Tradeoffs in Early Drafts

Players discussed:
Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Chourio, Trea Turner

How few true 35+ HR bats exist

Why early speed-first picks create downstream power pressure

Corner infield power vs middle-infield scarcity

20:00–30:30 — Power Benchmarks & Draft Math

Targeting ~350 HR and ~1,100 RBI in 15-team leagues

Why “15 HR + speed” profiles create long-term problems

Emphasizing lineup quality over RBI projections

30:30–44:00 — Corner Infield Power Targets

Players discussed:
Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Eldridge, Chase DeLauter, Josh Bell, Tristan Casas

Arenado vs Gorman risk profiles

Playing-time certainty vs batting average damage

Eldridge stash upside vs prospect risk

Josh Bell as a boring but reliable power source

44:00–57:00 — Middle Infield Power Options

Players discussed:
Jake Cronenworth, Anthony Volpe, José Caballero, Brooks Lee

Cronenworth as a “glue guy” with sneaky volume power

Volpe’s rebound potential and ADP window

Multi-position flexibility as power insurance

Minnesota infield playing-time outlook

57:00–1:11:00 — Outfield Power Targets

Players discussed:
Jesus Sanchez, Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Cody Clemens

Sanchez as a platoon-friendly power bat in Houston

Benintendi’s power resurgence vs lineup quality

Hays as a free-agent ADP value play

Clemens as a flexible, low-cost power streamer

1:11:00–1:18:00 — Power Streamers & Rate-Based Targets

Players discussed:
Jemai Jones, Dominic Canzone, Tyler O’Neill, Matt Wallner, Zach Dezenzo, Colby Thomas, Christopher Morel, Joey Wiemer, David Schneider

HR per 600 PA as a late-draft tool

Short-side platoon exploitation

Streaming power via matchups and schedules

1:18:00–1:21:00 — Catchers & Utility-Only Power

Players discussed:
Carson Kelly, Marcell Ozuna, Jonathan India

Kelly as a streaming catcher with pop

Ozuna’s ADP volatility if he signs

India benefiting from KC fence changes and lineup role

1:21:00–1:23:00 — Final Thoughts & Power Draft Takeaways

Don’t underestimate power scarcity

Late-round power always carries risk — embrace flexibility

Trust your draft instincts and plan for in-season maintenance

Join Our Discord & Support The Show: PL+ | PL Pro - Get 15% off Yearly with code PODCAST

Proud member of the Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball Podcast Network

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.