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Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox (6/18/19)

Welcome to the Tuesday, June 18th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox.

Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics but also look to improve our teams as well as the teams of our fellow fantasy baseball enthusiasts. Everyone has their own perspectives which are not to be cast off as frivolous. They should be used as a method of expanding our own knowledge.

In this article, I review the previous day's boxscores and provide my opinion on a variety of topics. Some will be random, some will be fun, and some will be stat-driven. It's a soapbox so I may rant from time to time as well. So without any further delay, below are my thoughts on June 18th. Enjoy them. You can even respond with your own thoughts on Twitter @EllisCan2.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Daily Musings

  • Masahiro Tanaka 10-4 in 17 starts w/3.06ERA, 0.91WHIP vs TB. Yep. Domination.
  • When I move, you move. Just like that. When I HR, you HR. Just like that. Mike Trout(20) & Shohei Ohtani(9). Fifth game this year they’ve HR in same game.
  • Edwin Encarnacion w/o beard is like….....baby smooth.
  • Cavan Biggio w/two HR. Let’s look under the hood. .233AVG. 28%K Ugh. .378OBP, .517SLG, 19%BB. Ok. looking good. 51.3%FB. OH YEAH!! Drank that fly-ball kool-aid. 18.6-degree launch angle. 92mph avg exit velo. Oooh-Weee. He ain’t gonna run after you (11.9% chase). He doesn’t swing & miss (7.6%). Plus, Biggio Loves The Lefties (.294); keeps it on the ground (50%). Vs righties, all five HR, 66.7%FB leading to .182BABIP. Short story long, me likes.
  • Michael Brantley batting .185 over last week. Everyone has dry spells.
  • Yonny concert was beautiful (6IP, 3ER, 6K vs NYY). Yonny Chirinos gets OAK next.
  • Why is Tyler White getting at-bats?! Two HR, .196AVG last 30 days. And you say there’s no room for Kyle Tucker.
  • Luis Castillo (7-1) must love Derek Johnson about now.
  • Ever notice how people say they were totally right about something and they told everyone so. Like the FAABpocalypse, everyone’s coming out of woodworks saying they said Brendan Rodgers, Nicky Lopez, Keston Hiura, etc were a waste of money. Nobody knows for certain what’s going to happen. That’s why we love baseball. I’m sure the story of validity would be the same if the opposite players had performed well.
  • Speaking of, Yordan Alvarez. People love him. No one down on him, at all. Anywhere. Are these truthers gonna show up if the 63% contact, 13.7% swinging strike, and 28%K leads to some dry periods? People don’t always have to be right or wrong. Enjoy the game as it is, both real and fantasy.
  • Aren’t we glad the Ronald Acuna-as-a-cleanup-hitter plan didn’t last? At leadoff, 10HR, 27RBI, 7SB, .323AVG in only 16 more plate appearances than the four-hole (7HR, 21RBI, 2SB, .278AVG).
  • Oscar Mercado is a breath of fresh air in Cleveland. 4HR, 4SB, .304AVG. Only 24% owned. Good add. In Texas now & vs. DET next.
  • Mike Clevinger stumbles in first outing back (4.2IP, 5ER, 7K). DET next, at home. All-in.
  • Hunter Pence on IL and Nomar Mazara hobbled, Danny Santana is poised to excel w/a week at home followed by series in DET. He chases ALOT 40.6% w/13.6%swinging strikes. Despite that, he has 5HR, 8SB, .305AVG (.402BABIP). Santana only 11% owned.
  • Carlos? Carlos Carrasco? Are you here?
  • Elieser Hernandez (6IP, 1ER, 6K, 0BB vs STL). I’ll save a couple of dollars for you this weekend. Keep your head down in Philly.
  • Matt Chapman w/only one HR in last two weeks. 29%K in June. C’mon Matty boy.
  • Ian Kennedy is the closer in KC? *palm to forehead*
  • Manny Machado. You were born in July. Can’t celebrate in June(4HR, .448AVG last week). Trying to double the first couple of months of production.
  • Joey Lucchesi, you mesmerize me. Seven scoreless w/five K vs MIL. Should I just mark you down for a W in PIT?
  • Flock to Joc when he's hitting HR. Avoid otherwise. We are in Avoid Joc Pederson mode now, except he has six righties in the next nine days. Damn.
  • Yes, bad teams do get saves. Shane Greene(20) & Will Smith(19).
  • Dust off Giancarlo Stanton shares. Back today. Maybe he'll match Justin Upton's return output (2-for-4, HR).
  • That sideways look my dog gives me. He must have heard Tyler Beede beat Kenta Maeda.
  • Enjoy your Tuesday baseball, maybe even with some tacos.

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Buffalo Bills

Bills Sign Receiver Trent Sherfield
Immanuel Quickley

Ruled Out for Friday
Jaden Ivey

Shut Down for the Rest of the Season
Jalen Smith

Sidelined for Remainder of Season
Ketel Marte

Active, Leading Off on Opening Day
Tyler Goodson

Falcons Sign Tyler Goodson for Running Back Depth
Myles Garrett

Browns Won't Trade Myles Garrett
Kevin McGonigle

Batting Sixth in MLB Debut
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Not in the Lineup on Opening Day
Jonathan Greenard

Colts Interested in Jonathan Greenard
JJ Wetherholt

Batting Leadoff in MLB Debut
Micah Parsons

Expected to Miss First Three or Four Games of 2026
Breece Hall

Still a Chance Breece Hall Plays 2026 on Franchise Tag
Myles Garrett

Browns Modify Myles Garrett's Contract
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Remains a Risky Tight End Option Despite 2025 Breakout
Dalton Schultz

Upside Remains Limited Despite Resurgent 2025 Production
Kimani Vidal

Could Be Sliding Down the Running Back Depth Chart in Los Angeles
Juwan Johnson

Can Juwan Johnson Repeat Steady 2025 Production in 2026?
Jackson Chourio

Placed on Injured List with Fractured Hand
Francisco Lindor

Officially Starting on Opening Day
Tank Dell

Can Tank Dell Re-Establish His Career Coming Off His Serious Injury?
Chuba Hubbard

Has Chuba Hubbard Reclaimed the RB1 Role in Carolina?
Keegan Murray

Cleared for Basketball Activities
Killian Hayes

Uncertain for Thursday
Precious Achiuwa

Questionable Thursday
Jalen Suggs

Could Miss Third Consecutive Game
Anthony Black

Misses 11th Straight Game
Franz Wagner

Remains Out Thursday
Anthony Edwards

Could Return Saturday
Mika Zibanejad

Pots Two Goals Versus Toronto
Pavel Zacha

Adds Two More Points Against Buffalo
Jordan Addison

in Line for 2026 Resurgence with Improved Quarterback Play?
Landry Shamet

to Remain Out Thursday
Gunnar Helm

Appears Well-Positioned for 2026 Breakout
Vít Krejčí

Vit Krejci Misses Sixth Straight Game
Peyton Watson

Good to Go Wednesday
Dalton Kincaid

Facing Durability and Usage Questions Heading into 2026
Aaron Gordon

Misses Second Leg of Back-to-Back
Jakob Poeltl

Cleared to Play Against Clippers
Colston Loveland

Poised for Superstar Breakout in 2026?
Immanuel Quickley

Won't Play Wednesday
Brandon Ingram

Active Against Clippers
Khalil Shakir

Could See His Role in Buffalo Shrink in 2026
Myles Turner

Won't Play Against Trail Blazers
Bobby Portis

Kyle Kuzma Out Wednesday
Brandon Williams

Available Wednesday Night
Kawhi Leonard

Ready to Face Raptors
Christian Watson

Is Christian Watson's Breakout Season Coming in 2026?
Pat Freiermuth

Should Have More Volume, but QB Situation Still a Mystery
Nicolas Roy

to Be Out For "a Little Bit"
Anton Lundell

Likely Out for Rest of Regular Season
Anthony Mantha

Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Evgeni Malkin

to Remain Out Thursday
Mattias Samuelsson

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Jonathan Quick

Remains Unavailable Wednesday
Victor Hedman

Takes Leave of Absence
Jake Bates

Lions Officially Re-Sign Jake Bates
Sean Murphy

Lands on 10-Day Injured List
Bryce Miller

Placed on 15-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain
Lars Nootbaar

Will Begin the Season on 60-Day Injured List
Jackson Holliday

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena on the Astros Opening Day Roster
Blake Snell

Dodgers Place Blake Snell on 15-Day Injured List
John Carlson

Sets Up Three Goals Tuesday Night
Joel Hofer

Picks Up Sixth Shutout of the Season
John Tavares

Records Three Assists in Tuesday's Win
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Scheduled for Imaging Wednesday
Tony DeAngelo

Suffers Lower-Body Injury Tuesday
Emmitt Finnie

Enters Concussion Protocol
Ryan Fox

a High-Upside Value in Houston
Barrett Hayton

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Tuesday
Marco Penge

a Boom-or-Bust Option in Houston
Aaron Rai

Looks to Bounce Back in Houston
Jason Day

a Volatile Option at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Kirby Yates

Angels Place Kirby Yates on 15-Day Injured List
Harris English

Eyes a Bounce-Back at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Ben Griffin

Looks for Turnaround at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Rickie Fowler

Brings Strong Form Into Texas Children's Houston Open
Brady Tkachuk

Collects Two More Points on Tuesday
Martin Necas

Scores Twice Against Penguins
Nick Lodolo

Will Open 2026 on the Injured List Due to Finger Ailment
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Agrees to Six-Year, $115 Million Extension With the Cubs
Igor Chernyshov

Returns to Sharks Lineup
Dylan Larkin

Good to Go Tuesday
Ross Colton

Logan O'Connor, Ross Colton Available Tuesday
Francisco Lindor

Likely to be Ready for Opening Day
Ryan Gerard

Can Continue Rolling at Texas Children's Houston Open
Pierceson Coody

Bounces Back at Valspar Championship
Rasmus Hojgaard

Trying to Get Back on Track at Texas Children's Houston Open
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well Heading to Texas Children's Houston Open
Harry Hall

Looking for Consistency at Texas Children's Houston Open
Brooks Koepka

Continues Building Momentum
Roki Sasaki

to Stick in Rotation Despite Spring Struggles
Kevin McGonigle

Makes Tigers Opening Day Roster
Scottie Scheffler

Withdraws From Texas Children's Houston Open
Ryan Pepiot

Placed on Injured List to Open the Season
JJ Wetherholt

Likely to Hit Leadoff on Opening Day
Connelly Early

to Make First Start on Sunday
Luke Clanton

Might Have a Problem in Houston
Sam Stevens

Happy to See Houston This Week
Keith Mitchell

Tries to Rebound After The Players Championship
Will Zalatoris

Returning This Week at Houston
Wyndham Clark

Trending in the Wrong Direction Heading to Houston
Shane Lowry

Seeking Better Luck in Houston This Weekend
Kurt Kitayama

Poised to Bounce Back at the Houston Open
Lerone Murphy

Suffers His First Loss
Movsar Evloev

Edges Out Lerone Murphy
CFB

Notre Dame Ranks No. 1 in Returning Production for 2026
Michael Aswell

Jr. Drops Decision At UFC London
Michael Aswell

Luke Riley Outclasses Michael Aswell Jr.
Sam Patterson

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Michael Page

Wins Lackluster Decision
Austen Lane

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Iwo Baraniewski

Delivers 28-Second TKO
Tyler Reddick

Overcomes Adversity for Fourth Victory of the Season At Darlington
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Darlington Victory Despite Domination
Ryan Blaney

Recovers From Pit-Road Struggles to Score Career-Best Darlington Finish
Carson Hocevar

Rallies to Finish Fourth at Darlington
Kyle Larson

Decent Performance Ends with Technical Issues At Darlington
Tyler Reddick

the Clear Favorite at Darlington
Kyle Larson

a High-Risk, High-Reward Driver at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Is Getting Better at Darlington
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not Slowing Down at Darlington
Chris Buescher

Should be a Top-10 Contender at Darlington
Austin Cindric

a Sleeper at Darlington
Erik Jones

Quickest in Practice at Darlington
Denny Hamlin

Qualifies Ninth for this Week's Cup Race at Darlington
Chase Briscoe

Is One of the Top DFS Options of the Week for Darlington
William Byron

Is William Byron A Playable DFS Option for Darlington Lineups?
Christopher Bell

Could Christopher Bell be Considered A Decent DFS Option for Darlington?
Chase Elliott

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Darlington This Week For DFS?
Joey Logano

May Not Have the Speed to Warrant A Darlington DFS Lineup Spot
Ross Chastain

Should DFS Players Trust Ross Chastain at Darlington?
Kyle Busch

Could Kyle Busch Be A Worthy DFS Option for Darlington?
Brad Keselowski

May be A Contriarian DFS Tournament Option At Darlington
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