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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.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Logan Gilbert

to Make Spring Debut on Monday
Jonathon Long

Exits with Left Elbow Sprain
Walter Clayton Jr.

is Ready to Go for Saturday
Dru Smith

is Available for Saturday's Game
Davion Mitchell

Won't Play on Saturday
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic is Ruled Out for Saturday's Contest
Norman Powell

is Cleared for Saturday's Game
Tyler Herro

is Available to Play on Saturday
Dejounte Murray

Remains Sidelined on Saturday
Joel Armia

Wraps Up Olympics With Three-Point Performance
Daniil Tarasov

Available for Panthers
Evan Rodrigues

Set to Return Next Week
Aaron Ekblad

Expected to Play Thursday
Pavel Zacha

Cleared for Action
Cooper Flagg

Still Sidelined on Sunday
NHL

Jonathan Lekkerimaki Needs Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Scottie Barnes

Ruled Out on Sunday
Mikko Rantanen

Misses Bronze-Medal Game With Lower-Body Injury
Grayson Allen

Back on Saturday Night, Will Come off the Bench
Jalen Suggs

Won't Suit Up on Saturday
Jaden Ivey

Shut Down for at Least Two Weeks
Joe Ryan

Scratched From Grapefruit League Start With Back Tightness
Merrill Kelly

Scratched From Live BP With Back Tightness
Jack Suwinski

Dodgers Claim Jack Suwinski Off Waivers From Pirates
Andrew Vaughn

Can Andrew Vaughn Repeat 2025 Breakout Success?
Brenton Doyle

Carries Buy-Low Potential Heading into 2026
Jack Flaherty

Can Jack Flaherty Bounce Back After 2025 Struggles?
Colton Cowser

Looking to Rebound from Injury-Marred 2025 Campaign
Yandy Díaz

Can Yandy Diaz Repeat 2025 Power Surge?
Sal Stewart

Playing Second Base in First Spring Training Outing
Zach Collins

to Miss Rest of 2025-26 Season
De'Andre Hunter

to Undergo Season-Ending Eye Surgery
Tristan Vukcevic

Exits Early Vs. Pacers
John Collins

Leaves Game with Head Injury
Kawhi Leonard

Exits Early Friday Night
Devin Booker

Sidelined vs. Orlando
Joel Embiid

Out Saturday vs. Pelicans
Kevin McGonigle

Starting at Shortstop in Grapefruit League Opener
Bo Bichette

Batting Third in Mets Spring Training Debut
J.J. Wetherholt

JJ Wetherholt Playing Second, Batting Fifth in Grapefruit League Opener
Kazuma Okamoto

Hitting Third in Grapefruit League Opener
Jorge Polanco

Expected to See a Lot of Time as Designated Hitter
Blake Coleman

Activated From Injured Reserve
Ramón Urías

Ramon Urias Agrees on One-Year Deal With Cardinals
Matt Rempe

Heading to Injured Reserve After Second Thumb Procedure
Roman Anthony

Expected to Hit Leadoff for Boston
Sidney Crosby

a Game-Time Call for Olympic Final
Edwin Uceta

has Shoulder Inflammation, Slight Impingement
Josh Morrissey

Won't Play Sunday
Filip Chytil

Out Indefinitely With Facial Fracture
Connor McDavid

Makes History With Another Multi-Point Outing
Tage Thompson

Expected to Play in Olympic Final
Shohei Ohtani

Might Not be Fully Built Up as a Pitcher by Opening Day
Travis Etienne Jr.

has "Legitimate Interest" in Joining Chiefs
Zach Charbonnet

Undergoes Knee Surgery on Friday
Austin Reaves

Back in Starting Five
Matisse Thybulle

Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle Suit Up Friday
Ben Joyce

Throws Successful Bullpen Session on Friday
CFB

Curt Cignetti Agrees to New Deal With Indiana, Will Earn $13.2 Million Per Year
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Returns to Practice
Josh Morrissey

Remains Out Against Finland
Sidney Crosby

Won't Play Friday
Anthony Hernandez

Set For UFC Houston Main Event
Sean Strickland

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Uros Medic

Set For UFC Houston Co-Main Event
Geoff Neal

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Melquizael Costa

A Favorite At UFC Houston
Dan Ige

An Underdog At UFC Houston
Logan Cooley

Sheds Non-Contact Jersey
Maxwell Crozier

to Miss 10 Weeks After Surgery
Kirill Marchenko

Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Petr Mrazek

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
Rashee Rice

Accused of Assault by Long-Time Girlfriend
Ben Griffin

Looking to Return to Top Form at Riviera
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Build Momentum at Riviera
J.J. Spaun

Putting a Major Concern at Riviera
Sepp Straka

May Have Tough Time at The Genesis Invitational
Shane Lowry

Trending Up Entering the Genesis Invitational
Justin Rose

Off Most Radars at The Genesis Invitational
Robert MacIntyre

a Long Hitter to Watch at Riviera Country Club
Jake Knapp

Red-Hot Heading to Riviera
Min Woo Lee

Attempts to Build Momentum After Pebble Beach
Harry Hall

an Unknown for The Genesis Invitational
Matt Fitzpatrick

Has Favorable Path to Success at Riviera This Week
Wyndham Clark

Not Likely to Contend at Genesis Invitational
Ludvig Aberg

Might Find the Genesis Invitational More Challenging
Harris English

Carries Strong Form to Riviera
Patrick Cantlay

Eyes Another Strong Week at The Genesis Invitational
Daniel Berger

Needs Short Game to Show Up at Riviera
Sam Burns

Hopes Return to Form Continues at Riviera
Collin Morikawa

Riding Wave of Victory Into Riviera
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Have Repeat Success at The Genesis Invitational
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Find Paydirt at Riviera
Xander Schauffele

Rounding into Form Before Genesis Invitational
Mike Evans

Will Return in 2026
Kenneth Walker III

Seahawks Not Expected to Use Franchise Tag on Kenneth Walker III
Bucky Irving

Undergoes Offseason Shoulder Surgery
Tyreek Hill

Says he Will Play in 2026
Joey Logano

Finishes Third in the 2026 Daytona 500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Daytona 500
Chase Elliott

Falls Short of His First Daytona 500 Victory Again
Brad Keselowski

Ends Daytona 500 With a Top-Five Finish
Tyler Reddick

Wins the Daytona 500 for the First Time with 23XI Racing
Tyreek Hill

Released by Dolphins
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF