X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

The Cut List (Week 11) - Time to Let Go?

It's June 9, an exciting date to some, because it means another Cut List. (Were you thinking some other reason?) Last week's changeup, which involved cut suggestions in three different league sizes--10, 12, and 14/15 teams--continues.

Stats are through Friday, June 7. New weekly reminders: Recommendations in one league size obviously apply to smaller leagues. You can also feel free to drop a shallower suggestion in a deeper league. Generally, however, the dividing line is there for a reason.

As usual, you can find ideas on how to replace your cut candidates at the Waiver Wire Pickup List.

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

 

10-Team Cut Candidates

Joey Votto (1B, CIN)

After some resistance, it's time to go there. Votto remains so widely owned that a trade is probably still the ideal option. But what's left beyond name value?

The strikeouts and walks are a major issue. Here's someone with career rates of a 16.1 BB% and 17.7 K% who is at 11.2% and 22.7%, respectively, this season. It has meant a .343 OBP that is 80 points below Votto's career norm. A .251 average this season has brought his career BA down to .309.

Projection systems still see a lot of the old Votto and like him to be an easily above-average hitter the rest of the year. Unfortunately, that only comes with low double-digits in home runs, a couple steals, and an average somewhere in the .270's. The projections may be on the high end for the 35-year-old, and without much power and speed, even they are not too optimistic about Votto for shallower leagues.

Brad Peacock (SP, HOU)

Things seem pretty good for Peacock on the surface: pitching for the Astros, 5-3 with a 3.20 ERA and 3.19 FIP. However, the risk here in shallower leagues is substantial.

It's not just a matter of the 4.24 xFIP and 4.05 SIERA, although they don't help. Nor is it because he throws 60% fastballs at 92 mph. Nor is it simply because the Astros, with a beat-up offense, are less likely to provide wins in the short term for something like a 4.10 ERA true-talent pitcher. Nor is it just the risk that if Peacock does regress at some point, there are other hurlers that Houston would be willing to use to replace him.

It's all of those things. This is nowhere nearly as clear-cut as last week's suggestion of Marcus Stroman, so by all means continue to ride it out in leagues where pitching is harder to find. But in shallower leagues, you may want to consider getting out too soon rather than too late.

 

12-Team Cut Candidates

Robinson Cano (2B, NYM)

Cano appears to have dodged a bullet recently, nearly requiring a second IL stint for the same quad injury that put him there the first time. However, the reaggravation only points out the fact that Cano's health at this stage of his career is a major question mark.

Add in the performance issues and you have a questionable asset at standard depths. Cano, who turns 37 in October, has struck out in 19.7% of his plate appearances. His current career high over a full season is 15.9% from 2015. As a result he is hitting just .238/.284/.366 with three home runs.

The projection systems and Statcast see roughly league-average hitting for Cano going forward. But for a player who hits in a pitcher's park, does not steal bases, and only has modest power at this stage in his career, even league-average hitting won't have very much fantasy value. Then consider how much time he may miss going forward, and Cano has become more trouble than he's worth in fantasy.

Jake Arrieta (SP, PHI)

This column has been on Arrieta's case from the very beginning. The early-season magic here is gone, as Arrieta has seen his ERA balloon from 2.25 to 4.29 in his last nine starts. Nor is there much to wait up for here. His 4.45 xFIP portends poorly enough, but isn't too much different from the ERA. The 4.76 SIERA, however, starts to get very ugly.

Arrieta just doesn't strike out enough batters. His decline in this area has manifested in two year spurts. He peaked at just above 27% in both 2014 and '15, then dropped to the 23-24% range in 2016 and '17. Last year, he fell to 19.1% and he's continued at a 19.0% pace this season.

Arrieta's walk rate has climbed in the meantime. He pitches his home games in a terrible park for hurlers. You can keeping trying for this in deep leagues for just a little bit longer and not lose a fatal amount at the back-end of the rotation, but in standard formats, it's time to cut loose.

 

14+ Team Cut Candidates

Maikel Franco (3B, PHI)

Franco was hitting .545/.706/1.364 through April 2, .294./442/.706 through April 9, .275/.372/.563 through April 23, and .262/.344/.514 through May 2. Then things got really bad: since May 3 Franco is hitting .149/.208/.255.

With a 15.8 K% and .158 BABIP in that time, he has clearly gotten unlucky. However, it's costing him playing time. Franco started in 47 of Philadelphia's first 49 games but only seven of their last 14. Scott Kingery got three straight starts at third base from June 5-7.

Franco has been Philadelphia's #8 hitter for nearly the entire season, even when he was playing most every day. In a deep funk that his in-real-life team is not letting him work through, there's little reason for fantasy managers to let him work through it either.

Kevin Gausman (SP, ATL)

The rumors have it that Gausman is the Atlanta starter who will lose his job to Dallas Keuchel in due time. Even if those don't bear out, Gausman has also been very bad. Not necessarily a 6.55 ERA bad, with a 4.01 FIP, 4.55 xFIP, and 4.51 SIERA. But those last two, predictive stats don't scream good starter.

Regression to a 4.50 ERA could make Gausman a back-end deep league starter for fantasy teams that need innings. Even if he were to get the chance, however, such regression would be no guarantee. Of course, it's also no guarantee (yet) that Gausman will go to the bullpen when Keuchel is ready. If Gausman does keep his job, however, it's not as if there will be much to miss out on.

His next couple starts line up to be a rematch with Josh Bell, Starling Marte, and the rest of the Pirates, who just crushed him, followed by the Phillies. Whether or not he keeps starting games after that, there is little upside here.

 

Last Week's Updates

Player Last Week This Week Reasoning
Nick Markakis Cut in 10 Cut in 10 This is a profile that won't ever change
Marcus Stroman Cut in 10 Cut in 10 Last start -- 5.2 IP, 4 K, 6 ER, L -- confirms downside
Jose Martinez Cut in 12 Cut in 14 Playing time and batting average continue to regress
Joe Musgrove Cut in 12 Cut in 12 Solid last start still saw 2 HR, continuing questionable peripherals
Chris Archer Cut in 12 Cut in 12 Also solid last start but the overall post-injury results are still just so depressing; need to see more
Jay Bruce Cut in 14 Hold in 12+ Andrew McCutchen ACL suddenly gives Bruce a playing time window. BA still stinks though
Archie Bradley Cut in 14 Cut in 14 Still struggling, no closer to closer role

More Fantasy Baseball Busts and Avoids




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Quinshon Judkins

to Have "Snaps Closely Monitored" Versus Baltimore
Jauan Jennings

a "Game-Time" Decision for Week 2, Optimism That he'll Play
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Russell Wilson

Giants Have No Urgency to Bench Russell Wilson
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Brock Bowers

Officially Questionable for Monday Night
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 2
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Brock Bowers

Expected to Play on Monday Night
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Ryan Preece

Seems Slower on Concrete Than on Asphalt
NASCAR

Legacy Motor Club's Short-Track Speed Will Likely Hold John H. Nemechek Back
Erik Jones

Definitely Faster This Year, but Short Tracks Still a Liability
Daniel Suarez

Despite Poor Qualifying Run, Daniel Suarez Might Not Be a Great Choice
Noah Gragson

Unlikely to Be Fast at Bristol but Still Might Be Worth Considering for DFS
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
Chris Godwin

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Austin Ekeler

Suffers Torn Achilles
Quinshon Judkins

Expected to Play Against Ravens
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Kyle Larson

Can Kyle Larson Dominate at Bristol Again?
Denny Hamlin

One of the Best at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

All Eyes on Ryan Blaney at Bristol
Chase Briscoe

Whiffs in Qualifying, Will Start 31st in Bristol Night Race
Ty Gibbs

Could Contend at Bristol
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RapSheet: Jacory Croskey-Merritt Expected to Be Lead Back Moving Forward
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
Brock Purdy

Officially Ruled Out Against Saints
Jauan Jennings

Given Questionable Tag for Week 2
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Dallas Goedert

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Listed as Doubtful to Play in Week 2
Jayden Reed

Hopes to Return in November Following Surgery
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Kyle Tucker

"Unlikely" to Return When Eligible on Tuesday
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Ketel Marte

Expected to Return on Friday
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Quinshon Judkins

Questionable to Make NFL Debut in Week 2
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sees Little Usage in Week 2, Outlook Still Trending Upwards?
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Leads Commanders in Catches, Scores Touchdown Again
Tucker Kraft

Posts Huge Performance on Thursday
Joe Mixon

Lack of Joe Mixon Injury Updates Sparking Concern for Fantasy Managers?
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out 10 in Win
Aaron Judge

Matches Yankees Legend with Two-Homer Game
Anthony Volpe

Playing Through Partially Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Will Smith

Scratched With Hand Soreness on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

has Foot Contusion, Expected to Play Friday
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch This Weekend
MacKenzie Gore

to Start on Thursday
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
Malcolm Brogdon

on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP