• OTW 245 - Targeting Ratios; Drafting ERA and WHIP
    Mar 1 2026
    On The Wire - Adam and Kevin continue their 2026 fantasy baseball category preview series with a deep dive into ERA and WHIP, examining how fantasy managers should approach ratio protection in modern drafts. The discussion covers early-round aces, workload considerations, command-driven breakouts, and how to balance strikeout upside with ratio stability. They also explore how bullpen arms, mid-rotation starters, and late-round targets can quietly influence ratio outcomes over a full season. Episode Topics and Timestamps 0:00 – Intro and ratio category overview How ERA and WHIP differ from counting stats, why ratios are often won or lost early in drafts, and the importance of minimizing volatility. 6:30 – Elite ace foundations Players discussed:Gerrit Cole, Corbin Burnes, Zack Wheeler, Spencer Strider, George Kirby Discussion focuses on command profiles, workload reliability, and which aces provide the strongest WHIP floors entering 2026 drafts. 20:00 – Strikeout aces vs ratio risk Players discussed:Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Pablo López Adam and Kevin debate pitchers with elite strikeout upside but varying WHIP and ERA volatility, and when risk becomes acceptable depending on roster construction. 34:00 – Mid-round ratio stabilizers Players discussed:Logan Webb, Framber Valdez, Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray, Justin Steele Focus on pitchers who may lack elite strikeout totals but consistently support strong ratios through command, ground balls, or efficiency. 48:00 – Breakout candidates and skills growth Players discussed:Grayson Rodriguez, Bryan Woo, Tanner Bibee, Cole Ragans Evaluation of pitchers showing improving command metrics, pitch mix development, and potential ERA/WHIP growth entering 2026. 59:00 – Bullpen impact on ratios Players discussed:Andrés Muñoz, Devin Williams, Emmanuel Clase, A.J. Puk Discussion on using elite relievers to stabilize ratios, protect WHIP, and offset volatile starting pitchers. 1:07:00 – Draft strategy recap and closing thoughts Key takeaways include building a ratio foundation early, avoiding stacking high-WHIP arms, and strategically mixing innings volume with efficiency-focused pitchers. 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 Join Our Discord & Support The Show: PL+ | PL Pro - Get 15% off Yearly with code PODCASTProud 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.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • OTW 244 - Chasing Wins (and K's); Drafting Wins and Strikeouts
    Mar 1 2026

    On The Wire - Adam Howe and Kevin Hasting continue their 2026 fantasy baseball draft preview series by shifting focus to pitching volume categories — Wins and Strikeouts.

    The discussion centers on why fantasy managers must actively chase volume, how innings pitched drive both categories, and which late-round starters and speculative arms can help managers compete without paying early-round pitching prices. The hosts also explore streaming strategy, team context, bullpen support, and how draft construction impacts in-season flexibility.

    Below is a breakdown of the episode with estimated timestamps and players discussed.

    00:00 – 09:00 | Intro + Draft Season Philosophy

    Topics

    Draft season approach and league activity

    Why Wins remain a category you must intentionally target

    Relationship between innings pitched, team quality, and fantasy success

    Players Mentioned

    Tarik Skubal

    Paul Skenes

    Garrett Crochet

    09:00 – 22:00 | Why Volume Matters for Wins & Strikeouts

    Topics

    Correlation between workload and strikeouts

    Importance of pitching deep into games

    Team offense and bullpen effects on wins

    Drafting SP tiers vs elite aces

    Players Mentioned

    Yusei Kikuchi

    José Soriano

    Reid Detmers

    Luis Severino

    Mitch Keller

    Brandon Pfaadt

    22:00 – 38:00 | Mid-Round Targets for Strikeout Volume

    Topics

    Targeting pitchers projected for stable rotation roles

    Using projections vs role certainty

    Drafting innings over pure ratios in this build

    Players Mentioned

    David Peterson

    Clay Holmes

    Will Warren

    38:00 – 52:00 | Late-Round Wins & Strikeout Targets

    Topics

    Endgame starters who stick in rotations

    Opportunity-driven pitching value

    Accepting ratio risk when chasing volume

    Players Mentioned

    Will Warren

    David Peterson

    Cade Cavalli

    52:00 – 1:05:00 | Streaming Strategy & Roster Management

    Topics

    Streaming pitchers to capture breakout arms early

    Building ratio cushions to allow aggressive streaming

    Managing roster churn early in season

    Players Mentioned

    Justin Verlander

    Seth Lugo

    Michael Wacha

    1:05:00 – 1:11:29 | Final Targets + Draft Takeaways

    Topics

    Early-season matchup plays

    Why reserve-round pitchers matter

    Maximizing roster flexibility for volume accumulation

    Players Mentioned

    Cade Cavalli

    Justin Verlander

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • TBG 73 - Charlie Brown's All Stars with Ben Lindbergh
    Mar 1 2026

    Ellen Adair and Ben Lindbergh discuss "Charlie Brown's All Stars," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. Ellen welcomes Ben, who discusses his lifelong love of "Peanuts" and getting to meet creator Charles M. Schulz! They introduce and summarize the cartoon (8:31) and review the 20-80 scouting scale (11:45) before hearing about Ben's fictional scouting director and real-life experience with the Sonoma Stompers (12:51). With Amount of Baseball (15:35), Ben favorably considers that there is more baseball in this 25 minute cartoon than hockey in six episodes of "Heated Rivalry," and discusses the "Effectively Wild" tradition of dubbing films "baseball movies." Ellen finds this cartoon does the little things right. In Baseball Accuracy (19:31), they discuss the lack of an opposing team and float competing theories, whether it is magical realism charged by Charlie Brown's emotional life, or perhaps baseball ghosts. They also discuss the very long hang time for the ball in the initial sequence, and the implications for Charlie Brown's range. Ellen dives deep into the stats Linus provides, considering them on an imagined per-game basis. They discuss clutch-ness and the power of belief at various levels. In Storytelling (38:20), they discuss various non sequiturs, editing oddities, and the interlude to Snoopy's imaginative plane. They also examine the depiction of various different kinds of baseball fans, and the lack of hustle on Charlie Brown's team, and some inconsistencies in character point of view. An intermission with Ben Lindbergh features his answers to the Nine Things (56:20) , including his choice three baseball players and three baseball moments--no spoilers! Our intrepid scouts return with the Score Tool (1:28:20), enjoying the music provided by the Vince Guaraldi Sextet. In Acting (1:31:40), they discuss the quality of the distinctive charm of the performances, which as a whole are truly creative of a style rather than interpretive of life. Particular shout-out to Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown, Christopher Shea's liquid l's, Sally Dryer's pronunciation of "uniform," and Director Bill Melendez as decades of Snoopy and Woodstock. In the Delightfulness of Catcher Character (1:38:22) the scouts parse a fondness for Schroeder with his excellence as a lovable team leader or helpfulness to his pitcher. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:43:21) offers no announcer, but some discussion of the possible existence of an official scorer. Lack of Misogyny (1:44:26) balances Charlie Brown standing up to a misogynist league policy with the blame for the all-gender ridicule of Charlie Brown landing solely at the girls' feet. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:50:49), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:56:01), Favorite Moment (1:58:11), Least Favorite Moment (2:00:31), Scene That We'd Like to See (2:05:34), and Dreamiest Player and Favorite Performance (2:12:06). Find Ben on Effectively Wild, Hang Up and Listen, Button Mash, and the new Plot Hole or Not Hole on YouTube. The (evergreen) Ella Black episodes of Effectively Wild are 2309-2311. Find Ellen on @ellenadair.bsky.social and @ellenadairg on IG.

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    2 hrs and 18 mins
  • The Shallows EP 003 - Favorite Picks in Rounds 1-7
    Feb 27 2026

    The Shallows EP 003 - Favorite Picks in Rounds 1-7

    Erik Hinrichsen and Carson Picard set sail aboard The Shallows, giving you current news, their favorite players to draft and fade in rounds 1-7, and previews of the catcher and first base positions, highlighting players to target, avoid, and swing for the fences. First we have the Captain's Report, featuring all the news you need to know, including exciting early Spring returns from Shota Imanaga, young players Jac Caglianone, Konnor Griffin, Charlie Condon, and Spencer Jones, and the continued brilliance of Aaron Judge...but should you draft him or Shohei Ohtani 1 st overall? Erik and Carson also go through rounds 1 through 7, player by player, highlighting their favorite players to target in each out and the players they most want to fade. It's also the first bunch of position previews, catcher and first base...with a twist! Welcome to The Shallows!

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • OTC 599 - Top 100 for 2026 #41-50
    Feb 27 2026

    On The Corner

    Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski continue going through Nick's Top 100 SP for 2026, focusing on #41-50 and highlighting Chris Sale who fell slipped through on the prior episodes.

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    50 mins
  • CFT 72 - NL Starting Pitching Storylines
    Feb 26 2026

    The Craft

    Nick Pollack and guest Eno Sarris talk about their storylines to watch for in the National League.

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • WAF 204 - SP Sleepers
    Feb 26 2026

    Wins Above Fantasy – Van Burnett (@Van_Verified) and Steve Gesuele (@stav8818) highlight a group of late-round starting pitcher sleepers.

    • Intro - 0:00
    • Kris Bubic - 5:45
    • Logan Henderson - 11:15
    • Kodai Senga - 16:45
    • Parker Messick - 21:50
    • Cody Ponce - 25:25
    • Mike Burrows - 29:50
    • Max Meyer 37:00
    • Ryan Weiss 43:00
    • Carlos Lagrange 46:30
    • Ryan Weathers, Joe Musgrove - 50:10

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • OTC 598 - Top 100 For 2026 #31-40
    Feb 25 2026

    On The Corner

    Nick Pollack and Eric Samulski continue going through Nick's Top Starting Pitchers for 2026, focusing on #31-40.

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    58 mins