Scott Pianowski joined Yahoo Fantasy Plus subscribers on Tuesday for a baseball AMA on our brand-new, invite-only Discord server. This is the latest exclusive benefit for Yahoo Fantasy Plus subscribers.
Wondering what you missed? Don’t worry, we have highlights from the session below. Make sure you don’t miss out on the next expert AMA. Get $10 off your subscription for a limited time and unlock the invite-only Discord, optimized lineups, smarter waiver and trade advice with Yahoo Fantasy Plus.
Advertisement
Editor’s note: In some instances, questions and answers have been edited slightly for readability.
Question: When should we start stashing Bubba Chandler and Andrew Painter?
Scott’s answer: This is about the right time. I’m thinking Chandler comes up first. June is usually the sweet spot for guys like that.
Question: What do you think about Salvador Pérez? Continue waiting? Is he becoming drop-able?
Scott’s answer: A strong buy low. His expected average is .290, expected slugging .511. Go get Sal Perez.
Question: How does Ronald Acuña Jr.’s debut impact the rest of the Braves, specifically, Ozzie Albies and his dreadful start to the season?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: Albies was an ordinary player all last year too. I’m starting to think he’s just not the star we want him to be. At least the arrow is pointing up for the Braves, they’re finally over .500 and they get their signature player back. They can still be a playoff team. We just did a redraft for the Friends and Family League and I was surprised Albies went in the fourth round. I wasn’t ready to consider him then.
Question: Who is your favorite buy-low target in trades right now?
Scott’s answer: Salvador Pérez, Yordan Álvarez if you can wait, Bryan Reynolds, Christian Yelich. Brenton Doyle. I doubt Juan Soto comes discounted but you could try. Michael Conforto is better than this.
Question: When can we expect the Javier Báez drop off.
Advertisement
Also, with Teoscar Hernández returning to the LA lineup, is it a good time to trade Andy Pages?
And are we about to see a resurgence of Trevor Story?
Scott’s answer: I still don’t trust Báez because he’ll still swing at anything. Short leash.
Pages, I do believe in and I think Roberts likes him too. Hold.
Story I never trust long term, health. I’d try to trade him, understanding the market probably is tepid as well.
[Get $10 off Yahoo Fantasy Plus & unlock premium tools, our invite-only Discord & more]
Question: Ezequiel Tovar has had a blazing last couples of games. Is this the birth of a star player or can we expect a return to his decline?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: Last year is a level he can get back to. Decent average, low OBP, solid pop and the occasional stolen base. Colorado environment helps, even though it does mess up their timing on the road. He should be rostered in any mixed league. The Rockies are obviously terrible but they’re not this bad. Positive regression will kick in somewhat.
Question: Who are the breakouts you’re buying so far this season? And who are you not?
Scott’s answer: Pete Crow-Armstrong feels real. Oneil Cruz. Just hope he’s healthy. MacKenzie Gore. Max Fried is good, but he’s not this good
Question: Piano Man!!! Thanks for doing this! If this is about baseball exclusively, no worries. Is the year of the RB here again? How many RB do you see going in the first two rounds of a 12-team PPR draft? Do you see Zero RB as a fade for 2025?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: Going to focus on baseball today, but I will give you a little nugget on football. I’m not going to be extreme with my running back builds, I won’t be pounding them early and I won’t be ignoring them either. I’ll probably stick with my normal hero build, or anchor build, which says you get one running back you feel really good about and then you come back to the position later. At least that’s how I feel in the middle of May. Obviously, we’re a long way away from the teeth of draft season.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
Question: Do you think I can drop Adley Rutschman in a 12-team league? I have Drake Baldwin as well and am pretty over Adley at this point.
Scott’s answer: Because he is a name player, I think a lot of people would tell you to wait. But this slump is a year old now. If your league just requires one starting catcher, you have my permission to basically stream it and try to find something that works long term. I don’t know what’s wrong with Adley but it’s not a new thing.
Advertisement
Question: How worried are you about William Contreras’ finger injury that he’s playing through? I’m in a super small two-catcher league and Cal Raleigh is my other catcher. Loaded, I know. But should I ride with Billy, or pick up Ivan Herrera, or Drake Baldwin, maybe…?
Scott’s answer: At least he’s running right? He’s not driving the ball, the power metrics aren’t there, but unfortunately with a player like this you can’t really sell low, probably a forced hold.
Question: Who is your favorite widely available pickup rn you think has value rest of season?
Scott’s answer: I have no idea why Jordan Beck isn’t rostered in 70 or 80 percent of leagues. Category juice and a perfect park. Over the last month he’s a top 12 offensive player.
Advertisement
Question: Any hope in Jake Burger being a valuable fantasy asset this year? He’s been better yet unspectacular since his return from the minors.
Scott’s answer: Give him until the All-Star break. He was so bankable the last 2 years.
Question: This might be tough but who’s a reliever on the wire who can pick up saves long term? Lost José Alvarado due to suspension, so it’s been very hard to rack up those saves.
Scott’s answer: Follow the winning teams. Anybody in Detroit.
Question: How about Kodai Senga? How worried are you with his higher than I’d like WHIP and BBs? I’ve been eyeballing 1) Matthew Boyd, 2) Drew Rasmussen, 3) Andrew Abbott and 4) Ranger Suárez as ROS replacements. Keep Senga or pick one of those guys up?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: I will give Senga at least two more starts but I’ll say this, although I doubt Abbott is ever great, he’s very solid. Fly ball pitchers are often misunderstood.
Question: Are torpedo bats still a thing?
Scott’s answer: That’s a great question. It died down pretty quickly. It’s not like it’s the only bat that will give you a good chance at a positive result. You could give Aaron Judge a tennis racket and he’d probably still hit 50 home runs.
Question: Do you think Hyeseong Kim is worth holding onto? Do you think he’ll stick with the major league team even as the Dodgers get healthier?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: He has super-utility written all over him. Plus, when somebody’s not in the lineup every day and they play on the West Coast, they can be a nuisance for our lineup decisions. I think this is going to be pesky all year.
Question: Is Shohei Ohtani (Pitcher) going to be somebody to rely on this fantasy season? Likewise, what can we expect from Blake Snell and Shane Bieber when they come back from injury? Thanks for your time and effort. Really enjoying these AMAs.
Scott’s answer: It’s no fun to say this, but I have low expectations for all of them. I actually think the Dodgers should not pitch Ohtani at all.
Question: Is Wilmer Flores actually back? Or is he due for regression over the rest of the season?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: It was interesting that Flores was not drafted in the Friends and Family reboot on Monday. We went 26 rounds with 12 teams. I do think somebody will add him once the IL spots get filled. He’s always been a professional hitter, he’s just going through the time of his life right now. It can’t be real. If the season were starting right now I would expect Flores to hit 20 home runs and drive in 72 runs, something like that. Useful, not transcendent.
Question: Can you do us all a favor and tell Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit more home runs? 😝
Scott’s answer: His entire career we’ve wanted Guerrero to lift the ball more. It’s not like he’s a bad player, but it feels like there’s a lot of power not realized, other than that one magical 2021 season.
Question: Will Christian Campbell get out of his funk before he gets sent down?
Advertisement
Scott’s answer: Ebb and flow. His OPS+ is just under league average. The team loves his makeup and I think they’ll give him a chance to learn from his mistakes. I am definitely a Campbell fan.
🎯 Ready to unlock your full fantasy potential?
Remember, spots in the Discord channel are limited to Yahoo Fantasy Plus subscribers. And this is just the latest in an exciting series of Yahoo Fantasy Plus upgrades to help you crush the competition.
Now’s your chance to gain an edge — get $10 off your Yahoo Fantasy Plus subscription for a limited time.
Need help? Visit our FAQs to learn more.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Dawhan, ex-Corinthians, brilha pelo Beijing Guoan pela Copa da China
Jogador marcou em partida da Copa da China (Foto: Divulgação/Beijing Guoan) Apesar da presença talvez não ser tão vasta como em temporadas passadas, o futebol chinês segue atraindo atletas brasileiros. Um deles o volante Dawhan, que defende uma das equipes mais tradicionais da Superliga local, o Beijing Guoan, e que teve neste meio de semana o seu primeiro gol defendendo as cores do time da capital. Primeiro gol Este gol foi marcado na vitória de goleada por 5 a 0 de sua equipe sobre o Shijiazhuang Gonfu, pela terceira fase da Copa da China, abrindo o placar do triunfo que levou o time para a sequência do torneio eliminatório e mantendo o sonho da conquista da quinta taça deste certame, O meio-campista, de passagens por times como Corinthians, CSA e Juventude, falou sobre a importância do resultado e do tento. […]
Jim Irsay dies at 65: Indianapolis Colts owner took over team in 1997, oversaw Super Bowl XLI victory
Getty Images Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has died at age 65, the team announced Wednesday. He passed "peacefully in his sleep" with no cause of death stated. Irsay became Colts owner, chairman and CEO in 1997, actively leading the franchise ever since. He previously served as vice president and general manager under his father, Robert Irsay, who acquired the Baltimore Colts organization in 1972 and moved it to Indianapolis.As the Colts owner, Irsay oversaw the franchise on its path to winning a championship in 2007; Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. It was the franchise's first title since winning Super Bowl V in 1970 as the Baltimore Colts. Under his leadership, the Colts had 16 total playoff appearances and won two AFC Championships on top of the Super Bowl. The Colts released a detailed statement Wednesday evening as […]
Titans sign No. 1 pick Cam Ward to rookie deal worth $48.7 million
The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday that they have signed quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 NFL Draft’s top pick, to his rookie contract.Ward’s deal is for four years with an option for a fifth and is worth $48.7 million, per the NFL’s 2025 rookie scale, according to Spotrac.com.The 6-foot-2, 219-pound former Miami star turned heads at Incarnate Word and Washington State, before grabbing the national spotlight in his lone season in South Beach.AdvertisementHe finished the 2024 season as the Davey O’Brien Award winner and was Miami’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002. He passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both Hurricanes single-season records, and led Miami (10-3) to its first 10-win season since 2017.He also broke former Houston QB Case Keenum’s Division I record for career passing touchdowns (155) with 158 scores.Through much of the draft process, Ward was compared […]
Titans sign No. 1 pick Cam Ward to rookie deal worth $48.7 million
The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday that they have signed quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 NFL Draft’s top pick, to his rookie contract.Ward’s deal is for four years with an option for a fifth and is worth $48.7 million, per the NFL’s 2025 rookie scale, according to Spotrac.com.The 6-foot-2, 219-pound former Miami star turned heads at Incarnate Word and Washington State, before grabbing the national spotlight in his lone season in South Beach.AdvertisementHe finished the 2024 season as the Davey O’Brien Award winner and was Miami’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002. He passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both Hurricanes single-season records, and led Miami (10-3) to its first 10-win season since 2017.He also broke former Houston QB Case Keenum’s Division I record for career passing touchdowns (155) with 158 scores.Through much of the draft process, Ward was compared […]
WATCH: The skills that make NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special
Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.AdvertisementGilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?For one, he’s added a reliable […]
WATCH: The skills that make NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special
Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.AdvertisementGilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?For one, he’s added a reliable […]
Related
Dawhan, ex-Corinthians, brilha pelo Beijing Guoan pela Copa da China
Jogador marcou em partida da Copa da China (Foto: Divulgação/Beijing Guoan) Apesar da presença talvez não ser tão vasta como em temporadas passadas, o futebol chinês segue atraindo atletas brasileiros. Um deles o volante Dawhan, que defende uma das equipes mais tradicionais da Superliga local, o Beijing Guoan, e que teve neste meio de semana o seu primeiro gol defendendo as cores do time da capital. Primeiro gol Este gol foi marcado na vitória de goleada por 5 a 0 de sua equipe sobre o Shijiazhuang Gonfu, pela terceira fase da Copa da China, abrindo o placar do triunfo que levou o time para a sequência do torneio eliminatório e mantendo o sonho da conquista da quinta taça deste certame, O meio-campista, de passagens por times como Corinthians, CSA e Juventude, falou sobre a importância do resultado e do tento. […]
Jim Irsay dies at 65: Indianapolis Colts owner took over team in 1997, oversaw Super Bowl XLI victory
Getty Images Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has died at age 65, the team announced Wednesday. He passed "peacefully in his sleep" with no cause of death stated. Irsay became Colts owner, chairman and CEO in 1997, actively leading the franchise ever since. He previously served as vice president and general manager under his father, Robert Irsay, who acquired the Baltimore Colts organization in 1972 and moved it to Indianapolis.As the Colts owner, Irsay oversaw the franchise on its path to winning a championship in 2007; Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. It was the franchise's first title since winning Super Bowl V in 1970 as the Baltimore Colts. Under his leadership, the Colts had 16 total playoff appearances and won two AFC Championships on top of the Super Bowl. The Colts released a detailed statement Wednesday evening as […]
Titans sign No. 1 pick Cam Ward to rookie deal worth $48.7 million
The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday that they have signed quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 NFL Draft’s top pick, to his rookie contract.Ward’s deal is for four years with an option for a fifth and is worth $48.7 million, per the NFL’s 2025 rookie scale, according to Spotrac.com.The 6-foot-2, 219-pound former Miami star turned heads at Incarnate Word and Washington State, before grabbing the national spotlight in his lone season in South Beach.AdvertisementHe finished the 2024 season as the Davey O’Brien Award winner and was Miami’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002. He passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both Hurricanes single-season records, and led Miami (10-3) to its first 10-win season since 2017.He also broke former Houston QB Case Keenum’s Division I record for career passing touchdowns (155) with 158 scores.Through much of the draft process, Ward was compared […]
Titans sign No. 1 pick Cam Ward to rookie deal worth $48.7 million
The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday that they have signed quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 NFL Draft’s top pick, to his rookie contract.Ward’s deal is for four years with an option for a fifth and is worth $48.7 million, per the NFL’s 2025 rookie scale, according to Spotrac.com.The 6-foot-2, 219-pound former Miami star turned heads at Incarnate Word and Washington State, before grabbing the national spotlight in his lone season in South Beach.AdvertisementHe finished the 2024 season as the Davey O’Brien Award winner and was Miami’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002. He passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both Hurricanes single-season records, and led Miami (10-3) to its first 10-win season since 2017.He also broke former Houston QB Case Keenum’s Division I record for career passing touchdowns (155) with 158 scores.Through much of the draft process, Ward was compared […]
WATCH: The skills that make NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special
Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.AdvertisementGilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?For one, he’s added a reliable […]
WATCH: The skills that make NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special
Watch my video below to learn more about the qualities that made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runaway winner in this year’s NBA MVP race.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now officially the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player.He’s cut from the cloth of other MVPs like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But his style and his flair for the game are uniquely his.AdvertisementGilgeous-Alexander is unstoppable when you have to guard him one-on-one. You can’t stop him from getting to the rim. His brakes completely freeze his defenders and give him the slightest angles to exploit. Then, his strength allows him to power through small and big defenders alike to finish through contact.But Gilgeous-Alexander has always been great at attacking the cup. What was different about him this season that enabled him to take home the regular season’s highest individual prize?For one, he’s added a reliable […]
Be the first to leave a comment