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Jul14_2025 BHQ Chat
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Ray Murphy
12:03
Happy break week, everyone! Nice to see another full queue of questions here.... will run through them over the next hour. Reminder to make sure you get out and touch some (outfield) grass this week, check in with your families, etc. For those of us (me) who don't find the ASG all that interesting, it's a long wait til Friday. On to the questions...
(Oh, and I should mention that Brent and I swapped shifts this week... I'm here today, he'll be here Friday.)
Vince
12:05
In 12-tm, weekly H2H category, need to drop one from Walter, Boyle, Liberatore, Schlittler. Rank (ROS) and comment! Thanks!
Ray Murphy
12:05
I think you drop Walter. Not sure his act continues to play well... some signs of teams hitting him hard lately. Could have said same thing about Liberatore, but he seems to have righted himself.
Rick
12:06
Hi, For a Dynasty League, I'm trying to compare Victor Scott II, Chandler Simpson, and minor leaguer Justin Crawford. Do any of them stand out or are they more or less the same player? How would you rank them long-term?
Ray Murphy
12:06
I think as we're already seeing, Simpson's speed is potentially a cheat code to giving him outsized fantasy value, basically a value ceiling I don't think either of the other two have.
Bob
12:09
What do you expect for Christian Walker ROS?
Ray Murphy
12:09
Seems like the arrow is slowly turning in the good direction there. I don't see a major heater coming (tho can't rule it out), but something more in line with last 4-6 weeks than what we were seeing early in season.
Michael
12:11
Hi Ray-NL only 5x5 1.Fermin or Nacho     2. Chapman or Noelvi Marte     3. Gray or woodruff.   Any reason to hold on to Romano if in saves only league?       Thanks for doing this.
Ray Murphy
12:11
1. Neither? Unless Riley's injury ends up on the lengthier side.

2- Chapman

3- Sonny for sure

I'd drop Romano.
will
12:13
4x4 AL only keeper league. i just picked up kumar rocker.I believe hes the next rangers closer. your thoughts Ray, thank you
Ray Murphy
12:13
I don't see it, at least for this year. Seems like a lot to put on a guy who's had a roller-coaster journey already. Would also be awfully soon to give up on his SP profile. All that said, I'm watching Jon Gray's rehab with an interest in whether they pivot to bringing him back as an RP. There was some chatter about that before he got hurt.
Dave
12:15
10 team, 5x5.  Activate Manaea and drop either Liberatore or Bibee?
Ray Murphy
12:15
Despite what I said earlier about Liberatore... he has been taking on some water of late, and given these alternatives I'd drop him.
Talisker
12:16
AL only standard rotis league with keepers. QS instead of wins. 1. Is Joe Boyle worth picking up in this scenario? 2. I’ve picked up Jack Perkins. When do you see him sliding into the A’s rotation? Thanks!
Ray Murphy
12:16
Yes, Boyle is a priority add. I'm not sure what ATH is planning for Perkins, his last outing was his shortest since callup. Doesn't seem like that's trending toward stretching him out.
mugghead
12:18
Hi Ray, thanks for taking the time. I’ve been struggling with pitching in my H2H Points League, with the hope/expectation that I’d get some help from Manaea and ideally, Andrew Painter, in the second half. Painter has not looked good lately! Over his last seven starts:

33.2 IP
6.15 ERA
1.57 WHIP
35 K

How do you think this affects the likelihood we see him in the second half (and his overall effectiveness for ROS)?
Ray Murphy
12:18
I spent this weekend with Brent (he's a Philly guy) and asked him this. Said he still thinks he'll be up and int he rotation soon, and that he believes he's not a trade candidate. Wouldn't sweat the AAA results, good chance he's working on stuff/he's in the "nothing left to prove down here" phase.
Rich
12:20
Hi Ray. In a 12-team H2H 5X5 redraft league, please rank ROS: Luzardo, Lodolo, Baz, Rasmussen, Bello, Pfaadt, Springs. Thanks!
Ray Murphy
12:20
Maybe a Sox homer here, but Bello's really shown some growth over the last month-ish.That said, I like Luzardo/Lodolo more from this group.
the Koz
12:21
good morning, Thanks for the chat.  Give me one NL and one AL 2025 draftee that you think is closest to the majors.
Ray Murphy
12:21
I'm the wrong guy to ask about new draftees. Everything I know I learned from our coverage last night. Ask Brent on Friday...
Mark
12:22
Hi--Wenceel Perez or Miguel Vargas ROS?
Ray Murphy
12:22
I was excited about Vargas earlier in the year, but he's gone cold again. Don't love Wenceel, think the opportunities could dry up there, but he's probably the better short-term play.
Beano
12:24
Hi Brent! As always- thanks for these! NL 10 team 5x5 - we have a trading freeze for 4 weeks after the last out of the All Star Game. I need/needed Ks/ERA, Whip, Wins...I traded an end of contract S Imanaga for $14 N Cortez, $10 Strahm and end of contract S Manaea.  It was a 3 for 1 deal that I think will help me.
Will it?
Ray Murphy
12:24
Eh..... Strahm helpful regardless of role, and Imanaga vs. Manaea is a tough call. Much more dubious you'll get anything from Nestor, tho.
Beano
12:26
Any hopes for a better 2nd half for W Adames? And your best guess on where L Robert lands?
Ray Murphy
12:26
Would expect Adames' 2H to look a lot more like his last 6 weeks than his first 8-10 weeks.

Robert... I'm not good at these games, but he'd be a really nice fit in Philly.
Vinny
12:26
Brent,

I was able to snag both Brandon Walter and Joe Boyle for cheap in my 12-team, mixed league a couple of weeks ago. What can I realistically expect from them for the remainder of the season?

Thanks so much!
Ray Murphy
12:26
These are not the same things. Mentioned Walter above, not wild about his stuff or opportunity for rest of year. Boyle's the real deal, though.
Todd M
12:27
Thanks for the chat!
AL Only H2H points league
As its a short week, its the perfect time to stash a player from the free agent pool that is currently injured. Please rate the following injured pitchers ROS, maybe more about your view on them actually coming back plus a bit of how high impact they could be end of season (in a league playoff):
(They are all FA in my league)
Pablo Lopez
Tyler Mahle
Grayson Rodriguez
Kyle Bradish
Tanner Houck
Christian Javier
Cade Povich
Luis Garcia
Ray Murphy
12:27
Pablo is far and away the best choice here for me, just because he's the best pitcher on the list. All come with huge error bars about recovery, setbacks, etc.
Brian K
12:29
Good afternoon Ray, 5X5 16 team redraft. In the event the Pittsburgh Pirates trade both Bednar and Santana, would they turn to Braxton Ashcraft as the closer the rest of the year?
Ray Murphy
12:29
Open question, I think. This came up in our forums, or in a previous chat, and I suggested Isaac Mattson. But it's not clear at all...
Ron
12:35
Happy Monday, Ray.  Ozuna writeup  in today's PT Today was tinged with (wit) and optimism.  We know about his hip injury.  His projections are still pretty strong -- do you think (a) he will become more of a force in the second half or (b) do we see more of the same?  Also, can Colt Keith keep up something close to his 30-day numbers (ABa .302 xBA and 134 xPX) ?
Ray Murphy
12:35
I'm kind of leery about Ozuna, it doesn't seem to me that there is much optimism the hip will get better, so if he's just playing through the same thing, the production might just stay the same. I didn't read the article today as THAT optimistic about a return to form.

I love what Keith is doing. HctX is spiking, great sign going forward.
rock2
12:36
Is David Robertson going to play this year?  Any news on this?
Ray Murphy
12:36
I've heard nothing (not that I'm listening that closely). Maybe some team who doesn't get the reliever they want in the trade market will sign him. But I'd be skeptical of him sliding into a closer role at this stage.
rock
12:37
Thanks Ray!  AL only.  Should I drop Gusto for either RFitts or Schlittler?
Ray Murphy
12:37
I did just that last night, so I'd say yes. Actually added both Fitts and Schlittler in different places.
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