News & Notes

 * It was a tough week for a couple of fantasy managers as Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández [https://pitcherlist.com/player/teoscar-hernandez/] and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez [https://pitcherlist.com/player/yordan-alvarez/] led the list of names sent to the injured list. Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras [https://pitcherlist.com/player/william-contreras/] broke his finger, but is just going to play through it.
 * San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill [https://pitcherlist.com/player/jackson-merrill/] highlights the list of players returning from the IL this week.
 * A handful of prospects earned their MLB debuts this week, while Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter [https://pitcherlist.com/player/evan-carter/] returned to the big leagues after starting the season in AAA.
 * The Texas Rangers have made a change at their hitting coach while the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates are moving on from their managers.

Scott's Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-5-5-8/]

Plate discipline and decision-making take center stage as both Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz [https://pitcherlist.com/player/oneil-cruz/] and Chicago White Sox Luis Robert Jr. [https://pitcherlist.com/player/luis-robert-jr/] have showed marked improvement at the plate, maintaining their incredibly high ceilings while bringing up their floors – and their rankings. Get Torked, nerds! Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson [https://pitcherlist.com/player/spencer-torkelson/]along with position rivals Tyler Soderstrom [https://pitcherlist.com/player/tyler-soderstrom/] and Ben Rice [https://pitcherlist.com/player/ben-rice/] rise in the ranks as they display that even their cold streaks are palatable. How good can Maikel Garcia [https://pitcherlist.com/player/maikel-garcia/] be? And if Scott says Michael Busch [https://pitcherlist.com/player/michael-busch/] is falling, that should probably be a red flag.

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 120 - Brett Flies Solo

News & Notes

 * A handful of hitters were placed on the injured list this week: Dylan Moore, Austin Hays, Tommy Edman, Mike Trout, Triston Casas and Jazz Chisholm all found themselves on the IL.
 * San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez returned from the seven-day concussion IL while Tyler Stephenson and Daulton Varsho each made their debuts after beginning the season on the IL.
 * The Seattle Mariners called up Samad Taylor while the Baltimore Orioles added Coby Mayo to their major league roster and the Dodgers replaced the injured Edman by calling up Hyeseong Kim.
 * Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers demoted Jake Burger to AAA. Do we stash him or do we move on?

Scott's Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-3-4-16/]

Is Pete Crow-Armstrong the best hitter not named Kyle Tucker on the Cubs? Are we actually starting to see some sort of development from Luis Robert? Is Jorge Polanco back to his all-star caliber form from a few years ago and is Noelvi Marte for real? Willy Adames was looking pretty bleak until his big day on Sunday afternoon, but does that get him off the hook and back into Scott's good graces or will he continue tumbling down the list? Oh, and Spencer Torkelson is still good at baseball. Get Torked, nerds!

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 119 - Who's Hot and Who's Not?

New & Notes

 * Some fantasy relevant bats were placed on the IL this week, including Minnesota Twins infielders Luke Keaschall [https://pitcherlist.com/player/luke-keaschall/]and Willi Castro [https://pitcherlist.com/player/willi-castro/], Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager [https://pitcherlist.com/player/corey-seager/], Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Mangum [https://pitcherlist.com/player/jake-mangum/], Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas [https://pitcherlist.com/player/lane-thomas/], Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth [https://pitcherlist.com/player/chase-meidroth/] and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell [https://pitcherlist.com/player/garrett-mitchell/].
 * A couple of fantasy relevant bats came back from the IL to rejoin their teams, including New York Mets utility man Jeff McNeil [https://pitcherlist.com/player/jeff-mcneil/] and catcher Francisco Alvarez [https://pitcherlist.com/player/francisco-alvarez/], Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams [https://pitcherlist.com/player/cj-abrams/] and St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn [https://pitcherlist.com/player/masyn-winn/].
 * New York Mets infielder Brett Baty [https://pitcherlist.com/player/brett-baty/] got sent down to AAA while Pittsburgh outfielder Matt Gorski [https://pitcherlist.com/player/matt-gorski/], Chicago White Sox infielder Bobby Dalbec [https://pitcherlist.com/player/bobby-dalbec/], Minnesota Twins infielder Mickey Gasper [https://pitcherlist.com/player/mickey-gasper/], Detroit Tigers infielder Jace Jung [https://pitcherlist.com/player/jace-jung/]all got called up to the bigs.
 * Highly-touted prospect Nick Kurtz [https://pitcherlist.com/player/nick-kurtz/] was called up to the Athletics to take over at first base, shifting the defense in West Sacramento. What can fantasy managers expect from the big first baseman?

Scott's Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-3-4-16/]

What the heck are we supposed to do with Eugenio Suárez [https://pitcherlist.com/player/eugenio-suarez/]? Scott and Brett talk over some of the biggest risers and fallers on the Top 150 Hitters List, including the cover star of this week's article, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews [https://pitcherlist.com/player/dylan-crews/]. And at the rate he's climbing, Spencer Torkelson [https://pitcherlist.com/player/spencer-torkelson/] is going to be ranked as the top hitter by the end of the season. Get Torked, nerds!

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 118 – Board the Crews Ship

New & Notes

 * A handful of hitters have been placed on the IL this week. Griffin Conine [https://pitcherlist.com/player/griffin-conine/], Brandon Marsh [https://pitcherlist.com/player/brandon-marsh/], Ezequiel Tovar [https://pitcherlist.com/player/ezequiel-tovar/], Connor Wong [https://pitcherlist.com/player/connor-wong/], Ben Rice [https://pitcherlist.com/player/ben-rice/] and Luis Arraez [https://pitcherlist.com/player/luis-arraez/] are all expected to miss some time.
 * A handful of hitters are back from injuries, including Freddie Freeman [https://pitcherlist.com/player/freddie-freeman/], Gleyber Torres [https://pitcherlist.com/player/gleyber-torres/], Josh Jung [https://pitcherlist.com/player/josh-jung/], Sean Murphy [https://pitcherlist.com/player/sean-murphy/], Zack Neto and Nolan Gorman [https://pitcherlist.com/player/nolan-gorman/].
 * Due to some of the aforementioned injuries, some teams are calling up prospects, including Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth [https://pitcherlist.com/player/chase-meidroth/], Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis [https://pitcherlist.com/player/henry-davis/], Miami Marlins infielder Ronny Simon [https://pitcherlist.com/player/ronny-simon/], Milwaukee Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin [https://pitcherlist.com/player/caleb-durbin/], Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte [https://pitcherlist.com/player/noelvi-marte/], Minnesota Twins infielders Brooks Lee [https://pitcherlist.com/player/brooks-lee/] and Luke Keaschall [https://pitcherlist.com/player/luke-keaschall/], Colorado Rockies infielder Adael Amador [https://pitcherlist.com/player/adael-amador/], Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson, [https://pitcherlist.com/player/chandler-simpson/] Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez and Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero. 

Scott's Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-3-4-16/]

Is Kyren Paris season over already? Scott and Brett talk over some of the biggest risers and fallers on the Top 150 Hitters List, including Jung Hoo Lee and Tyler Soderstrom. And of course, it's not an episode of Hacks and Jacks without a Spencer Torkelson mention. Get Torked, nerds!

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 117 – Injuries and Breakouts

Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan) and Scott Chu (@IfTheChuFits) discuss all the biggest stories from across the MLB since Opening Day, and Scott's most recent updates to the Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-1-5-4-3/].

New & Notes

 * Jurickson Profar has been issued an 80-day suspension after testing positive for PEDs
 * Freddie Freeman has been placed on the 10-day IL
 * Ketel Marte suffered a strained hamtring and has been placed on the 10-day IL
 * Gunnar Henderson is back in action, but Colton Cowser will miss 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb
 * The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Esteury Ruiz and sent him to AAA

Scott's Top 150 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-150-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025-week-1-5-4-3/]

"GET TORKED, NERDS!" Scott and Brett take their respective victory laps on Spencer Torkelson and Tommy Edman after their hot starts. Though Scott reminds all of us not to throw away the draft preparation that we spent months on just because of 10 days of the season. Don't let 5% of the year completely discredit all the work you've done to build your rosters. You can churn and burn the back end of your roster, but for the stars off to slow starts: Let them Cook!

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 116 – Small Sample Sizes

Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan) joins Scott Chu (@IfTheChuFits) talk about the shifts in playing time around the league, some surprising names on Opening Day rosters and if they matter for fantasy purposes. Scott and Brett add a handful of their favorite late-round targets and Scott crushes the dreams – or tempers the expectations – of those hoping for big things out of young prospects. 

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 115 - Opportunity Knocks

Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan) joins Scott Chu (@IfTheChuFits) discuss the season-opening Tokyo Series before diving into Tiers 6-12 of Scott's Top 300 Hitters List. 

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 114 - Tout Wars, Tokyo Series & Tiers

Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan) joins Scott Chu (@IfTheChuFits) bring back Hacks & Jacks, analyzing the best bats in baseball. The duo dive into Scott's Top 300 Hitters List [https://pitcherlist.com/top-300-hitters-for-fantasy-baseball-2025/] and discuss their favorite hitters for the upcoming fantasy baseball season.  

Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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Hosts: Brett Ford [https://pitcherlist.com/author/brett-ford/] | Scott Chu [https://pitcherlist.com/author/scott-chu/]

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H&J 113 - The Return of Hacks & Jacks

Joe (@joegallina) and Scott (@iftheChufits) talk about what you should be trying to accomplish when it comes to your waiver wire strategy as the season winds down. They also discuss what you can expect from recent call ups like Junior Caminero, Andres Chapparo and Will Wagner.  

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H & J 112 - End of Season Youth Movement & Waiver Wire Strategy

Scott Chu (@ifthechufits) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) dive deep into our new hitter stat, Process +, and how it helps us understand how hitters can succeed with varying profiles and approaches.

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