New MLB Pitching Top 10 + Phillies Update

This episode breaks down the new Top 10 pitching staffs in Major League Baseball and where the Phillies stack up after a wild start to the season. We get into the dominance of Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola’s struggles, bullpen concerns, and whether the Phillies are still built to make a deep run. Plus, reactions to the biggest surprises around the league and which rotations are taking over baseball right now.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Hello and welcome back to season two, episode number five of two average guys. Today, uh, I mean, MLB just dropped their top ten pitcher power rankings. But outside of that, uh, we don't have much to talk about. Just I guess a little bit of Philly's recap over the last week and uh I don't know, some cool things that have happened in the MLB. Um, but yeah, I I think the main talking point today is gonna be the the pitcher list. Uh Sawyer, you want to take it away and reveal who's number one?

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Well, yeah, the probably the greatest that made my days saying this, seeing our guy, Christopher Sanchez, finally getting the recognition he deserves, being one on the list, because he's been easily probably I mean, I think he's been the best pitcher in baseball without a doubt. Again, I'm biased, but like I love that people are seeing it now. It's disgusting. Last poll he was fourth, and now he's finally one, getting the recognition he deserves, being lights out every time. How many scoreless innings does he have? 29 and two-thirds scoreless inning streak right now. Insane. Vince, what else do you got about him?

SPEAKER_01 1:16

No, I mean he's been really, really good, and he's gearing up to throw tomorrow against a very hot Cleveland Guardians team. They're on like an eight-game win streak or a six-game win streak. Yeah, and their last ten, they're nine and one.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Yeah, terrifying. Gavin Williams, I think, is on the mound for them. I think.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Yeah, you're right, I believe. Hold on.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

I I think it's Gavin Williams.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_02 1:41

So Ace versus Ace. It's gonna be an interesting one.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

It should be really, really good because Cleveland has been hot. Like they're they're really hot. I think the only team that's hotter than them might be us.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Yeah, well, I'll be I'll be there in person tomorrow, so I'll make sure to let two average guys on Instagram know that.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

So yeah, quite frankly, Cleveland's playing better baseball than we are right now.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Yeah, and it's hard. Like, we've been discussing the past 20 games.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

We've been very good in the month of May.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Yeah, I know. Insane. Um, but hey, we just gotta keep it going.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Yeah, but um, it's been been very good, have turned the season around, finally back to 500.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

Yeah, after we took yeah, lost two to three for of the Reds to the Reds, not a good series after sweeping the pirates.

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yeah, but you're thinking about it like I mean, this is that's the first series we've lost in the last seven series.

SPEAKER_02 2:42

I know, insane.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

That's great.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

No, but like we just gotta keep if we want to be. I mean, it's hard to catch up to the Braves right now. The Braves are on fire, they've been on fire all season. I mean, it's not helping that. Olson's been in a little bit of a slump lately, which is actually helping us a little bit. But yeah, the Braves are unstoppable right now, and if we want to catch up, they have to have a bad week, and we have to keep doing good.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Yeah, well, we need more than a bad week. We need a bad two weeks, basically. I mean, we're nine and a half games beat that.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

Yeah, nine, yeah. But yeah, but yeah, go starting on the pirate series. I mean, going into that like first game, we're down 6-0, I think. 6-0, and we somehow come back.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

That was electric.

SPEAKER_02 3:29

Absolute cinema on the television. I I I I was I I think I called you when it happened. I was like, holy crap! Yeah, man. Harper did it. Harper did it.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Matt and I had taken a trip up to City Field to watch the Mets play the Yankees for the subway series.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Who won that series?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Uh, I think the Yankees won two of three.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

Interesting.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Um, but it was the game that we were at was not very good. Uh I'm sorry, the Mets won two of three.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

No.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

But we were at the game that the Yankees won on Friday, and the Yankees Cam Schlitler threw a gem. That's disgusting. I had him going seven shutdy with uh more than seven strikeouts. That was my guess. He went six and two-thirds with two hits and one earned run and nine strikeouts. That's still insane. And the only run was a soto bomb, you know, former team had to show out and do something.

SPEAKER_02 4:32

Yeah. But yeah, I mean, after that huge comeback by the Philz, I mean, going into extras, and then we performed in extras. Um our uh our Marshawn actually hit the ball to score in two runs that game. That was insane. I was like, holy crap. Then we just literally shut him out the rest of the series, didn't score a single run. 6-0-6-0.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Shout out to the bullpen, though, because no only went three and two thirds in that game. The bullpen held their own. Yeah. For once.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Yeah, surprisingly.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

But yeah, and then going in after that, yeah. Sanchez went CG, nine innings, uh, 13 strikeouts. We're not gonna just breeze past that one.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Oh, sorry. Yeah, I mean, Sanchez is insane, like, yeah. Oh, yeah, a career high for him, 13ks too, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Yeah, lowers his ERA to 182 on the season.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Yeah. And then Zach Wheeler, seven innings, four hits, eight strikeouts.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

How duels Paul Skeens?

SPEAKER_02 5:41

Yeah, that's phenomenal. Like, I uh from a guy who just came off of uh what what what kind of injury are we calling him?

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Uh it was like a blood clot, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah. I don't remember the name of the surgery.

SPEAKER_02 5:53

Yeah, but yeah, I I don't know what to call, but let's just say an a significant injury. Dude comes back, has been electric.

SPEAKER_03 6:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Electric. And then that game. Yeah, insane. Like 199, I believe. No, 199. 199. Yeah, okay. I was right at first.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

And then of course we get to tag Paul Skeens with five runs and five innings and boost his ERA to 262, which probably what what go go for it, which probably gives uh Christopher Sanchez the edge.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Oh, yes, that's all I was talking about. So happy about it.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

I mean it's early, it's only just over a fourth of the way into the season. But yeah, I mean, Paul Schienes' ERA is now above 2-5, probably like the first of his career above two. Yeah, this guy's a sub-2 ERA kind of guy, and Sanchez right now sub-2. So he's distinctly.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

It's gonna be hard for Skeens to catch up if he wants to. But yeah, after that huge game from Wheeler, we go into a red series, get a win, five-four. Andrew Painter actually didn't throw bad at all. I mean, six innings, two earned runs, three three K's. I mean, uh not the best, but I mean, hey, he's getting the R8 down, dude.

SPEAKER_01 7:16

But six innings on 69 pitches.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Yeah, that's and then they pull him.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

Interesting choice.

SPEAKER_02 7:23

Yeah, I mean, he's been so iffy lately.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

I mean, I'm with uh we've been very iffy lately. I'm alright with taking six decent innings and calling that a day.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

Yeah, I agree completely.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

But and then uh Lozardo looked decent with six and six innings in in game two of that series, and Nola looked like crap again.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

Yeah, next two games were not pretty. I mean, yeah, did not enjoy watching them, but I mean, after well, that's kind of a little bit of the recap.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

I think you want to go back to the list of pitchers, but first I just want to point out Nola, he's been terrible. I know you're Nola and he's terrible. I mean, he's been better than Painter. I don't think I would agree.

SPEAKER_02 8:12

I think he's been so much better than Painter. So much better? Okay, maybe not so much better, but he's been better than Painter.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

Nola has a higher ERA.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

He does uh yes, Painter's down to a 577, Nola's a 604.

SPEAKER_02 8:27

Uh before last game, Nola was better.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Sorry, Nola has a higher whip.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Nola has a lower war.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

Yeah, I mean uh it I'm yeah, I get all those pitching stats. Painter's winning.

SPEAKER_02 8:48

Yeah, I don't know. They're still but they're both really bad right now. So I mean they're just unreliable. I won't call okay, I won't call them very bad. They're unreliable right now.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

I think Sanchez and Wheeler is a great one-two punch per usual. Yes, amazing. Lazardo's disappointing, Painter's disappointing, and Nola's extremely disappointing.

SPEAKER_02 9:10

Yeah, I mean, it's just like we we need that third guy. I mean, uh, Lazardo's just been iffy this year. Like, he's either literally lights out amazing, or he just gives up six runs. There's like zero in between, it's actually insane.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Minus his last start, which was exactly in between with two earned runs. But yeah, my bad. Yeah, yeah, my bad. Outside of that, he's been all or nothing. Yeah, I agree. My bad.

SPEAKER_02 9:36

I do remember watching that. He did that, it was bases loaded, no outs, and he only he got out of it with only two runs. So I was happy when that happened.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

No, I I'm I'm glad to go back to this list. I actually think MLB did a good job.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

Oh, yeah. I mean, Jacob Meserowski at two is I think he's been disgusting this year.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

He's been very, very good.

SPEAKER_02 9:59

Yes, he hasn't been like his usual self last year, where hey, he's living a lot of pitches over the plate where guys are just mashing it. This year, he's on he's projected I I to like to get like just under 300 K's, I think, this year. I saw that like uh I was like, yeah, very impressive. I mean, he's throwing gas and he's just being dominant, like has great command, really can't argue again. 24 and a third innings. Uh here uh scoreless streak he had, but I think it ended it. I think it ended. Did it end? I'm not sure. I had no idea, but yeah, posting a 40% K rate too. Insane.

SPEAKER_00 10:42

No, he hasn't given up a run his last four starts.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Oh, so yeah, it is 24 and a third, still.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

24 and a third, yeah. He hasn't given up a run in 24 and a third. Um probably the second longest streak only to Sanchez. I I've just a guess. I don't know that.

SPEAKER_02 10:58

No, Sanchez has the longest right now in the majors.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

But I mean Mizrowski's 189 ERA 0.88 whip with 13.9 Ks per nine. Yeah. That's electric. Not to mention he throws like 104.

SPEAKER_02 11:15

Yeah, especially as a young kid, too. Insane. And by the way, he is third, he is the third longest streak currently.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Who's second?

SPEAKER_02 11:24

Uh let's find out. I don't know. Oh, it might be Shohei. Oh. I don't know. It says on here, but I can't find who's the second.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

Let me see if I look at Shohei's stats of Bo.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

Let's go to number three real quick. Your boy Cam Schiller. I I can't say his last name. Cam Schlittler. Shit Sh Schittler. Schlitter Schittler. I'm never.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Yeah, you're good, buddy. Yep, but Cam, I mean, he's only got 12 innings.

SPEAKER_02 11:57

Oh, it isn't. Oh, interesting. But okay, we'll we'll figure it out. But going into Cam, I mean, like you're saying earlier, disgusting all year. Probably like front runner for the AL Cy Young.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

It'd be my front runner.

SPEAKER_02 12:14

I think, yeah, I think he's the front runner. I mean, he's been disgusting all year. Low ERA, very low ERA at a 135 currently. Don't have the whip on top uh on the top of my head, but he's been disgusting all year.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Yeah, I'll tell you what it is. And he's 0.86.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

Yeah, insane. And he threws he threws fastballs over 90% of the time, which is insane.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

Oh, his ERA is now 1.5. He threw today. It's still that I don't know 1.5. I mean, that's still disgusting, but I'm just saying he he threw or is it Thursday? He threw yesterday and gave up two runs to the Blue Jays, and now he has a 1.5. Oh, raises his ERA to a 1-5. Incredible.

SPEAKER_02 13:00

Yeah, he's been disgusting all year. And I mean, I really have nothing bad to say. I mean, the Yankees right now have are not the prettiest team right now, but I don't know. He's been disgusting. And then going on to four on the list, of course. Probably gonna win MVP again just because he he's not doing too good on one side, but he decides to be the best pitcher ever. Otani posting a 0.82 ERA from eight starts. I think it's lower than yeah, it's lower, point seven now.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

This is wrong.73.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

Yeah, like insane. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

Like, however, he doesn't have enough innings pitched to qualify for uh like stats. Yeah, he has one. I think the Dodgers have played 50 games and he only has 49 innings pitched, so he he doesn't qualify as like a like a or I guess as a qualified pitcher.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

Yeah, he he's going to though. Like he he he will. He's just not pitching as often as he should.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

I mean he doesn't pitch as often, he doesn't go longer than five or six innings.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

Yeah, I mean, but he's everything when he does six days. Like, I mean, he if he I mean I still think he's he's he's a hundred percent favored of an MVP. But like he I mean his hitting has not been pretty this year. I mean, I mean, I wouldn't say he's still a way above average hitter. He's still posting like a 130 uh OPS plus, he's way above average, but it's not the usual show, hey, if you get what I mean.

SPEAKER_01 14:36

No, his hitting, I completely agree. He's been down.

SPEAKER_02 14:39

Um only projected like 25 homers. Can't believe I'm saying a pitcher saying only 25 homers.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

Although I mean recently he's been good, he's up to a 272 average.

SPEAKER_02 14:48

Yeah, it's not bad. See I again I I think he's gonna win MVP again if he just keeps doing what he's doing on the pitching and slowly getting back to where he was hitting. I mean, I he's easily gonna win MVP in my opinion.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Yeah, I can't see anyone touching him for MVP. Yeah, I don't think he wins Cy Young. He has a chance.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

Oh, yeah, no, he's like probably. I mean, Sanchez decides to be horrible and Skeens decides to be horrible too.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

I mean, I would I would put Shohei third right now. I would only put Sanchez and Mizorowski above him.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Oh, yeah, sorry, sorry, forgot about miss. That's on me. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 15:27

I would only put Sanchez and Mizorowski above him. I would put Shohei third in the NL.

SPEAKER_02 15:33

Yeah, I guess that's fair. Yeah, I couldn't.

SPEAKER_01 15:35

But the top of my AL list. Yeah. Second in the AL to me is probably uh Davis Martin for the White Sox. He's number 10 on the pitcher list. He's been very, very good. I think he's posted like a 161 ERA. Uh yeah, he has a 161 ERA.

SPEAKER_02 15:54

With a 268 ERA plus.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

Wow. He's been very, very good. He's six and one. Um 0.98 whip.

SPEAKER_02 16:04

I mean, yeah, we'll go, we'll go to him, but they have Skeens fifth on the list.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

I mean, I'm not mad at it. It's still Paul Skeens.

SPEAKER_02 16:13

I mean, yeah, with I mean, his expected ERA right now is a 2.09, they say, but his ERA right now sits at a 2.6. Which I mean.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

I don't know. I'll I'd have to go look at his game log.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Well, I'm looking at it right now. I mean, like, yeah, like after it went up, it went up since yeah, he hasn't pitched since Sunday, I think. So yeah, I mean, yeah. His last one was Sunday against the Philz, and we killed him. That was such a fun game to watch. But yeah, I mean it's a skeins, like, he hasn't been too like electric this year, if you know what I mean, but I still think he's gonna be the normal schemes.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

But still, outside of outside of his first start, where his defense completely failed him, O'Neal Cruz looked like a lost puppy in center field, where he only went two-thirds of an inning and gave up five runs. He's only given up more than one earned run twice. He gave up five to the Phillies and and three to the Cardinals, but he's had five or more strikeouts once again. Yeah, I mean he's been very good. It's not we expect basically perfection from Paul Skeens.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

I mean, yeah, the last two seasons we've watched him have been insane.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

But I don't uh he's still having a very good year. It's just not the perfection that we normally see. He's having those games where people get to him where he gets hit a little bit, and you know, a 2-6 ERA is very, very good. Like, but when your last two seasons are a 1-9-7 and a 1-9-8, you throw a 2-6, and people are like, Well, hold on, what's wrong? Well, you look at the stats, I mean, he's he's been fine.

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Like Yeah, I mean, I couldn't.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

He's not walking a lot of guys, he's striking out a lot of guys, and he's not giving up too many runs barring two or three stars. Yeah, it's just we just expect so much from him that I think I mean he he is he is number one in whip, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 18:40

Oh, he I mean he I think he will be. That's just who he is. He doesn't walk a lot of people.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

He has a 0.71 whip.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

Yeah, disgusting.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

I I honestly think it's unlucky. I mean, he he only gave up six hits to the Phillies and gave up five runs. He only gave up four hits to the Mets and gave up five runs, and they're all considered earned runs because O'Neill Cruz once again looked like a lost puppy in center field. Yeah, I mean find the ball to put a glove on it.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

His inspect her his expected ERA, which adjusts for like an average defender, is a 2.09. So nearly 0.6 under his, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:19

Which is just in I don't know. I think I think he's perfectly fine. I think people are kind of a little confused by his season, but if you look at the numbers, I think he's been perfectly fine.

SPEAKER_02 19:31

Oh, yeah. Oh, easily, yeah. But and then going to six, which I'm also surprised he's not a little low-key. I would put him above skeins right now. Chris Sale. Again, really 189. Yeah, yeah, one, yeah, one, or 189 now. Oh, it's even lower.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Yeah, 189 now with a 0.87 whip.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

Yeah, disgusting. I mean, dude, like he's known for his slider, probably one of the hardest pitches to hit in the past 10 years. People, some some people say, like, probably, yeah, the hardest pitch to face, him and his slider, which he's throwing those two pitches 79% of the time. So, I mean, he's six in strikeouts with 72. Yeah, crazy, and he's almost 40. And he's still doing this.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

Yeah, 37-year-old Chris Still. No, he he's been very good. I mean, two of his three two of his three losses are the Dodgers and the Cubs, which are two of the better teams in baseball.

SPEAKER_02 20:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

I mean, he's beaten the Phillies twice, um, Cleveland, Kansas City, the Athletics. Yeah. I mean, he's beaten some good teams. Yeah. He's been disgusting. And his losses are against better teams. Uh I think he's been a shining star on the Braves, but quite frankly, they've had a lot of shining stars.

SPEAKER_02 21:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

I mean, they're four of their two starting pitchers have a 201 ERA or lower. One is a 285, one is a 380, one is a 491. But their relief pitchers 356, 0.77, 0.42. Oh, Spencer Strider's got a 3-0 ERA. I mean, their their pitching's been been really, really good, and their hitting's been probably arguably better.

SPEAKER_02 21:44

Yeah, I mean, Drake Baldwin. I love Drake Baldwin.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

I think they're the team with the highest average.

SPEAKER_02 21:50

Oh, I think it's either them or the Dodgers.

SPEAKER_01 21:55

It's either them or the Dodgers. They have the highest batting average with 264.

SPEAKER_02 21:59

Yeah. It's a dodger second.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

Yeah, 262.

SPEAKER_02 22:03

Yeah. But yeah, I mean, yeah, Drake Baldwin really running that team a lot. I think he has the most runs right now. Could be wrong.

SPEAKER_01 22:11

Yeah, Atlanta has the second most homers behind only the Yankees. First in RBIs, first in hits, first in wins from a pitching perspective, first in ERA.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

Best record in baseball.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

Best record in baseball. Um third in quality starts from their pitchers. So I the Braves, you know what? I'll be the first to admit it. I did not think the Braves were gonna have the bounce back year that everyone else thought that they were gonna. No, no, there were a lot of people that saying the Braves were gonna have a year.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

I know I I oh me, I did not think them firing their whole coaching staff and going to a new approach was gonna do it, but somehow did.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

I saw a lot of comments on Instagram and TikTok and online talking about how interesting the Braves are due for a really good year. They had a bunch of injuries.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

I mean, yeah. Good point. I mean, Spencer Strider, I mean, yeah, you said 3-0 right now, like that's great.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

I mean, no, he he looks really I mean last year he was horrendous.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

He sucked and then got injured. Yeah, and then got injured right for a while.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

I think yeah, he was but I mean the the bra I I did see a lot of people saying the Braves are gonna have bounce back here, and I'll be the first to admit I I wasn't I wasn't buying in on the hype, yeah. And boy, did the Braves prove me wrong, they look good.

SPEAKER_02 23:36

And then we're gonna go to number seven, which is Chase Burns.

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Yeah, I really like Chase Burns.

SPEAKER_02 23:44

I knew you were gonna say this. I'll let you take it away.

SPEAKER_01 23:46

I really like Chase Burns. So the entire dad side of my family is from Cincinnati, so I'm a little biased towards the Cincinnati Reds. Don't give me any hate, they're my second favorite team. The Phillies are always gonna be number one, but if I had to follow a different team, it would be the Cincinnati Reds. And I love Chase Burns. I liked watching him when he was at Wake Forest, I thought he was great, but he was electric. And he came over to the MLB, and I was like, or he went he went to Wake Forest and then transferred to Tennessee.

SPEAKER_02 24:31

Yeah, you're right.

SPEAKER_01 24:32

Yeah, he was a Wake Forest, he was electric, transferred to Tennessee, was also electric, was super fun to watch. Went to the Reds, and I was sitting here going, that could be a very, very good pickup. I was super uh happy with the Chase Burnshaft, and I don't think it panned out. What what year is this for him? This is year two.

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Two, yeah. Last year was rookie year.

SPEAKER_01 24:57

Last year was not the best. He only pitched in 13 games, started eight of them, and was 0-3 with a 4-5-7 ERA and a 1-3-2 whip. But he struck out 67 guys in um how many innings did he throw? Oh, 67 guys and 43 innings. So the stuff was electric. He knew that. He already has 64 strikeouts, he's thrown 59 innings. He has a 2.8 war with a 183 ERA and a 0.95 whip and a 6-1 record. Um Chase Burns, when he made his debut, his first three outings, I'm pretty sure, he got lit up. But he struck out like 10 guys. Like he was going like five innings with like six runs, three walks, and ten strikeouts. It was it was electric stuff. And I was like, he has potential. I've always thought he has potential. I always thought he was a very, very good pitcher, and you know what? Some people have a sophomore slump. He's having a sophomore superstar breakout year. He's very quietly become a superstar on the Reds, and I think he's a fantastic pitcher, dominant stuff, just just really, really good. Really, really good.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

Sophomore prime, yeah. Yeah, but yeah, and then going to number eight after Burns, our guy, Zach Wheeler.

SPEAKER_01 26:31

I mean he's I mean, he's another guy who's looked really good.

SPEAKER_02 26:35

Yeah, coming right off of injury. I mean, I mean, who I I didn't think his four-seamer was going to be averaging like that much, but he's still averaging like 96 miles per hour on his like he's still throwing hard.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

His last outing, he was 96 and 98 with fastball. He was back to like like Zach Wheeler type VL, which was a great sign because before then he wasn't up to 98. I think he was like 94 to 96. Yeah, you were so to see him up to 98 is is great.

SPEAKER_02 27:09

Yeah, being at like under two or one nine nine ERA, like insane. Like we could talk forever about Wheeler. So they actually oh, it's actually called the uh fear threeatic outlet decompression surgery.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

Yeah, whatever you just said.

SPEAKER_02 27:29

Yeah, I have no idea what that is. But going on, we could talk about Wheeler for days, but he's been amazing. Had a great had a great showing against uh the pirates in our last game of that series. Seven innings, eight K's, I think it was, and yeah, been phenomenal. Hopefully, this guardian series, he does a very good job, and I'm looking forward to it watching him pitch Saturday, so that'll be very fun. He I think he's yeah, he should be pitching Saturday after Sanchez. But then going to number nine, again, the guy you hated on for a little bit. Not saying you hated on him, you just didn't think he was gonna do as good. Cease's been disgusting too. At least for good. Yeah. Like again, he's uh he's been I think he's I don't think he's a top ten pitcher in the league. Okay, I disagree with that. I mean he's King up a bun. He's a he's a strikeout hitter or strikeout pitcher. He's gonna get a bunch of case. But while posting a 2-9-8 through his 10 through his first 10 starts, that's pretty good for him. That's really good for a pitcher like him, too. Like pitchers like him who strike out a bunch of guys aren't gonna have that low of an ERA. They're gonna miss a lot over the plate. Guys are gonna mash when they or when they're not on it, guys are gonna mash against him. But when he's on it, he's gonna strike out a bunch of people. 84 batters strike struck now over 57 in a third innings, posting a 35% K rate, which is 97% tile, and that might be disgusting.

SPEAKER_01 29:03

Good. Good for Cease, not a top 10 pitcher. He's struck, he's got the second most strikeouts in the league, sure. Absolutely. But he's got a three ERA and he's got like a 1-2-2 whip or something like that. That's not top 10 pitcher in the league. That's yes, he's been good, and he's been better than I thought he was gonna be because once again, he has the worst average against AL East teams. But you're right, he just he just strikes out a bunch of guys, and that's electric to watch, but he's not a top 10 pitcher. He is not a top 10 pitcher. I I think there are at least two guys that I would put above him as far as right now. Um well, there's three guys because the guy behind him, Davis Martin in the 10th spot, I would also have above him. But then there's two more guys that aren't even ranked that I would have above Dylan C's. And uh just off the top of my head, two guys that I know would be above Dylan C's. Uh if I took a deeper dive, I think there are there's more people. But uh he's good, he strikes out a bunch of guys, he's fun to watch, but he's not top ten pitcher.

SPEAKER_02 30:19

Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I I my opinion is just a guy like him who again strikes out a lot of guys. Posting under three ERA is very impressive.

SPEAKER_01 30:30

It is it is because he's gonna throw fastballs that are gonna go right down the middle, and you know what? At some point in the season, that's gonna get hit.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

Well, yeah, that's why I'm surprised he right now he's only posting under a three.

SPEAKER_01 30:44

But he shouldn't be a top 10 pitcher. You're telling me Nick Martinez with a 151 ERA and a 104.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Nick Martin, not Martinez Martin.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

No, Nick Martinez. I'm looking at him.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

Same.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

Nick Martinez, pitcher for the raid.

SPEAKER_02 31:01

Oh, I thought, oh my, oh, sorry. Oh my gosh. I thought, sorry, next, sorry, sorry. I thought you said David Martin for some reason.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

I was like thinking in my head with a 151 ERA and a 104 whip, four and one record. That's not better. Really? How about Jose Soriano? He's been electric. 241 ERA and 107 whip. That's not better.

SPEAKER_02 31:25

Damn, what happened to his like 0.3 ERA?

SPEAKER_01 31:29

He's ran into the White Sox a couple too many times. Yeah, that's crazy. And he also ran into the Dodgers. Yeah. But like I mean, I don't know. Cease has been good. Top 10. I don't know. Argue with a wall. I don't think so. Yeah, it's fair. And I like Dylan Cease. You think I don't like him? I like him. I like him. I do. I do. But he's not a top 10 pitcher in the MLB right now.

SPEAKER_02 32:00

Yeah, it's fair, I guess. But yeah, and then at last on the spot, that we talked about him a little bit before uh Davis Marin for the White Sox. I mean, yeah, my goat being disgusting this year. Like, I mean, he is a 268 ERA plus currently.

SPEAKER_01 32:16

Great pickup.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

That means he's 168% better than the league average pitcher. That's insane. But yeah, I mean, yeah, just disgusting. I really I don't watch him enough to speak on him. You can.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

I do not have a I mean I don't I'm not gonna I'm not gonna lie, I don't watch the White Sox. No, no, yeah, I don't I don't either. But I look at his stats because I have him on my fantasy team, and he's been really good. I mean, I mean obviously, but he's only given up more than two earned runs one time, and it was three. He hasn't given up more than three earned runs in a start this season.

SPEAKER_02 33:00

Yeah, insane.

SPEAKER_01 33:03

He's a guy that's gonna give up a couple of hits. He's in the range of you know four to seven hits every time he throws, but he doesn't give up more than one uh more than three runs. And he's only given up three runs once, he's only given up two runs once. He gives up zero or one runs. He's got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine starts, and seven of them are one uh zero or one earned runs. Yeah, I mean not sure you can ask for much more from a starter. If your offense can't score two runs, you shouldn't win that many baseball games.

SPEAKER_02 33:38

I mean, the White Sox have been very surprising in this year.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

He's been very Murakami, baby. Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_02 33:45

Disgusting really just really just said screw you to all the haters and started hitting. Sorry, how many bombs? Is he 15? 17. 17, yeah. He's an animal.

SPEAKER_01 33:55

Amazing. Don't give him a heater. He can't hit he can't hit VLO. Yeah, right. Throw him a 98 mile an hour fastball right down the middle and watch it fly. Ooh, he's an animal. And it gets me excited when people doubt him and he proves them wrong. You're right. He's only gonna hit 240, but he's gonna hit 240 with 45 bombs. That gets me excited.

SPEAKER_02 34:19

There's no way he's hitting 240, bro.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

I think he's hitting like 240. 220. 220. 220 sounds right. He's in 220. Uh no, he's in 244. He's in 244.

SPEAKER_02 34:32

Yeah. Oh, I thought he was at like 220. Okay, I take that back. Well, I mean, yeah, that's pretty much, yeah, like a lot of uh, but I mean, let's get a little update on the overall stat leaders. I mean, Otto Lopez, I mean, sadly, Marsh is down to fourth in the league. The average leaders, but that's fine. Riley Green's up there, your boy. Used to love.

SPEAKER_01 34:57

Another guy might take over Dylan Sees is Justin Roblowski for the Dodgers.

SPEAKER_02 35:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 35:04

Just saying. 249 ERA, 103 whip, six and one record. Just saying. Just saying. Helps out when we're on the Dodgers. Moving on to the stats, guys. I'm done. I'm done.

SPEAKER_02 35:15

Yeah, yeah. I digress. Yeah, your boy Riley Green's third in the league for average. Surprise.

SPEAKER_01 35:20

That is my boy. He'll strike out 179 times. So much. But he's also gonna go four for five.

SPEAKER_02 35:27

Yeah, insane. And then Otto Lopez 342 with the league leading. Insane. And then yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:36

And then Otto Lopez at short and Xavier Edwards at second connection for Miami.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Very underrated.

SPEAKER_01 35:44

Would be the top middle infield duo in the league.

SPEAKER_02 35:48

Okay. I mean is that crazy? Yes, a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 35:54

Um but who?

SPEAKER_02 35:56

Nothing's coming to the top of my head, but like there's definitely a better there are teams with good shortstops.

SPEAKER_01 36:03

There are teams with good second basemen.

SPEAKER_02 36:05

You say the Dodgers with Mookie and um who also put no, but they put two.

SPEAKER_01 36:10

I mean who's their second baseman? Tommy Edmond? Is he playing for them? Yeah. Come on now. This year, Otto and Edwards are better.

SPEAKER_02 36:19

I guess. Yeah. I mean, I again don't watch Miami that much. Don't, yeah, this is all you vents.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

I've just been following because once again, Xavier Edwards is on my fantasy baseball team, and I've just kind of looked at Otto Lopez because he's leading the league in average. But there's not I I mean I don't know a better I bring it up because I don't know a better combo. They're both in the top ten in average. They're one and two in hits in the league. I mean, uh, who's Kansas City's second baseman?

SPEAKER_02 36:56

Uh Kansas City.

SPEAKER_01 36:57

They have Bobby Witt. Uh I mean I I sit here and I try and think about teams that might have a better combo at second and short.

SPEAKER_02 37:06

It's like, yeah, I mean, yeah, it's hard. But I mean, nothing comes to my head right now. I mean, you can argue. You could put an argument for Turner and Stott, but Stott, but both of them had horrible. So never mind. Next.

SPEAKER_01 37:22

Uh does not compare. I love Stott. Stott does not compare to Xavier Edwards this season. It's not even close.

SPEAKER_02 37:30

Recently, yes, he does compare.

SPEAKER_01 37:32

Recently.

SPEAKER_02 37:33

Overall, not at all.

SPEAKER_01 37:35

But shortstop for the Braves, because Ozzie Albies is a very good second baseman.

SPEAKER_02 37:43

Why am I blanking? I know who I can. I'm like imagining his face right now.

SPEAKER_01 37:48

Hold on. One second. Pulling up the roster.

SPEAKER_02 37:51

I like can't think.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

Or the infielders. Bro, what? Mauricio Duban? Oh, wait.

SPEAKER_02 37:59

He's their.

SPEAKER_01 38:05

Never mind. None of them are better. Yeah. You're probably thinking of Nick Allen, the GOAT.

SPEAKER_02 38:11

Oh, I love him. He's in Houston now. Legend Nick Allen. Gotta love him. Matt's killer. Shout out, shout out Matt.

SPEAKER_01 38:18

I don't I think that they have the best middle infield combo. I think those guys both play good defense, and their bats this year have been a lot of it.

SPEAKER_02 38:27

You very much well might be right. But let's move on to home runs. Again, Kyle Schubert with uh with 20, with he has the lead by three, and then it goes Marikami, Judge. Ben Rice, which is probably like is he still front runner for Mvp in AL?

SPEAKER_01 38:47

I mean, he's been very good.

SPEAKER_02 38:48

Yeah, he's been disgusting. And then Byron Byron Buxton has 15 bombs this year.

SPEAKER_01 38:56

Which is awesome. Can Kyle Schorber come back from this sickness? Dude, last three days, and then he posts at his at his like little party get-together thing. Yeah, he looks perfectly fine after playing the guitar. Hey, buddy, come back and hit some more homes.

SPEAKER_02 39:12

If he's not, if he better be in the live tomorrow, I'm gonna be furious he's not.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Stomach aches not stopping him from playing the guitar. Yeah, some bombs, dude.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

I'm convinced Steve Cohen has him in his basement and just like is just keeping him from playing.

SPEAKER_01 39:30

He let him out, he let him out for the party.

SPEAKER_02 39:32

Yeah, or something, but yeah, but I mean, yeah, and then we have RBIs with two Braves up in there. Drake Baldwin is fifth, and then a four-way tie for first with Matt Olson, CJ Abrams, Indy Paes, and Liam Hicks. Interesting, to say the least, and then hits. I mean, very similar to average. Riley Green's up there. Uh the one and two being Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards for hits. Insane.

SPEAKER_01 40:10

That's what I just said.

unknown 40:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:13

One and two because they're the GOATs. And then, of course, Luis Rise is gonna do that. Yeah. Um, and then Hiley Green also tied with Luis Rise at 59.

SPEAKER_02 40:23

Yeah, and then I mean stolen bases. Yeah, and then stolen bases. I mean, Nunez on Washington has 21 league leading, and then I'm not gonna lie, I don't know who that is. Oh, I don't either.

SPEAKER_01 40:35

Call me casual. I don't know who that is.

SPEAKER_02 40:37

Like Nasium Nunez, dude, he's batting 189.

SPEAKER_01 40:42

Yeah, I yeah, I have no idea.

SPEAKER_02 40:44

Then J Ram already with 20 stolen bases, dude. Give him a 40-40 season.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

I don't know if he's hitting 40 bombs.

SPEAKER_02 40:52

No, he has eight home runs right now.

SPEAKER_01 40:53

I don't know if he's hitting 40 bombs. He's yeah, he's not gotta heat up. Yeah, he has to really my first round pick in fantasy, and he's not been a first round pick in fantasy.

SPEAKER_02 41:01

But yeah, and then now we're gonna move to pitchers. I mean, wins. I mean, Ashby has Aaron Ashby for uh the Brooklyn. Oh, yeah, I don't know either. I mean, he was a 273 ERA, not bad. And then Chris Sale, uh Cam Schittler, Gavin Williams. We got Facing Namara, Loki scared, and then Jose Sariano with six. All three of those last guys have six wins. Then ERA, of course, is Cam Shittler with 1.5 ERA. Nick Martinez for Tampa Bay with 1.51. David Martin, your boy, or Davis Martin, your boy with 1.61. Then Chris or Sanchez, our Lord and Savior, with 1.82, and then somehow Chase Burns is on the list with 1.83. Insane. So good. And then saves. Mason Miller no longer is leading the league in saves.

SPEAKER_01 41:58

Cleveland's just playing closer games. I mean, Kate Smith, yeah. Kate Smith is very good. He's very good.

SPEAKER_02 42:03

Not looking for he better not pitch it. If we see him, we are cooked. Don't want to see him. Then yeah, Mason Miller with 15, uh, Riley O'Brien on the St. Louis, Brian Baker, Tampa Bay. Don't know much about him. Then Chapman making on the list with 12 right now.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

Not like 46-year-old Chapman.

SPEAKER_02 42:22

Yeah, I know. Insane.

SPEAKER_01 42:23

He's really only 38, but like 0.51 ERA. But I swear to God, that dude's ancient. I mean, I feel like he's been around forever. He's been around longer than LeBron. Not actually.

SPEAKER_02 42:36

Yeah, that's what they say. It's been a while, though. But yeah, and then going on to strikeouts. I mean, of course, it's Mesrowski with 88. No surprise there. Cease with number two. Sanchez in the three spot with 80. Then Cam Schittler and Gavin Williams. God, tomorrow's gonna be such a good game. Gavin Williams versus Sanchez. I can't wait.

SPEAKER_01 42:58

And then you're a betting man, bet the over on strikeouts. Because yes. Sanchez strikes out a lot. Gavin Williams strikes out a lot, and the Phillies offense likes to strike out.

SPEAKER_02 43:10

Yeah, I would too. And then, yeah, quality starts. I mean, Chris Dell leads to lead in quality starts. Wow, Michael Waka. Yeah, I know. I was about to say that.

SPEAKER_01 43:21

Michael Waka has eight quality starts.

SPEAKER_02 43:23

I know, insane. And then Sandy making a list with four with a four ERA. But hey, Sandy is posting. I mean, quality starts. Then Otani's up there with seven, two, then Chris for Sanchez. All three are tied with seven. I mean, very interesting league leaders right now, in my opinion. But yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:46

You would have told me those guys were leading leading the league at the end of last year. I would have told you you lost your mind. But new season, new stars shine. Some guys take a background role. That's just how the MLB works, man.

SPEAKER_02 44:04

Yeah, I agree completely.

SPEAKER_01 44:06

Um, should be a very fun next couple series for the Phillies. We're definitely gonna keep an eye on that. And you know, next episode we'll we'll recap some series and just kind of see how the season progresses, man.

SPEAKER_02 44:21

Yeah, we'll see you.

SPEAKER_01 44:22

It's been a fun one.