On The Wire - Adam Howe and Kevin Hasting kick off their 2026 fantasy baseball category previews by breaking down power (HR & RBI) and why it has quietly become harder to replace later in drafts. They discuss draft targets, late-round power bats, platoon plays, and roster construction strategies to hit modern home run benchmarks. 0:00–8:30 — Episode Intro & Why Power Matters More in 2026 Category-preview format explanation Impact of PitchCon and offseason prep Why managers are falling behind in HR/RBI Establishing modern power targets (24–25 HR per hitter) 8:30–20:00 — Power vs Speed Tradeoffs in Early Drafts Players discussed: Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Chourio, Trea Turner How few true 35+ HR bats exist Why early speed-first picks create downstream power pressure Corner infield power vs middle-infield scarcity 20:00–30:30 — Power Benchmarks & Draft Math Targeting ~350 HR and ~1,100 RBI in 15-team leagues Why “15 HR + speed” profiles create long-term problems Emphasizing lineup quality over RBI projections 30:30–44:00 — Corner Infield Power Targets Players discussed: Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Eldridge, Chase DeLauter, Josh Bell, Tristan Casas Arenado vs Gorman risk profiles Playing-time certainty vs batting average damage Eldridge stash upside vs prospect risk Josh Bell as a boring but reliable power source 44:00–57:00 — Middle Infield Power Options Players discussed: Jake Cronenworth, Anthony Volpe, José Caballero, Brooks Lee Cronenworth as a “glue guy” with sneaky volume power Volpe’s rebound potential and ADP window Multi-position flexibility as power insurance Minnesota infield playing-time outlook 57:00–1:11:00 — Outfield Power Targets Players discussed: Jesus Sanchez, Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Cody Clemens Sanchez as a platoon-friendly power bat in Houston Benintendi’s power resurgence vs lineup quality Hays as a free-agent ADP value play Clemens as a flexible, low-cost power streamer 1:11:00–1:18:00 — Power Streamers & Rate-Based Targets Players discussed: Jemai Jones, Dominic Canzone, Tyler O’Neill, Matt Wallner, Zach Dezenzo, Colby Thomas, Christopher Morel, Joey Wiemer, David Schneider HR per 600 PA as a late-draft tool Short-side platoon exploitation Streaming power via matchups and schedules 1:18:00–1:21:00 — Catchers & Utility-Only Power Players discussed: Carson Kelly, Marcell Ozuna, Jonathan India Kelly as a streaming catcher with pop Ozuna’s ADP volatility if he signs India benefiting from KC fence changes and lineup role 1:21:00–1:23:00 — Final Thoughts & Power Draft Takeaways Don’t underestimate power scarcity Late-round power always carries risk — embrace flexibility Trust your draft instincts and plan for in-season maintenance 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.
