FantasyPros - Fantasy Baseball Podcast

Breakout or Mirage? | Which Early Season Hot Starts To Believe In with Justin Mason (Ep. 1200)

5 snips
Apr 3, 2026
Guest
Justin Mason
Justin Mason, FanGraphs and FantasyPros analyst who focuses on pitching and hitting, breaks down early-season hot starts. He examines which arms (Harrison, Soroka, McCullers, Vasquez, Messick) look roster-worthy and which hitters (Walker, Caissie, Schanuel, DeLauter) are buyable or risky. Short, sharp takes on sustainability, health, platoon and regression concerns.
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ADVICE

Grab Soroka Cheap Don’t Overspend

  • Pick up Mike Soroka now but don't overpay for him in auctions or FAB leagues.
  • Justin Mason recommends modest bids (roughly $20–$50) because Soroka's injury history makes him a risky long-term investment.
INSIGHT

Kyle Harrison Is A Legit Starter Upgrade

  • Kyle Harrison looks like a different pitcher after adding a changeup and improved command, making his repertoire much more starter-friendly.
  • Justin says Harrison's fastball and new changeup produced better stuff grades and he should be rostered in every format if available.
ADVICE

Respect Soriano But Don’t Overvalue Him

  • Don’t treat José Soriano as an ace or overpay for him in trades despite two strong starts.
  • Justin warns high contact and walk rates mean he can implode with big innings and his improvements may regress as weather warms.
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