{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreic3smfyxgbp4herusnsdurvy4yhkntwoxpdn2b2jkogeu3tgmxwwa",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ypcz7mos4thlqmwskf3nqiil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mia5jyop6se2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreig5unrdsz2mxagio744mznzt23omzgyssn6dlbhjhsubnm37f4olu"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 1263269
  },
  "description": "A weekly column where Darren \"Doc\" Eisenhauer (@DocEisenhauer) provides dynasty + redraft insight at the Major League level.",
  "path": "/sunday-smoke-lets-play-ball/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-29T22:00:47.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.prospectslive.com",
  "tags": [
    "Chase DeLauter",
    "JJ Wetherholt",
    "Kevin McGonigle",
    "Brady House",
    "Sunday Smoke - Prospects LiveProspects LiveDarren Eisenhauer",
    "Nick Kurtz",
    "Tyler Soderstrom",
    "Kyren Paris",
    "Alec Burleson",
    "Victor Scott",
    "Konnor Griffin",
    "Joshua Baez",
    "Quinn Mathews",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Hello again, loyal or potentially brand-new readers! If you’re like me and recognize that the offseason is where dynasty championships are built, then you might be feeling a little odd by the time opening day rolled around. While a more casual fan or pure redraft fantasy player may be sick of waiting for real baseball to roll around, it feels more like a pressure valve release for me, where it’s time to say _“enough with the predictions, let’s play ball.”_\n\nWriting my first article of the campaign after only a couple of games feels awkward, but it’s also a fun exercise to see where the temperature is around the league. Currently, it’s the era of the kiddos! Chase DeLauter is a lock for 200+ HR and will never get hurt again, JJ Wetherholt and Kevin McGonigle are guaranteed to be surefire stars, and Brady House might even take double-digit walks in pro baseball! This is truly a fun and wacky time of year, because our society has developed a more “gimme now” mentality than ever in human history, yet our beloved game is still a 162-game war that will play out over half a year. The wise tortoise will always win against the impatient hare.\n\nSunday Smoke - Prospects LiveProspects LiveDarren Eisenhauer\n\nLast year, Nick Kurtz struggled mightily while Tyler Soderstrom looked like he might hit 50 homers, and both of these early streaks really did influence GMs’ mindsets, given some of the trades I saw go down in some regions of the fantasy universe. Heck, I managed to trade the legendary Kyren Paris run for a haul in one league! The lesson here is incredibly difficult in practice, but easy to write in a cruddy Sunday Smoke article: _don’t under- or overreact, and trust in your offseason guys until they give you a real reason to cease doing so._\n\nLet’s go over some early-season phenomena and whether or not the Doc is buying in.\n\n### The St. Louis Cardinals\n\nGiddy up, dynasty owners\n\nIf you asked most folks around the industry on Thursday morning what they thought of T _he Cardinal Way_ and its chances at remote success in 2026, most would have cast doubt on the kind of hot start they’ve pulled off. As of Sunday morning, the Cards have grinded out 15 runs in two games - a sharp contrast with their hyped-up Kansas City stately neighbors, who have only managed two runs in that time. JJ Wetherholt is putting up cartoon numbers while knocking in game-winning hits, Alec Burleson looks ready to remind people that he just won a Silver Slugger award, and two of their most “boring” arms put together good starts. Heck, even Victor Scott strung together some hits!\n\nNow, is any of it going to stick? _Kind of._\n\nThis is still very likely to be a rebuild year for the team, but you do have to wonder what kind of magic a rising star like JJ Wetherholt can work for a similarly young clubhouse. That kid is as polished as they come and should be the frontrunner for NL Rookie of the Year if Konnor Griffin stays in the minors long enough. I’ve been pounding the table on Alec Burleson all offseason, and folks have disregarded him in pretty much all formats. If he’s going to get more ABs (he is) with a stud like Wetherholt in front of him, Burly’s RBIs will creep up into the 80, 90, or even 100 range - and all of a sudden, he’d clearly be a young, premium 1B option with stellar ratios.\n\nVS2 remains volatile, but all he needs to do is be something like a .230 BA/.310 OBP guy to give you 50+ stolen bases, which ain’t too shabby. The rest of the Cards’ hitters are showing some life, and you have to remember that Joshua Baez likely forces his way into action in 2026, which could make this team suddenly exciting from a dynasty and real-life perspective. The pitching staff is the biggest question mark that will decide the Redbirds’ destiny, and may require a jolt from a youngster like Quinn Mathews if the team is going to be able to stay above .500 by September.\n\n### Chase DeLauter and Kevin McGonigle, early RoY contenders?\n\nK-Mac: one of the best pure hitters in baseball?\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Sunday Smoke: Let's Play Ball",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-29T22:00:46.777Z"
}