Should you pay up for Tarik Skubal in the first round, or is loading up on hitters the smarter play? Joe Bond, AJ Applegarth, and Corey Pieper debate the pitching draft strategy that actually wins 2026 fantasy baseball leagues—and they don't all agree.

With pitcher IL days skyrocketing (15,000+ days missed in 2024) and starters averaging just 5.19 innings per outing, the old "pocket aces" strategy is getting flipped on its head. The guys hash out whether you need one elite arm or four mid-tier anchors, when it's too early to draft an ace (spoiler: Joe will never take one in the early first), and why Christopher Sanchez at SP6 makes Joe uncomfortable but Corey's all in.

Plus: Why chasing wins is a "fool's errand" (Brady Singer had more wins than Skubal—let that sink in), the closers worth paying up for (hint: it's a very short list), and why Grant Hollar might be this year's league-winning waiver add in saves+holds leagues.

Key Debates:

• Is Skubal worth a top-6 pick? (They disagree)
• Sanchez at SP6: Breakout or one-year mirage?
• Should you draft Jacob deGrom? (Hard pass from all three)
• Quality starts are dead—switch to quality appearances

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How do you build a championship-caliber offense in your 2026 fantasy baseball draft? Joe Bond, A.J. Applegarth, and Corey Pieper break down the hitter draft strategy you need to dominate, covering core philosophy, positional scarcity, category targets, and roster construction mistakes to avoid.

In this comprehensive strategy episode, we tackle the biggest questions drafters face: Is shortstop really that deep? Which hitting categories are hardest to recover? Should you lock in elite SS/OF early or wait for value? How do you balance batting average risk with power and speed? We analyze how MLB trends should shift your approach, which positions require early investment, and the roster-building landmines that derail drafts in rounds 1-10.

Whether you play on Yahoo, ESPN, NFBC, or Fantrax in roto or H2H formats, this is your guide to constructing a balanced, lethal hitting lineup for 2026.

Key Topics: Core hitting philosophy for 12-team leagues, hardest categories to recover, protecting yourself in SB/HR/R/RBI, positional scarcity strategy, when to address each position, common roster construction mistakes, balancing upside with stability

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Hosted by Joe Bond (@F6P_Joe), A.J. Applegarth (@AppleGarthAlgar), and Corey Pieper (@copieps)

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2026 FANTASY BASEBALL DRAFTS ARE WON IN THE OFFSEASON. In this episode, we break down the BIGGEST free agency signings and trades to identify the true LOSERS and exactly how these offseason moves change your 2026 fantasy baseball draft board in a typical 12‑team redraft league. Get actionable draft strategy, not just ta ransaction recap.

Joe Bond, A.J. Applegarth, and Corey Pieper host The Fantasy Six Pack Hour (The F6P Hour), digging into who got buried by new competition from offseason trades and signings and where the landmines are hiding at their current ADP. If you draft on Yahoo, ESPN, NFBC, or Fantrax, this is your roadmap to updating your rankings for the 2026 season.

LOSERS COVERED: Hitters: Alex Bregman, Coby Mayo, Brandon Lowe Pitchers: Shane Baz, Pete Fairbanks, Sonny Gray, Freddy Peralta Plus: Still Not Signed Players to Monitor

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Which bats lost playing time, lineup spots, or park factors and are now overdrafted
• Offseason losers and landmines you should let your league‑mates draft instead
• How free agency and trades should change your rankings, tiers, and draft plan

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Follow the Hosts: Joe: @F6P_Joe | AJ: @AppleGarthAlgar | Corey: @copieps

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