Today is a loaded slate in terms of pure Baseball. There are at least five double-headers by my count going on today to make up PPD games which reduces what is normally a large Friday slate down to just 9 games on both sites.
New Interleague series beginning today
- Brewers at Indians
- Padres at Athletics
- Marlins at Rays – Not on DFS slate.
WEATHER NOTES
- Good news. No issues. Quiet Friday!
- I hope…
Jack Flaherty
Clear cut #1 choice today. Jack Flaherty is just now getting into a little bit of a routine having made three starts since the Cardinals came off the COVID list as a team. Some might see some heavy wind blowing out in Wrigley today and shy away but Jack is the better SP to lock in against a worse lineup as his own team is starting to heat up.
Dustin May
Limited good choices in the mid range today and so the plus side for May being at home and against the Rockies is enough to lock him in as a second pitcher.
Tyler Anderson
I will continue to pick on Arizona and the other cheap SP2 choice today I looked at here was Yusei Kikuchi, but I am not ready to throw in the towel on 2020 just yet. So let’s go with Anderson picking on Arizona which has maybe 1 or 2 bats who can scare me tonight with some HR pop in San Francisco which is now a smaller park and has been much better all season. But it is cooler tonight and Arizona has been terrible away from home all season long.
Outside The Box
Brady Singer
In a game that looks to be high scoring, it’s Singer who has the advantage. Yoan Moncada came out and admitted that he isn’t right offensively and has very little power between COVID and a hamstring injury. He’s the main LH (Switch hitter) bat that would give Singer major issues today and the White Sox do offer a lot of strike-out potential when facing a RHP.
This is very much a spread it out night, not a slate where I would look too heavy at just one team. So if I hear anyone saying “Team X let me down tonight” or “Team Y needs to get it going” then you’ll get a slap in the face from me.
St. Louis Cardinals
Paul Goldschmidt, Paul DeJong
Really like the Cardinals as my favorite team to win today. This projects to be a good pitchers duel but Goldy’s history of destroying Cubs pitching along with a hot lineup around him should propel the Cardinals to get a few home runs with the wind blowing out against Darvish tonight.
Houston Astros
Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, George Springer
Overlooked spot of the night is Houston against Bundy who folks are now locked in on as being trust worthy. The Astros usually come out swinging well in Anaheim and it’s going to be warm + the Angels aren’t exactly mowing people down with their bullpen either. If Bregman is back today he stands out at a weak 3B.
Seattle Mariners
JP Crawford, Kyle Lewis
The Texas Rangers have the worst road Bullpen ERA in the league and that’s not shocking considering their home ballpark has been very generous to pitchers this season. Seattle should have a lot of new faces today with some guys being traded away but we still have Crawford and Lewis who have been very steady and both will hit RHP well which I expect them to do early in tonights game to jump out to an early lead.
ALSO CONSIDER:
- Dodgers: Seager is as steady as they come right now and Dodgers at home vs Colorado will put up 5-6 runs for sure.
CATCHER
- Yasmani Grandal
- Yadier Molina
FIRST BASE
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Rhys Hoskins … Not a game I love as much as everyone else will today but he’s a main consideration. That said, Goldy is the primary 1B today.
SECOND BASE
- Max Muncy
- Ketel Marte
- Gavin Lux
THIRD BASE
- Matt Chapman
- Matt Carpenter
- Jeff McNeil
SHORTSTOP
- Corey Seager
- Paul DeJong
- Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Christian Yelich
- Michael Brantley
- Mike Yasztremski
- Kyle Lewis
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Franmil Reyes
- Luis Robert
- Hunter Dozier
- Kyle Tucker
OUTFIELD – Value
- Ben Gamel
- Jay Bruce
- Joey Gallo – DK Price is tempting
- Nick Solak
- Paul Goldschmidt – 1B – Cardinals – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Mike Yazstremski – OF – Giants
- Michael Brantley – OF – Astros
- Jeff McNeil – 3B – Mets
- Ben Gamel – OF – Brewers
- Paul DeJong – SS – Cardinals
- Gavin Lux – 2B – Dodgers
- Yadier Molina – C – Cardinals
- BONUS ……………… Rhys Hoskins – 1B – Phillies