WEATHER
No issues tonight in any of the games and the roof likely is open in Milwaukee which helps the pitchers (although Berrios not a fan of the cold).
Overall a relatively quiet slate.
Corbin Burnes (Brewers)
This is a great pitching match-up between Burnes and Berrios, but it’s Burnes who I want. He mostly has to navigate around just keeping Luis Arraez off base to lead things off and then I like his stuff against Polanco, Buxton, Kepler and Sano. Look for a good strikeout game from Burnes tonight.
Joe Musgrove (Padres)
Now is the time to go to PETCO for pitching. Cold and wind blowing in for San Diego, where game time temp of 62 degrees might send the fans packing for sweatshirts out there. Should be a low scoring game overall and the Padres are just flexing on the Diamondbacks late in the games so if he can get the lead, he will hold on for the win.
Contrarian 3rd SP Choice
Caleb Smith game stack with Musgrove.
Another Coors Field slate with limited other options out there. It is, what it is … Really just one main game to focus a stack around tonight.
WHITE SOX vs LA ANGELS
Ohtani, Trout, Moncada, Robert
Hello Mr. Saturday Night Special Mike Trout. You know Lance Lynn has extreme splits to the negative against LHB so Ohtani batting 2nd again should be on your minds, but outside of him the Angels might get overlooked because they have mostly RH bats. Well, they also have down in the zone Saturday night Mike Trout and that’s where he will thrive. Trout has hit 2 HR so far this season, but unfortunately they both were left of the foul pole in left field. He’ll correct the timing tonight.
For the White Sox, does it really matter if such a hard hitting team gets a guy who gives up a ton of hard contact? Probably not, but Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada are my focal plays here. 3B is a dumpster tonight so that’s Moncada and Luis Robert just hits the ball hard and has big game potential every time out vs a bad pitcher.
Contrarian Stack
Milwaukee Brewers – We get a spot where the Brewers can beat up on a somewhat chalky (30%~) Jose Berrios who usually isn’t great early in the season. Yelich-Shaw-Hiura the CORE.
On a shorter slate like this (under 7 games) I will focus on trying to identify one key bat at each position where it’s applicable. If there’s nobody then I’ll list the best value spot there, and if there are many then I’ll highlight it as a UTIL/FLEX spot for FanDuel users to consider
CATCHER
Yasmani Grandal is a high priced option but one you can fit in with a White Sox pay up stack over a Dodgers pay up stack in Coors. For a cheaper pivot, Omar Narvaez is familiar with Berrios from his AL Central days and should get some quality AB’s in tonight.
FIRST BASE
It’s Ohtani. Has to be right? Lefty on fire vs Lance Lynn and batting ahead of Trout? Gotta be Oh-Oh-Oh-Ohtaaaanii.
Meanwhile, Travis Shaw is back in Milwaukee and one thing that has been evident early this MLB season (as normal) is that guys who come in swinging well usually stay locked in for the first couple of weeks.
SECOND BASE
I wish there was someone here I really liked, but there isn’t. Max Muncy can be considered but at his high price and with some better locks in the OF position I’d rather spend down here and punt with Jurickson Profar, Garrett Hampson or Tommy La Stella.
THIRD BASE
This is a Yoan Moncada get right game or you ride Manny Machado, next question.
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story and Corey Seager or bust tonight. I doubt anyone has Story just like nobody has Gallo early today. Love Story though.
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout, Luis Robert, Christian Yelich, Wil Myers.
Trout and Robert are just missing bombs while Yelich is having his rebound season tour starting. Wil Myers has always hit LHP well but I don’t love the game overall for offense, so him or Machado are one offs.
OF VALUE
- Thomas Pham
- Adam Eaton
- Alex Dickerson
- Mitch Haniger / Taylor Trammell
- Mike Trout – OF – Angels – Chairman of the Dongers Club
- Trevor Story – SS – Rockies
- Tommy La Stella – 2B – Giants
- Travis Shaw – 1B – Brewers
- Christian Yelich – OF – Brewers
- Luis Robert – OF – White Sox
- Manny Machado – 3B – Padres
FAVORITE BETS
Diamondbacks/Padres UNDER
Milwaukee Brewers ML