Quick little early five game afternoon slate and then a big main slate coming tonight. There is also NASCAR today with Rob Geriak, so check that out and then a fairly large NFL Pre-Season slate tonight as well. Update on the Dongers Club Championships will be included in the MAIN article for tonight.
Chris Sale is back today! Rejoice!
WEATHER
Atlanta at Washington – Some light rain could cause issues again in DC today, but I do not expect a PPD
MAX FRIED
They said that yesterday was lefties day, but with Fried and Sale on the bump this is lefties afternoon in my book. While Sale is probably going to pitch really well in his return back to the mound I will not take that risk if presented with an alternative option and that alternative option is Max Fried — someone I’m usually a big fan of and most certainly will be on today against the Nationals.
ZACH THOMPSON
I suspect a lot of folks will be timmid with the Miami-Chicago game after last night’s high scoring affair, but this is the correct play on this short five game slate in my opinion as we want RHP vs the Cubs right now and Davies on the other side should do enough to warrant him as an SP2 with other limited options if you want to go there.
Regarding Sale
I will say one thing he has going for him today is that there should be some shadows creeping into this game around the 4th inning or so. We saw that on Thursday with a similar start time and it’s a high probability of happening here today. He is equal with Thompson to me but Thompson is who I am preferring to trust to allow the hitter flexibility with limited value bat options.
REDS vs PHILLIES
India, Castellanos, Aquino — Segura, Realmuto, Harper
Let’s pick on Luis Casitllo, shall we? But it’s not just the Hyeena that we’re after in this one because for some reason Joe Girardi is saying fuck it and letting Matt Moore take the mound again today. Cincinnati isn’t a great road offense but Suarez and Votto as noted by one of our members have always tormented the Phillies (they both homered last night) and someone explain to me how Nick Castellanos doesn’t hit a long fly ball to make it a 4-0 ballgame today?
BRAVES
Riley, Soler
Hopefully Atlanta got a good nights rest last night because with a humid air game and Patrick Corbin on the mound there’s too much going in their favor for them to lay an egg this afternoon. This start time is 6PM which is an odd start time in DC, but some Atlanta exposure I feel is a must.
CATCHER
- JT Realmuto
- Pedro Severino
FIRST BASE
- Miguel Cabrera … I know that it’s probably fitting for Miggy to hit #500 on Sunday and not tonight, but I don’t want to miss it and if you are even reading First Base recommendations then it means you hate Joey Votto
SECOND BASE
Fitting that a position which is generally weak is the strongest on a short 5 game slate
- Ozzie Albies
- Jonathan India
- Jean Segura
THIRD BASE
- Austin Riley
- Eugenio Suarez
- Rafael Devers
SHORTSTOP
- Didi Gregorius
- Dansby Swanson
OUTFIELD – MT RUSHMORE
- Nicholas Castellanos
- Bryce Harper
- Jorge Soler
- Bradley Zimmer
The Dongers Club
- Didi Gregorius – SS – Phillies – Chairman of the Dongers Club
- Nicholas Castellanos – OF – Reds
- Pedro Severino – C – Orioles
- Bradley Zimmer – OF – Indians
BETS
- Cubs/Marlins UNDER 8.5
- Detroit Tigers ML
- Atlanta Braves ML
MOST POPULAR TEAMS
- Red Sox
- Reds
GOOD TEAMS GETTING OVERLOOKED
- Braves
- Phillies
FAVORITE DK PITCHERS
- Fried and Thompson
BEST LEVERAGE/SLEEPER PLAY
- None
FAVORITE HITTERS
- Didi Gregorius
- Nick Castellanos
- Bradley Zimmer