Welcome to Monday, our best day of the week this season by far, no? I would say yes. This is of course the week before the All-Star Break and so you’re going to see some teams who might check out mentally a bit early but also historically this is a higher scoring week. [spacer height=”20px”] WEATHER No PPD risk today. Very warm games in St. Louis and Cleveland [spacer height=”20px”] I am guessing that we will see Brayan Bello chalk again. He gets to go on the road vs a weak Rays lineup in what is typically viewed as a pitchers ballpark, but the Red Sox are no doubt losing this game tonight and I’m not taking a chalky young SP just yet. Plus you don’t need that salary $ relief tonight. MAX SCHERZER A battle down in the ATL between two Max’s (vs Fried) and the Scherzer K upside against the Braves is double what Fried can do vs the Mets in my mind. Atlanta continues to be one of the higher swinging strike teams as they offset that by hitting the ball hard when they do make contact. Max has no restrictions tonight and I am confident he pitches well. ALEX COBB These teams just met down in Chase Field and it was a bad but not horrific start for Cobb. He had to deal with Joey Bart catching for him out of the blue and I didn’t like that swap but if Bart starts again tonight I think we could see better performance from Cobb at home. Usually these re-matches go opposite the second time and thus Cobb should have less early inning issues today. MERRILL KELLY I am right back on this match-up from a game stack perspective. Both guys went 6+ last time and both can do that again in a better park and the Giants just don’t hit for much power at home in night games this season. [spacer height=”20px”] OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS … Max Fried could be okay if he can get good defense behind him, which he usually does. But the Mets to me have too many guys who can go off in a nice park shift for me to expect him to be clean. Game 2 of the Tigers/Royals double-header could prove to show some pitching value. Daniel Lynch is back but is not on my radar with potential limits around…...
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