Today is just an afternoon slate in MLB with two games later tonight and this is a great way for a Thursday to be spent because then we can relax tonight and then power up for a big Friday.
This six game slate is like a Wedding as it features something Old (Gibson, Greinke) something New (Ed Cabrera, Garrett Hill, Cole Ragans) and something used (German Marquez). Loads of fun for everyone and so lets go ahead and Ambush this Wedding slate, shall we?
[spacer height=”10px”]
WEATHER
All Clear
[spacer height=”10px”]
This feels like the Monday night slate when I said just go right down the 1-2-3 for the easy balance of pitching today, but also has a feel of that type of game stack SP and game stack hitter slate as well.
For pitching Dylan Cease, Merrill Kelly and Zach Plesac are the trio of starters who likely are the most popular for good reason and certainly grade out the best.
DYLAN CEASE
… Is the guy who is pitching lights out, he is doing what Shane McClanahan did early in the season and faces a Royals team which historically had been striking out a ton in day games at home. The young kids are on fire here, but Cease is one of those attack em where they cant hit em guys who can drop a 12 K game in 6 innings today.
MERILL KELLY
At the end of the season someone is going to file a protest claiming that the Pirates never played the Diamondbacks, because that is how irrelevant this series has felt all week and I don’t love how much we have used up Merrill Kelly this season but why not one more time for the guy who throws 7 or even 8 IP every single damn time without having to throw 120 pitches.
Best Punt SP’s
JT Brubaker (PIT)
Zack Greinke (KC)
[spacer height=”10px”]
My Fade
Zach Plesac – I know his profile should do well vs the Tigers, but he has not pitched well recently and my feeling is this is the right chalk to attack with leverage instead of KC hitters vs Cease (even though it’s very tempting for me).
[spacer height=”10px”]
Quick run down through each of the games
MARLINS vs PHILLIES
PHI – Schwarber, Bohm and Hall are the three Phillies I want to see in their lineup today and no reason why any of those three would be out. Well, maybe Bohm if Kyle Gibson walks in and says look guys I can’t be getting the Ranger Suarez treatment I need good defense here. Then again, Bohm’s defense has been better of late. Cabrera will struggle with some walks and his change-up is not ready for prime time just yet even though it was very good in his last outing.
MIA – Hometown JJ Bleday remains dirt cheap and white hot. Last time Gibson was coming off 100+ pitches he got rocked and is have to deal with Jesus and Bleday
GUARDIANS vs TIGERS
CLE – Jose Ramirez hot line, how may I direct your call?
DET – Detroit kills three birds with one stone my friends. We get leverage against Plesac, we get value to lock in both Cease and Kelly and we get to sing Du Hast every time Eric Haase hits a bases clearing double.
COORS FIELD
The Coors Field bats you need today are Paul Goldschmidt, Dylan Carlson and Charlie Blackmon. Thank you, end of story.
[spacer height=”10px”]
CATCHER
- Eric Haase
- Christian Vazquez
[spacer height=”10px”]
FIRST BASE
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Darick Hall
- Miggy
[spacer height=”10px”]
SECOND BASE
- Jonathan Schoop
- Andres Gimenez
[spacer height=”10px”]
THIRD BASE
- Jose Ramirez
- Alec Bohm
[spacer height=”10px”]
SHORTSTOP
This is the position where we Ambush the Competition today my friends.
- Miguel Rojas
- Jeremy Pena
[spacer height=”10px”]
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Kyle Schwarber
- Charlie Blackmon
- Dylan Carlson
- Riley Greene
[spacer height=”10px”]
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Eloy Jimenez
- Yordan Alvarez
- Adolis Garcia
[spacer height=”10px”]
OUTFIELD – Value
- Victor Reyes
- AJ Pollock
- JJ Bleday
[spacer height=”10px”]
[spacer height=”12px”]
- Miguel RRRRRRRRojas – SS – Miami Marlins – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Eric Haase – C – Tigers
- Kyle Schwarber – OF – Phillies
- Jose Ramirez – 3B – Guardians
- Eloy Jimenez – OF – White Sox
- Charlie Blackmon – OF – Rockies
- Paul Goldschmidt – 1B – Cardinals
- Nobody – 2B
- BONUS ……………….. Jeremy Pena – SS – Astros
[spacer height=”12px”]
CORE PLAYS
Stud to have: Goldy or J-Ram, can’t go wrong with either.
Value to have: Miguel Rojas
Best Leverage: Tigers
[spacer height=”10px”]
BETTING PLAYS
White Sox + Astros ML Parlay
Pirates/Diamondbacks UNDER 8.5
Guardians/Tigers OVER 8
Marlins/Phillies OVER 8