WEATHER
Couple spots to keep an eye on with even some heavy rain/PPD risk
Washington at Philadelphia – The Nationals have told the Phillies they should call this game at 7:07pm. In fact, last night when the game was suspended and then called afterwards the Nationals supposedly filed a claim with the league offices asking if this was allowed. Word is that the Nats are PISSED about it, they were under the impression that you are only to call games AFTER the start time and they would be entirely PPD at that point — thus they do not accept last nights Loss and will be playing the rest of the season under protest by fielding a Beer League Softball lineup with Luke Voit as the team Captain.
I’m joking of course…. About the Luke Voit Captain Part. Everyone knows Maikel Franco is the captain.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore – The Pirates have brought their ships to the inner harbor and given how much that has declined in Baltimore over the years even they aren’t too thrilled about docking there. But here they come and lets enjoy a 1979 World Series Re-match. Oh wait, this is the weather section. Yeah, it could rain.
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DYLAN CEASE
Simply put the AL Cy Young front runner is out pitching the field of late and 8 of the 9 projected hitters for Texas grade out extremely poorly against him and his stache. You bring a stache like that down into the heart of Texas and you better damn well pitch your brains out like he should tonight. Carrying a low .072 ISO and 29.7K% on the road Cease is easily the best SP going today.
ERIC LAUER
I would trust Matt Lauer with my Daughter more than I trust Eric Lauer most of the time, but lucky for me, I don’t have a daughter. I hope one day that I will have a Granddaughter who comes and listens to me tell stories about how Kevin Appier was robbed of the 1994 Cy Young when I am 93 years old and sitting in three day old urine but for now, I don’t have a daughter and I don’t have to sweat out those 12-18 teenage years nor do I have a problem using Lauer against the Cincinnati Reds tonight.
ROBBIE RAY
Give me Ray for upside over the other options like Valdez, Walker and the sorts. It’s late night television at it’s finest as Robbie Ray after dark returns with another tight pants episode in the great Northwest. The energy in Seattle should be eletric and without Mike Trout on the other side the Mariners can cruise off the energy in their crowd and their recent surge against bad teams. The sweep begins tonight with Ray doing what they paid him to do…. Walk Ohtani dude.
KYLE GIBSON
Alright if you use Gibson tonight and turn the game on, don’t be worried that he is looking like he has to piss himself on the mound. He’s doing a rain dance, because if the rain holds off Gibson will work through a humid night in Citizens Bank Park by killing all the grass on the infield with ground ball out after ground ball out after ground ball out on his way to a 7 or 8 inning gem for Philly.
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Other Pitching Thoughts …
Valdez will be alright, but isn’t going to blow you away for not using him against Cleveland.
In terms of cheap options on DK??
I could see a case being made for …. well, nobody. Yeah, MadBum might pull a nice inning or two out of his ass, but why bother with that risk. I would not go below Lauer or Gibson today, there’s no reason.
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Let’s start off with the obvious question of the night. What is MLB doing with the Padres/Dodgers and Yankees/Cardinals series this weekend? Neither park is exactly going to fall into the “hitters park” territory but you know the eyeballs for highlights are going to be all over those games. Proceed with caution under bettors.
BREWERS
Adames, Tellez, Urias, Yelich
Move over White Sox, there’s a new fraud team in town. I know the Brewers lost 3 in a row to the Pirates, but explain to me why we aren’t stacking them back at home where they are more consistent and against the hapless Reds pitching staff?
God, why am I betting the Brewers again tonight????
WHITE SOX
Robert, Abreu, Anderson
I cannot ignore Glenn Otto as a target. with Robert/Abreu/Eloy on the other side. Abreu is locked in and Robert is always a 30+ point upside play. And one of these nights, Tim Anderson is going to have a 4-5 game with 2 HR.
TWINS (& JAYS)
Polanco/Miranda/Sanchez vs Springer/Bichette/Jansen
Jose Berrios returns to Minnesota to face new Twin Tyler Mahle. My advantage in this game is with the Twins hitters but I don’t hate using some Jays as well as we have seen Tyler Mahle be like Brady singer, which means he is a little problematic if getting only RHB. Another over tonight with Jorge Polanco, Jose Miranda and George Springer leading the way.
Good game for the Catchers as well.
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Tonight is a nice 2-2-2-2 type night and I believe these teams stars will show up
Cardinals – Nolan/Carlson
Orioles – Mullins/Mountcastle
Mets – Alonso/Marte
Red Sox – Xander/Devers
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CATCHER
- Gary Sanchez
- Salvador Perez
- Cal Raleigh
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FIRST BASE
Loaded like a Taco Bowl on a Friday.
- Vlad Guerrero Jr
- Jose Abreu
- Rowdy Tellez
- Anthony Rizzo – Prefer him over Carpenter for those who are doing the Carpenter back in St. Louis narrative
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SECOND BASE
Jean Segura is back but hitting low in the order. The Phillies have struggled with Josiah Gray this year however Jean is going to hit him tonight, unfortunately nobody will drive him home.
- Jorge Polanco
- Gleyber Torres – Dont ask me but there’s something about Torres in St. Louis that stands out to me. Note, I don’t think he has ever hit here before.
- Kolten Wong
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THIRD BASE
There’s nothing that Nestor Cortes can throw which will confuse Arenado, who on a Friday loves his homers.
- Nolan Arenado
- Jose Miranda
- Rafael Devers
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SHORTSTOP
Dodgers wont win without Turner having a big game. Oneil Cruz might hit one into the harbor and Adames/Correa are musts within their stacks. Double down here on FD.
- Oneil Cruz
- Willy Adames
- Trea Turner
- Xander Bogaerts
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OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- George Springer
- Mookie Betts
- Luis Robert
- Kyle Tucker
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OUTFIELD – Second Tier
- Dylan Carlson
- Cedric Mullins
- Starling Marte
- Hunter Renfroe/Christian Yelich
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OUTFIELD – Value
- Jarren Duran – Almost a CORE Mt. Rushmore play because of his price and probability he gets a lead off double vs Greinke and scores.
- Tucipita Marcano
- Trey Mancini
- Kyle Lewis
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- Nolan Arenado – 3B – Cardinals – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Anthony Rizzo – 1B – Yankees
- Jorge Polanco – 2B – Twins
- Gary Sanchez – C – Twins
- Kyle Tucker – OF – Astros
- Luis Robert – OF – White Sox
- Hunter Renfroe – OF – Brewers
- Trea Turner – SS – Dodgers
- BONUS ……………………. Xander Bogaerts – SS – Red Sox
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CORE PLAYS
Jorge Polanco
Nolan Arenado
Jarren Durran
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BETTING PLAYS
Orioles/Phillies ML Parlay
White Sox First 5 Innings
Milwaukee + White Sox Parlay – What can go wrong here?
Padres/Dodgers Over
Yankees/Cards Over
Seattle Mariners -1.5