SLATE NOTES
Just a quiet 5 game MLB schedule today after all 30 teams played yesterday. Then there will be a loaded Saturday slate with plenty of afternoon games but forewarning there is some rain/weather issues tomorrow, so enjoy the games tonight — which are mostly in Domes.
WEATHER
No issues. Three of the five games are in dome stadiums and two of them (Houston/Seattle) will likely close the roof.
NICK MARTINEZ
A lot of casual fans will look here and say, “oh, this guy, he stinks, I’m not using him!”. And I admit that I was skeptical of Martinez converting back into a full tine MLB starter last season after returning from his time over in Japan. But there’s no denying how well he pitched a season ago and looked good in the Spring down in the hitter friendly Cactus league. Expect around 5-6 strikeouts vs a weak Colorado lineup that got carried by CJ Cron last night.
DUSTIN MAY
May is the key to the Dodgers success in 2023. They desperately need the former overhyped young pitcher to look like what they believe he can be now without much limitations on him and a starting role from day 1. This is a thin pitching slate, so I lean towards guys I know will get strikeouts and May fits that bill.
SEATTLE
Julio Rodriguez, Kolten Wong, Teoscar Hernandez, AJ Pollock
Hunter Gaddis will fill in for the Guardians as they’re starting the season without Triston McKenzie. A big RH who does have multiple pitches but also has given up some high barrel % in his limited time in the big leagues. I expect a few walks, some hard hit balls and the Mariners to do well with the roof closed in Seattle.
NY Mets
Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Mark Canha
You should know the drill facing Luzardo, he is either boom or bust. The Mets aren’t my top team because they have the vibes of a hot and cold team and will take some time to get going in the regular season, but any mistake by Luzardo and they can have a big crooked number in the first three innings today.
CATCHER
- Mike Zunino … Well, the MLB schedule God’s decided to go ahead and get this one out of the way early. Z-Pack back in Seattle and getting Ray. I usually dont like catchers in the early part of the season because I think the extra time in Spring camp gets them off their hitting game but we do have Zunino in Seattle vs Ray, and that’s never failed us before.
- Cal Raleigh
FIRST BASE
- Pete Alonso
- Josh Bell
- Christian Walker … Normally I’ll avoid writing up hitters vs pitchers obviously but a short slate and we have Walker in a stadium he smashes in. Pitch type profile for Dustin May matchup is good here too.
SECOND BASE
- Kolten Wong
- Andres Gimenez
THIRD BASE
- Jean Segura (Also eligible at 2B)
- Manny Machado
- Eduardo Escobar
SHORSTOP
- Francisco Lindor
- Jeremy Pena
- Tim Anderson
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Kyle Tucker
- Teoscar Hernandez
- Starling Marte
- Mark Canha
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Julio Rodriguez
- Oscar Gonzalez
- Eloy Jimenez
- James Outman – Value
THE DONGERS CLUB
- Mike Zunino – C – Guardians – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Teoscar Hernandez – OF – Mariners
- Oscar Gonzalez – OF – Guardians
- Tim Anderson – SS – White Sox
- Eloy Jimenez – OF – White Sox
- Pete Alonso – 1B – Mets
TOP BETS
- Mets/Marlins over 7.5
- Guardians/Mariners over 7.5
- Rockies/Padres under 7.5
- Marlins ML
WINNERS PARLAY OF THE DAY
- Padres ML + Mariners ML
TOP PROP(s) OF THE DAY
- Jesus Luzardo under 5.5 strikeouts
Five games, so we apply the IN and OUT theory to each game in terms of building core stacks. I am IN on hitting in NYM/MIA, CLE/SEA and out on hitting in SD/COL and ARI/LAD.
Don’t sweat pitching ownership tonight because nobody is going off for a 30.