No site synchronicity today. DraftKings has just 6 games on their ‘Early’ slate while FanDuel has included the Marlins/Guardians 3:05 game, which is the 1st game of a double header and the original one scheduled. This is somewhat unusual for DK to not include a DH game but I have no complaints because I just hate DH games for DFS purposes.
WEATHER
MIA @ CLE – Probably good that DK did not include this game. It’s rainy again but they’re likely to find a way to play one of the two games. I think the early one gets in so on FD you can trust hitters here.
TOR @ NYY – Weather is PERFECT for Manoah to pitch well where he made his MLB debut. It’s foggy, mid 60’s with rain coming later in the day but the game will play and I expect a great SP environment
WSH @ MIN – Oh look. It’s cold in Minnesota again with a chance of snow showers. Bring back the Metrodome.
LAD @ CHC – 1060 West Addison should get the game in. Maybe a delay, but no major risks here IMO. Wind isn’t that big of a deal either.
COL @ PHI – Kinda shocked they only moved the start time up by an hour to 3:05. This indicates to me they’re confident they will get the game in although a DH on Sunday is fine for both teams given their schedule afterwards. Given the start time change, lets assume they play and they play quickly.
CWS @ TB (Game is in a Costco Warehouse with a roof) – COSTCO Special today, come one, come all, get your free Kirkland samples and enough toilet paper to handle all the shits your pitchers are going to take today.
PABLO LOPEZ
I strongly think that this game gets PPD. But if it doesn’t then Lopez is a no brainer not gonna get lit up pick today.
ALEK MANOAH
He has been bad, there’s no doubting it. The areas he have struggled with definitely seem tied to the pitch clock and his lack of getting his command right, which leads to giving up some hard hit contact when he does try to just get it over and ultimately some bad outings. Manoah has alot of ‘gamer’ in him and I don’t mean the Kyler Murray type of gamer. He’s going to be focused in Yankee stadium and the cooler temps and extra rest here from his last start should be exactly what he neds to put together his best outing of the season.
SHANE McCLANAHAN
Sugar Shane is getting a 28.6% whiff rate on his Change-Up this season, which should give the White Sox hitters fits today. I see no reason why he won’t have 9 strikeouts over 6 innings, especially at home where he is almost un-hittable at times.
Other SP Notes …
Christopher Sanchez – Threw 75 pitches in his second minor league start on April 16th, I would be shocked if he went more then that today. You don’t need his value though, so even if he pitches a clean 75 vs Colorado in a fast game, you really won’t need it IMO.
Logan Webb – Nothing of note here other than ANOTHER DAY GAME for Logan Webb.
Rockies vs Phillies
From a weather perspective the incoming storms in Philly could boost things as the wind is projected to be blowing out to LF 15-20 mph right around the start of the game and two LHP are on the mound.
RAYS
Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Wander Franco, Josh Lowe
You gotta pick some hitters today which might not make you feel comfortable because on this early slate the options of bad SP to pick on are limited. Dylan Cease is coming off a start where he threw 113 pitches and the White Sox bullpen is among the worst in the majors right now. Throw in that Tampa doesn’t strike out a ton and is obviously the best team in April so far and we’ve got a great buy low ownership play here.
CATCHER
Outside of Realmuto there’s nobody that really warrants paying up for today at this position, so I would default to using a C from the team that you have the most hitters from, and in my recommendation that should be Tampa.
- J.T. Realmuto
- Christian Bethancourt
FIRST BASE
I would expect a lot of Rizzo touting since Manoah has been so bad vs LHB and a solo HR would not shock me but I want the multi-hit upside that Yandy Diaz brings and CJ Cron is once again getting a LHP so he is just as good of a HR pick. So too is Vladdy, owner of the Yankees right now, but his fellow 1B option for 2k on DraftKings isn’t bad here either.
- Yandy Diaz
- CJ Cron
- Brandon Belt … I would rather go Belt than Darrin Ruf for your cheap 1B. Belt’s gonna keep raking all weekend.
SECOND BASE
Not a lot here, so McNeil defaults as the top ‘consistent’ pick. Lowe’s expensive but a must in a full Rays stack and Harrison is hitting fairly well for Philly right now.
- Jeff McNeil
- Brandon Lowe
- Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Just a reminder only to play Jake Burger in HOME day games. It’s Bohm here folks.
- Alec Bohm
- Jose Ramirez – FD
SHORTSTOP
I absolutely love Wander Franco today. Love, love, love. If we are banking on Cease not going more than 15 outs then Franco vs the White Sox pen for 2 AB is going to pay off big time as well… And yes, I am aware that Bo Bichette vs Cole has ‘day late’ chairman all over it. I’ll take my chances though with fading him.
- Wander Franco
- Trea Turner
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
OF is garbage. Hot garbage….
- Harold Ramirez
- Kris Bryant
- Brandon Nimmo
- Nick Castellanos
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Josh Lowe
- Joey Gallo
- Oscar Gonzalez – FD
- Jazz Chisholm Jr – FD
OUTFIELD – Value
- Jurickson Profar
- David Peralta
- Kevin Kiermaier
- Alec Bohm – 3B – Phillies – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Wander Franco – SS – Rays
- Kevin Kiermaier – OF – Jays
- Joey Gallo – OF – Twins
- CJ Cron – 1B – Rockies
- Jazz Chisholm – OF – Marlins
FAVORITE BET(s)
- CWS/TB over 7
- Jays ML
- Rays + Phillies ML Parlay
TOP PROP(s) OF THE DAY
- Alek Manoah over 5.5 strikeouts
- Shane McClanahan over 6.5 strikeouts
- Dylan Cease under 6.5 strikeouts