A light Sunday slate as one game is already in progress (Orioles @ Braves) and this is a heavy west coast weekend with five games in the afternoon today. The Sunday Night Baseball game today is between the Dodgers and Padres as well, so we’re kinda light on the slate for a Sunday… Why? Because the Reds and White Sox think they are special and want to play on the 4PM tilt slate today. Makes no sense, but go ahead Cincinnati.
The weather looks rough in just one spot, Pittsburgh. Where the Jays have been sending the Pirates back to reality and today it should be raining throughout the day. Expect them to either announce PPD or just sit and ride it out and hope they can get the game in. The Jays are off tomorrow before going to Philadelphia on Tuesday (oh… that’ll be fun) and the Pirates are at home tomorrow, so they CAN wait this one out.
Everything else is fine, with warm temps in St. Louis and Kansas City.
SANDY ALCANTARA
In the division, Sandy has been hit a little bit harder in 2023, but out of the division he remains the Cy Young that we saw last season. Yes, it’s warmer in Chicago today but no real wind impact and under 10k for Sandy is a steal, lock it in for an 8 inning dominant 0 ER performance today from the Marlins ace.
MASON MILLER
Coming off a 100 pitch outing last start which was near perfect, Miller will go on the road for the second time in his big league career. I don’t think he will burn you at $7600 considering this fits my Royals haven’t seen this guy theory and last night even Waldichuk racked up the strikeouts on them, but we should pump the brakes on crowning his ass thinking he’s gonna go 7-8 IP of no hit ball here…
Expectations – 5 2/3 innings, 2 ER, 7 strikeouts.
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SLEEPERS
It’s really bleak today. The two names who I wanted to give consideration for are Steven Matz (could be chalky, which is just bad) and … Taijuan Walker, but the way Boston is hitting right now and Walker’s likely struggles when he pitches at home the guy has to produce a near 40% strikeout rate today to pay off and I just can’t pull that trigger. The other value arm is Hayden Wesneski for the Cubs, who is “too cheap” as the cool kids say at $5,600.
Other touts are going to write up 7-8 pitchers on this short 7.5 game slate. It’s Sandy and Miller, that’s it, lets not over think this and go forward winning with the hitting instead. No Cole and no Ryan for me today.
If you really want my sleeper call, it’s Taijuan Walker.
METS
Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Brett Baty
Welcome back to the 2023 season NY Mets, thank you for joining us and please be sure to assist Ryan Feltner off the field after you completely destroy him with 7 runs in the first two innings. Feltner has no shot handling the Mets leftites on a warm Sunday afternoon and Alonso 2 HR ain’t too bad to roll out in the stack here too.
Build around 4+ Mets and one offs today.
Next question.
CATCHER
- Eric Haase
- Francisco Alvarez
- Danny Jansen
FIRST BASE
- Pete Alonso
- Carlos Santana
- Paul Goldschmidt
SECOND BASE
Tons of nice options here. McNeil is for sure a good pick from the Mets, but we have lots of Mets options. Stott/Gorman/Diaz all should have good batting order spots today for their value. If you are going contrarian here, Lowe for a HR off Cole is someone that can pay off.
- Jeff McNeil
- Bryson Stott
- Nolan Gorman
- Brandon Lowe
- Jordan Diaz
THIRD BASE
- Rafael Devers … If Walker is smart, he doesn’t even throw him a pitch. Legit I want a pitcher to do this instead of issuing a batter an intentional walk. Let’s say you are struggling and walked one batter, then had a 10 pitch AB where the guy got a double off you and it’s 2nd & 3rd with someone like Devers coming up and the plan is to go to the bullpen after this batter…. Pitching coach comes out to the mound, that buys you some time, then you basically just dont throw a pitch. Guess what. Pitch clock violation, ball 1. Ball 2, ball 3… ball 4…. batter walks…. Would be hilarious and that’s just what Walker should do rather than throw a pitch to Devers today. Just my $0.02 but this time it’s free of charge Phillies, thanks for coming…
- Brett Baty
- Jose Ramirez
SHORTSTOP
- Francisco Lindor
- Javier Baez
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Brandon Nimmo
- Kyle Schwarber
- Joey Gallo
- Randal Grichuk
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Andrew McCutchen
- Kris Bryant
OUTFIELD – Value
- Max Kepler
- Ramon Laureano
- Francisco Lindor – SS – Mets – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Randal Grichuk – OF – Rockies
- Pete Alonso – 1B – Mets
- Eric Haase – C – Tigers
- Joey Gallo – OF – Twins
- Kyle Schwarber – OF – Phillies
- Rafael Devers – 3B – Red Sox
- Brandon Lowe – 2B – Rays
- BONUS ………. Ramon Laureno – OF – Athletics
FAVORITE BET(s)
- Rockies/Mets OVER 8.5
- Phillies ML