Happy Flag Day and Happy Father’s Day Weekend. It’s a great time of year, we are approaching the Summer Solstice, the Cubs are hosting the Cardinals in the afternoon today and we get to actually benefit from the Turbo slate games by avoiding Yankees/Red Sox tonight.
If you don’t think the juiced balls are coming out today, you are mistaken.
WEATHER
Alright, it’s hot as hell now. We have chance of storms in Baltimore and New York (Mets), but otherwise a clear night and those two games should really be fine as well. Lots of dome game son this slate too with Arizona, Toronto, Milwaukee and Houston all hosting and all having their tops closed.
HUNTER BROWN (DK: $7200, FD: $8600)
Brown is acting a lot like a hitting prospect who came up, then got roughed up and was on the verge of losing his role only to recover and ascend up. Ever since Houston took him out of the rotation briefly he has been on a roll, compiling about six straight decent starts, but two of them were the Angels, one the Mariners and one against these same Tigers. Not exactly a murders row of lineups — yet we can only play who we face, right?
KEVIN GAUSMAN (DK: $8500, FD: $8900)
Going a little contrarian, but Gausman can negate the lack of strikeouts from the Guardians generally. He is coming off his peak start of the year out in Oakland with 10 K, 0 ER and just 6 H/BB. If this is the turning point for Gausman & he can put home struggles behind him then we’re going to reap the rewards tonight. Naylors the main bat I fear, and he’s cooled off a little.
CHRIS SALE (DK: $10.5k, FD: $11.1k)
When at his peak, Sale against Tampa was an automatic cheat code and some of those Tampa teams, while bad, were better than this current Rays lineup. With a ton of hitting out there tonight, finding some security in a projected 8 to 12 strikeout performance is very nice, even if you gotta pay for it.
LUIS CASTILLO (DK: $8600, FD: $9900)
No game/series is gonna test the ‘juiced balls’ theory more than this one, which features Castillo being pushed back to Friday to face Texas instead of a free square vs Chicago last night. If Corey Seager returns I would downgrade Castillo further because Semien and Langford are two bats I do like for Texas — but around that I can’t ignore that Castillo at home should have a much better time than he has lately.
Other Pitching Thoughts
- Dont mind Kevin Gausman tonight & think he beats his 4.5 strikeout prop
- Simeon Woods Richardson is also an okay pick
ORIOLES
Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg, Austin Hays
It is quite possible that I might owe an apology here. You see, I have proclaimed that the Orioles true MVP is Adley Rutschman and I will continue to stand by that for a while, but I’m probably also going a little too far when saying he is easily the best catcher in the game — because the JT Realmuto loss for the Phillies is rearing its ugly head. Aaron Nola couldn’t get shit for a call last night on close pitches & with Realmuto out, the Phillies pitching could be in for a little turbulence all of the sudden. Compound that with Ranger Suarez clearly needing a couple weeks vacation, hot and humid conditions in Camden Yards & we have ourselves a fireworks fest at the yard.
PIRATES
Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz
Good luck avoiding the temptation to use the Pirates in Coors Field against Feltner, I hardly know her!
PADRES
Donovan Solano, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado
Two teams who dont really care for each other and both playing better baseball thanks to the schedule, which really just boosts their confidence & a Friday night game in Queens definitely smells like an over spot.
CATCHER
Holy catcher’s night. You want some proof that balls are juiced, call me when every catcher in America has homered tonight.
- Jonah Heim
- Mitch Garver
- Salvador Perez
- Gabriel Moreno
FIRST BASE
- Ryan Mountcastle
- Donovan Solano
- Rowdy Tellez
- Josh Naylor
SECOND BASE
- Marcus Semien
- Luis Guillorme
- I just said Luis Guillorme. Please move on to third base now….
THIRD BASE
- Vlad Guerrero Jr.
- Manny Machado
- Jordan Westburg
SHORTSTOP
- Bobby Witt Jr.
- Elly De La Cruz
- Oneil Cruz
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Andrew McCutchen
- Austin Hays
- Luis Robert Jr.
- Bryan Reynolds
OUTFIELD – Tier II
- Fernando Tatis Jr.
- Kyle Schwarber
- Adam Duvall
- Christian Yelich
- Bobby Witt Jr – SS – Kansas City Royals – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Austin Hays – OF – Orioles
- Andrew McCutchen – OF – Pirates
- Luis Robert Jr – OF – White Sox
- Marcus Semien – 2B – Rangers
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B – Orioles
- Manny Machado – 3B – Padres
- Mitch Garver – C – Mariners
- BONUS ……………… Gabe Moreno – C – Diamondbacks
TOP BETS
Phillies/Orioles OVER 7.5
Padres/Mets OVER 7.5
Pirates/Rockies OVER 11.5
Royals/Dodgers OVER 8
Astros ML
Pirates ML