Happy National Mascot’s Day!
WEATHER
Wind blowing out for a hitting boost in Wrigley
PAUL SKENES (DK: $9500, FD: $10,300)
Every young star has a team in their division which they will forever dominate and thus far Skenes has done well vs the Cubs & Cardinals but something about Skenes vs the Reds screams to me a possible 14 strikeout game. Maybe not yet, but the ball gets in too quick on the lefties for them to take advantage of PNC’s right field boost for LHH & as long as his outfield defense can chase down Elly’s long fly ball then he’ll cruise to a potential 0 ER game.
DAVID PETERSON (DK: $6000, FD: $7100)
Why would you pay 10k+ for Sonny Gray when you could have David Peterson against a team who can’t hit LHP? Both are gonna throw 80-90 pitches, both are gonna strikeout less than 6 guys and this one is going to cost almost half the price.
JOSE SORIANO (DK: $7500, FD: $7900)
For alternative cheap SP2’s consider Jose Soriano or Cubs starter Javier Assad, but Assad has some significant wind in Wrigley so go with the slightly less risky Soriano.
OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS
- I am passing on Max Fried tonight. Yeah, it’s the Tigers, I know. But I am not comfortable with Fried only pitching once in the last 2 weeks and that one start was just 87 pitches. No, he’s not injured or anything like that but Fried is a ‘feel’ type pitcher and one of the main reasons I dont love him in April is related to just not having that feel built up. I have a secure 1A pitcher in Skenes and a pretty good 1B option in Sonny Gray (even tho he’s overpriced). So fading the guy I think could struggle (not blow up, just struggle) of the three is an easy call.
GIANTS
Michael Conforto, Brett Wisely, Matt Chapman
Back to the friendly confines and another wind blowing out game tonight, this time we trust the Giants instead of those pathetic Red Birds.
PIRATES
Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen
Fear not the first game post Coors. This is a very specific stack, I wouldn’t venture far beyond the top of the order.
PADRES
Manny Machado, Ha-Seong Kim, Jurickson Profar, Kyle Higashioka
Manny hasn’t had much power of late, but him in Philly is a bomb waiting to happen.
SECOND TIER
- Nothing wrong with the Phillies – but there is no free square/cheap bat to build a 4+ man stack.
- A couple one offs in Toronto (TON & BO), otherwise, dont go full stack.
CATCHER
- Kyle Higashioka
That’s it, that’s the list. Sometimes you’ll open up content and just read 8 position players at a position. A who’s who of guys like you are filling out an all-star ballot. Sometimes I will go through and just give a variation of expensive, mid tier and cheap options, and then there are nights like tonight. When you have Will Smith in Coors, William Contrerars, Sean Murphy, the mighty Pedro Pages and … Yeah. We’re going all in on a Kyle Higashioka homer out of the 8th or 9th hole. Deal with it…
… And he sits and Campusano plays? Just pick someone cool like, Patrick Bailey. #Analysis…
FIRST BASE
You’re either playing Ohtani here or in the OF. I don’t care if he is $7,000. He’ll get you a minimum of 14 FPTS on DraftKings.
- Shohei Ohtani
- Matt Olson
- Bobby Dalbec
- Gio Urshela
SECOND BASE
- Spencer “Dig through the ditches and burn through the Horwitzes, I slam in the back of Nick Pivetta….” Horwitcz
- Andy Ibanez
- Gavin Lux
- Brett Wisely … Only if leading off
THIRD BASE
- Manuel Arturo Machado
- Austin Riley
- Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner is expected back for the Phillies tonight. I am not going there, but just advising you of this nugget. This is a deep spot today.
- Bo Bichette
- Ha-Seong Kim
- Francisco Lindor
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Jurickson Profar
- Michael Conforto
- Tyler O’Neill
- Brandon Nimmo
OUTFIELD – Tier Two
- Jarred Kelenic
- Wenceel Perez
- Seiya Suzuki
- Andy Pages
- Kyle Higashioka – C – Padres – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Manny Machado – 3B – Padres
- Shohei Ohtani – OF – Dodgers
- Bobby Dalbec – 1B – Red Sox
- Francisco Lindor – SS – Mets
- Tyler O’Neill – OF – Red Sox
- Michael Conforto – OF – Giants
- Spencer Howictz – 2B – Blue Jays
- BONUS …. Jarred Kelenic – OF – Braves
TOP BETS
Cardinals/Marlins NRFI
Blue Jays ML (-135)
Tigers ML (+200)