WEATHER
All clear
There are two projected starters who are min priced (DK $4000) tonight in Keider Montero (Tigers) and Cristian Mena (Diamondbacks). I actually like Mena because he is more than a one trick pony but there is no reason to use a “just a guy” making his debut vs the Dodgers.
In other news, Corbin Burnes’ wife just gave birth to twins and the Orioles will turn to Dean Kremer off the IL tonight to face the Mariners.
GAVIN STONE (DK: $8500, FD: $9800)
Tough to really say what the ownership on Stone will be tonight. He is pitching fantastic for the Dodgers and is coming off a CGSO of the White Sox where he threw just 103 pitches over 9 innings, so the workload wasnt so high that we avoid. He’s been great against LHH as well so Carroll, Marte, Joc all kinda slide down on the rankings and while Christian Walker loves hitting in Dodger stadium, he can probably pitch around him to face a struggling 6-9 for Arizona.
SHOTA IMANAGA (DK: $8700, FD: $9700)
We know for almost a fact that Imanaga has been tipping his pitches but the start to the correction ocured in his last game vs San Francisco and can carry over against the Phillies who you would think are okay vs LHP without Harper/Schwarber, but the reality is that they’re not. Trea Turner should stay hot, but Whit Merrifield is not the old Whit and the rest of the lineup probably is a little too optimistic vs Shota.
CHRIS SALE (DK: $10.2k, FD: $11,300)
It is so nice to have automatic Chris Sale back in our lives and I don’t sweat that the Giants will try to be “smart” with nothing but RHH tonight. That means we get guys like David Villar, Nick Ahmed, Curt Casali…. Wait. Nick Ahmed kinda worries me. Okay, not really, I am just toying with you. This is a 7-8 strikeout floor spot for Sale assuming he isn’t walking the top of the lineup which is where the serious trouble lies. Heliot Ramos, Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman are all dangerous spots against Sale, but if I told you he would give up 2 solo homers and strikeout nine batters, you would say, okay, I can live with that.
OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS
- Zack Wheeler: Suzuki and Morel are both dead fastball hitters, which is what Wheeler relies upon against RHH and he is also coming off a 115 pitch start.
- Davis Daniel: I am always hesitant on guys with limited MLB experience, but the 9 IP that the Angels let him throw vs Detroit is a great sign in their confidence (or just the general lack of care the Angels have). It’ll be warm again in Oakland, so that minimizes the pitcher boost in this park but he can offer you a good mid range SP2 choice.
- There’s enough punt value on this slate to not really mess with anything else mid range on SP2’s. Overall the pool for me would be Jon Gray or Cristian Mena.
TWINS
Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Max Kepler
Fresh meat out on the table. Royce Lewis has once again injured himself simply by being alive, so we lose that power bat here however against a shaky kid you are better off with just getting guys on base.
NOTE: Twins have promoted Brooks Lee, a switch hitter, to replace Royce Lewis. He is not in the player pool on DraftKings unfortunately.
BRAVES
Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Jarred Kelenic
A high strikeout pitcher against the Braves might look tempting, much like that third burger tomorrow afternoon. But when the burger is loaded with jalapenos on it you realize it’s going to fly out as fast as you send it down. Much is true with the Braves against fastballs… I’m sorry, did you not see this analogy coming a mile away? Wake up, what is wrong with you.
ASTROS
Jose Altuve, Yainer Diaz, Chas McCormick
How does Jose Altuve not homer off Kikuchi?
OTHER HITTING LIKES
- ORIOLES: They only put up two last night, I know, and yes this is Logan Gilbert. They’re hitting 2+ bombs tonight.
- ANGELS: Schanuel, Rengifo, Calhoun
- DODGERS: Freeman, Teoscar
CATCHER
- Tyler Stephenson
- Yainer Diaz
- Adley Rutschman
FIRST BASE
- Matt Olson
- Freddie Freeman
- Vinnie Pasquantino
SECOND BASE
- Jose Altuve
- Ozzie Albies
- Luis Rengifo
THIRD BASE
- Ryan McMahon
- Matt Chapman
- J.D. Davis
SHORTSTOP
I like a lot here tonight. Trea Turner is a streaky guy and I swear it has been a trend with the Phillies where one guy carries them when another one (or two) go down. It’s his turn now and he looks great but I don’t like the rest of the lineup after him. Jeremy Pena gets Kikuchi, nuff said, while Gunnar is your contrarian pay up and Rojas is the best value on the board. Another EDLC home in Yankee Stadium wouldn’t shock me, the guy was giddy all night last night and I fear he’s gonna be in pinstripes in about 5 years.
- Jeremy Pena
- Trea Turner
- Gunnar Henderson
- Miguel Rojas
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Aaron Judge
- Trevor Larnach
- Jackson Merrill
- Willie Calhoun
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Kirby Puckett, Dan Gladden…….. You get the idea.
- Nolan Jones
- Chas McCormack
- Heliot Ramos … He’s probably the most likely to take Sale deep
- Matt Olson – 1B – Atlanta Braves – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Jose Altuve – 2B – Astros
- Gunnar Henderson – SS – Orioles
- Tyler Stephenson – C – Reds
- Heliot Ramos – OF – Giants
- Jackson Merrill – OF – Padres
- JD Davis – 3B – Yankees
- Trevor Larnach – OF – Twins
- BONUS …………. Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B – Royals
TOP BETS
- ASTROS ML (-115)
- ROYALS ML (-112)
- GIANTS / BRAVES OVER 7.5
- ORIOLES / MARINERS OVER 7