This is a good big main Saturday afternoon slate today and my comments/notes on the evening slate are at the end of this article.
Three of the BEST games today are not included on FanDuel, who did what I thought DraftKings would do – but we got a NICE big 11 game slate on DK which locks at 1PM and includes Marlins/Phils, Royals/Tigers, Diamondbacks/Cubs.
WEATHER
Overall this is a good hitting weather slate with the cames in Citizens Bank Park, Comerica, Camden, Fenway and Citi Field having comfortable situations for hitting.
What makes this slate so good is the depth on both SP and hitting spots. We are definitely not deprived of pitching options today.
PAUL SKENES (DK: $10.8k, FD: $10.6k)
I smell an ELITE Skenes start. His last one was good and most of his starts this year have just been going through the motions to be honest.
JOSE BERRIOS (DK: $7400, FD: $8600)
Every once and a while I gotta just pull out the “gut feeling” card when touting up someone. This is a big time gut feeling on Berrios. Nice potential for this game to be a SP battle & if so, I trust Berrios who will have a high volume of swings and misses – which equates to put aways to get out of jams and strand runners.
GAME STACK PITCHERS?
This is not a terrible slate to consider game stacking pitchers and there are two games which might shock you in that regard. We have a cold weather game in Coors Field and then the opposite of yesterday’s late innings in Wrigley — which BTW was an under game early for the starters.
CHASE DOLLANDER (DK: $7400) & MACKENZIE GORE (DK: $7800, FD: $9200)
We didnt really touch on Gore and Dollander before the PPD announcement yesterday and I guess that was me just assuming the game would be PPD. They’re both expected to just slide into this Saturday afternoon Coors game & although it’ll be cold – we can still trust the pitchers. Gore’s curve ball could get hung up and not get as many swings and misses as one would like — but I trust both guys.
ZAC GALLEN (DK: $8300) & BEN BROWN (DK: $7600)
Lean Gallen as an isolated play, but don’t hate Brown either. Weather won’t be an insane factor today.
PHILLIES
Kepler, Harper, Schwarber
The Phils have three incredible options to lead off today. Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler and Bryce Harper. Shit, I’ll throw in Trea Turner leading off as the 4th best option.
Can we please not have Bryson Fucking Stott lead off? PLEASE. I am BEGGING you Phillies. Use the Phinatic to lead off. Use John Kruk. Use Deandra Reynolds. Anyone NOT named Bryson Stott for the love of God.
ROYALS
Perez, Witt, Pasquantino
One of the lowest ranked offenses for run production through these first 3+ weeks. Yes, I am going here. The problem isn’t necessarily contact, it’s just timing & there are big signs of that breaking out. They know Mize, Salvy, Vinnie and Witt are hitting it hard & I believe they’ll explode today.
YANKEES / RAYS
Judge || Lowe
This game is going to the moon and that makes me very, very sad. The winds blowing in, but this day game setup with Carrasco on the mound will give the Rays an automatic 5, then the Yankees will end this run that Shane Baz has been on. Tough to stack this game, but nice to look here for offense when rounding out your lineup.
REDS
We got a rookie pitcher coming up to make his debut in Brandon Young. This and an up and down Orioles bullpen at times puts the Reds back on our radar once again.
CATCHER
- Salvador Perez
- Jonah Heim
- Ben Rice … Funny that we now can use him at Catcher. Real fast on the change there DK. Who complained?
FIRST BASE
- Harper, Bryce
- Vinnie Pasquantino
- Pete Alonso
SECOND BASE
- Brandon Lowe
- Matt McLain
- Adam Frazier
THIRD BASE
- Mark Vientos … Finally hitting well.
- Alec Bohm
- Eugenio Suarez … Geno always hit well as a Red when he played in Wrigley.
- Rafael Devers
SHORTSTOP
- Bobby Witt Jr.
- Bo Bichette
- Xavier Edwards
- Corey Seager
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Anthony Santander
- Max Kepler
- Kyle Schwarber
- Jesus Sanchez
OUTFIELD – Tier II
- Aaron Judge
- Oneil Cruz & Bryan Reynolds
- Hunter Renfroe
- Starling Marte
- Salvador Perez – C – Kansas City Royals – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Anthony Santander – OF – Blue Jays
- Max Kepler – OF – Phillies
- Alec Bohm – 3B – Phillies
- Bryce Harper – 1B – Phillies
- Bobby Witt Jr – SS – Royals
- Jesus Sanchez – OF – Marlins
- Adam Frazier – 2B – Pirates
- BONUS ….. Mookie Betts – Dodgers
TOP BETS
Marlins/Phillies OVER 10.5
Royals ML
DBacks/Cubs UNDER 7.5
Blue Jays ML
Nats/Rockes UNDER 9
Yankees/Rays OVER