A nearly perfect weekend set of series begins tonight and there are two games in the Turbo window that easily could have been pushed to 7:05 PM giving us an almost perfect slate.
I say almost perfect, because once again I question why the Cubs do not automatically get a home game at 2:20 PM on Friday’s in the summer and if we cannot give them weekend home series then lets at least have some game on this afternoon? I mean, the damn World Cup is supposedly this massive event and yet, it’s hardly ever on itself. Give us a damn game this afternoon, we deserve it.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
So, what makes this weekend so fun? It’s built with only three divisional series and they’re all very good (Tigers/Guardians, Braves/Mets, Yankees/Blue Jays). It also features only ONE “Home & Home” repeat where MLB is forcing teams to play each other twice in a short time span (Cubs/Giants). Here’s some immediate narrative/Dongers club thoughts on the series that stand out to take note all weekend & oh yeah, pretty much EVERY school system is out as of today.
- Marlins at Pirates: Marlins sneaky lefty power could be huge all weekend. Hate that this is a ‘Turbo’ slate today, but we get Pirates afternoon Saturday overs tomorrow, so thats nice.
- Mariners at Nationals: The Nats are dying a fast death right before our eyes. The hitting is slumping at times but is good at home and their bullpen is crumbling. For those long time DFS players, this is also the series that really cemented the Nationals not giving two shits about weather and PPD because they once played through a monsoon to get the Mariners out of town as quick as they could. O/U on 2.5 position players pitching in this series. Take the over.
- Padres at Orioles: The Machado return to Camden is one thing & getting it on a weekend for him to hit one out Sunday is a blessing from the schedulers.
- Tigers at Guardians: Lefties in Cleveland!
- Rangers at Red Sox: I got nothin.
- Zona at Reds: Ooh, now this is sweet. Always love me some Arizona on the east coast in the smaller dimension parks. Neither pen is good. There’s a Chairman here tomorrow.
- Braves at Mets: Austin Riley & Ozzie hit well in NY
- Yankees at Jays: No Judge/Stanton should help out the Jays, but I would be shocked if the Yankees aren’t burying Toronto this weekend.
- Dodgers at White Sox: Okay Chicago. This is your chance. Lets see your magic show up.
- Phillies at Brewers: Here comes the Schwarbs…
- Astros at Royals: Dear God.
- Rays at Angels: Rays sweep
- Rockies at Athletics: No comment
WEATHER
Every game should play but we are in stormy season right now and these spots could see early delays
- Padres at Orioles
- Rangers at Red Sox
- Braves at Mets
JACOB MISIOROWSKI (DK: $12k)
I already said a few starts back that Misiorowski is the guy this year that you auto play every time he is on the mound no matter what hte price is. With this not being a day game as well, I see no reason to expect the run to die off now and even if it does then you tip the cap and say okay, good day.
The other factor in play is the slate. 13 games. 13 games, new series, and 30+ FPT strikeout ace on the mound. I don’t care if he hits only 20 fantasy points, the winning lineups tonight will have him simply because there are plenty of cheap options for bats to play that will produce. There’s also plenty of SP2 options as well to make it easy to spread out a stack.
You’re playing him.
LANDEN ROUPP (DK: $8600)
A repeat match-up vs the bad Cubs offense who are coming out of Coors and going into the worst homer park. The advantage has been usually on the hitters side with this quick turnaround re-matches, but the park shift back to San Francisco should negate that.
Roupp’s been extremely reliable outside of one road start in Milwaukee and everyone struggles there it seems. He pitches well. He’s in the friendly pitcher environment. Rock and roll.
JACK LEITER (DK: $7500)
Nobody in Boston’s lineup should scare you for power off Leiter & that’s the best way to beat him is turning on his 4-seamer. Outside of a juiced balls scenario tonight he should be immune to any risk & brings some recent good history with him as well to pitch confidently.
ALSO CONSIDER TO DO WELL
- Shane McClanahan: Once again, he is not pitching like a 9k pitcher – but the match-up vs the Halos is fantastic.
- Sonny Gray: Neither offense poses extreme threat.
- Shane Baz: The wheels might be falling off & it could be insanely humid if the storms do not get to Baltimore in time, which helps the Padres lefties to possibly carry a few out. But the Padres righties have no shot here & that’s the bulk of their team right now.
TIGERS
I saw this series earlier this week and circled it immediately. The Tigers good lefties going into Cleveland (LiC) and getting the HR friendly Tanner Bibee to kick things off. Then, today, we see good weather and winds blowing out to RF at the Jake as well. Giddy up.
- Kerry Carpenter
- Riley Greene
- Kevin McGonigle
DIAMONDBACKS (& REDS)
At some point in this series I fully expect both teams to put up a 10 spot. Maybe tonight is the one sneaky night for the starters to be okay, but neither team has a consistent bullpen & so I think you are safe to use hitters here all weekend.
- Ryan Waldschmidt
- Nolan Arenado
COORS LIGHT
We have the Rockies going to the Athletics in Vegas, which is actually nice that we don’t have a Coors & Coors Light slate together. No reason not to think Hunter Goodman and Nick Kurtz wont homer.
- Hunter Goodman
- Nick Kurtz
CATCHER
- Hunter Goodman: If I wasn’t already locked in on the Chairman he would be the second pick.
- Gabriel Moreno
- William Contreras
FIRST BASE
Toughest spot to peg tonight. Certainly the game in Vegas is a natural landing spot, but do you have the guts to play Yandy Diaz going 4-4 in Anaheim? For non (Nick Kurtz vs the Rockies in Vegas) plays Alec Burleson brings the best HR potential with Jake Bauers being #2
- Nick Kurtz
- Yandy Diaz
- Alec Burleson
- Jake Bauers
SECOND BASE
Very good position tonight. I have Bazanna number one though because I think out of all these you’re going to get him on base 3 times, likely scoring a couple times and overall putting up a good score at $4500. Would throw him into some prop parlays if you want as well tonight. Same can be said for Turang, because when Milwaukee blows up on bad pitching, he’s almost always involved. And if Ketel Marte gets his head out of his ass, he hits 4 HR this weekend.
- Travis Bazzana
- Ketel Marte
- Brice Turang
THIRD BASE
Also good, but probably not spending up as much here. Couple usual GOATs are going to homer in their road spots this weekend (Nado/Riley)
- Nolan Arenado
- Kevin McGonigle
- Eugenio Suarez
- Austin Riley
SHORTSTOP
- Mookie Betts
- Ezequiel Tovar
- Gunnar Henderson
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Kerry Carpenter
- Jackson Chourio
- Ryan Waldschmidt – A must if you touch ‘Zona assuming he gets the middle of the order spot.
- Jac Caglianone – When I mention cheap bats that optimizers should spit out with the high $ Miz going tonight, this is one of them. One of the best hitters in the last month and still priced like his 2025 stats at $3400 against a terrible Asian.
OUTFIELD – TIER II
- Riley Greene
- Sam Antonacci
- Cam Smith
- Colton Cowser
- Juan Soto
- Kerry Carpenter – OF – Detroit Tigers – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Hunter Goodman – C – Rockies
- Nolan Arenado – 3B – Diamondbacks
- Mookie Betts – SS – Dodgers
- Alec Burleson – 1B – Cardinals
- Brice Turang – 2B – Brewers
- Ryan Waldschmidt – OF – Diamondbacks
- Jac Caglianone – OF – Royals
- BONUS …. Cam Smith – Astros