Nice thirteen game slate we have on this fine Friday evening and a quick look ahead shows that the Saturday slate is mostly evening games as well so there will NOT be an early only article for tomorrow but rather just the main slate tomorrow night. For tonight we have 13 games only because one starts early in the 6pm window and another is part of a double-header. This means that tonight’s slate does not have Pirates or Royals on it.
But that’s okay because ESPN announced earlier this week that the Memorial Day Royals-Pirates game will be broadcast on national television and by then we should be ready to roster Adalberto Raul Mondesi III in his 3-5 and 4 stolen base game. Tonight has zero weather concerns associated with it either, so that is kinda cool and as best I can tell both sites have every player who is relevant in their player pools. I literally have nothing to complain about in this space, so sit back and enjoy the Baseball.
WEATHER
There are no rain, wind, temperature or alien concerns today.
- Roof remains stupid in Tampa
- Roof likely open in Arizona
- Roof likely closed in Milwaukee
- Roof likely open in Houston
Clayton Kershaw (DK: $10k – FD: $11k)
There are three big name pitchers today in Keshaw, Scherzer and Glasnow. I went through a simple process of elimination and landed on Kershaw as the one to trust the most, but honestly they all can be trusted to deliver a good score and none will deliver a GREAT score today. Kershaw is in a park that will play well for him (unlike Max) and his only downside is that the Marlins do have some power vs LHP but they’re also the best strikeout match-up of the three and once we get a month plus into the season Kershaw is normally getting into a groove. Two starts ago he was bad in Wrigley-ville and then came back on short rest to pitch well last outing vs the Angels. He’ll go strong today vs a lineup with a .283 wOBA among the top 5 hitters… How can we not play him simply based on the fact that the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl? It’s a sign.
David Peterson (DK: $7,400, FD: $6,600)
One reason I don’t like Glasnow in the top tier is that I want to roll with Peterson on the other side to get the win. I actually believe the Mets will hit Glasnow a little and give Peterson some run support tonight to go along with being in the category of “LHP vs the Rays” right now. Tampa’s a huge strikeout boost as they K 30% of the time vs LHP and they aren’t able to roll out a move the men type lineup either, so with Peterson getting 55% ground balls he should pitch a very clean game.
Corey Kluber (DK: $9,100 – FD: $8,500)
Kluber is pitching extremely well recently, continuing a long trend with him where April was terrible and then May he flips a switch. In Kluber’s last four starts he has gone over 90 pitches in each (over 100 in the last two) and has started to strike-out teams he should be striking out (Wash, Det, Bal). Tonight he’ll get Baltimore again and while it’s in Camden Yards, this lineup is still one that should be easy to navigate for someone with multiple pitches like Kluber, as Baltimore is a one trick pony type lineup.
Others who just don’t make the cut but given 13 games are worthy of mention
- Joe Musgrove – Unlike the Brewers who I think are clearly cheating on their pitching at home, Musgrove will not avoid the Goldy/Nado back to back PETCO homers.
- Glasnow – Gimme Kershaw then Max and no Glasnow
- Zack Greinke – Meh. Kluber instead
- Aaron Civale – No, he is not as good as Plesac. Wont go as long.
- Sandy Alcantra – Not picking on sleeping giant Dodgers.
- German Marquez – You’ll notice zero Reds mentioned below and part of this is due to some injuries from last night more than liking Marquez. But he is usually good enough to hold off major runs at home and also not good enough to use.
Phils/Jays
Segura/Bohm … Semien/Bichette/Teoscar
Phillies and Blue Jays? That’s auto fireworks right there. Throw in Tampa weather, Vincent Velasquez and Steven Matz having to face an NL East team and we’ve got ourselves the top game of the night — and that’s even with Coors on the slate. Matz is starting to come back to earth and Bohm/Segura/Hoskins are three main plays to consider from Philly who will be without JT Realmuto this weekend. The Blue Jays are a very streaky team and come in finally getting some production from Teoscar and Lourdes which should only help them have some more big innings going forward. On the season Velasquez is allowing .333 ISO to RHB, so uh yeah, this is a horrific spot for him.
Oakland Athletics
Moreland/Chapman/Lowrie/Laureano
There are three hitters who leap out and should give Matt Shoemaker nightmares today. Mitch Moreland, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie. Obviously you gotta decide between Mitch and Matt on DK, but they make a nice 1-2 stack on FanDuel tonight. Neither did much in Boston and should get a nice boost with Shoemaker struggling vs LH hitting. I also like the park a ton for Chapman/Canha/Laureano. Big weekend for Oakland in my mind against a reeling Twins team.
Angels / Red Sox
Ohtani/Fletcher/Trout … Martinez/Devers/Verdugo
Griffin Canning and Nick Pivetta. Need I say more? Great game to not stack but consider some stud one offs from as Ohtani/Trout battle Devers/Martinez for the battle to see who can double dong first tonight.
CATCHER
- Kurt Suzuki
- Elias Diaz
- Andrew Knapp
FIRST BASE
- Mitch Moreland – I don’t normally look at BvP before I dive into the slate and this was brought up well after he was coverboy/chairman for me today but Moreland has 5 career HR in 14 PA against Shoemaker.
- Rhys Hoskins
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Luke Voit
SECOND BASE
We need value tonight on DK and this is the position to deliver it outside of Moreland at 1B
- Marcus Semien
- Luis Arraez
- Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
- Nolan Arenado
- Matt Chapman
- Rafael Devers
SHORTSTOP
- Trea Turner – Trea Triples Season is here.
- Bo Bichette
- David Fletcher
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Shohei Ohtani
- Teoscar Hernandez
- Marcell Ozuna
- Juan Soto
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Ramon Laureano
- Alex Verdugo
- Andrew McCutchen
- Kyle Schwarber
OUTFIELD – Value
- Seth Brown
- Nomar Mazara
- Avisail Garcia
- Dylan Carlson
The Dongers Club
- Mitch Moreland – 1B – Athletics – Chairman of the Dongers Club
- Matt Chapman – 3B – Athletics
- Javy Baez – SS – Cubs
- Kurt Suzuki – C – Angels
- Shohei Ohtani – OF – Angels
- Teoscar Hernandez – OF – Blue Jays
- Marcell Ozuna – OF – Braves
- Marcus Semien – 2B – Blue Jays
- BONUS …………………………… Nolan Arenado – 3B – Cardinals
LINEUP CONSTRUCTION THOUGHTS
Chalkiest Stacks
- Blue Jays
- Astros
- Yankees
- Coors
Team(s) with most upside getting overlooked and also not being attacked with a SP (i.e. Low owned secondary stacks)
- Athletics
- Braves
- Cubs
Top Leverage Plays
13 game slate…. Zero “leverage” plays today, but we do have fades, and here are My fades
- Astros
- Reds / Rockies — Someone on the rockies hits a random 3 run homer, good luck.
- Yankees
- Glasnow
BETS
- Athletics / Twins OVER 8.5
- Cardinals ML
- Cubs ML
CORE PLAYS FOR SINGLE ENTRY
- Clayton Kershaw
- Mitch Moreland
- Jean Segura
- Teoscar Hernandez
FAVORITE ONE OFFS
Trea Turner
Marcell Ozuna