Almost the perfect sized slate tonight but we are still amiss two games on the Turbo slate, so no ability to use Padres, Marlins, Rangers or Tigers, I know you are all very sad that we miss the Martin Perez vs Alex Faedo game in 88 degree Detroit, Michigan.
WEATHER
No issues tonight
There aren’t many high priced pitchers with just four over 10k on DraftKings and when you combine that with how many ‘Star’ hitters I think are in great spots vs the SP today you should find yourself pairing two mid-range pitchers on DraftKings and go from there.
I will say among the top $ guys (McClanahan, Gallen, Ryan, Gilbert), that Zac Gallen is no doubt the best of the bunch and should have a strong rebound game at home vs Colorado.
TOP ARM
Brayan Bello (DK: $7100, FD: $7000)
It’s kinda rare that there is a team who can go into Fenway Park one time a year and not consider it a good park shift for the road team, but such is the case for Cincinnati who has the best jet stream to right field and now has a bad spot for hitting it out to right field.
That’s one boost for Bello, the other positive is how well he is pitching overall and his 0 walk performance in Anaheim was huge for him as he went 7 innings on just 98 pitches. That confidence and a pretty soft Reds lineup outside of Nick Senzel and …. well, Nick Senzel, is enough to just take what should be everyones favorite “SP2” and use him as our SP1 tonight.
SP2 OPTIONS
Tony Gonsolin (DK: $8000, FD: $9400)
Washington is pesky, not vs a guy like Gonsolin though. Still a big time discount on his price and while I know we dont like no strikeout guys vs Washington I cannot see him hurting you on a slate where that’s the main focus with pitching.
Yusei Kikuchi (DK: $8400, FD: $8500)
Ah, my friend Kikuchi. Yusei the Brewers have some power and I say, yeah but they strike out a TOOOON. Kikuchi has been back to being horrible of late, so this either goes with him posting that 24 point performance I anticipate or he gives up 4 homers in the first inning and finishes with like -13 before going to the bullpen in a week.
Johan Oviedo (DK: $6400, FD: $7900)
After they posted a touchdown in the mid afternoon game yesterday the Giants — who are hitting well — were one of my first teams to look to pick on. Night games in San Francisco tend to not be as explosive and Oviedo does have good numbers against lefty bats, negating Wade/Yaz/Conforto.
OTHER SP NOTES
Ranger Suarez either is going to give the Phillies a nice game with lots of GIDP balls to get out of jams or this game is going to be 30-24 with Boston Scott having to score late for Philly to win on the road in NY. I got a feeling he pitches well and Philly rolls.
McClanahan vs Hendricks – toughest game to handicap today. I wouldn’t mock you for stacking the Rays or for using both SP. Shane’s price is a tough pill for me to swallow though.
JP Sears? Anyone? JP Sears to give Oakland TWO in a row??? No? Just me? Okay, fine…
TWINS
Kepler, Correa, Lewis, Gallo
The cheap prices on Kepler, Gallo and Lewis are great, and the revenge homer from Correa should come tonight here too. Look for Royce Lewis to homer again as well. Ride the kid.
ORIOLES
Rutschman, Santander
Take notice because this might be the last time you see Cal Quantrill make a start for Cleveland. The clock is ticking and one more 5+ ER outing could be the final nail. That nail, is being driven in tonight by the Bird Land trio of Rustchman, Mountcastle and Santander.
Love Jose Ramirez in this game as well.
Also Like:
Royals/Cardinals (Pasquantino/Pratto/Witt … Arenado/Gorman/DeJong) … Good game stack spot, very warm in St. Louis. Both SP can get knocked out early as well.
CATCHER
MVP candidate Adley Rustchman had Monday off, he will be back in today and is the #1 Oriole and #1 catcher tonight.
- Adley Rutschman
- Sean Murphy
- Willson Contreras … Not William, read closely.
FIRST BASE
Love some Pasquatch today, he should be all over Mikolas. After the two studs (Vlad/Freddie) there is a oddly priced Josh Naylor at 3k. That’s just too low for someone who has a +200 ISO vs RHP and has a park which should be friendly to the swing tonight.
- Vinnie Pasquantino
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr
- Freddie Freeman
- Josh Naylor
SECOND BASE
Julien could get a nice spot in the batting order again and is sub 3k for a team I really like tonight. Not much to overthink there. There are a lot of cold hitters at this spot, so its mostly a gut feel position today, but also the best spot to just plug in the 2B from your #1 stack and go. I often get questions on process for putting together a lineup and this is one tip that I’ll offer. Dont go position by position, start with SP1 + Top team, then fill in favorite one offs and then plug in the position evaluating if you can round out a stack or if there’s a one off there. This is the last spot to fill today.
- Edouard Julien
- Brandon Lowe
- Andres Gimenez
- Ketel Marte
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez has a couple big doubles over the last week, hits with more power from the left side and is just $5200 versus Kyle Gibson. I mentioned how I dont wanna pay for Pitching because of stud hitters. Well, here you go Nancy…
- Jose Ramirez
- Rafael Devers
- Eduardo Escobar
SHORTSTOP
Do not be shocked if/when Royce Lewis ($2000 still) homers again tonight. This is clearly one of those scenarios where the long time prospect finally gets up and goes off in his first week in the big leagues. His $2000 price also offsets any challenges in lineup building and goes with the Twins stack. But, that also means missing out on Carlos Correa’s massive homer he is hitting tonight.
- Carlos Correa
- Royce Lewis
- Bobby Witt Jr
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
Harper double dong spot tomorrow when he is back
- Max Kepler
- Eloy Jimenez
- Yordan Alvarez
- Alex Verdugo
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Joey Gallo
- Anthony Santander
- Kyle Schwarber
OUTFIELD – Value
- Nick Pratto
- Daulton Varsho
- Willie Calhoun
- Carlos Correa – SS – Minnesota Twins – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Anthony Santander – OF – Orioles
- Jose Ramirez – 3B – Guardians
- Adley Rutschman – C – Orioles
- Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B – Royals
- Yordan Alvarez – OF – Astros
- Max Kepler – OF – Twins
- Brandon Lowe – 2B – Rays
- BONUS ………… Royce Lewis – SS – Twins
LINEUP CONSTRUCTION NOTE
The term ‘Stars & Scrubs’ is going to apply tonight for hitters. Lots of good 5k+ guys and lots of good 3500 and below hitters. Don’t feel weird when your lineup looks like that. You need some 2HR games today…
TODAY’S TOP BET(s)
Underdogs / ML
- Cubs ML
- Athletics ML … TWO IN A ROW BABY!
- Pirates ML
Totals
- Milwaukee/Toronto under 9.5
- Phils/Mets OVER 8.5
- Royals/Cards OVER 9
- Twins/Astros OVER 8.5