All teams are back from the all-star break today with a day game in Wrigley Field (the way it should be) and then a small turbo slate, followed by our 11 game MAIN slate tonight
Couple series highlights to call out for this weekend to get the noggin spining:
- NYY at ATL: So, wait a minute here. I was told that Aaron Judge wasn’t an option in the All-Star game to do the swing off because of travel plans leaving the game early? I guess, yeah, he had a two day vacation but he didn’t want to spend it in Atlanta? Fair enough. So,
- ATH at CLE: Love the Athletics all weekend.
- SF at TOR: Big park shift series for the Giants & they have a handful of hitters who have fared VERY well in Toronto
- Coors is back: Yep, Coors is here and the Twins are your team to piss you off all weekend long
WEATHER
I don’t anticipate any PPD games today. Could see some storms down in Atlanta.
You will have a good number of pitchers who haven’t thrown in well over a week going the next few days. I don’t really put too much emphasis on this, but you could see it swing either way with some guys being rusty and others being very fresh.
SETH LUGO (DK: $9300 / FD: $9700) … Lugo has been rumored in trade talks and if the Royals come out of the ASB and implode then I wouldn’t be shocked to see them shop him around. But hopefully (for me) they don’t do that and he remains their most important arm down the stretch as a guy who is going to not allow more than 2 ER, throw 6 IP and hopefully strikeout 1+ batters per inning.
NICK LODOLO (DK: $8400 / FD: $9200) … And this one is trusting a little bit that the Mets come out “off” to start the weekend as a team with heavy veteran presence. Lodolo is pitching great for the Reds & the park is favorable for him to keep the ball in the stadium. With his K% being in the top 20% on this slate I would be shocked if he isn’t a great PT/$ play at 8400 on DK.
JP SEARS (DK: $6200 / FD: $8100) … The best of the “cheap” options tonight. Definitely a couple tiers below everyone else but he is facing the Guardians, who really cannot hit at home anymore.
GIANTS (& JAYS)
Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Jung Hoo Lee
Nobody should love the Giants as much as we will today. But while most park shifts mean less than they are hyped up for, this one is very notable. Long fly ball outs will turn into doubles for the Giants. Smiles around for Devers & Chapman — good luck deciding your fighter there on DK at 3B, along with Adames, Lee and any other lefty vs Bassitt. Will they score 13? No. But a 5 spot is definitely here and they’re very cheap.
ATHLETICS
Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Langs
Give me some Sacramento LiC Mr. Kurtz, Butler and Soderstrom. Also really feels like a great spot for Shea Langeliers
RAYS
Simpson, Aranda, J.Lowe
Baltimore was awful before the break. They get warm Tampa at night, but you cannot pay me to trust them offensively (sure, Bradley is fine as a SP2). Lets go with the Rays side. Morton’s not the type of veteran to come out and be great after an 8 day layoff.
CATCHER
- Shea Langeliers
- Ryan Jeffers
- Salvador Perez
FIRST BASE
- Nick Kurtz
- Jonathan Aranda … Will it be hilarious when he hits 2 HR tonight?
- Vlad Guerrero … Over the last 5 seasons Vladdy has been a MONSTER in his first game after the ASB
SECOND BASE
- Brendan Donovan
- Gleyber Torres
- Luis Urias
THIRD BASE
- Matt Chapman
- Rafael Devers
- Nolan Arenado
SHORTSTOP
- Willy Adames
- Carlos Correa
- Jacob Wilson
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
Thankfully Buxton is 6500 in Coors today. So they didn’t screw up there.
- Lawrence Butler
- Jung Hoo Lee
- Addison Barger
- Josh Lowe
OUTFIELD – Tier II
- Tyler Soderstrom
- Chandler Simpson
- Christian Yelich
- Byron Buxton
- Matt Chapman – 3B – San Francisco Giants – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Vlad Guerrero Jr – 1B – Toronto Blue Jays
- Willy Adames – SS – Giants
- Brendan Donovan – 2B – Cardinals
- Shea Langeliers – C – Athletics
- Lawrence Butler – OF – Athletics
- Addison Barger – OF – Blue Jays
- Josh Lowe – OF – Rays
- BONUS … Jonathan Aranda – 1B – Rays
TOP BETS
- Giants/Jays OVER 8.5
- Athletics ML
- Rays ML