WEATHER All Clear and slightly better than yesterday for offense.  The Mets and Rockies game in Coors has been moved up due to weather issues and is nulled from our slate tonight.   CAM SCHLITTLER (DK: $10,000) Big price here on Cam, and it’s justified.  I really hate these wrap-around series and feel like the Monday game when they play 4 over the weekend is always lower scoring.  Almost nobody has his upside tonight & as a whole the Orioles lineup is very underwhelming — even if they did get to Fried eventually yesterday. LOGAN GILBERT (DK: $9000) So I was not going to write up Gilbert just because I’m pretty certain I have mentioned him almost every start and claimed he’s gonna have his dominant start — only to see him just be average.  I mean, why would I keep pushing Gilbert when he now has to face one of the top offenses in the league right now (even without Acuna)?   Oh, that’s EXACTLY why we are going with Gilbert my friends.   NOT TOUCHING Davis Martin & Jose Soriano:  This is a quick turnaround between the White Sox and Angels who met last week & Martin/Soriano both have to deal with facing the same lineup twice.  Advantage is on the hitters side. JR Ritchie:  Price is a little steep IMO.  Nerves might be extremely high as he is from the Washington State area – so this is as close to home as he is going to pitch.     CUBS Another windy game in Wrigley but it’s warmer than yesterday — although the night game does diminish the impact slightly.  Cincy’s going with Chase Petty, who has been awful in the short time at the big league level.  His expected results should either be absolute dog shit or pretty good velocity.  I cannot see him being good for multiple innings in a row, so this is a spot to stack consecutive batters and not one offs Bregman / Happ / Suzuki ROYALS The Royals had a good weekend in Seattle & lots of guys are hitting the ball hard now.  With warmer temps in KC we might finally see the changed dimensions coming into play more & the Royals Italian kings are both prime to take advantage of the Bibee matchup. Vinnie Pasquantino Jac Caglianone Michael Massey   PADRES vs GIANTS Sneaky game and I think a sneaky […]

As far as Sunday’s are concerned this is a fairly light slate with just 8 games.   WEATHER No issues, but still generally cold and once again windy in Pittsburgh, Chicago and St. Louis.   There are two pitchers going up against former teams as Dustin May gets the Dodgers & Jesus Luzardo is in South Beach to take on the Marlins once more.  The goal here every day is to find three pitchers to recommend, but sometimes I just try to cut it short and only list the ones that I like.  Well, today that’s really just one player… MAX FRIED Fuggin love Fried today.  The wind is not a big issue as he can generally keep the ball down on the ground.  I feel like I’ve been on the right pulse with Fried all season long and think he strings his third straight scoreless start today — possibly even with a no-hitter flirt for a while.   BECAUSE ON DK WE GOTTA FIND A SECOND OPTION … BRAXTON ASHCRAFT Unfortunately the good choices stop and end immediately after Fried.  Braxton Ashcraft and Chase Burns will probably be the second popular choices and both could be ejected by the 2nd inning when a full on brawl breaks out in this game.  I get that you can’t play cautious in that regard, so if you wanna back either one it’s logical and Ashcraft being 2k cheaper just makes much more sense IMO.   SUNDAY SLEEPERS Nobody really looks great here.  Steven Matz has almost no strikeout upside, but the Giants couldn’t hit a one armed left handed pitcher who signs his name with his right hand. Matthew Boyd is actually an interesting prospect, when he is on he gets tons of ground balls & thus in a cold Wrigley the wind doesn’t matter that much for him. Chris Paddack is in south beach on a Sunday, yes.  But I think the Phillies are actually recovered from a Friday night hangover by now.   YANKEES We get a rookie SP making his debut in Trey Gibson for the orioles.  The RHP doesn’t really seem to have a signature secondary pitch, so expect him to try and rely upon some weak fastballs against the Yankees.  Good luck, pal.  This means focus on the cheaper guys and players you normally might not lock in on like Jasson, Wellls & Grisham — but don’t […]

WEATHER All clear   CHRIS SALE (DK: $9200) It’s between Sale & Michael King.  One has a perceived spot in Coors that for some dumb reason has his price low (Sale) and the other faces Murakami.  Pretty easy decision to use Sale and trust his command is good. SETH LUGO (DK: $9500) Lugo is gonna do what he does.  Come out and throw the whole kitchen sink and work his way through 6 IP.       ROYALS     CATCHER Carter Jensen Will Smith   FIRST BASE Freddie Freeman Vinnie Pasquantino Alec Burleson   SECOND BASE Ozzie Albies Marcus Semien JJ Wetherholt   THIRD BASE Manny Machado Willi Castro   SHORTSTOP Bobby Witt Jr. Corey Seager   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Mike Trout Jac Caglianone Jackson Merrill Nathan Church       Mike Trout – OF – LA Angels – Chairman of The Dongers Club Nathan Church – OF – Cardinals Bobby Witt Jr – SS – Royals Freddie Freeman – 1B – Dodgers Carter Jensen – C – Royals Ozzie Albies – 2B – Braves

Happy Kentucky Derby day!  Trust me – I know nothing about handicapping the horses but my picks are WIN:  Chief Wallabee PLACE:  Commandment SHOW:  Danon Bourbon Enjoy the Derby as we have two 5 game MLB slates today to really focus on.  The 4PM ‘Early’ slate and then the 5 game Main slate tonight   WEATHER All clear   It looks like a tricky slate for finding two good pitching options, but I also think you can get away with most plays outside of one game. Spencer Arighetti Andrew Painter Forster Griffin     GUARDIANS / ATHLETICS Short slates often require you to think a little unique with the build but I also have to default back to what is the initial read.  The initial read is that this will be a high scoring series & fading day games in Sacramento as it gets warmer and warmer is just not advisable.  Both bullpens are weak, both teams get the right matchup vs the SP as well & I just have no desire to try and stack any other games today. Travis Bazzanna has a breakout day. Rhys Hoskins Travis Bazzana Brent Rooker Carlos Cortes     CATCHER Shea Langeliers   FIRST BASE Rhys Hoskins   SECOND BASE Travis Bazzana Brandon Lowe   THIRD BASE Jose Ramirez Isaac Paredes   SHORTSTOP This is the best position on this early slate.  Lots of good options here, which stinks because I am 100% going Turner if he plays after his hangover is cleared up. Trea Turner Elly De La Cruz Jacob Wilson   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Carlos Cortes Tyler Soderstrom Brent Rooker Angel Martinez   Rhys Hoskins – 1B – Cleveland Guardians – Chairman of The Dongers Club Brent Rooker – OF – Athletics Trea Turner – SS – Phillies Travis Bazzana – 2B – Guardians Isaac Paredes – 3B – Astros   BETS Guardians/Athletics OVER 10 Phillies ML  

Happy Friday!  We have Diamondbacks (ARENADO) vs the Cubs in Wrigley this afternoon, a decent Turbo slate and then an okay Main slate tonight.   WEATHER All clear   COLE RAGANS (DK: $8300 – FD: $8200) If your not really looking to use a pitcher off a ceiling start then I certainly can respect that, but like, hey, that’s your choice and all that.  So, yeah, good luck.  The command was on point vs the Angels and thus it kinda helps when you flip from 4+ walks a game to none and look at all those whiffs back on the scene.  The Angels BTW are one of the top walk teams in the league this year.  A mechanics fix and Ragans is in the midst of one of his multi game dominant streaks.  Trust the southpaw up in the great north west tonight because this feels like a throwback Clayton Kershaw late night west coast hammer hot stuff… SHANE McCLANAHAN (DK: $8200 – FD: $8000) Everything after Ragans is even for me today.  He’s the ace.  The Giants could become a threat vs LHP if Willy Adames ever gets his head out of his ass — not likely going to happen yet.  Handle Ramos and Chapman and this is not a tough spot for McClanahan.  The downside as always is that he could easily just stop at 60 pitches and you’re left with a boring ole 8 FPTS. ZACK WHEELER (DK: $9500 – FD: $9000) Second start back for Wheels & he gets a Marlins team returning home from their west coast trip where they played extremely well in LA.  The one guy who would scare me in normal simulations is Kyle Stowers but he has just one game in the last 5 with a hit and isn’t walking much either.  His slump likely breaks soon but we’ll deal with that on Sunday.   OTHER PITCHING NOTES Emmett Sheehan:  The best of the other options. Noah Schultz:  I love that he is coming out on fire.  Tatis is not struggling, he’s just weak as hell and cannot get the ball over the fence, but he’s still making good contact and a big threat — as are Laureano and Machado.  I’ll pass on road here. Bryan Woo:  No.  Hard no.   HOUSTON ASTROS The Red Sox are calling up prospect Jake Bennett.  Bennett is a 6’6 lefty who throws with long […]

WEATHER Two rain outs last night brings us two double headers today, but there are no projected PPD games today so we’re moving forward with a 7 game slate just as we would have in the first place.   PAUL SKENES (DK: $10,300, FD: $10.8k) They keep giving us the 11k or higher Skenes at a reasonable price.  We’re easily allowed to play him and we’re going to be thankful to do that once more today. FRAMBER VALDEZ (DK: $8000, FD: $8200) Only a deranged Braves fan would full on stack this game.  It’s going to finish 3-1 in favor of a Kevin McGonigle 2 run triple and the Braves offense should muster no match for Framber as a lefty ground ball guy comes in and gets just that from them.     REDS Former Red Michael Lorenzen is back in Cincinnati, and he should remember this park well but the strikeouts are not there & we have to like the Elly-Stewart-Steer section of this lineup.  Sure, Nate Lowe, go right ahead. Sal Stewart (or Nate Lowe for salary relief) Spencer Steer Tyler Stephenson Elly De La Cruz NY METS Ugh.  They’re awful.  Just miserable.  I think if you touch anything here Robert, Baty or Semien (oof) are viable Brett Baty Luis Robert Jr. Marcus Semien ASTROS vs ORIOLES I am always cautious at stacking games in double headers because the teams had the day off last night to almost surely “do something else” and they tend to just go quietly to get it over with.   It’s also a get away spot here too, but the get away should be Chris Bassitt getting the fuck away from Yordan Alvarez today.  So here’s your choice.  Play 40% Alvarez, hope he walks twice, or log off when he hits his third homer?  It’s your choice weiner… Yordan Alvarez Cam Smith Gunnar Henderson Adley Rutschman   CATCHER Tyler Stephenson Adley Rutschman   FIRST BASE Sal Stewart Pete Alonso Jake Bauers   SECOND BASE Ketel Marte Marcus Semien Gleyber Torres   THIRD BASE Kevin McGonigle Bo Bichette Nolan Arenado   SHORTSTOP Elly De La Cruz Gunnar Henderson CJ Abrams   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Yordan Alvarez Heliot Ramos Luis Robert Jr. TJ Friedl     Yordan Alvarez – OF – Houston Astros – Chairman of The Dongers CLub Heliot Ramos – OF – Giants TJ Friedl – OF – Reds Jake Bauers – 1B […]

WEATHER It’s cold.  It sucks. Giants / Phillies and Cardinals / Pirates some rain   TARIK SKUBAL (DK: $10.7k, FD: $10.8k) It comes down to a decision point between Sanchez and Skubal.  While Skubal faces the Braves in Atlanta, I still trust him off a shaky start while Sanchez is off a REALLY bad start.  Upside is clearly with Skubal more than Sanchez, but not a ton. BUBBA CHANDLER (DK: $7500) Pending weather, this one should finally be the low scoring Cardinals/Pirates game of the series.   THIRD OPTION Logan Webb   REDS TJ Friedl Elly De La Cruz Nate Lowe   DIAMONDBACKS Ketel Marte Corbin Carroll Ildemaro Vargas Lourdes Gurriel Jr Nolan Arenado   CATCHER Gary Sanchez Hunter Goodman Adrian Del Castillo   FIRST BASE Nathaniel Lowe   SECOND BASE Ketel Marte Matt McLain   THIRD BASE Nolan Arenado Colt Keith Matt Chapman   SHORTSTOP Elly De La Cruz Geraldo Perdomo   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Heliot Ramos T.J. Friedl Riley Greene Corbin Carroll     Heliot Ramos – OF – San Francisco Giants – Chairman of The Dongers Club Riley Greene – OF – Tigers Nate Lowe – 1B – Reds Nolan Arenado – 3B – Diamondbacks Ketel Marte – 2B – Diamondbacks BETS Diamondbacks ML

WEATHER All clear   LOGAN GILBERT (DK: $8800, FD: $8700) Chilly night in Minnesota.  The Twins only win when they have a blow up inning & Gilbert — while giving up HR at times — is not a blow up guy and not in back to back games unless he takes another line drive out into his shirt for some stupid reason like last start. JACOB DEGROM (DK: $9000, FD: $10.2k) Bring on the Yankees.  Lets trust deGrom who is no stranger to pitching with no run support & pitching in touch spots.  I think we ride him if folks go with Ohtani vs the Marlins who are just as … well, somewhat just as pesky.     It really feels like a heavy stack night. ROYALS Carter Jensen Jac Caglianone Vinnie Pasquantino Bobby Witt Jr   DIAMONDBACKS This is really an all or nothing play.  If they can get to Patrick early they should put up 7-10 runs.  If they don’t, they’ll just fiddle along. Ketel Marte Corbin Carroll Adrian Del Castillo Lourdes Gurriel Nolan Arenado   BREWERS Brice Turang William Contreras Jake Bauers Garrett Mitchell   CATCHER Carter Jensen Daulton Rushing William Contreras   FIRST BASE Freddie Freeman Munetaka Murakami   SECOND BASE Brice Turang Ketel Marte Fernando Tatis Jr   THIRD BASE Nolan Arenado Max Muncy Bo Bichette   SHORTSTOP Zach Neto Ronny Mauricio Geraldo Perdomo   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Jac Caglianone Ian Happ – I am the leader of Seiya Suzuki is a streaky hitter fan club, but I think that plays into the man in front of him tonight.  Happ’s the benefactor Jahmai Jones Wilyer Abreu   OUTFIELD – Tier II Randy Arozarena Jackson Merrill Brent Rooker Josh Lowe   Jac Caglianone – OF – Kansas City Royals – Chairman of The Dongers Club Freddie Freeman – 1B – Dodgers Ian Happ – OF – Cubs Wilyer Abreu – OF – Red Sox Nolan Arenado – 3B – Diamondbacks Brice Turang – 2B – Brewers Zach Neto – SS – Angels Carter Jensen – C – Royals BONUS ……………. Randy Arozarena – OF – Mariners BETS Arizona / Milwaukee OVER 8 Seattle ML -122

WEATHER Angels at White Sox:  Rain off and on, big wind gusts at times. Mariners at Twins:   Rain all day which fades as the game comes in, but they could just decide to PPD it early   MAX FRIED (DK: $9700, FD: $10,900) I’m not sure why my model isn’t higher on Fried here today.  The Rangers in their home park aren’t a huge threat and even though he wont repeat the Boston start, he only threw 100 pitches in that game.  It’s not like its a 120 pitch outing we are going B2B with here.  Maybe 10 years ago McCutchen would be a threat, but not now.  Fried can get Nimmo and Seager out and he’s on his way to another great start. MATTHEW BOYD (DK: $7700) San Diego is back from Mexico & back in PETCO.  Boyd went 84 pitches in his return off the IL, expect similar output here – maybe into the 90’s with a heavy dose of change-ups against the Padres fastball seeking lineup.   THIRD OPTIONS I don’t really have anyone else today. Luis Castillo could pitch above expectations, but weather and just lack of faith in him are risks.  Dylan Cease and Yamamoto are likely the chalky guys that I don’t recommend using.  Cease is in an environment where the Sox are going to be pesky & probably come in aggressive.  I think the Sox lefties are a good sneaky stack in fact.  Yamamoto’s not gonna match Fried & the Marlins are pesky.   I dont have one team far above another one today.  The spots that might feel obvious arent as glaringly strong as you want them to be.  i.e. Toronto vs Suarez is good, not great.  This is your ultimate Mt. Rushmore pick 3 stud hitters and mix in value around it kinda slate. BLUE JAYS Vlad Jr. Ernie Clement Kaz Okamoto MARINERS (Weather Risk) Love J-Rod but the weather could push this game down. Julio Rodriguez Randy Arozarena Mitch Garver PIRATES Theyre extremely expensive all things considered because you need Lowe & Cruz.  I expect them to put up 6-7 runs though. Oneil Cruz Brandon Lowe   CATCHER Austin Wells Mitch Garver Agustin Ramirez   FIRST BASE Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Michael Busch Freddie Freeman   SECOND BASE Brandon Lowe Oswaldo Peraza Ernie Clement   THIRD BASE Alex Bregman Kazuma Okamoto Royce Lewis   SHORTSTOP Otto Lopez Colson Montgomery Zach Neto […]

Quick picks for Sunday’s slate.   WEATHER All clear   Kyle Bradish Chris Sale   THE SUNDAY SLEEPER Keider Montero (Tigers)   Guardians & Blue Jays:  I really like Toronto in this game, the Cleveland bullpen is also very fragile Astros Rays   CATCHER Drake Baldwin Austin Hedges Hunter Fedducia   FIRST BASE Pete Alonso Yandy Diaz Christian Walker   SECOND BASE Jazz Chisholm Jr. Matt McLain Brice Turang   THIRD BASE Junior Caminero Carlos Correa Colt Keith   SHORTSTOP Corey Seager Konnor Griffin Kevin McGonigle   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Yordan Alvarez Taylor Ward Angel Martinez Bryan Reynolds     Corey Seager – SS – Texas Rangers – Chairman of The Dongers Club Bryan Reynolds – OF – Pirates Yordan Alvarez – OF – Astros Pete Alonso – 1B – Orioles Colt Keith – 3B – Tigers