WEATHER Very slight rain delay chances in the Red Sox/Yankees and Diamondbacks/Reds games tonight, but neither is any PPD risk.  All in all it’s a favorable weather night for offense but nothing extreme yet. SETH LUGO (DK: $8800, FD: $8900) Second start after coming off the IL for a brief couple weeks.  The Tigers roughed him up, but the White Sox are not likely to do that much damage against Mr. Kitchen sink throwing everything he can against other teams.  I put everything on his last start on a guy who throws everything he can just being rusty. KODAI SENGA (DK: $9000, FD: $10.6k) Congrats to the Rockies on their sweep in South Beach and now they’ll come back home to Coors against the Mets — who are coming off a Dodgers series — and we get the absolute worst Coors Field game anyone has ever seen.  0-0 through 5 innings with the Mets then exploding for 7 or 8 chalk runs in the final two innings once they wake up.  For the Rockies vs Senga, they’ve got no shot — even at home.   OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS TARIK SKUBAL:  The Cubs bring their good vs LHP lineup in to Comerica Park against an $11,500 Tarik Skubal.  The guy is pitching great, yes.  He is the best pitcher in the game, yes.  He is not that automatic of a ‘blind’ play him no matter what scenario here.  I do like a good amount of value bats tonight though, so he can be fit. SPENCER SCHWELLENBACH: … Just play Skubal? Im not a big fan of either pitcher in the Houston/Cleveland game but they’re cheap and viable as punt options.   This is the really tough section to write up today as I could probably come up with half a dozen teams and still wouldn’t be touching on all the ones who pop off for me today.  Let’s first cover the ‘Games’ that have the most interest to me. Padres at Brewers:  If this game ends up 3-2 I am going to be furious, but it’s path to ending 3-2 is both teams leaving men on base.  Really want the Padres side, but the Brewers are facing the worse pitcher who is finally losing his glass slipper.  Tatis/Merrill vs Choriou/Yelich is a monster decision for stacks.  The keys are Luis Arraez having a huge night and Manny Machado having 2+ XBH.  Lean […]

WEATHER All clear FRAMBER VALDEZ (DK: $9300, FD: $10.3k) I’m not confident in the Pirates getting a hit, much less a run today.  Do not fade Framber tonight as coming off an 83 PC game that went 9 innings he is about as locked in as guy can be at the moment and drawing a terrible offense vs LHP. MAX FRIED (DK: $10k, FD: $10.1k) If you skip a stud SP this is the one, not Framber.  Fried will be really good though. MITCH KELLER (DK: $7500, FD: $8700) Just to get 2500 off of Fried which probably helps with a stack type build centered around the top teams tonight.  Don’t go here on FD.   CUBS They’ve cooled off but stepping out doors in downtown DC once again they’ll feel its insanely hot today and wont get shutout two nights in a row.  Jake Irvin really gets hit hard by the lefties & then Matt Shaw hits a HR off the pen.  Bottom of lineup is ideal & the Nats are also in a good spot once they get Pomeranz out of the game and over to Rea. YANKEES I know a slate that’ll produce little league homers when I see one.  Bellinger, Jazz, Volpe, Wells   CATCHER Carson Kelly Austin Wells   FIRST BASE Nathaniel Lowe Michael Busch Jonathan Aranda   SECOND BASE Jazz Chisholm Jr … Also in play at 3B tonight Nico Hoerner   THIRD BASE Matt Shaw Maikel Garcia   SHORTSTOP Corey Seager Jeremy Pena Dansby Swanson   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Ian Happ Pete-Crow Armstrong Aaron Judge Robert Hassell III   Matt Shaw – 3B – Chicago Cubs – Chairman of The Dongers Club   TOP BETS  

I will have two articles for this Thursday after essentially taking off Wednesday.  We have a double header with the Royals/Cardinals being placed on the early DraftKings “Turbo” slate at 1PM along with the Tigers/White Sox and Diamondbacks/Braves all going off before the 3PM slate locks. Then there is a MAIN ‘night’ slate for both sites as well. WEATHER All clear for the 5 game early slate DYLAN CEASE (DK: $8200, FD: $9500) Trust Cease far more than I would trust Robbie Ray.  This is another game which could go over after it did last night, however the production is on the Padres side.   Likely just a 6 strikeout game for Cease, but it’s good enough. JESUS LUZARDO (DK: $9300, FD: $10.2k) It’s always uncomfortable to look at a guy who just gave up 12 hits, 2 homers and 12 ER with a massive -17.5 DraftKings score and think, yeah, that’s how I wanna start my Thursday off with, but Jesus Luzardo is actually in the top three choices on this short slate.  Nobody posts back to back 12 ER games, so you can be confident there.  The Jays hot bat right now is Addison Barger – a lefty who shouldn’t be trusted in LvL yet, and George Springer has gone cold — soon to be going to the IL probably.  This means we’re about 3 weeks away from Vlad saying screw it I am going to just homer every night and do everything while we lose 7-2 on a daily basis. OTHER OPTIONS Best “THIRD” arm choice would be Zach Eflin, and given the price discount you get, I don’t hate making him SP2 with Cease – but doing this you want to stack the Dodgers/Mets game. On FanDuel you gotta like Casey Mize vs the White Sox   METS/DODGERS Unless they just mail this one in, I think we’re dumb not to touch on Chavez Ravine in an afternoon June game.  David Peterson can’t get RHH out, and Landon Knack while he did well in his last two starts (both vs NY teams) is not someone to suddenly start making Cy Young Award dinner plans with. TWINS/ATHLETICS I want to commend the Athletics for trying to make it a 3-28 streak that they are on.  I think we’re up to 3-25 right now?  Lets get another loss here but with some Rooker, Butler and Soderstrom production. Check the […]

Happy Jac Caglianone call-up day, and the Mets to follow along with the Royals have called up Ronny Mauricio (who played some in 2023) as well.  It’s prospect hitter season ladies and gentlemen!  Enjoy it. WEATHER TEX at TB:  Chance of rain here in the evening. THE TOP ‘ANCHOR’ ARMS SPENCER STRIDER (DK: $8500, FD: $9200) I think Spencer Strider is getting closer to being who we think he is, or at least who we remember him being two years ago, but realistically there’s no reason to think he is winning a major tournament tonight and probably not until after the ASB.  That said, $8500 is really tempting on him.  I don’t have any issues using him. BETTER THAN NORMAL OPTIONS Three guys tonight who are normally targets, that I think are going to pitch well. FREDDY PERALTA (DK: $9000, FD: $9300) Oddly enough, Cincinnati is better vs LHP lately & Elly De La Cruz also seems to be mentally checked out following the death of his sister and he has upcoming bereavement leave coming up too.  He’s in tonight – but only TJ Friedl has had any success against Peralta in the Reds lineup.  It’s warm, yes, in Cincinnati, but Peralta’s got upside here. BRAYAN BELLO (DK: $6300, FD: $7700) We should be calling Bello Baby Berrios, because he’s a poor mans Jose Berrios.  And every once and a while Berrios gets hot and you are like, woah, where did this guy come from?  Okay, Berrios is much better than Bello, but like Berrios, you pause when considering using him on a big slate.  The Angels have power, we know that — TOMOYUKI SUGANO (DK: $6500, FD: $7900) Asians in Seattle, bro! OTHER PITCHING NOTES Similar deal with Hunter Greene.  They seem to be a little cautious with him after a brief injury stint and I could see him stopping around 95 pitches tonight max. Rodon, Sanchez and Rasmussen are all OK – not great.  Prefer Sanchez & Rass the most of these three   ORIOLES Holliday, Rutschman, O’Hearn, Cowser, Mayo Great reason to build two lineups tonight?  The Orioles.  WHAT?  Yes, the fucking Orioles, are you deaf?  They’re going to be the hottest team in the MLB this week and you’re going to be sitting there on the toilet Thursday morning and be like, fuck me, why didn’t I listen to Steve?  No Mountcastle stinks but the return of […]

WEATHER No issues.  Weather is looking great this week. With a short slate I can keep it simple and not try to stretch my picks tonight.  They should be chalky, although hopefully some aren’t as high on Webb as I am today.  He is my must own against a scuffling Padres team and Flaherty against the White Sox is easily the SP2. LOGAN WEBB (DK: $9700, FD: $10.6k) … The numbers for Webb aren’t insanely good, but the guy just manages to find a way to get you what you need because he is always going over 100 pitches & usually gets enough ground balls to get out of jams.  San Diego obviously knows him and should get 6+ hits tonight, but with the favorable pitching park elements & most of the Padres asleep at the plate he’s gonna be just fine. JACK FLAHERTY (DK: $9000, FD: $9900) … Vargas has gone cold, Robert just stinks.  The other option today besides Flaherty I guess would be Singer, but … no.   So many great spots tonight.  Two games in good parks with good weather where the Twins/Athletics in a warm Sacramento and Brewers/Reds in moderate/nice Cincinnati are going to be the prime spots today. The other notable games are going to be the Tigers likely hitting 2+ homers off Chicago (I could easily see the Tigers offense going off this series) and the Angels/Red Sox.  Overall, this is how I rank them all. BREWERS/REDS … Lean on the Reds side slightly.  Both these pitchers should give up enough to justify stacks but also can go deep enough to not make it where they’re posting some Brandon Pfaadt type stat line. TIGERS … Don’t know how we aren’t on Carpenter and/or Greene TWINS … Wallner, Clemens, Larnach   CATCHER William Contreras Ryan Jeffers   FIRST BASE Freddie Freeman Spencer Torkelson   SECOND BASE Colt Keith Brice Turang   THIRD BASE Yoan Moncada Brett Baty   SHORTSTOP Elly De La Cruz Carlos Correa   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Kerry Carpenter Riley Greene Matt Wallner Jackson Chourio   OUTFIELD – Tier II Trevor Larnach Brandon Nimmo   Riley Greene – OF – Detroit Tigers – Chairman of The Dongers Club Matt Wallner – OF – Twins William Contreras – C – Brewers Yoan Moncada – 3B – Angels   TOP BETS Brewers/Reds OVER 9.5 Mets ML

WEATHER All Clear RANGER SUAREZ (DK: $8500, FD: $9900) He’s pitching too well right now to not like him even with Mr. Hoskins trying to remind the Phillies how much he loves playing there. CHARLIE MORTON (DK: $5400, FD: $6800) It took Morton a while as we would expect but he has finally reached a little consistency and seems to be pitching more comfortably at home as well.  This is just too cheap of a price for drawing Chicago, who can be pesky but shouldn’t be feared. GARRETT CROCHET (DK: $10.7k, FD: $10.6k) With all the big names going today I’m actually drawn to Crochet for some contrarian upside instead of going with Bubic, deGrom, Brown.     METS … Alonso, Marte, Soto Sunday home Mets.  This should be a 13 run spot and really expect Alonso to homer today, but the guy who could be a difference here is Juan Soto getting hot finally.  Marte’s great value in the 2 hole once again. ROYALS … Garcia, Perez, Witt, Pasquantino Boys, we are here.  It’s warm in Kauffman Stadium & the Royals get a low strikeout opposing SP.  Ball should be in play and they should finally break out offensively.  Should? ALSO LIKE PHILLIES:  Schwarber in June.  Lock it in. ORIOLES   CATCHER Bo Naylor Salvador Perez Francisco Alvarez   FIRST BASE Pete Alonso Nolan Schanuel – LiC Vinnie Pasquantino Spencer Torkelson   SECOND BASE Jackson Holliday Matt McLain Kristian Campbell   THIRD BASE Maikel Garcia Rafael Devers Isaac Paredes   SHORTSTOP Francisco Lindor Bobby Witt Jr. Corey Seager Xavier Edwards   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Kyle Schwarber Starling Marte Juan Soto George Springer   OUTFIELD – Tier II Heston Kjerstad Jung Ho Lee Lawrence Butler John Rave   Kyle Schwarber – OF – Philadelphia Phillies – Chairman of The Dongers Club Pete Alonsno – 1B – Mets Starling Marte – OF – Mets Salvador Perez – C – Royals Heston Kjerstad – OF – Orioles Corey Seager – SS – Rangers Rafael Devers – 3B – Red Sox Matt McLain – 2B – Reds BONUS … Bobby Witt Jr – SS – Royals   TOP BETS Tigers/Royals OVER 8.5

WEATHER Tigers/Royals:  Chance for some storms in the later parts of the game. Kodai Senga (DK: $8900) Dean Kremer (DK: $6300) Robbie Ray (DK: $9000) … Some concerns here – its a little bit of a tricky spot for Ray.  Prefer going Senga & cheap SP2 but he’s an okay one off on FD     BRAVES … Acuna is a must in any Braves stack. CARDINALS … Roof could be open here again. ORIOLES … Wind is helpful for sure.   CATCHER Danny Jansen Bo Naylor Adley Rutschman Pedro Pages   FIRST BASE Rhys Hoskins Matt Olson Pete Alonso   SECOND BASE Ozzie Albies Jose Altuve Jackson Holliday   THIRD BASE Jose Ramirez Junior Caminero Zack McKinstry   SHORTSTOP Francisco Lindor Joey Ortiz Masyn Wynn   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Mike Trout Kyle Schwarber … Honestly, lets just get this out of the way right now.  Check the calendar.  He’s the chairman tomorrow.  Even against a LHP then.  But that’s his 2 HR day.  Today’s just the 1 HR day. Jordan Walker Brandon Nimmo   OUTFIELD – Tier II Mike Tauchman … Quietly producing for Chicago & Kremer’s a bottom tier guy vs lefties.  This is the one big issue with Kremer today IMO.  Well, that and his name is Dean. Angel Martinez   Rhys Hoskins – 1B – Milwaukee Brewers – Chairman of The Dongers Club Kyle Schwarber – OF – Phillies Mike Trout – OF – Angels Jordan Walker – OF – Cardinals Adley Rutschman – C – Orioles Ozzie Albies – 2B – Braves Jose Ramirez – 3B – Guardians Francisco Lindor – SS – Mets BONUS …. Mike Tauchman – OF – White Sox   TOP BETS When in doubt, take an over… Cardinals/Rangers OVER 8 Red Sox/Braves OVER 8.5

A Happy Friday afternoon to each and every one of you.  Guys, it’s the last Friday in May and …. GUESS WHO IS GOING TO POUND HIS CHEST THAT HE WAS RIGHT????????? That’s right.  The Summer Baseballs are coming out tonight.  Which, is a little worrysome for my pitcher play of the day, but ah, fear not, what can go wrong.  We nailed it last night and we’ll nail it again tonight. I say all of this just to really give a PSA that we’ll have an afternoon article for what should be the MAIN slate tomorrow and I expect there to be a million homers on Saturday afternoon.  So, just plan accordingly. WEATHER White Sox at Orioles:  They moved this game up to 4:30 PM, so cross it off… Rockies at Mets:  Evening rain MAX FRIED (DK: $10,300, FD: $10k) You can make your decision one way or another on this series, I don’t care.  I’ve seen it a million times and I can tell you exactly how this series plays out.  There will be one game that’s a pitchers duel.  There will be another game that is off the charts offense 10-9, and then there is another game which starts out white hot with 5 runs in the first three innings and then completely dies off. The Sunday game is the ESPN Sunday night game, so that’s the latter of those three with Yarbs vs Yamamoto going.  Tomorrow night is Will Warren and Landon ‘My job is to give up Homers’ Knack… Tonight is the pitchers duel, and it features home town boy Max Fried back in L.A. where hes has good starts (sure, last year wasnt) and comes in pitching as well as he has all season & might (i.e. SHOULD) be under 5% owned on a slate with limited pitching depth options up top.  Lock and load a 7 inning 2 hit performance from Friex. NICK PIVETTA (DK: $9800, FD: 10,300) This is the obvious one everyone will draw towards.  PETCO’s been warming up of late, but a night game is still one that usually favors the pitchers.  Pittsburgh’s likely to hit under the mendoza line today vs Pivetta & his strikeout range is going to be 6+ with 6 innings and limited damage.  Hard to see him not delivering as a chalky SP1. OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS So those two are the 1a and 1b for […]

WEATHER All clear MY FAVORITE PLAY JOSE BERRIOS (DK: $7600, FD: $8200) Berrios is one of the more fun DFS pitchers because he will always be in the 2nd/3rd tier on pricing & he definitely has three distinct game profiles.  The average, the trash and the elite.  We attacked him after his elite run earlier when Tampa and Detroit came to town and his last two games have been ‘average’.  Tonight I can see him paying off big time, but at some point this weekend the Athletics are going to win someone six figures.  I believe that’s tomorrow, so for now we ride Berrios having an ‘elite’ level game. THE SECOND CHOICE The second choice is between Mackenzie Gore and Zach Wheeler.  Seattle has guys who should hit LHP but of late have not been doing as well there.  On Wheeler, Game 1 definitely was a cold Braves game vs Sanchez & it’s hard to see them getting much off Wheeler.  Both are fine.     RAYS Diaz, Lowe, Lowe, Caminero NATIONALS Ruiz, Lowe, Abrams, Hassell On fire and getting Emerson Hancock, he is good for a HR here in the first 3 innings and I gotta think Ruiz runs into one finally.   CATCHER Keibert Ruiz Alejandro Kirk   FIRST BASE Nate Lowe Vlad Guerrero Jr.   SECOND BASE Brandon Lowe Luis Garcia Jr.   THIRD BASE Junior Caminero Austin Riley   SHORTSTOP CJ Abrams Bo Bichette   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Joshua Lowe George Springer Robert Hassell III James Wood   Josh Lowe – OF – Tampa Bay Rays – Chairman of The Dongers Club Brandon Lowe – 2B – Rays Nate Lowe – 1B – Nationals Keibert Ruiz – C – Nationals     TOP BETS Toronto + Tampa ML Parlay

DraftKings main slate does not include the Cardinals/Orioles or Braves/Phillies.  Also, the game between the White Sox and Mets was re-scheduled for an earlier day game and is not on any slate now because of that. WEATHER The two FD only games have a ton of weather and are unlikely to play anyways. YUSEI KIKUCHI (DK: $7200, FD: $8100) … It’s Kikuchi vs the Yankees time again.  He has owned them in his career & that’s enough for me to maybe give him a shot in the park where lefty pitchers have had more success in recent years too. CLARKE SCHMIDT (DK: $7700, FD: $8800) NOAH CAMERON (DK: $8800, FD: $9400) … Downgrading Noah to third, and I like Hunter Greene just as much.   RANGERS … Seager back, him and Wyatt Langford along with Osuna the key three. MARINERS … Finally good weather in Seattle, we should see some runs here, like both sides and Julio is on fire. ROCKIES … YOLO   CATCHER Hunter Goodman Keibert Ruiz   FIRST BASE Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Rowdy Tellez Vinnie Pasquantino   SECOND BASE Tyler Freeman Nico Hoerner Luis rengifo   THIRD BASE Josh Jung Jorge Polanco   SHORTSTOP Bo Bichette Ezequeil Tovar   OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore Wyatt Langford Kyle Tucker Brenton doyle George Springer ADD:  Julio Rodriguez   Wyatt Langford – OF – Texas Rangers – Chairman of The Dongers Club Hunter Goodman – C – Rockies Vlad Guerrero Jr – 1B – Blue Jays   TOP BETS Jays/Rangers OVER 8 ADD:  Nats/Mariners OVER