Full disclosure, today’s article was done early in the day and well in advance of any afternoon news such as new weather developments or pitching changes, or even God-Forbid some massive COVID related news.
It doesn’t mean the analysis process changes at all, it just means that if you see something which looks like I missed a news update in the day, I did not, I just am not able to edit this article in the afternoon today.
WEATHER
Early warning on this week as the weather looks like it’s pretty rough through Thursday.
White Sox @ Indians – PPD
Diamondbacks @ Nationals – PPD
Giants @ Mets – High PPD Risk
Orioles @ Athletics – Light PPD Risk
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FRANKIE MONTAS
Oakland and Houston are two teams who finally get to go home and for the Athletics that should mean some nice peace and quiet in their giant stadium with no fans. Montas draws a RH heavy lineup who should be picked on by everyone today. He’ll deliver.
KYLE HENDRICKS
Ah, I get to use one of my favorite GIFs and we aren’t even to Earth Day yet – which I think is next week? Heck if I know.
This is the life of Kyle Hendricks, but with Hendricks we can usually predict with consistency when his good and bad starts are coming. I don’t always love SP in inter-league games but a cold night in Wrigley Field with a good K% team in Tampa coming in makes Hendricks my sometimes good option today. Like him more than McClanahan who I predict will be more popular.
SEAN MANAEA
The shift down to PETCO park from the OAK Coliseum for Manaea doesn’t matter but the Reds offense is what we are picking on mostly here.
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NOT Going to touch …
Clayton Kershaw – Off his near perfection game? Nah. Just no… Atlanta can touch him up for 2 HR tonight and those guys would be terrific leverage on a short and cold slate.
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The Model & Optimizer loves the Athletics tonight vs Spenser Watkins but their first home game after a long road trip to start the season and also playing in a terrible hitting environment are two big negatives for me. I will fade anyone there who isn’t a value.
PHILLIES
Segura, Castellanos, Hoskins
Chad Kuhl? Chad Kuhl??? The Phillies get to go out to Coors Field and they get Chad, fricken, Kuhl??? This is a Kruel joke if you ask me. The man we want from Philly is Jean Segura. Coors Field is not a dream spot for the mashers like Harper and Schwarber. They hit homers everywhere. Coors Field is a MASSIVE outfield in which gap hitters and guys who can put the ball into play on both sides of the field will have HUGE games. Jean Segura, get your ass healthy and onto the field today please.
PIRATES
Hayes, Reynolds
Well I sure as heck am not going to go back to the Brewers a third time in a row but this park will have the roof closed and is one of the friendly hitting environments today. Eric Lauer will never be someone I am fond of and he basically is my new Tanner Roark, only lefty. Pick on him.
BRAVES
Duvall, Ozuna, Riley, Travis d’Arnaud
I warned you they wouldnt hit worth shit on Sunday night after the day game on Saturday. But you dont want to fade them simply because they played the Sunday night game and had to travel a short trip up the coast. Braves control this game tonight and tomorrow Freddie will go off on them. Adam Duvall and Austin Riley are terrific sneaky plays here.
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CATCHERS
- Austin Nola
- JT Realmuto
- Travis d’Arnaud
FIRST BASE
- Rhys Hoskins
- Matt Olson
- Rowdy Tellez
SECOND BASE
- Jean Segura
- Ozzie Albies
- Max Muncy
THIRD BASE
- Alex Bregman
- Austin Riley
- Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
This is a bad position, like Alcides Escobar Bad…
- Kevin Newman
- Ha Seong Kim
- Trea Turner
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Bryan Reynolds
- Bryce Harper
- Kris Bryant
- Adam Duvall
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Michael Brantley
- Andrew McCutchen
OUTFIELD – Value
- Connor Joe
- Chad Pinder
- Tommy Pham
- Trent Grisham
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THE DONGERS CLUB
If you had a Pirate as the first repeat Chairman of 2022, congrats!
- Bryan Reynolds – OF – Pirates – Chairman of the Dongers Club
- Rhys Hoskins – 1B – Phillies
- Chad Pinder – OF – Athletics
- Jean Segura – 2B – Phillies
- Alex Bregman – 3B – Astros
- Austin Nola – C – Padres
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CORE PLAYS
- Hendricks/Manaea/Montas are all fairly inter-changable, I would have 3 lineups that have 2 each today.
Expected Chalk Offense(s)
- Phillies
- Astros
Best Low Owned Offense(s)
- Pirates
Best Leverage / Pivots
- Braves
Favorite Bets
- No bets today
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