SNAPSHOT
No real weather risks tonight but there are some cooler temps on the west coast.
Monitor roof status in Houston (Minute Maid Park). If that roof is open then it is a boost to the hitters there.
PITCHING
Robbie Ray … Ray is the clear cut #1 choice today and that is saying something considering Chris Sale is pitching as well. Ray is in San Diego against the Padres who have managed to beat up the Diamondbacks the first two games in this series but cannot hit Ray at all. This is a high strike-out upside and a west coast hammer for our lineups today. Locked in on both sites.
Chris Sale .. Sale and Ray are almost identically priced on FD and DK today. Because I prefer Ray’s matchup by a mile I am taking Ray over Sale on FD and he is going in my main DK lineup. That said, I am open to the idea of rostering both of these guys on DK. Ray will beat Sale, but I also think Sale beats anyone else below him by a wide margin tonight. Doing such means you have less than 3k average per hitter left over, so the value bats will drive this decision. However, the upside here is tremendous.
Luke Weaver … Weaver is a high strikeout and low walk guy making him a darling for many in tournaments. With the two stud southpaw’s going tonight he’ll draw lower ownership on FanDuel but makes for a fantastic SP2 on DK.
Dinleson Lamet … If Peralta sits then that removes the D’Backs best lefty. But Pollock back in the lead off spot is deadly and dangerous. The win is highly in doubt as well. He will pitch decent, however.
SNEAKY ARMS / SP2
Jake Junis … JJ is my favorite sub 7k guy on DraftKings today because of the opponent. I cannot understand why folks continue to stack the Blue Jays, but they do. Smoak and Donaldson give me scare tonight but the rest of the lineup presents a good soft matchup for Junis.
FADES
Jon Lester – Nah
Alex Wood – LOL
Brad Peacock – ChiSox sneaky
FAVORITE STACKS
Cardinals – They should crush Rookie Davis in that ballpark.
Nationals – If Murphy plays then I love him as part of a 1-4 stack. If not, make sure Trea Turner is in your lineup.
Brewers – Neither pitcher here is one I am afraid of attacking and I love a Milwaukee stack in a bad ballpark shift at < 10% ownership. Good value bats to pair with the high end pitchers today.
Sneaky
White Sox – Everyone will jump on the Astros and if the roof is open against Shields that should be a nice boost. However, don’t overlook the otherside with Abreu, Delmonico and Avisail Garcia
Phillies – Dodgers bullpen is a mess lately and they’re tinkering with the middle innings guys. Alex Wood should be out by the 5th and that young and hungry Phillies lineup has HR upside.
FADES
Astros – Assuming Roof is closed.
HITTERS
Catcher
- Yadier Molina
- Salvador Perez
- Yan Gomes
First Base
Loaded position today… I normally don’t list this many guys but based on your lineup construction there’s lots of good options here… Listed in order of chalk to contrarian….
- Matt Carpenter
- Justin Smoak
- Frederick Freeman
- Jose Abreu
- Sam Travis (Value)
- Jesus Aguilar (Value)
Second Base
- Chase Utley
- Kolten Wong – Much happier that he is 6th instead of 1st.
- Daniel Murphy
- Ozzie Albies
Third Base
- Josh Donaldson – Him and Smoak if you hedge the Junis play.
- Kyle Seager
- Manny Machado
Shortstop
- Trea Turner
- Orlando Arcia
- Xander Bogaerts
Outfield – Tier 1
- Ryan Braun – Heating up right now. Padding those end of season stats for your seasonal teams… Oh wait, I got eliminated because he sucked in August….
- Domingo Santana
- AJ Pollock – If leading off lock him in again.
- Chris Taylor
Outfield – Tier 2
- Tommy Pham
- Starling Marte
- Rhys Hoskins
- Lorenzo Cain
- Bruce, Jay
- Josh Reddick
Outfield – Value
- Hernan Perez – Core play for me today
- Nicky Delmonico
- Melky Cabrera
- Steven Souza Jr.
DONGERS CLUB
- Matt Carpenter – 1B
- Trea Turner – SS
- Josh Reddick – OF
- Kolten Wong – 2B
- Josh Donaldson – 3B
- Hernan Perez – OF
- Yan Gomes – C
- Tommy Pham – OF
- BONUS ….. Jose Abreu – 1B
Follow me on twitter @steve_renner for any feedback or questions. Just dont ask me if I like someone I said I am fading or if I like Mike Zunino…. Okay???