Please make sure to monitor the weather leading up to lock time, as there could be some potential concerns for the games on the east coast. This is an overall solid slate tonight with top pitching, as well as some large projected run totals tonight. Unless max entering contests, try to narrow the slate down by focusing on a core group of teams/games, over trying to find exposure to all the plus matchups. I suggest targeting a mix of high projected scoring teams with top price tags, as well as a few of the middle of the pack teams that you think could produce what the Mets or Twins did last night. For me, that likely means avoiding the Marlins and O’s vs top pitching, as well as late night games that don’t really stand out to me one way or another. With 28 teams playing tonight, below are roughly the 8-10 teams that I’ll be looking to target tonight.
Top Stack Options:
The Game in Texas:
This game was already going to be a top one to target after a solid 8-6 score to start the series off last night, but Minor being scratched, and Hutchinson replacing him has now made both sides of this game very much in play for a second straight night full game stack in Texas. The 11 run projected total is a full 1.5 runs over the next highest total game of the slate, and it’s another close spread between the teams, with the Rangers once again the slight favorite. They face Despaigne tonight, who will make his Angels debut, and first start since March 31st. I would go slightly different from my approach to this game from last night, but Nomar Mazara is definitely still a FD plug and play at his price tag. He returned from the DL last night, and went deep in his first at bat. Joey Gallo also has a solid FD price tag, but DK has increased their price tags a bit. I would wait and see about filling out the rest of the Rangers side until lineups come out, but one of the OF spots will come from the Angels side in Justin Upton . He didn’t homer for the second straight time last night, but had gone deep in five out of his previous seven games, and has taken Hutchinson deep in the past. Since returning to the bigs, Hutchinson has allowed nine earned runs over his 8.1 innings. After Upton, most Angels have very affordable salaries, and the 95 plus degree temps tonight could help the ball go a little further for some of these non power bats. Andrelton Simmons , David Fletcher , and Francisco Arcia lead that list for me.
Yankees with a sprinkling of Blue Jays:
This spot could have moved to the possible lower owned stacks, but decided to keep it in the top options tonight, as I think the Yankees breakout tonight. They face Stroman tonight, who has allowed just one earned over his last 12 innings, which includes 28 ground balls compared to just three fly balls over that span. He was rocked for seven earned in the start before the current run, and has allowed 10 earned over 10.1 innings vs the Yankees this year. Overall, the Yankees are struggling without Judge, and managed just two runs over their last two games. Since Judge went out, the Yankees are batting just .237, but have also went deep 28 times over this 20 game span. Miguel Andujar and Giancarlo Stanton account for half of those homers, with each having seven homers over that span. Stroman really isn’t giving up bombs, but the Yankees offense is ready to blast off. Since I’m not fully ready to go 100% with the Yankees, I would sprinkle in some Toronto bats on the other side of this game, as I also don’t feel Lynn has been as good as his first few starts with the Yankees. Toronto hit him hard earlier this season for six earned, and taking a Curtis Granderson , Kendrys Morales , and Devon Travis type players could really open up enough salary for a top pitching option.
Indians:
I missed not having to make the decision as to pay up for the big Cleveland bats, or look for another route to take with them having an off day last night, but they are back tonight, and currently check in with the highest implied run total of the slate at over six runs. They face Hess, who has only beaten the Rays this year, and has gone 0-5, with a 7.13 era since his last win back in May. When stacking Cleveland, it’s best to target their top bats, as they are the only team with four players sitting at 70 or more RBI for the season. With one of those options likely being out in Encarnacion, there is the option that Yandy Diaz will get the start, which allows the cheap option route with Cleveland. I still prefer paying up for José Ramírez , Francisco Lindor , and Michael Brantley as your Cleveland core.
Possible Lower Owned Stacks:
White Sox:
The Blue Jays and Royals didn’t finish their rain delayed game until after midnight last night, and both teams could likely be tired while being blown out in their games tonight. The White Sox are looking to win three in a row, and face Junis tonight. Similar to Stroman, Junis has pitched well lately, allowing just two runs over his last 11 innings, but has also struggled vs his opponent tonight. Junis is 1-1, with a 7.94 era vs the Sox this year, with both Matt Davidson and Yoan Moncada each taking him deep twice. The Sox may also keep a cheap Nicky Delmonico as their leadoff bat, and using the Sox tonight will either allow you a top priced pitcher, or a higher priced stack to pair up with them.
Nationals with a sprinkling of the SF/CIN game:
The Diamondbacks pivot would be my only late night target, and feel that they are pretty even with the Nationals tonight. I’ve always said that you need to use your gut calls in gpp’s every now and then, and although Straily hasn’t really been rocked, I just don’t see the Nats dropping back to under .500 by taking a loss tonight due to not scoring five plus runs. They may only need two runs with Scherzer on the mound, but just feeling like they are hungry, and players like Bryce Harper , Daniel Murphy , Anthony Rendón , and Trea Turner will bring it tonight. If looking to be completely different, that SF/CIN game could be what the DET/MIN looked like last night. Two, not great pitchers vs offenses that will be ready to pounce on them early and often. Both teams are sitting in the middle of the pack tonight, but the 9.5 projected run total places them in a tie for the next highest total after the big LAA/TEX game. I feel that many will turn back towards the Twins tonight, but there are some nice, cheap price tags in this game, and can see it being extremely overlooked.