DraftKings kept it simple today with a ten game early slate, and seven game evening slate. FanDuel went a different route, having an early only four game slate, six game afternoon only “main” slate, and finally, a five game “main II” evening slate. They left out the game two’s of the double headers this evening.
Day Games: They Rays/O’s game is tied for the highest game total at 11 runs during the day, but there are current rain concerns that need to be monitored. If it looks to clear up, I’m al for going back to the Rays today.
If playing the FD early only, like going back to the Cleveland/Detroit game that would have been the popular choices last night if it remains Tomlin vs Sanchez.
Cubs @ Reds
The Cubs were shut out yesterday, and don’t believe that will happen again this afternoon as the face Jackson Stephens, who is making his big league debut today. Stephens had a 4.97 ERA in Triple-A this season, and will be the seventh rookie starter for the Reds this season.
Cubs hitters have 188 Extra-Base hits out of 463 total hits (40.6%) versus RHP this season (Rank: 4th of 30 in MLB). They are hoping Kris Bryant returns, but still have plenty of options if he needs another day off. Their second tier players all have affordable salaries, and currently have the second highest run total of the afternoon
Right behind the Cubs in projected runs scored are the Reds. The face Eddie Butler today, who has allowed just one run over his last nine innings, but also has not made it through six innings in any of his June starts. He struggled vs the Reds while pitching for Colorado, going 0-1 with a 8.44 ERA in three starts. While Butler has walked 11 of 63 batters (17.5%) against division opponents this season (Rank: 181st of 183 qualified SPs in MLB)., he also kept division opponents to hitting just .173 against Eddie Butler (9-for-52) this season (Rank: 7th of 178 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .257). Votto is 4-8 off Butler, while Cozart and Duvall each have taken Butler deep in the past.
Reds: Joey Votto, Adam Duvall, Zack Cozart, Scott Schebler or Billy Hamilton
Cubs: Will need to fully wait on lineup to find their value. Kris Bryant if starting, Jon Jay if leading off, Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Albert Almora if starting.
Oakland
This can be used for salary relief to pair up with a top team like the Mets, or to be able to afford a pitcher like Sale tonight.
R.A. Dickey is one of those pitchers that I like to target hitters that have had previous success vs him. Khris Davis is 2-3 with two homers vs Dickey, and even with 0-6 last two games, he’s still batting .342 over his last ten games. Rajai Davis, if starting, is struggling this year, but has speed and is 6-14 with a homer vs Dickey. Healy is also 1-2 with a homer, and Alonso is 4-9. Joyce also is in play with two homers, but only batting .154 in 39 AB’s vs him.
R.A. Dickey has an average fastball velocity of just 82.8 MPH this season (Rank: 205th of 205 qualified SPs in MLB. With that, he has allowed a slugging percentage of .750 (33 Total Bases / 44 ABs) on fastballs this season (Rank: 187th of 189 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .481).
Athletics hitters have 62 HRs in 1,308 ABs (21.1 AB/HR) at home this season (Rank: 3rd of 30 in MLB; League Avg: 26.3), and have patience to wait for their pitch today, as Athletics hitters are averaging 4.0 Pitches per Plate Appearance versus RHP this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB).
Top Stack Suggestions: Khris Davis, Ryon Healy, Rajai Davis or Matt Olson, Yonder Alonso
Seattle
Seattle is a current underdog tonight vs Ricky Nolasco. He ended his seven start losing streak with a win over the Dodgers this week. I still don’t think he turned a full corner yet, and faces a hot hitting Seattle team that started the series with 17 hits last night after 11 the game before that.
Nolasco's 23 homers allowed leads the AL, and Seattle has hit seven long balls over their past two games. Robinson Cano has hit three of those, including two last night. He’s homered off Nolasco already this season, and is 7-17 with three homers lifetime off him. Nelson Cruz hasn’t gone deep lately, but has four doubles over his past ten games. Like Cano, Cruz has taken Nolasco deep three times, going 7-21 vs him. Gamel’s four hit game last night upped his average to .348, and Segura, Hanniger, and Valencia have also taken Nolasco deep in the past. Mariners hitters have come to the plate with runners in scoring position 26.9% this season (Rank: 3rd of 30 in MLB).
Plenty of teams to pair with the Mariners depending on which site you play on tonight.
Top Stack Suggestions: Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Ben Gamel, Jean Segura
Secondary Stack: Mike Zunino, Robinson Cano, Danny Valencia, Mitch Hanniger if starting, Kyle Seager
Teams to pair with Seattle: Dodgers, D-Backs, Angels. Like them best in that order.
Player News
Braves optioned RHP Davis Daniel to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Daniel pitched a scoreless inning in his lone day in the majors. His demotion makes room for waiver claim Ian Anderson on the active roster.
Braves designated RHP Zach Thompson for assignment.
Thompson, a member of Triple-A Gwinnett’s roster, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances for the Braves earlier this month. He’s getting taken off the 40-man to make room for Eddie Rosario.
Braves signed OF Eddie Rosario to a one-year contract.
He’s replacing Jarred Kelenic in the roster. There’s not really anything to lose here, even though Rosario struggled during his time with the Braves last season. The 33-year-old just hit .339/.406/.542 in 14 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City before the Dodgers gave him a brief callup and then outrighted him. Odds are that he’ll start against most righties for now, though he could find himself out of a job once Ronald Acuña Jr. returns.
Braves optioned OF Jarred Kelenic to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Red Sox SS prospect Marcelo Mayer went 3-for-7 with a walk, six RBI, four runs scored, and a home run during a doubleheader for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
The Red Sox’s second-ranked prospect is now hitting .280/.324/.548 with seven home runs, 34 RBI, 17 runs scored, and one steal in 23 games at Triple-A. He also had a great spring training and seems MLB-ready, but Trevor Story has been great for the Red Sox to start the season, and Kristian Campbell is the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner right now at second base, so there is no room in the middle infield for Mayer as it stands.
Jordan Lawlar went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, two runs, and a steal for Triple-A Reno on Sunday.
It’s getting a bit silly at this point. Lawlar is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and is slashing .356/.451/.644 in 26 games with five home runs, 26 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 12 steals. He has started playing third base in Triple-A as well, which could create a full-time spot for him in Arizona with Eugenio Suarez moving to DH. Lawlar should be up relatively soon and deserves to be stashed in all league types.