Top Stack Options:
Rockies:
The Rockies are clearly the top team target tonight, and thinking your best bet is to have some kind of exposure to the Rockies, and try to beat your opponents with the rest of your roster. The Rockies have scored 10 runs in each of the first two games of this series, and now are in control of their payoff destiny. They face Pivetta tonight, who hasn’t lasted more than five innings in each of his last five starts. He’s struggled vs Colorado in two career starts, going 0-2, with a 16.43 era, which includes six earned over five innings in Philly earlier this year. David Dahl is on fire, going deep for his second straight game, and can see the Rockies keeping Gerardo Parra over Carlos González in the lineup. Can’t go wrong with Trevor Story , Charlie Blackmon , and Nolan Arenado , and taking any of them really comes down to how you decide to approach the rest of your lineup. There has been enough value out there that I feel that you can pay up for two of those players if you want to. If entering multiple lineups, don’t be afraid to roll out a stack with their bottom of the lineup options in Ian Desmond and Tony Wolters . Wolters has a solid DK price tag that will make him a popular catcher.
Full Game Rangers/Angels Stack:
I’d rather look at this TEX/LAA game over the SD/SF or DET/MIN game if looking for value tonight. They all have similar game totals, but Heaney hasn’t looked good vs Texas at all, and Mendez didn’t make it out of the fourth inning in his last start. The Angels are the heavy favorites, and also have one of the higher implied run totals of the slate. Mendez was solid over his first few starts, but was rocked by Tampa for seven runs and nine hits in 3.2 innings. Mike Trout is of course elite, but there are plenty of cheap teammates to pair him up with. Jefry Marte will likely receive the start vs a lefty, and since Kole Calhoun has been a popular salary relief play on DK lately, which could go towards a slightly higher priced Michael Hermosillo , who is coming off his first career homer on Monday. He’s extremely cheap on FD though, as well as Andrelton Simmons . On the other side of this game, the Rangers don’t have as high of a total of what I would have hoped for, but Heaney is just 1-3, with a 7.50 era over six career starts vs the Rangers, including allowing 10 earned over 11.1 innings vs them this year. Adrián Béltre homered off him earlier this month, and is 7-14, with three homers lifetime off of him. Elvis Andrus was more popular last night than I thought he would have been, and is 7-15, with two homers off Heaney. Chirinos is 4-6, with two homers of his own, and works as a solid pivot off of Wolters if using one of these teams to pair up with the Rockies.
Possible Lower Owned Stack:
Brewers with a sprinkling of other NL Central teams:
Christian Yelich is on fire; his homer and triple last night makes it seven out of his last eight games with at least one XBH. Gant was rocked by the Dodgers, and then pulled in the third inning in his last start. Ryan Braun is swinging a hot bat for cheap, but similar to Calhoun, it could be Curtis Granderson starting tonight instead. A lefty like Travis Shaw or Mike Moustakas is likely your best option to complete a full stack. The Cubs have scored one run off a Hamels homer over the first two games of the series, but it’s the Cubs, and they’ll continue to be popular options. Javier Báez is “due,” and joins his teammate Ian Happ in only hitting homers vs Nova. They are a combined 7-33, with five homers off of Nova. Francisco Cervelli and Josh Bell have both taken Quintana deep if thinking the Pirates get three in a row.
A’s and Yankees:
Both these teams are still playing for home field advantage, and both could put up some runs once again tonight. Adeiny Hechavarria is a cheap punt option from the Yankees, but Andrew McCutchen and Aaron Judge will likely be popular again. Neil Walker would be in play if starting as well. Oakland faces King Felix, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6th, but wanted one more start. He’s 0-7, with a 6.14 era over his last ten starts, and Oakland is coming off a tough loss. A cheap Nick Martini works if leading off, while Khris Davis will likely go lower owned than Giancarlo Stanton , or the other top priced OF bats.
Player News
Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Monday that Marcus Stroman is still dealing with left knee issues.
It certainly doesn’t sound like Stroman is close to making it back to New York’s rotation mix at any point in the near future. The 33-year-old righty received a cortisone injection a couple weeks ago after landing on the shelf with left knee inflammation and has yet to resume throwing. It’s looking like he’ll be out until sometime around midseason.
Rangers selected the contract of RHP Dane Dunning from Triple-A Round Rock.
Dunning rejoins the Rangers’ relief mix just a couple weeks after being jettisoned from the club’s 40-man roster altogether. The 30-year-old righty failed to make Texas’ season-opening roster, but he’ll get another look in long relief after posting a pedestrian 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 21/9 K/BB ratio across 20 innings (five starts) for Triple-A Round Rock in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats.
Rangers optioned RHP Caleb Boushley to Triple-A Round Rock.
Boushley heads back to the minors after posting a serviceable 5.87 ERA across 7 2/3 innings (three appearances) for the Rangers since his call-up back on April 8.
Orioles claimed LHP Walter Pennington off waivers from the Rangers.
Pennington will head to Triple-A Norfolk as extra organizational relief depth after being claimed off release waivers from the Rangers. The 27-year-old southpaw made 16 relief appearances last year between the Rangers and Royals in his shot at the highest level.
Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase reports Luis Arraez (concussion) is expected to be activated for Tuesday’s series opener against the Giants.
Arraez landed on the 7-day concussion injured list last Monday following a scary on-field collision the previous night in Houston. The 28-year-old infielder dealt with concussion symptoms for a couple days last week, but has been symptom-free of late and was able to complete workouts. All signs point to him being ready to return for Tuesday’s showdown in San Diego.
Rangers released LHP Walter Pennington.
Pennington was cut loose by the Rangers after passing through waivers unclaimed following his removal from the club’s 40-man roster last week. The 27-year-old lefty made 16 relief appearances last year between the Rangers and Royals in his first taste of the big leagues. There should be some interest on the open market, but he’ll likely have to settle for a minor league contract.