We have a nearly perfect Friday MLB slate today. The keys to a perfect Friday slate are quite simple actually in the summer.
- We need the Cubs to be playing a 2:20 PM EST home game. Check!
- Preferably against an American League or NL Central Team. Bonus Check!
- We need a total of 15 games across the league on this fine Friday. Check!
- We need at least three, preferably four games that start out in the Pacific Time Zone. We have five. Check!
- And we need all non Cubs games to start at 7:05 PM EST or later… Negative 🙁
Oh so close as the Reds and Pirates will play game 2 of their series starting at 6:10 PM and it will not be on the DraftKings main slate tonight, but given that it’s Skenes vs Greene I think we can give that one a pass and it’s a nice little warm up to a fantastic slate.
Why?
Well, yes, we have the Royals going into Coors Field. The sad part is that Bobby Witt is perfect for Coors, but not to fear. We have the Royals bullpen which no matter how much of a lead they have in the 9th, they’ll blow it. I fully expect at least one game in this series to go 15 innings simply because neither bullpen can hold the lead. You see, that’s the key to the lead. You have to hold it.
Muetaka Murakami gets to go down to see a COSTCO maybe for the first time in his life as the White Sox visit the Rays for … checks notes … yep, that’s a battle of 1st place teams going into August.
The Rangers pushed back Nate Eovaldi just so he can go into Houston and hopefully destroy the Astros — more likely to give up 3 HR though.
One of my favorite “that’s a random series” that happens every year and yeah, it just feels random and like a DFS winner is the Tigers at the Athletics. In Dongers Club history, this has significance. I doubt anyone even knows it but me. And, well, okay fine, I’ll tell the story. The first time I did an article posting on the SCOUT message boards it was the Tigers as a stack at the Athletics in the Oakland Coliseum on a Saturday afternoon as my contrarian top pick overall. They went off, and the rest is history — now you poor suckers have been forced to suffer through various GIFs and too many times rostering Jakob Junis, Brady Singer and Jose Urena.
But all of that is the undercard. You see. We have a Mt. Rushmore Batter in Ballpark play tonight and going into this weekend.
- Ryan Braun in Philadelphia
- Mike Trout in Seattle
- Christian Walker in Dodger Stadium
- and ….
MAX KEPLER IN CLEVELAND
WEATHER
All Clear
Bryce Miller (DK: $9500)
The Royals SP were dominating the Twins this week, that’s how dead their lineup has finally reached as Byron Buxton is finally hurt & the rest of this team is realizing that they are in fact, not really good.
Dylan Cease (DK: $10,700)
Cease is pitching for the Cy Young still & no reason to think he should completely collapse. One thing we’ve come to count on with him this year is the long leash he has as well, going 9 innings last start vs Boston is a tough spot to follow-up on but he’s done it most of the season & should do that again tonight.
Nick Martinez (DK: $7800)
White Sox just had two big wins over the Yankees at home. This is their wake up call going into Tampa & I expect a solid pitching series from both teams. The Sox lineup though is slowing down big time, and Martinez will get lots of bad swings and chases from the kids, while getting Beni to ground out. A Miguel Vargas homer could come into play though, so dont be upset about that.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Brown vs Eovaldi should be a good game, but not seeing how we would justify using either over Miller & Cease
- Freddy Peralta’s confidence (and lack of true talent) is too much for him to flip the switch suddenly. Avoid.
DIAMONDBACKS
It’s not just Kepler here, as the whole lefties in Cleveland comes full force with Tanner Bibee taking the bump for the Guardians. Carroll, Marte, Del Castillo if he plays. It’s a great spot here for Arizona, who needs to keep their foot on the gas right now.
- Max Kepler
- Corbin Carroll
- Ketel Marte
TIGERS
When in Rome? Wish they were drawing a RHP instead of Springs, but this favors Torkelson to wake up
- Spencer Torkelson
- Gleyber Torres
- Hao-Yu Lee
OTHER TEAMS TO LOOK AT
- Brewers, Dodgers, Braves
CATCHER
- Samuel Basallo
- Drake Baldwin
- Gary Sanchez
FIRST BASE
- Spencer Torkelson
- Harper, Bryce
- TJ Rumfield
SECOND BASE
- Brice Turang
- Ketel Marte
- Tyler Freeman
THIRD BASE
Yes, these are really my plays here tonight. Deal with it.
- Nick Loftin
- Willi Castro
- Hao-Yu Lee
- Miguel Vargas
SHORTSTOP
- Javier Baez / Kevin McGonigle
- Mookie Betts
- Geraldo Perdomo
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Max Kepler
- Teoscar Hernandez
- Jac Caglianone
- Christian Yelich
OUTFIELD – Tier II
- Cole Carrigg
- James Wood
- Cole Carrigg
- Daulton Varsho
- Max Kepler – OF – Arizona Diamondbacks – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Teoscar Hernanez – OF – Dodgers
- Jac Caglianone – OF – Royals
- Mookie Betts – OF – Dodgers
- Spencer Torkelson – 1B – Tigers
- Drake Baldwin – C – Braves
- Brice Turang – 2B – Brewers
- Willi Castro – SS – Rockies
- BONUS ……. Daulton Varsho – OF – Blue Jays
BETTING CARD
- Max Kepler Anytime HR
- Diamondbacks ML
- Red Sox / Dodgers OVER 8.5
- Twins / Mariners UNDER 8