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What a world we live in.  Just a couple of months ago, me telling you an Oakland stack would be a good idea would’ve lead to you rolling your eyes, giving me your best Charlie Sheen, and ignored the rest of what I had to say because I was clearly not giving any info others weren’t already doling out.  YO GUYS LISTEN TO ME, KING FELIX IS A MUST START TODAY.  Sheeeiittt, like we don’t know a top pitcher is a good get for the day.  But again, days go by and still I think of the times when the Athletics were the stack du jour.  You couldn’t tune into any write up about DFS without being told to at least throw in a Brandon Moss or a Josh Donaldson.  Oh how the mighty have fallen.  Not only have the A’s relinquished the lead in the AL West, they’re now scratching and clawing just to stay the lead wild card for the AL.  But that’s what happens when guys like Moss hit 21 bombs in the first half and follow up in the second half with only three while hitting .178.  Yes, it’s been that brutal.  Why did they trade away Cespedes again?  Oh well, what’s done is done.  But that definitely makes them a nice stack on a day in which they should be good but probably won’t be looked upon given their offensive struggles.  Fair warning here: this stack call ain’t for the faint of heart.  The Athletics have scored more than 10 runs just twice in the last two months.  This is an offense that’s been giving us more struggle face than Rob Ryan could ever muster.  But I will be building an Athletics stack for GPPs today and yes it will have it some Donaldson and Moss.  Heck, it might even get a Coco Crisp, Sam Fuld, Josh Reddick, and/or Adam Dunn.  We all know everyone is gonna be on the COLvsLAD game in terms of stacks but that doesn’t always win you the tourney calls.  You have to think outside the box and the Athletics have become just that.  Oh and I guess we should talk a bit about why: Nick Tepesch.  Hrm, you need more than that?  Well what about his .378 wOBA away from Texas.  Yes, he’s worse on the road than he is at home.  Hard to do, I know, but given the Rangers season we can’t be all that surprised.  But now that I’ve given you an off the wall stack, let’s get down to business.  Here’s how I’d play today’s DK slate the rest of the way…

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Scott Kazmir, SP: $7,400 – I’m not gonna wax poetic about this since I already covered the Athletics pretty well up top.  I covered them so well, I had two titles for today.  You almost got ‘A’sed and Confused’.  Probably the better title, to be honest but we’re here to talk the pitching side of the Oakland stack.  Kaz has had his problems of late but our friendly friends in Vegas are giving him a -240 money line.  Don’t know what that is?  Well, it means they really, really, really expect Oakland to win.  I don’t know much past that.  They also expect the game to stay under 7 runs total.  Clearly I’m cherry picking the Vegas lines I like here but I do think Kaz gets the win and an easy 25 DK point day out of it.

A.J. Burnett, SP: $8,400 – Kaz is about as low on the pitching totem pole I’m willing to go on today’s slate and for good reason.  Burnett is maybe a top 5 start on any other given night but is 10 today.  Of course I like Corey Kluber…HELLO…sleeper post?  But you don’t need me to tell you to start the top arm of the day.  It’s all about finding who to balance your big arms out with and Burnett has the ability to give out a 20+ DK night without breaking a sweat down in Petco.  But if he does break a sweat, look out.  I’ve heard he gets quite lathery.

Jake Arrieta, SP: $9,200 – As my dad always used to say, always look for the underplayed hand and always play with the hand under the table…wait, what?  NOW I get the last part!  Wise man, my dad…but more to the point: Arrieta is still Arribetta than most of the pitchers on the board and Cincy don’t scare many.  He’s a lock as the best pitcher off the board behind Kluber for me today.

Bartolo Colon, SP: $8,200 – Yeah, he got rocked last time out.  I’m not going with him because he’s too closely priced to Burnett who has a better matchup but how could I not mention the face of MLB?

Mike Trout, OF: $5,800 – Why budget, right?  Just blow it all on the So-Cal fish.  We all know Mike is good.  Big thing is he’s facing a lefty, vs which he has a .266 ISO and a .411 wOBA.  Yet again, there’s a game in Colorado.  Sure, you’ll wanna build a LADvsCOL stack but ya ain’t gonna win many tourneys just doing that.  Gotta know who to know outside of the big game for the night.

Matt Kemp, OF: $4,700 – Not sure what happened to the pricing last night or today but it’s darn easy to get in these Rockies and Dodgers into our lineups, no?  Surprisingly, not many good Dodgers hitters vs lefties and that’s what they’re facing today.  I’ll give a shoutout to Hanley Ramirez here and perhaps Scott Van Slyke but I do think Scott’s lefty splits are a bit deceiving.  Seriously, 4 of his 8 HRs on the year are off Miley.  Good, cheap option if you need it, but I don’t think he’s necessary.

Justin Morneau, 1B: $4,600 – Dan Haren is a solid veteran but let’s face facts: he’s a flyball pitcher in Colorado.  Unless you’re the Colorado GM who seemed hell bent on pursuing such arms, you’re not too stupid to realize that’s a mix for disaster.  I’d be more inclined to stack Rockies bats than Dodgers bats if I had to choose on this day.  But I don’t so I’ll just do both.  Yay me!

Brandon Belt, 1B: $3,800 – The Giants activated Belt last night…so that he could sit because a lefty was on the mound.  Ok…in either case, the power potential is strong here.  Given it was concussion symptoms, it’s a bit of a worry to go with Belt.  Sorry to put Brandon so close to you in the write up, Morneau.  At least concussions aren’t contagious.

Steve Pearce, 1B/OF: $4,300 – Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of the Hutch but he hasn’t proven he’s consistent yet.  Maybe next year he’ll become a well-rounded pitching individual but until then, I’m gonna pick on high leverage situations against him.  With the Orioles still in the hunt for the best record in MLB, I don’t see them letting their foot off the gas pedal.  Consider this a suggestion to have an O stack in place.

Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B/SS: $3,600 – I’m a fan of picking on Harang whenever and wherever but especially at home vs a LHB where they have a .382 wOBA off him.  I’d expect Cab to be higher in the lineup tonight if Harper sits out.  Speaking of Bryce Harper…he’s a lefty.  So is Adam LaRoche.  Do your thing.

Danny Santana, SS/OF: $4,800 – Yeah, I’m suggesting a guy who’s priced the same as Dee Gordon who’s in Colorado tonight.  To be fair, I’d be surprised if they didn’t sit Dee given it’s a lefty on the mound and they’ve been resting him as much as possible for the post-season of late but that’s not why I’m here.  If Oswaldo Arcia is healthy, I’m all over Minny like Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.

I’m Only Happy When It Rains

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, sang Mr. Rogers and that’s exactly what it is everywhere there’s baseball being played.  No weather concerns and it’s September?  Global warming!

Doing Lines In Vegas

Ho hum, COLvsLAD is o/u 10.  Like you don’t know it’s the highest mark on the day before I type it.  I think the 8 0/u of the KCvsCHW game gets touched for the over as does the BALvsTOR game.  Meanwhile, gimme the under on the 8.5 for LAAvsSEA.