On a dark desert highway. The Arizona Diamondbacks may not have much to play for this season, but I think we can all agree they have some exciting players. Their most recent addition, Corbin Carroll is fun to watch and is already impressing at the big league level. Tonight, Merrill Kelly looks to shut down the Brewers as he continues to build on his 2022 success.
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Spencer Strider, SP: DK: $8,800 / FD: $ 9,900 – Few pitchers have allowed only 8 earned runs in both July and August. I did not go to MIT, but I think that totals 16 total earned runs over two months, which is over 52.3 innings. Impressive to say the least. Let’s also note that Strider’s ERA is much lower at home, 2.54. The Atlanta team in pennant race at home against the Rockies means a win for Strider and team.
Merrill Kelly, SP: DK: $8,100 / FD: $9,400 – The Milwaukee Brewers team pitches well. They are one of the better pitching teams in the league the last few years. Hitting is a different story. This is not where they excel. The Arizona Diamondbacks are not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they likely are playing the role of spoiler. The Diamondbacks are better than most predicted and have some great pieces on the club. Starting pitcher, Merrill Kelly is one of them. Kelly enters the game 11-5 with an ERA of .297. Over his last fifteen games on an absolute heater, at 7-2 and an ERA of 2.55.
Carson Kelly, C: DK: $3,300 / FD: $2,600 – Through the process of elimination I have landed on Carson Kelly. Surveying matchups and the associated costs, Kelly is a good fit. The salary is right in line with what I need to fill other positions where I anticipate more robust performance. This is not a throwaway deal. Kelly has been producing well as of late. Step outside the season numbers and peek at the last week or so. Carson is hitting .278 while driving in 7 runs in his last seven games. These are solid numbers for any player, especially from the catching position.
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B: DK: $4,800 / FD: $ 3,600 – Lowe’s slash line in August 2022 .359/.450/.648, and he is only getting hotter. Lowe is hitting .393 over his last fifteen games, and .429 in his last seven. Do not let the left-handed opponent on the (Hill,) Rich deter you. Lowe hits .063 points higher (.346) against southpaws than he does against righties. Veteran Red Sox pitcher, Rich Hill has not been great. Lowe comes in at 6th in Draft Kings in salary but has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball since the All-Star Break.
Marcus Semien, 2B: DK: $4,600 / FD: $ 3,400 – Hitting .321 in his last seven games and driving 18 runs in his last thirty games, Marcus is moving in the right direction. After signing a massive contract and starting the season in a disappointing fashion, he is heating up. Batting leadoff with Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe providing protection behind him in the order, he should be able to turn the tide against Rich Hill, who has had his number historically.
Austin Riley, 3B: DK: $4,800 / FD: $4,100 – A great hitter against a bad pitcher. What’s not to love? Chad Kuhl’s ERA in his last seven games is 9.39, allowing 44 hits in 30.2 innings. Over that same timeframe, Riley is hitting .360 against better pitching. There is never an inconvenient time to start an MVP candidate, but this is a great time to do so.
Xander Bogaerts, SS: DK: $5,000 / FD: $3,600 – Xander is too cheap here. On a day with a small slate, options are limited. This is my behind-the-back, no-look, one-handed alley. You just have to oop. Bogaerts has at least two hits in each of his last four games. He is hitting .464 in his last seven games with 10 RBI. He comes in at third in salary on Fan Duel and fifth on Draft Kings, but he ranks first in productivity at the shortstop position over the last ten games.
Corbin Carroll, OF: DK: $2,000 / FD: $2,600 – A low-cost, high upside guy to fill the lineup is key to placing in daily fantasy sports. And while it might be a tough ask, Corbin Carroll going off against Brewers starter, Brandon Woodruff is likely. After all, Carroll is dubbed the next superstar in Major League Baseball. At this price, it is tough to not roster the phenom. In his young career, he is 3 for 10 with 4 runs scored. The Diamondbacks plan to run him out there daily to show the fans what he is capable of and hopefully sell some tickets.
Alex Verdugo, OF: DK: $3,700 / FD: $3,100 – As the 17th most expensive outfielder on a day with only eight MLB games there could, and hopefully should be spectacular value here. Over his last thirty games, Verdugo has 37 hits, driving in 10 runs, and scoring 7 times. A slightly larger sample size has Verdugo a .331 hitter since the All-Star break, proving consistency. An easy play for me as the salary cap shrinks.
‘I’m Only Happy When It Rains’
Nothing out of the ordinary. Some rain in the southern part of the country may impact the Milwaukee/Arizona game.
‘Doing Lines In Vegas’
If I were a betting man, which I am I like Boston/Texas Over 9, Chicago/Kansas City Under 9.
