One month into the year, 39-year old Charlie Morton (FD $10,000/DK $9,200) looked completely washed–over his first four starts he carried a 7.00 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP, along with barely more Ks than BBs (15:11). You’d have said “Stay the course, he can’t stay that bad.” And you’d have been right, but only in the technical sense of the word, as Old Bones Morton still only pitched to a 4.60/1.34 line, while at least picking up the K pace with 31 in 31 innings. Not as bad as April, but still barely usable, and certainly not what you had in mind when rostering him.
Since the calendar flipped to June, Morton has been one of the very best pitchers in baseball. His last 38 IP have resulted in a 2.84 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, with 55 Ks. His K-BB% is a whopping 31%, his CSW% is 35.6%, and his K/9 is 13.14. The dude has been absolutely dealing, and I’m here to ride this streak until whatever sort of concoction he received from Dr. Heidegger wears off. Look for Morton to continue his a-salt on NL hitters with a big game against Washington tonight.
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Zac Gallen, SP: FD $8,200/DK $8,300 – Streamonator has Gallen for the third-highest chance of a QS tonight, and the second-highest chance of a W (first is Giolito, Streamonator’s top pick, who I just can’t let back in my circle of trust yet). Gallen just faced Colorado in Coors and navigated a 6 IP, 3 ER start against the Rox there; Colorado is 4th-worst in MLB in road OPS, so the bet here is that Gallen goes at least 6 IP, and shaves a run or two off of that final line due to Rocky Road Deflation. There are some really good, affordable arm options today, so good on ya’ if you prefer a different one.
J.T. Realmuto, C: FD $3,600/DK $5,100 – Congrats to Waino on a great year so far, but Realmuto hits .474 and slugs .632 in 19 career ABs vs. the STL vet. It would be a….Cardinal sin…not to play JT tonight.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B: FD $3,700/DK $4,800 – My heart wanted to go Jared Walsh (FD $2,600/DF $3,800, 11th overall hitter on Streamonator) vs. a righty here, but I couldn’t go against this line: in 49 career ABs vs. Michael Wacha, Rizzo has 21 hits, including three HRs, slashing .429/.482/.653. Rizzo has missed three games with back issues, though, so be prepared to switch him out and go with Walsh. EDIT: With Wacha heading to the IL, feel free to pivot back to Walsh here or take a shot with Rizzo vs. Connor Seabold…ya, that ain’t bad either.
Javier Baez, 2B: FD-only $2,800 – Lucas Giolito has thrown two straight decent-to-good starts after defecating all over the mound and his ratios most of the year (I was a Giolito owner in dynasty, I felt the pain), but Baez has started to turn his season around (another HR last night, off of Dylan Cease), and slugs .769 career vs Gio.
Jonathan Villar, 3B: FD $2,200/DK $4,100 – Somebody needs to drop Rudy a line that his Hittertron is on the fritz; it has Villar as the 16th overall hitter for tonight! I’m working on the assumption that its reasoning is that Villar has led off the last four games for the Angels, and gets to hit/get on base in front of Trout, Ohtani, Taylor Ward, and Jared Walsh. OK, Hittertron, when you reason it out like that, I feel bad for doubting you. To make it up to you, can I set you up on a date with my own robotic creation? I call her Anne Droid.
Tim Anderson, SS: FD $3,400/DK $5,400 – Anderson has serious platoon splits in favor of his match-ups against lefties–.327/.351/.519 career triple slash. He’s facing lefty Tarik Skubal tonight, who’s gone 5/3/6/5/4/3 for ER his last six games, along with serving up a sextet of dingdongs. I’m talking about giving up six homers in that same span of games. Grow up! This is a family site.
Adam Duvall, OF: FD $2,900/DK $3,100 – Duvall has two HRs, two doubles, and more walks than Ks in his 17 career ABs vs Erik Fedde. Plus, Fedde isn’t any good. You could say Duvall really Waps Fedde, if you’re dyslexic and into rapper puns.
Alek Thomas, OF: FD $2,700/DK $2,800 – Hittertron is into Thomas today, ranking him 22nd overall. Alek is consistently in the two-hole vs. RHPs. A great DFS rule is to roster guys who will accumulate the most ABs, and Thomas is in line to grab an extra one batting 2nd. Will Thomas heat it up in the desert, or will Chad Kuhl him off?
Seiya Suzuki, OF: FD $3,200/DK $5,000 – Suzuki came off the IL scorching hot, already swatting a pair of HRs in his first nine ABs. Hittertron is a sucker for Seiya, ranking him 4th overall among hitters today. He’s facing lefty Tyler Anderson in Dodger Stadium, and Suzuki’s nearly-.900 OPS vs. lefties, coupled with his hot return, makes him a superb play late this evening.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
@BallparkWeather says that we’re good to go about everywhere, other than having to watch the PHI @ STL game for a rain delay/possible postponement.
Doing Lines In Vegas
The ChiSox are +115 to go over 4.5 runs, and as I showed you in Skubal’s ER line his last six games, he’s done that on his own three times. The righty bats of the South Siders are going to pounce on Skubal tonight. As a Tigers fan, I may also be reverse-jinxing this on purpose.
