Happy Monday! Hope all you father’s out there had a great day yesterday and it was exactly what you were hoping for. Lots of sports on yesterday so if you just were relaxing and chilling out at home it was a good day to watch a lot of different sports at one time. Today we got another short slate and a doubleheader thrown in there as well so not counting the doubleheader we have a 6 game slate today. During these short slates, I find myself limiting my exposure somewhat as I don’t feel I have as much success as the larger slates in the middle of the week. I’ll usually throw in a few lineups in a single entry tournament or cash game but really it’s just to keep the games interesting and watch some of the players and I’ll use the time to get ready for the rest of the week. That being said the show must go on for today and the pitcher I am targeting today is Tyler Mahle ($8,800). Mahle is one of those pitchers I liked coming into the draft season but it seemed that there was always somebody else who liked him a tad better and would get him a few picks before me. He has really looked great this season and the first thing that jumped off the page for me is his home and away splits are drastic. Mahle has started 9 of his 14 appearances away from home and is 5-1 with a 1.63 ERA 0.95 WHIP 59 K’s in 49 INN and has allowed only 2 HRs. Mahle has started 5 games at home and let’s just say not good as the ball loves to travel in Great American Ball Park and Mahle has been a victim of that many times so far this year ( 6 HR and 19 ER in 24 INN). Mahle gets the Twins today in an interleague matchup and the Twins are coming off a 3 game road sweep of the Texas Rangers this past weekend. Mahle has a 3 pitch combo he focuses on with a 4 seam rising fastball he likes to pound high in the zone averaging 94 MPH and backs that up with a lethal slider which he has increased the use of this year. Mahle also sports a split-finger fastball which drops in the zone suddenly and batters have had a hard time figuring what is coming next from Mahle as he has terrific command of all three pitches. The Twins are very pedestrian against righties with a .238 Avg .316 OBP and .418 SLG and Mahle has the long leash to go at least 6 INN which he has done his past 3 starts in June. I think you can expect 7 INN 5 Hits 8 K and 1 ER today from Mahle as the Twins really don’t have any power lefties (Kepler, Kiriloff, Larnach) that are producing right now and Mahle limits damage from both sides of the plate.
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SP- Kyle Gibson ($7,900) Before this season I wouldn’t even think about recommending playing Kyle Gibson but I have really come around on him this season. Kyle has a deep 5 pitch arsenal he can work with and shows good command with all of his pitches. Kyle limits hard hits and barrels by painting the corners and with an umpire behind the plate that favors pitchers it is a great combo to have when you are playing him. Gibson faces the A’s at home where Gibson is 3-0 with a 0.91 WHIP. The A’s just finished a series in New York where they lost 2 out of 3 games and had the lead in all three games after 5 innings so the A’s could be a little weary and I think Gibson is a great play to go deep in this game. His counterpart on the other side is Frankie Montas who I don’t see going over 5 INN today and I think the Rangers win this game to give Gibson the W as well.
C/1B- Nate Lowe ($2,700) Targeting Montas here as Lowe has hit in 6 out of his last 7 games with a HR in that span. I think he is capable of going on a run here as he did at the beginning of the season. Lowe is still making hard contact and not chasing pitches and is a matter of time before he gets going again. Montas is vulnerable and I can see Lowe getting to him here. A nice low-cost sneaky option.
2B- Jose Altuve ($4,400 ) Hide the women and children as this could be a bloodbath in Baltimore with these two teams. The Astros have been red hot lately and the Orioles can surprisingly do some damage as well. I hope the bullpens are rested as they all might be used in this game today. Altuve is on fire lately and there is no reason to not have him on your team today unless you are fearful of the chalk.
3B- Jose Ramirez ($3,800) Why deprive yourself of another elite hitting Jose if you don’t have to right? Alzolay doesn’t strike fear and doesn’t offer anything that Ramirez can’t handle. It would be surprising if Ramirez does not have a multi-hit game today. (Check status before the game; he’s been out of starting lineup past couple of games)
SS- Carlos Correa ($3,900 ) Going right back to the Astros today and Correa. Let the other players fade the chalk and see how that works out for them. Correa hasn’t looked this good in quite a while if not ever in the majors and seems primed for an All-Star appearance this season. He is barreling up the ball with efficiency and not striking out which leads to good things.
OF- Cedric Mullins ($3,800 ) The love is real for Mullins and I’ve touted him before and he came through and I’m doing it again. The guy gets at-bats at the top of the order, steals bases, and hits for power. Odorizzi will be out of the game whether he is performing well or not by the 5th and the bullpens on either team aren’t great so this will lead to plenty of runners for Mullins to drive in and wreak havoc on the bases.
OF- Nick Castellanos ($4,200) Get all the power you can in your lineup and there isn’t much not to like here. Castellanos will face J.A. Happ who is still around for some reason and Nick has a .649 SLG and 1.032 OBP against lefties this season. I pray for you J.A.
OF- David Peralta ($3,000) If you need a lower-priced player consider Peralta today. He has hit in 10 out of his last 11 games, hits in the middle of the DBacks lineup, and faces Brett Anderson who loves to pitch to contact and Peralta knows how to hit a baseball. Peralta’s SLG and OBP are roughly the same against lefties as righties and Anderson doesn’t fool anybody. Another sneaky option if you are playing some big hitters.
UTIL- Christian Yelich ($3,700) Well if only walks were worth more right. Yelich has more BB’s (19) than K’s (17) in June. Yelich has hits in 5 straight games as well and seems to be turning a corner on a disappointing season so far. Could this be the breakout game we have been waiting for? He faces Merrill Kelly who doesn’t miss too many bats and has a rather unsightly 1.37 WHIP and 5.40 ERA. Could be a nice 4-4 day here.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
ATL vs. NYM- Weather concerns here as rain could interrupt one or both of the scheduled doubleheader games
HOU vs. BALT- Scattered showers in the area they look light enough to play through but keep your eye on it as the game gets closer
Doing Lines In Vegas
Got two for you both on West Coast.
Diamondbacks ML +110 vs. Brewers
Padres ML -120 vs. Dodgers
