The anxiety is starting to settle in as we approach the 3rd to last Sunday of the regular season. We are all frantically streaming pitchers in our season long league playoffs. We are also managing our fantasy football lineups. This time of year is always the most exciting yet terrifying because we have so many things going on at the same time. If you’re like me, you’re trying to squeeze every last penny out of daily baseball before it goes dormant for 6 months. I know baseball is a long season however two weeks after the season ends I still check my lineup because I start to miss it. Alright, enough doom and gloom lets move onto today’s slate. There are 3 pitchers over $20k pitching today and Sonny Gray is not one of them. He comes in at a cool $18,400. Sonny gives you a bit of salary relief and the upside at this price. Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, Sonny has only faced Baltimore once this season. He shut them out in 5 2/3’s. The Yankees have been letting him pitch right around 100 pitches, so he has a real shot to walk away with a win and quality start. I said it yesterday the Yankees own the Orioles this year and have been limiting their production this week.
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Eduardo Rodriguez, SP: $15,300 – Let’s slide on over to the Yankees rivals and take a look at E-Rod. The guy has been lights out in his last two starts albeit it was against the A’s and Blue Jays. He posted 17 K’s in 12 innings. The Rays have been ice cold the last few weeks and I love picking on them. Like I said yesterday if they are not hitting they are striking out. Honestly, I think you can’t go wrong with either E-Rod or Sonny.
Sean Manea, SP: $12,600 – This guy frustrates me to no end. I had a chance to pick him up in my season long league because someone dropped him when he went on the DL. I waited too long and he was scooped up. He’s nothing special with his 4.65 ERA but I think he’s better than that. He got absolutely pummeled by the Sox in his last outing but he gets a far better matchup this week as he faces Rhys Hoskins. The way to deal with Hoskins is to just walk him. Before his last start, he had 3 quality starts in his last 4 starts. Plug him in a lineup, he’s dirt cheap.
Josh Donaldson, IF: $9,300 – Let’s get crazy and roll Donaldson back into our lineups. I’m telling you this guy is money when he’s locked in or if he’s not battling a calf injury. The guys twitter handle is “@BringerOfRain20”, he’s got to be good. Now he only needs 14 more home runs to impress Gray.
Freddie Freman, IF: $9,600 – The guy spells his name with an “ie”, what a loser. Just kidding, I love this guy and feel bad that he’s on a terrible team. He has 3 homers in his last 10 games while batting .339 for the month of September. Imagine if he never got hurt earlier this season, could have had a real shot at 40 bombs. He faces Gsellman and the Mets today. With the Colorado game going on, I think Freddie is a nice play.
Eric Hosmer, IF: $6,900 – “Fred you’re crazy for recommending Hosmer against Kluber”. Yes, I am, but I’m rolling with history in my pocket. Hosmer is one of the few guys that has consistently given Kluber trouble. I think Hosmer is cheap enough to take a flyer on him. He’s a contrarian play and likely to be unowned.
Brett Gardner, OF: $9,300 – Gardy is a bit expensive for my blood though he has handled Ubaldo in every matchup. I will likely have several lineups going today with Yankee stacks. You’ve got to play the hot hand. They will cool off soon but you have to take advantage of it. Gardy is 8 for 23 lifetime including 2 home runs.
Andrew McCutchen, OF: $7,200 – Why are you so cheap? What is the catch here? I think Cutch is a must in every lineup today. The dude has been on fire his last 10 games which includes 3 home runs. He’s also hit safely in his 9 of 10 games.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF: $8,700– I don’t usually like putting Coors guys in my writeups but Gonzalez is cheap enough to where it doesn’t matter. I really though CarGo was done earlier this season but he’s showing that anything is possible in Coors. He has 5 home runs in his last 10 games. I don’t think you can turn him down at this price.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
As I gaze into my crystal ball I see a couple of games threatened by rain later today. Let’s keep an eye on the following games as there may be trouble brewing, A’s vs Phillies, Cardinals vs Cubs and Padres vs Rockies.
Doing Lines In Vegas
The heavy favorite today is Justin Verlander at -255. He just edged out Kluber at -250. There are only a few games with run totals 10 or over today and they are Yankees vs Orioles, Rockies vs Padres and White Sox vs Tigers.
