Well, we made it through another week of this shortened baseball season! Not without some bumps along the way, as the Reds-Pirates weekend series was postponed with a Reds’ player testing positive for the Coronavirus. There are 24 teams in action today, with 11 of the 12 games falling under the main slate at 7:05 pm est. The only game(s) that is not under this slate is the Cubs-Cardinals as they play a doubleheader. With that in mind, let’s roll out some picks on this Monday
Pitchers
Zach Davies ($8,200)
It has been a solid start to the season for Davies, especially his last two starts, as he currently has a 18/3 K/BB rate in 22.2 innings over four starts. He went seven innings of two-run, four-hit ball versus the Dodgers, while striking out five and walking two in his last start. The start prior to that versus the Diamondbacks he went 5.2 shutout innings while surrendering three hits, no walks, and striking out six. He faces a Rangers lineup tonight that is near the bottom of the league’s offensive ranks, (.224 average, .663 OPS, 22.2 K%).
Ross Stripling ($7,900)
Like Davies, Stripling has a solid K/BB rate so far at 20/6 and faces an offense even worse than the Rangers. Stripling struggled in his last start, surrendering six runs overall against the Padres. While only two of the runs were earned, they were basically all on him as he made an error that allowed a run to score and led to a five-run inning. He should bounce back nicely against a porous lineup that is hitting .218 with a .651 OPS, .289 wOBA, and 23.7 K% so far.
Other options: Zac Gallen ($8,800), Griffin Canning ($8,200)
Avoid: Hyun-jin Ryu ($9,400), Matthew Boyd ($8,900)
Sluggers
Eric Hosmer ($3,700)
Hosmer has made some major adjustments this season, as the career 3.1 launch angle hitter including a 2018 launch angle of -1.4, currently sits at a 17.5 launch angle for this season. He has hit a homer in two straight games and three of the last four to up his total to four on the season. While he has only played in 11 games this season after being out with a non-COVID-related illness, he is definitely trending upwards. He faces right-hander Jordan Lyles who he has one homer against, while he also mashes righties. He has hit 38 homers and holds a .811 OPS against them since 2018 and three of his homers this year are against right-handers.
Whit Merrifield ($5,400)
Someone known for his ability to hit for average, Merrifield is not usually known for his power. But so far this season, he has hit five homers in 22 games, which puts him on pace for 14 in 60 games. The most he has ever hit is 19 in 2017, and his current pace would equal 38 bombs in 162 games. He has hit safely in six of his last seven games and is facing a Twins team who he has hit well and are throwing out an opener. He is 6-for-21 against the Twins with a homer this season and is also 17-for-54 with three homers and 12 RBIs on the road.
Stacks
Chicago White Sox vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
I mentioned the White Sox on the Too Much Pod Tar podcast DFS episode yesterday as one of my stacks and that worked out very well as they scored seven runs and mashed four straight homers in the fifth inning (Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez). Today they face Matthew Boyd who has struggled mightily this season (22 R, 30 H, .353 BAA, .627 xSLG, .439 wOBA, 44.1% HH%, 18.8% K%) and who the White Sox tagged for seven runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.2 innings his last start. Three hitters in the ChiSox lineup have hit two homers off Boyd, Jose Abreu ($4,700), Edwin Encarnacion ($3,900), and Eloy Jimenez ($4,500). Tim Anderson ($4,500) is another solid option who has gone 10-for-36 off Boyd over his career.
New York Yankees vs. Martín Pérez, Boston Red Sox
The Yankees have scored 25 runs in the first three games of the series, including five homers. It continues to be Next Man Up season, as they are now down Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and DJ LeMahieu for at least a week. Even without those three, the Yankees lineup is dangerous against a very bad Red Sox pitching staff. Clint Frazier ($4,400) has been on fire since he came up, Gleyber Torres ($4,600) and Gary Sanchez ($4,800) have both started to catch fire (combined 13-for-31 last four, three homers from Sanchez), and Mike Ford ($3,800) got back on track yesterday after a couple down days with a 2-for-4 day with a homer.
Home Run Call: Eloy Jimenez
Check out what Joey Ricotta (@theriot326), Frank Ammirante (@fammirantetfj), and I said about this slate as well on the latest episode of Too Much Pod Tar!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/060kdNf8Yk73IgOFrNaJJA?si=BZnMm6aCRW-Wl4g-GupnPw
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