COVID is wreaking havoc on Major League Baseball already in the young abbreviated season. There are three at 6:00/6:40, four at 7:00/7:30, and six at 8:00/9:45. I’ll run down a few plays from various time slots so you can win some money whichever slate you play. Let’s get rollin’…
Locks
Tanner Roark ($8,200) (6:00/6:40)
Facing his former team will give him a little extra motivation. There really isn’t much to choose from in this slot. Roark is a veteran and has been solid throughout his career. Aside from Asdrubal Cabrera, the rest of the Washington Nationals don’t hit him well. He may not give you big strikeout upside, but from the pitchers to choose from he should give you a solid return.
Walker Buehler ($11,800) (8:00/9:30)
I know he is facing the Astros, but we are talking about an ace in the making. He has faced the Astros once in his career in 2018. He went 5.1 innings surrendering just four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Price is not a concern when we are talking about the best starter on the entire slate. Lock him in.
Antonio Senzatela ($6,600) 8:00/9:40)
While he isn’t anyone’s idea of an ace, he did throw 80 pitches in his final exhibition start. The Athletics have scored 17 runs in four games, but nine of those runs were in two innings. Five off Shohei Ohtani and an extra-inning Grand Slam from Matt Olson. If Senzatela can get through the lineup twice and go five, he will return solid value.
Stacks
Cleveland Indians (7:00/7:30)
Sticking with the Indians, I give them some runs against Carlos Rodon and the White Sox bullpen. The combo of Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Carlos Santana is 24-85 with a solid 9/12 BB/K rate against Rodon. Ramirez and Lindor have also combined for six SBs against the Chicago lefty. The Sox bullpen did not pitch well over the weekend. Of course, they ran into the Bomba Squad but they allowed 14 runs in 17.1 innings.
*Note who plays in the second game of this doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals (8:00/9:40)
They travel to Target Field to face the Twins and they will have to hit to keep up with them. Hit they will. Homer Bailey is going for Minnesota tonight and a few of the Cards have seen him a lot over the years. Paul DeJong, Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, and Kolten Wong are a slick 53-129 (.411 BA) against the Twins righty. They’ve also managed 21 runs, 23 RBI, 7 HRs, and have a solid 11/18 BB/K rate. The Cardinals will come out swinging against Bailey knowing that runs will be needed to get the win.
Barrels
Brandon Lowe ($4,200) (6:00/6:40)
Three straight multi-hit games and batting second in a hot Rays lineup? Thank you, sir, may I have another. Ride the train here especially with the Rays facing young Kyle Wright tonight. As a team, Tampa Bay has a 24/35 BB/K rate in four games. Lowe should see five PAs tonight and Tampa Bay is not a bad stack at all either.
Miguel Cabrera ($3,100) (7:00/7:30)
Give me the old man. He will be facing Kyle Zimmer and although Miggy is only 2-14, one of those hits is a HR and he has walked four times. I’ll take Cabrera facing a kid at home in the beginning of the year when he is actually healthy. The price is absolutely right if you want to spend up for Buehler or a couple more bats.
Justin Turner ($4,900) (8:00/9:40)
The Dodgers as a team should be a solid play with revenge on their mind against the Astros. Turner is raking so far. 7-15 with four doubles and has a hit in every game. Lefty Framber Valdez is going to be on the mound for Houston. No one is scared of him, especially Big Red.
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