All you need to know about your lineup construction
As par for the course, Thursday’s slate is small -- four games, with the Yankees vs. Red Sox available for DraftKings in the second half of their doubleheader.
There is a chance of showers in the Denver area, but nothing seems like a washout. The other games should be good to go.
Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles 1B -- Mountcastle injured his shoulder at the plate Wednesday and was removed in the third inning. He is set to undergo imaging prior to Thursday’s pivotal contest against the Rays. Heston Kjerstad is expected to be called up from Triple-A Norfolk so it appears Mountcastle will be unavailable.
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays RHP – Gausman’s second half production has been more up and down than his first. Since August 3, Gausman has a 3.86 ERA, 20 percent K/BB ratio, and a 3-3 record. He has only pitched into seven or more innings twice and has stumbled against the Nationals and Rockies. He faces a tough matchup against the Rangers in a must-win game and his price point ($11,000 DK/ $10,300 FD) is a bit too high for my tastes.
Logan Webb, Giants RHP – Webb and the Giants make the trek up the mountains to face the Rockies at Coors Field. It seems odd to recommend a pitcher in Denver but the Rockies offense has been horrendous over the late month --.250/.319/.412 with an 83 wRC. That’s the fifth-worst offense in baseball over that time span.
Webb has been as reliable as they come, with a 3.40 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 3.21 SIERA to pair with a 19 percent K/BB ratio. He just surpassed his 2022 innings total and Giants manager Gabr Kapler lets him go deep into the game, if the 26-year-old is pitching well.
José Ureña is the pitcher I am targeting. His 8.46 ERA, 6.62 SIERA, and 2.10 WHIP is too juicy to pass up. Max Kepler has been on fire since the All-Star break, hitting .299/.365/.561 with 10 of his 22 homers over that span. Due to his production, he has been moved up to hitting cleanup and is sandwiched in the middle of Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa.
Ranger (Nathan Eovaldi) vs. Blue Jays:
Since returning from the injured list, Eovaldi hasn’t gone more than 2 1/3 innings and it is still up in the air if he is fully healthy. Springer is hitting .275/.368/.484 with five homers over the last 30 days and should be able to get to either Eovaldi or the Rangers bullpen.
Schneider has taken the majors by storm, and not because of his 1970s Cop movie mustache. He has been the best hitter on the Blue Jays over the last month, hitting .333/.467/.817 with six homers across 75 plate appearances. Since Danny Jansen’s unfortunate injury, Alejandro Kirk has received the bulk of the playing time behind the dish and could pay off at a lower price point.
Twins vs. White Sox (José Ureña)
Ureña has been dreadful, and the Twins should be able to capitalize on the Southside of Chicago. Kirilloff returned from the injured list last week and has hit extremely well against right-handers. Thursday could be the night he breaks out of his funk.
Castro also recently returned to the Twins starting lineup. He's had an amazing first season with the Twins this year, hitting .252/.329/.400 with seven homers and 31 stolen bases. He typically hits around seventh in the batting order but could provide points juice at a low price point.
Find out who might be great pitchers, hitters for your lineups
It’s an ideal day for stacking some baseball matchups out west whether you’re playing the early slate or the main one later tonight.
In the early contest, both sides of the Cubs and Rockies matchup are intriguing with the Rockies sending Ty Blach to the mound and the Cubs attempting to counter with Jameson Taillon.
Blach is coming off back-to-back starts where he’s struggled giving up five and four runs respectively. Jameson Taillon has been up and down all season. He’s coming off one of his best starts of the season against the Diamondbacks, but since Aug. 1 he has a 4.87 ERA and has been averaging 2.03 HR/9 innings. It could be a rough day for Taillon at Coors.
The Cubs have been slightly above average against left-handed pitchers this year with a team wRC+ of 103 and a few of their hitters have really done damage against southpaws at Coors.
Cody Bellinger ($6700/$4600)* is slashing .347/.396/.607 with nine home runs and 31 RBI against lefties. Christopher Morel ($5600/$3700) has a 466-foot home run in this series and six of his 22 bombs have been hit off lefties. He’s got a wRC+ of 120 against them.
Seiya Suzuki ($4600/$3500) has a wRC+ of 215 over the last two weeks, and even with his earlier struggles he’s above average against lefties (286/.345/.429) with a 110 wRC+.
If you’re looking for a cheap option at catcher, Yan Gomes ($3900/$3000) has been above average against lefties this season batting .281/.310/.488 with a wRC+ of 110 this season.
On the other side of that game, stacking Rockies against Taillon also makes a ton of sense. Kris Bryant ($4400/$2500) was the hero Tuesday with his ninth home run of the season to push the Rockies ahead of the Cubs.
At catcher, Elias Díaz ($4000/$3200) has been excellent at Coors at .282/.321/.454. Outfielder Nolan Jones ($4900/$4000) has been excellent since Aug. 1, slashing .279/.358/.529 with six home runs and Charlie Blackmon ($4500/$3400) is also an enticing outfield play. He’s batting leadoff and hitting .299/.390/.497 at home this season.
It’s worth staying out west for the main slate later. The Astros are a must stack against Paul Blackburn and the Oakland Athletics. José Altuve ($6400/$4200) has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball with six home runs and a wRC+ of 175 over the last two weeks.
Yordan Alvarez ($6100/$4100) has been even better – .342/.519/.605 with a wRC+ of 211 during that period. Add him to your outfield along with one of Kyle Tucker ($5700/$3800) or Chas McCormick ($4400/$3500).
You’ll want to balance out the pricey Astros stack with a more cost-effective option, and the Contrarian Edge Optimizer likes either side of the Royals lineup as an additional stack, Tim Anderson ($3300/$2400) at shortstop or Maikel Garcia ($3900/$2800) at third base both offer intriguing options there.
On the pitching side of the early matchups, Luis Castillo ($10800/$10800) has been excellent in a year where even the best starting pitchers have had struggles. He’s got 16 quality starts and faces a depleted Angels lineup that has been without Shohei Ohtani since Sept. 3. The Optimizer also likes Logan Allen ($8500/$8700) as a less expensive option. Allen will face a Giants lineup that has been slightly below average against lefties.
For the main slate take a look at Zac Gallen ($9800/$10600) against the Mets. He's coming off his best start of the season, throwing nine scoreless innings against the Cubs at Wrigley. Tonight, he’ll take those skills to a good pitching park at Citi Field against a young Mets team that is intriguing but has a lot of swing and miss amongst their rookies.
*Prices in parentheses are (Draft Kings/FanDuel) throughout.
Chris Crawford gives his take on today's Underdogs and PrizePicks
We’re getting closer to the postseason, but there still are fun over/unders to hit in the regular season with a strong slate available Wednesday.
Spencer Strider, Braves RHP: 8.0 strikeouts -- Over (PrizePicks)
Strider gave up 10 runs in his last two outings and went only 2 2/3 innings against the Cardinals. He had been fantastic before that, however, and prior to Wednesday’s clunker he had struck out at least nine hitters in three straight contests. Philadelphia is talented, but has plenty of hitters who can swing and miss. It’s risky for a number this high, but I’ll bet on Strider getting back into double digits today.
Ronald Acuña, Braves OF: 1.5 Total Bases -- Over (PrizePicks)
Would anyone be shocked if Acuña hit this total before the end of the first inning? He had another monster game Thursday with two homers against the Cardinals, and he’s already gone deep four times in the month of September. He’s also hitting just .214 in the month, but there’s simply too much talent -- and too much success -- to ever bet against Acuña reaching this total in 2023.
Jameson Taillon, Cubs RHP: 3 runs -- Over (Underdog)
Taillon is coming off his best start of the season -- and the best as a member of the Cubs -- with six scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks. He also has a 5.27 ERA on the season, and prior to his gem vs the Dbacks he had allowed at least four runs in five straight starts.
He’ll face a Colorado lineup that isn’t spectacular, but it’s at Coors Field, and everyone is well aware how hard it is to pitch there. It’s too hard to imagine Taillon having back-to-back strong starts based on what we’ve seen for the overwhelming majority his campaign.
Julio Rodriguez, Mariners OF: 9.5 fantasy points -- Over (Underdog)
After a sensational August that basically erased his early-season struggles, Rodriguez has been outstanding in September as well with a .300 average and .740 slugging percentage over his first 50 at-bats. He’ll go up against the Angels bullpen Wednesday -- a unit that does not rank among the best in baseball -- and it wouldn’t even be a surprise if he picked up two hits and drove in a few runs as the Mariners battle for a playoff spot.
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays SS: 1.5 total bases -- Over (PrizePicks)
Bichette came off the injured list Friday and got two hits against the Royals. Since then, he’s gone hitless in his next 11 at-bats. While some might find that concerning, it suggests to me the talented shortstop is due for a big day. He’s also slashed a strong .352/.400/.568 against left-handers, and Bichette will be squaring off against a southpaw in Jordan Montgomery and the Rangers on Wednesday. Simply put, this is too good of a player to believe he’ll stay down for long.
Nolan Arenado, Cardinals 3B + Adley Rutschman, Orioles C: 4.0 Hits+Runs+RBI – Over (PrizePicks)
We’re being optimists today and going over with every total. Rutschman and Arenado will face starting pitchers that inspire confidence, with the catcher squaring off against Drew Rom (7.79 ERA) and the third baseman seeing Kyle Gibson (5.12). It just takes one of these players having a big day to hit the over, but I’d bet on both hitters getting there in a game that could -- and should -- be a high-scoring affair.
Check out Tuesday's Underdogs and PrizePicks
There are an jam-packed 17 games across the league, including two doubleheaders. Among them, the Yankees vs Red Sox at Fenway Park. Also, the Braves and Phillies continue to battle it out for National League dominance. There are many options to choose from on Underdog and PrizePicks to make money on the diamond.
Max Scherzer 1.5 Walks Allowed (Higher) – Underdog
Outside of his last outing at home against the rival Astros where he allowed seven earned runs in three innings, Scherzer’s tenure with the Rangers started great. However, he has walked at least two batters in 11 of his last 13 starts. Over the last month, the Blue Jays own the second-highest walk percentage versus right-handed pitching.
Adam Wainwright 6 Hits Allowed (Higher) -- Underdog
The Orioles have been the biggest surprise in recent memory. They have over 90 wins with three weeks left to play and show no signs of slowing down. Over the last 10 days they own the highest batting average in baseball at .309. The next closest team, the Astros sit at .289. The O’s are hot and Waino is not. Wainwright has the slowest average fastball velocity across MLB this season and has allowed more than six hits in 15 of 19 starts.
Gunnar Henderson 8.5 Fantasy Points (Higher) - Underdog
As a result of picking on Wainwright we’re going to back the Orioles' hottest hitter so far in the second half of the season. We picked on Wainwright in his last start out in Atlanta and it paid off so we’re going straight back to the well. The rookie Henderson appears to have figured out hitting at the MLB level. He has the fifth most total bases over the last month.
Aaron Hicks 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (Higher) - Underdog
As much as it pains me as a Yankees fan to write, Aaron Hicks is proving to the Orioles why New York paid him all that money the last couple of years. Since the start of September, he has the highest batting average in MLB at .464. He is 4 for 5 in his career versus Wainwright with a homerun. He has hit this line in seven straight games.
Max Fried 5.5 Hits Allowed (Higher) – Underdog
Fading Fried is risky, but if there is ever a team to do it, it’s the 2023 Phillies. He has allowed six hits or more in five of his seven starts since returning to the rotation. The Phillies' projected lineup has smacked him around, and Philadelphia has the 10th highest BA and second-most HRs versus lefties. Over the last month the Phillies have the third highest BA average.
Trea Turner 8.5 Fantasy Points (More) - PrizepPcks
I’m not always eager to take picks against Max Fried, but there’s no denying the success Turner has had facing him. With a large sample size of 32 at-bats, Turner owns a .406 batting average against Fried. Turner has also been a much better hitter at home this season with a .298 batting average at Citizens Bank Ballpark compared to his .242 on the road. Over the last month, Turner has the fifth most hits in MLB and the second-most total bases.
Get insights for your Tuesday lineup construction
Yankees at Red Sox (Game 2) - 7:10 PM
Nationals at Pirates - 6:35 PM
There's lingering concern for the doubleheader at Fenway Park, especially in the nightcap, after Monday's series opener was postponed. There are similar worries for Nats-Pirates with scattered storms forecasted throughout the evening in Pittsburgh. They're not complete stay-away situations, but there's definitely increased risk.
Shohei Ohtani, Angels DH (oblique)
While the Angels continue to assert that Ohtani is on the precipice of returning, he’s missed eight straight games. It sounds like he’ll avoid a trip to the injured list, but he’s hardly a lock to return for today’s game in Seattle.
Oswald Peraza, Yankees 2B/3B (knee)
Peraza is day-to-day with left knee inflammation, which makes it unlikely he’ll play in both games of Tuesday’s twin bill at Fenway Park.
Jose Siri, Rays OF (hand)
Siri suffered a fractured right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Monday’s series opener against the Twins and is likely facing a multi-week absence.
Isaac Paredes, Rays 3B (hand)
Paredes has sat out two straight games due to a right-hand contusion stemming from a hit by a pitch over the weekend. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day.
Brandon Belt, Blue Jays 1B (back)
Belt was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers with lower back muscle spasms. The veteran slugger has missed nine of the last 11 games.
Jeimer Candelario, Cubs 1B/3B (back)
Candelario sat out Monday’s series opener against the Rockies following an early exit from Sunday’s game due to back tightness.
Christian Yelich, Brewers OF (back)
Yelich has missed three straight contests after being scratched for Saturday's game against the Yankees due to lower back soreness. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day.
Francisco Alvarez, Mets C (arm)
Alvarez got the night off Monday against the Diamondbacks after X-rays came back negative for any fractures following a hit by a pitch on the right hand Sunday.
Peralta finds himself atop Tuesday’s starting pitching slate after Monday’s complete-game shutout of the Marlins by teammate Brandon Woodruff. It’s an extremely favorable matchup in an extreme pitcher’s park, which bodes well for the 27-year-old right-hander’s chances to work deep into the contest.
There aren’t a ton of appealing options otherwise Tuesday, which makes Verlander an even more appealing building block in a tasty matchup against the floundering Athletics. He hasn’t faced Oakland’s lackluster lineup this season and is coming off a strong seven-inning effort against the division-rival Rangers.
Cabrera certainly turned some heads his last time out with eight strikeouts over four shutout frames against a loaded Dodgers’ lineup. The 25-year-old right-hander was one of the premier starting pitching prospects in baseball just a few years ago, but hasn’t quite put it all together at the highest level. Given his immense strikeout potential, and recent success, he’s a worthwhile dice roll for fantasy managers against Milwaukee’s pedestrian offense.
Sean Manaea vs. Guardians: $5,700
He likely won’t work deep into Tuesday’s start against the Guardians, but the Contrarian Edge Optimizer is a big fan of Manaea as a savvy option. The Optimizer grades him as a top-10 option, despite being one of the lower-cost options out there.
The 31-year-old southpaw is facing a Guardians’ lineup with a MLB-worst .658 OPS against left-handed pitching this season. There won’t be a ton of volume here, but Manaea figures to gobble up at least a couple frames and should pile up strikeouts against Cleveland.
Cubs at Rockies (RHP Chris Flexen)
Flexen was lit up for six runs over 2 1/3 innings his last time out against the Diamondbacks and Chicago's lineup offers the type of left-handed firepower that can get him into serious trouble early at Coors. Southpaw sluggers Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ make a ton of sense for fantasy managers as core lineup building blocks with veteran backstop Yan Gomes making for an attractive option at catcher.
Padres at Dodgers (RHP Lance Lynn)
Lynn has served up a staggering 12 homers across 40 innings (seven starts) since coming over to Los Angeles at the trade deadline. That gives San Diego's lineup, which exploded for 11 runs on 14 hits during Monday's series opener, an opportunity to mash at Dodger Stadium.
Insights to hel;p you build out your DFS baseball teams
Multiple games have a chance to be postponed or delayed east of the Mississippi. White Sox-Royals is the most likely to see a delay or flat-out cancellation, but Braves-Phillies, Red Sox-Yankees and Diamondbacks-Mets are all games fantasy GMs will want to pay close attention to before committing to having them in the lineup.
Jasson Dominguez, Yankees OF, UCL: Dominguez will miss the rest of the 2023 season and a good portion of the 2024 year after he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar ligament in his right elbow. The young outfielder was impressive in his time with the Yankees, but now won’t be an option for fantasy managers until after next year’s All-Star break, in all likelihood.
Shohei Ohtani, Angels DH, Oblique: Ohtani sat for the seventh consecutive game because of his oblique injury on Sunday, but there is a chance that the presumed 2023 MVP could be back in the lineup to start Monday’s series against the Mariners. Obviously, fantasy GMs will want to make absolute sure that the designated hitter is in the lineup, but there’s always a chance for Ohtani to hit a homer or two whenever he’s available to play.
Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks SS, Hand
Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks 2B, Knee
Both Marte and Lawlar suffered injury scares in Saturday’s game against the Cubs, with Marte fouling a ball off his knee, and Lawlar being hit in the hand by a pitch in the 10th inning. Both sat out Sunday’s game, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that Lawlar’s absence was just a day off and his hand was “fine.”
Still, managers will need to pay close attention to this one, as there’s a chance both talented options are on the bench for the series opener against the Mets on Monday -- if the game is even able to be played.
It’s a loaded Monday in terms of quality and quantity on the mound, and unsurprisingly, Glasnow is the most expensive option for the main slate. He’s coming off a start where he punched out 14 Boston hitters and allowed just one run on three hits while picking up a victory, and he’s compiled a 2.98 ERA with an excellent 134/28 K/BB ratio in his 17 starts for Tampa Bay in 2023.
The Twins lineup offers some pop, but it also offers a considerable amount of swing-and-miss to go with it. Glasnow could -- and should -- be in line for at least a good deal of strikeouts. Again.
The Blue Jays-Rangers series is one that has massive playoff implications for a handful of clubs, and it also sees one of the hottest pitchers in baseball -- Chris Bassitt -- in his last two starts. He’s gone eight innings in both of those outings while allowing just one run, but it’s worth pointing out those starts came against the Athletics and Nationals, and he “only” struck out 10 hitters over those 16 innings. He’ll take on a Texas team that is scuffling but still features some elite offensive options, so there’s a little bit of risk in using an option like Bassitt in this Monday slate.
Speaking of scuffling, the Mariners are limping into the final few weeks after a 3-7 road trip, but Gilbert has been a strong option as of late, and makes a lot of sense as a fantasy player against the Angels. The right-hander has struck out nine in back-to-back outings, and he’s allowed no more than three runs over his last four starts. Even if Ohtani is in the lineup, the Halos are a well below-average offense at this point, and with the Mariners due to pick things back up, it wouldn’t be a big surprise at all if Gilbert registered his 14th win and added double-digit or so strikeouts for good measure.
Kutter Crawford vs. Yankees: $5,700
Crawford has struggled in his last two starts while allowing 11 total runs over 6.1 innings, but it’s worth pointing out that those outings came against the Rays and Astros. In this one, the young right-hander will be squaring off a Yankees’ team that isn’t bereft of talent, but doesn’t offer the same kind of lineup depth that those two aforementioned teams possess. Crawford has been a solid if unspectacular option for the majority of the season, and his cheap price would allow you to add one of the big names above without (too much) worry.
Astros vs. Athletics (Mason Miller)
Miller has had success in his brief time with Oakland and offers the potential for miss bats in the future, but he’ll be making his first start since May as he works his way back from an elbow sprain, and he isn’t likely to go terribly deep in this outing even if he’s effective. The Astros are starting to pick things back up as of late, and you get a pair of stars in Alvarez and Tucker with this stack on top of some cheaper options. It will make sense to stack against Oakland until the season comes to a conclusion.
Cubs vs. Rockies (Kyle Freeland)
Freeland has posted a 5.05 ERA in Coors Field this season. Against right-handed hitters, he’s given up a slash of .312/.357/.554 over 455 at-bats with 25 homers and 54 extra-base hits. The Rockies are 51-91. The Cubs are closing in on making a surprise trip to the postseason. This one’s pretty obvious right? Just because it’s obvious doesn’t make it a bad play, however, and the fact that none of these options are expensive means you can add some real star talent to your DFS roster both on the mound and the rest of your lineup.
Check out Underdogs and PrizePicks for huge 15-game slate
It’s an absolutely loaded Monday slate, with a staggering 15 games on tap, including a twin bill between the Braves and Phillies. Unfortunately, electrifying Yankees rookie outfielder Jasson Domínguez’s torn UCL in his right elbow, which will require Tommy John surgery that will likely keep him out until mid-2024, overshadows the start of an intriguing series between the Yankees and Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Glasnow, who matched a career-high with 14 strikeouts Wednesday in his previous start against the Red Sox, has eclipsed eight strikeouts in only eight of 17 outings this season. He's done it just once in his last five starts dating back to Aug. 14.
However, the Twins have struck out a major league-leading 550 times in 52 games since the All-Star break. The combination of Glasnow's swing-and-miss stuff and Minnesota's propensity to whiff make topping 8Ks a realistic outcome.
The Marlins are one of a handful of lineups that don't take a ton of free passes, ranking 29th in walks with just 112 in 51 contests since the All-Star break. Woodruff has pitched extremely well of late, surrendering two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts since returning from a lengthy injured list stint on Aug.6.
The 30-year-old right-hander has also handed out only nine free passes across 35 2/3 innings during that span. His stellar control paired with Miami's aggressive offensive approach make it highly unlikely that he's going to issue multiple walks Monday evening.
Ruiz has compiled a solid .744 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, but he's 1 for 7 with three strikeouts against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. But the 24-year-old speedster has held his own against southpaw, which makes his extremely small sample size against Valdez even more of an outlier.
Ruiz has stuck at the bottom of Oakland's lineup, which limits his opportunities, but the lengthier track record suggests he's got a decent shot at coming through Monday night with at least one hit against Houston.
Quintana has completed six innings (18 outs) in seven of his nine outings since making his season debut July 20. The Diamondbacks' offense is certainly capable of catching fire, but there's a possibility they come out of a gate a bit slow following a cross-country flight to New York, especially with Ketel Marte and Jordan Lawlar likely to sit out due to injury.
It’s not a big risk to roll the dice on the National League MVP Award front-runner in the midst of a transcendent offensive campaign, but he has zero extra-base hits in 11 career plate appearances against Taijuan Walker, who will take the ball for the Phillies during the front-end of Monday's doubleheader in Philadelphia.
However, the 25-year-old superstar outfielder is in the midst of another sizzling-hot stretch at the dish, posting a 1.132 OPS with five homers and 10 RBI in nine games since the start of September. Citizens Bank Park is extremely hitter-friendly, and the Braves are rolling with their main offensive catalyst doing the heavy lifting.
Tom Viera gives the lowdown on whom to consider adding, and avoiding, for your lineup constructions
There’s great baseball weather expected across the country except for games in the Northeast.
Yankees vs. Brewers (Bronx, NY) 1:35 pm ET– There’s a strong likelihood of thunderstorms in the NYC area throughout the day. They may face a myriad of delays squeezing in this interleague matchup.
Phillies vs. Marlins (Philadelphia) 1:05 pm ET – Nearly identical to the NYC forecast, rain and thunderstorms are expected to be abundant throughout Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love. The Phillies are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Monday so expect the two sides to somehow squeeze this one in.
Red Sox vs. Orioles (Boston) 1:35 pm ET – Rainy weather is expected to interrupt this AL East showdown. They close out the season against each other at the end of the month so they can push for a doubleheader then.
Luis Rengifo, Angels SS (biceps) -- Rengifo suffered a torn bicep in the on-deck circle in Saturday’s game. He will miss the remainder of the season.
Mickey Moniak, Angels OF (back) -- Moniak has been scratched from the lineup for three consecutive games with back tightness. There is a chance the Angels place him on the IL as they are firmly out of contention.
Shohei Ohtani, Angels RHP-DH (oblique) -- Ohtani sat for his sixth straight game Saturday, and it’s expected he will be out of the lineup again Sunday. This issue is separate from the torn UCL in his elbow so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Angels shut down the superstar. He is still considered day-to-day.
Mookie Betts, Dodgers OF (foot) – The Dodgers are calling Mookie’s foot injury a bone bruise after undergoing CT scans and an MRI. Manager, Dave Roberts has said Betts likely won’t play until next week.
Christian Yelich, Brewers OF (back) – The former MVP was scratched from Saturday’s lineup as a precaution, but it sounds like he won’t miss more time.
It’s Sunday and that means it’s aces wild across the league. You can insert some big names into your lineups. Among those aces is the frontrunner for AL Cy Young Gerrit Cole. He is the most expensive option on the slate for good reason. Cole has the third best ERA in baseball at 2.90 and he’s fifth in the league in strikeouts. He’s first in quality starts so it would be wise to fit him into your lineup.
On the other side Corbin Burnes will look to match zeros with Cole on Sunday. He’s not a sure bet to do so as he has struggled a bit more in day games with a 4.69 ERA compared to a 3.22 ERA at night. It also could be a fruitful decision to avoid both aces in the Bronx on Sunday as rain could interrupt their starts. Track the forecast pregame before inserting Cole or Burnes.
Jose Berrios’ matchup against the Royals at home looks great on paper, but this is one you may want to take a closer look at before making the decision to put him in your lineup. Despite pitching well in his last start versus the A’s, he had allowed five earned runs in back-to-back starts and finished August with an abysmal 5.53 ERA. He faced the Royals earlier this season and allowed 9 hits and 8 Earned Runs. He can redeem himself Sunday though as he has been lights out in day games throwing to a tune of a 2.06 ERA in 8 starts.
Pablo Lopez has shown brilliant flashes at times this season. He currently sits fourth in the league in strikeouts, and he has been excellent since the All-Star break. He has thrown to a 3.02 ERA but somehow, he’s been lucky. Opponents’ batting average is up to .275 post All-Star compared to .220 pre-All-Star. The Mets still present a formidable lineup with the likes of Lindor and Alonso but with some young guys now inserted New York is tied with the third lowest batting average since the All-Star break. The Mets lineup also projects well off Lopez so it's a true roll of the dice to pay for Pablo on Sunday.
Tanner Bibee vs. LAA: $9,500 (FanDuel)
This feels real great inserting into our lineups. The Angels will likely be without some dangerous bats moving forward -- Ohtani, Rengifo, and Moniak to name a few. Bibee has been sneaky good this season. He’s been the king of consistency going 14 straight starts allowing three earned runs or less. Over this span he has a 2.55 ERA, bringing his ERA on the year down to 3.05.
On Sunday, he will face an Angels lineup that has scored the third FEWEST runs since Aug. 1 and owns the seventh worst strikeout rate. With aces near the top of the board, expect the ownership rate to be somewhat low compared to other arms on Sunday.
Dodgers vs. Nationals (Trevor Williams)
The Dodgers are having a tough time on their current road trip, but they get a juicy matchup with Trevor Williams on Sunday to close out their series in Washington. They’ll be without Mookie at least another game but Williams presents the perfect get-right spot. He allowed six earned runs in five innings in his lone start versus the Dodgers this season.
To no surprise Freeman bats .375 in his career versus Williams. Martinez is 2 for 5 with a homerun, Muncy 3 for 5, and Peralta .381 in 21 at-bats. Williams has also been terrible in day games with a 6.64 ERA in 13 starts. It also helps that the Nats bullpen owns the fourth worst ERA. I would get as many Dodgers in your lineups as you can.
Twins vs. Mets (Tylor Megill)
The American League Central leaders are a dominant force at Target Field. They are sixth in MLB in OPS, HRs, and slugging percentage at home this season. Megill presents a friendly matchup for the Twinkies. His home/away splits are eye opening. His 7.93 road ERA compared to his 3.43 ERA at Citi Field makes us salivate over the Twins lineup on Sunday.
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