Dr. A.'s First Pick? Luka, Of Course

Welcome to my first column for Sportstopia! To say I’m excited is an understatement. We will bring you the best fantasy hoops coverage in the industry with a star-studded ensemble of contributors. If you’re not already familiar with my work, this season marks (roughly) my 24th year of covering fantasy hoops. I spent most of my career at Rotoworld and am currently writing for ESPN and RotoWire. Follow me on Twitter at @Docktora.

This early September NBA mock draft is a Yahoo! eight-category league that was hosted by Rotowire and packed full of industry guys and a bunch of Rotowire analysts. And here’s how it all went down with some of my thoughts after each round. I had the second pick, obviously.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokic DEN C
2. Luka Doncic DAL PG
3. Joel Embiid PHI C
4. Tyrese Haliburton IND G
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC G
6. Jayson Tatum BOS F
7. Kevin Durant PHX F
8. Stephen Curry GSW PG
9. Anthony Edwards MIN SG/SF
10. LaMelo Ball CHA G
11. Anthony Davis LAL PF/C
12. Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM PF/C

There are no turnovers to worry about in this one and I still think Luka will eventually become a better free throw shooter, but I also might be crazy. Honestly, I would have been thrilled to come away from this one with Jokic, Luka, Haliburton or SGA. It’s also interesting to see defensive stud Jaren Jackson Jr. climb into the first round, along with stalwart Edwards.

Round 2

13. Giannis Antetokounmpo MIL PF/C
14. Kyrie Irving DAL G
15. Damian Lillard POR PG
16. Mikal Bridges BKN SG/SF
17. Devin Booker PHX SG/SF
18. Donovan Mitchell CLE G
19. Trae Young ATL PG
20. Domantas Sabonis SAC PF/C
21. Karl-Anthony Towns MIN PF/C
22. Fred VanVleet HOU PG
23. Victor Wembanyama SAS PF/C
24. James Harden PHI G

I was hoping to come out of Rounds 2 and 3 with some more of ‘my guys’ and I did just that, grabbing Wembanyama near the end of Round 2. I know there’s some risk involved, and I am a little concerned about how much the Spurs may rest him, but I believe the hype and wanted to get him.

Round 2 is a bit of a reach but I also wasn’t sure he’d be there three picks later. However, given that I wouldn’t pick again until the 47th pick after Round 3, he was coming off the board for me in Round 3 if I decided to grab someone else first.

I’m also a big Mikal Bridges supporter and you’re going to have to pay for him if you want him. Giannis will nearly assure his manager a ‘1’ in free throw percentage, which is why he fell to Round 2 in this Roto format.

Round 3

25. Desmond Bane MEM SG/SF
26. Chet Holmgren OKC PF/C
27. Kawhi Leonard LAC SG/SF
28. Walker Kessler UTA C
29. Jimmy Butler MIA F
30. Pascal Siakam TOR PF/C
31. Cade Cunningham DET G
32. LeBron James LAL F
33. Bam Adebayo MIA C
34. Lauri Markkanen UTA F
35. Jrue Holiday MIL G
36. Paul George LAC SG/F

Yes, Holmgren is another one of my guys and I clearly reached for him, especially when you consider his current ADP is closer to 40 than 25. Big men coming off of serious foot problems are traditionally a problem in the NBA, but my guess is Holmgren is going to be good to go and better than people are expecting. But targeting him in the fourth or fifth round makes more sense than where I took him.

It’s obviously will take an early pick to get Walker, but I believe the hype on him, too. I will not be drafting Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James or Paul George due to age and injury histories. At least not in Round 3.

Round 4

37. Darius Garland CLE PG
38. Myles Turner IND C
39. Dejounte Murray ATL G
40. De’Aaron Fox SAC PG
41. Nikola Vucevic CHI C
42. Jalen Brunson NYK PG
43. OG Anunoby TOR SG/SF
44. Nic Claxton BKN C
45. Jamal Murray DEN G
46. Kristaps Porzingis BOS PF/C
47. Jalen Williams OKC SG/SF
48. Evan Mobley CLE PF/C

With Holmgren added to the OKC offense and SGA and Giddey both looking to take another step forward, my guy Jalen Williams is a bit risky. But he’s so talented, he can co-exist with his teammates. The Thunder will take the kid gloves off this season and the sky’s the limit. And Williams is sure to play a big role for OKC even if he is playing second fiddle to SGA, Giddey and Holmgren. Stud point guards aplenty in Round 4 with Garland, Murray, Fox and Murray all going off the board. I particularly like Murray here.

Round 5

49. Jaylen Brown BOS SG/SF
50. Alperen Sengun HOU C
51. DeMar DeRozan CHI SG
52. Josh Giddey OKC SG/F
53. Zach LaVine CHI SG/SF
54. Jarrett Allen CLE C
55. Scottie Barnes TOR SF/PF
56. Brandon Ingram NOP SG/F
57. Paolo Banchero ORL F
58. Jordan Poole WAS G
59. Bradley Beal PHX G
60. Franz Wagner ORL SG/F

After being a little early on Sengun over the last two seasons, Year 3 should be a charm. He’s very good and I fully expect him to break out. My center corral is full of young studs and if they all pan out, this team is going to rack up serious big-man stats. I would not mess with a guy like Ingram here, as he hasn’t played in more than 62 games in any of his last six seasons.

Round 6

61. Jerami Grant POR PF
62. Tyrese Maxey PHI G
63. Rudy Gobert MIN C
64. Devin Vassell SAS SG/SF
65. Julius Randle NYK PF
66. Deandre Ayton PHX C
67. Cameron Johnson BKN F
68. Khris Middleton MIL F
69. Derrick White BOS G
70. Zion Williamson NOP PF/C
71. Michael Porter Jr. DEN SF
72. Terry Rozier CHA PG/SG

I just can’t quit MPJ although it feels much better to get him at the end of Round 6 than it does taking him any earlier than that. He made it through a career-high 62 games last season and still has enough upside that he could be a pleasant surprise. I’m not messing with Zion Williamson and still think he’s going to be a bust. Believe it or not, he’s entering Year 5 and he’s played a grand total of 114 games out of a max 328 regular-season games.

Round 7

73. Brook Lopez MIL C
74. Tyus Jones WAS PG
75. Robert Williams BOS C
76. Anfernee Simons POR G
77. Miles Bridges CHA F
78. Tyler Herro MIA G
79. Buddy Hield IND SG/SF
80. Clint Capela ATL C
81. Marcus Smart MEM PG
82. Jakob Poeltl TOR C
83. Ja Morant MEM PG
84. Kyle Kuzma WAS F

Tyus Jones will be the point guard in Washington and could have a really good season. I’m not sure how he’ll mesh with Jordan Poole, who will be shooting the ball A LOT, but Jones should be a fun fantasy player to manage. Ja Morant fell to Round 7 due to his 25-game suspension and if you have the patience to wait on him, could be a huge difference maker in the second half of the season. His fantasy rankings haven’t been great throughout his career but he’s still a potential monster.

Round 8

85. C.J. McCollum NOP G
86. Draymond Green GSW PF/C
87. Jalen Green HOU G
88. Scoot Henderson POR PG
89. Markelle Fultz ORL G
90. Daniel Gafford WAS PF
91. Austin Reaves LAL SG/SF
92. Trey Murphy NOP F
93. Shaedon Sharpe POR SG/SF
94. Jabari Smith HOU PF/C
95. De’Anthony Melton PHI G
96. Mark Williams CHA C

I was pleased to get Melton this late as he’s got one of the more fantasy-friendly games. Add in the mystery surrounding James Harden’s future in Philly and Melton should be in store for a very good fantasy season. In fact, this is one of my favorite picks in this draft even though a lot of people don’t even know who he is. Steals, threes, rebounds, assists, some blocks and low turnovers should all be fun.

Markelle Fultz was intriguing here and it will be interesting to see if he can build on last season’s success. I’d be a lot more excited about him if he didn’t have to deal with teammates like Cole Anthony, Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs. They only play with one basketball, unfortunately.

Round 9

97. Chris Paul GSW PG
98. Tre Jones SAS PG
99. Mitchell Robinson NYK C
100. Tobias Harris PHI F
101. Keegan Murray SAC F
102. Andrew Wiggins GSW F
103. Onyeka Okongwu ATL C
104. Wendell Carter Jr. ORL C
105. John Collins UTA PF
106. Spencer Dinwiddie BKN PG
107. Jalen Duren DET C
108. Jusuf Nurkic POR C

Tre Jones, along with Tyus Jones, is one of my favorite cheap point guards. He should be running the offense and will be the guy feeding Wemby and Keldon Johnson early and often. Jones doubled his scoring and assists from the previous season last year, played in 68 games and should have a clear path to 30 minutes a game this year. He also doesn’t turn the ball over and is a good shooter from everywhere but does lack a quality 3-point shot. Maybe he’ll shoot more of them this season.

I like the John Collins pick here in Round 9. He’s getting a much-needed fresh start in Utah and while he’ll have to deal with guys like Kessler and Lauri Markkanen, I have a gut feeling that a bounce-back season is coming.

Round 10

109. P.J. Washington CHA PF
110. Klay Thompson GSW SG/SF
111. Bobby Portis MIL PF/C
112. Russell Westbrook LAC PG
113. Jaden McDaniels MIN F
114. Richaun Holmes DAL PF/C
115. D’Angelo Russell LAL G
116. Zach Collins SAS C
117. Gary Trent Jr. TOR G
118. Keldon Johnson SAS SG/SF
119. Bruce Brown IND G/SF
120. Jordan Clarkson UTA G

I was pleased to get Bruce Brown late in Round 10 after the Pacers paid him all that money this summer. He’s a savvy veteran who could be a glue guy on both ends of the court for Indy and I’m still not convinced he’s going to come off the bench. Brown’s another guy who does a little bit of everything, doesn’t turn the ball over and could take a step forward for his new team. He also played in 80 games last season. I really didn’t love anyone else taken in this round although it will be interesting to see if McDaniels can take a step forward for the Wolves this season.

Round 11

121. Ben Simmons BKN G/PF
122. Immanuel Quickley NYK G
123. Aaron Gordon DEN PF
124. Ausar Thompson DET SG/SF
125. Herbert Jones NOP F
126. Malcolm Brogdon BOS G
127. Ivica Zubac LAC C
128. RJ Barrett NYK SG/SF
129. Jonas Valanciunas NOP C
130. Kevin Huerter SAC SG/SF
131. Mike Conley MIN PG
132. Brandon Miller CHA SF

I was pleased to see Ben Simmons go just before my pick, because I might have been tempted to take him, against my better judgment. I have a mini goal of not drafting Simmons this season and so far, I’m 1-for-1 in that category. Quickley nearly won Sixth Man of the Year last season and should be even more confident this time around. Ausar Thompson went before his brother (Amen Thompson) in this early mock, but I doubt that happens very often once draft season is officially here. Is RJ Barrett a good player? I still haven’t decided.

Round 12

133. Kyle Anderson MIN F
134. Bojan Bogdanovic DET SG/SF
135. Collin Sexton UTA G
136. Jaden Ivey DET G
137. Jarace Walker IND PF
138. Dennis Schroder TOR PG
139. Bennedict Mathurin IND SG/SF
140. Amen Thompson HOU SF
141. Al Horford BOS PF/C
142. Kevin Porter Jr. HOU G
143. Obi Toppin IND PF
144. Josh Hart NYK SG/SF

I finished things off with Obi Toppin and his new role in Indiana. I have no idea if he will blow up or not, but he’ll at least be fun to watch running the court with Haliburton and the Pacers. Amen Thompson went in this round, but he’ll be going earlier this fall after his big Summer League. Keep an eye on Dennis Schroder, who may be running the offense all season in Toronto with Fred VanVleet in Houston. Lastly, Kevin Porter Jr. has run into some disturbing legal troubles and may not even play this season.

Other News

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MLB

Thursday Lineup Construction and Stacks

Get recommendations for your Thursday lineup

Shelly Verougstraete

August 30, 2023

Weather Report:

There are only three games on the slate today and none should be impacted by precipitation.

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Injury Report:

Jorge Soler - Hip - He left Tuesday’s contest against the Rays with right hip tightness. He is considered day-to-day and could be ready to go against the Nationals.

Lane Thomas - Back - He was lifted prior to the seventh inning due to back soreness. It doesn’t sound serious but there is a chance he sits out Thursday.‍

Mitch Haniger - Rest - Haniger returned from the injured list on Tuesday and sat out against a righty but the team said it was only due to rest. He should be ready to go on Thursday.

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Starting Pitchers (DK-FD)

‍Spencer Strider: 12,500-12,000

Lance Lynn: 8,800-9,500

Braxton Garrett: 8,200-8,700

Pedro Avila: 6,300-6,700

Joan Adon: 5,400-6,400

Sean Manaea: 5,000-7,300

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Spencer Strider is the highest-priced pitcher for the slate, which shouldn’t be surprising. He easily leads the slate with a 2.75 SIERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 38 percent strikeout rate. His 1.06 HR/9 is the highest of his career, without taking the two game appearance in the majors late in 2021 into account. His 60 percent HR/Barrel rate is above league average, which indicates that he could be getting a bit unlucky with the long ball. He faces a tough team in the Dodgers which makes the 12K+ price tag a bit steep.

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Strider gets to go toe-to-toe with Lance Lynn in the last game in the slate on Tuesday. To say that Lynn has had an up-and-down season is a bit of an understatement. Lynn has a 3.99 SIERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 26 percent strikeout rate on the season but most of the damage was done while he was a member of the Chicago White Sox. Since joining the Dodgers, he has a 4.30 SIERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 21 percent strikeout rate. He faces a very tough task of facing the Braves in Dodgers Stadium. Since both of these pitchers face uphill battles, going cheap on the pitching while loading up on bats, could work tonight.

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Braxton Garrett gets to face the Nationals for the second game in a row. Last time out, he allowed three runs over six innings while only picking up three strikeouts. This time around, he will be in the Nationals home ballpark, which has been below league average when it comes to the long ball, especially with the forecast projecting the winds to be blowing into the ballpark.

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Batter to Target

Joan Adon is a pitcher that could be easily exploited in this small slate. His 4.44 SIERA is easily the worst of the group ad Nationals Park is a bit hitter-friendly this season. While the Marlins hitters have struggled in the second of the season Jake Burger ($4,100 on DK and $3,000 on FanDuel) could be an option for fantasy managers looking some cheap power.

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Stack Attack

Marlins (Braxton Garrett) vs. Nationals:

DK-FD

Lane Thomas: 4,900-3,200

Keibert Ruiz: 4,000-2,600

Joey Meneses: 4,400-2,700

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If Lane Thomas is ready to go on Thursday, he is a must add. The 28-year-old is hitting .346/.393/.591 with eight homers and nine stolen bases against southpaws this season. Ruiz and Meneses also have been above league average against left-handed pitching while hitting towards the top of the Nationals lineup.

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Giants (Manaea) vs. Padres:

DK-FD

Ha-Seong Kim: 4,900-3,100

Gary Sanchez: 3,800-2,600

Garrett Cooper: 2,900-2,400

Trent Grisham: 2,800-2,500

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The Giants haven’t officially named a starter for Thursday’s contest against the Padres but Sean Manaea figures to fill in as the bulk reliever. Ha-Seong Kim has been out of his mind in the second half of the season, while posting a season long line of .329/.413/.579 with eight homers and ten stolen bases against left-handed pitching. Sánchez and Grisham have also hit above league average against lefties and can be add at some really low prices. Cooper has moved up to sixth in the Padres batting order after Jake Cronenworth landed on the injured list with a fractured wrist. If the Padres bats come to life at the top of the order, you could pick up some RBIs at a considerably low price point.

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MLB

Underdogs and Prizepicks -- Aug 31 2023

Christopher Crawford breaks down great fantasy options for Wednesday's slate.

Christopher Crawford

August 30, 2023

It’s another full slate of games Wednesday, and there are more than a handful of interesting options to gander over. Colorado-Atlanta provides some intriguing value, but a ‘lesser’ game like Kansas City taking on Pittsburgh also offers intrigue.

Here are tonight’s Underdog and Prizepicks plays for Wednesday’s MLB slate.

Bobby Witt Jr. 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog)‍

It’d be hard to overstate just how good the Royals' infielder has been in August, as the young star has hit.327/.379/.626 with eight homers while stealing nine bags and driving in 21 runs even for a weak team. On Wednesday, he’ll go up against the Pirates' Andre Jackson; who pitched decently over his last two starts but offers plenty of opportunity with less-than-spectacular stuff. Don’t be surprised if Witt Jr. offers a combo meal with a homer and a steal, and he’s a good bet to reach the over on that 1.5 total.

Nolan Jones : 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Prizepicks)

Somewhat quietly, Jones has been one of the better rookies in baseball, coming into Wednesday with a slash of .271/.353/.488. He’ll get a chance to place in the friendly confines of Coors Field, and the former Cleveland prospect will also get a chance to face a right-hander who is making his MLB debut in Darius Vines. Jones is hitless in his last three games, and while that makes things a little more nerve-wracking, it also means he’s due for a big game.

Matt Olson: 0.5 RBI - More (Prizepicks)

Olson will be going up against a lefty in Kyle Freeland, and while he is statistically worse against southpaws than he is righties, worse is a subjective term considering he’s posted an .891 OPS with nine homers and 27 RBI over his 125 plate appearances. Add in the fact he’ll be playing in the friendly confines of Coors Field with some elite hitters hitting in front of him, and Olson is as good of a bet for an RBI as any player Wednesday.

Dane Dunning: 4.0 strikeouts - Higher (Underdog)

Dunning has been able to miss bats at much higher rate as of late, with 39 strikeouts over 29.2 innings of work in his five starts thus far in August. The Mets certainly offer a chance for missed bats, and are not exactly in striking distance for a playoff spot. Dunning should be able to hit his mark as long as he can throw enough strikes to do so; something he admittedly struggled with Friday against the Twins.

Brandon Pfaadt : 4.5 Strikeouts - Lower (Underdog)

There’s reason for long-term upside with Pfaadt, as he was one of the best minor-league hurlers in baseball in 2022, and there have been some flashes of brilliance in 2023 despite his ugly 5.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 67 innings during his rookie campaign. Asking him to reach this total is asking him to work deep against the Dodgers, a lineup that is as feared as any in all of baseball. There’s just too much risk on betting overs with Pfaadt against this kind of team.

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Astros are hot, but there are alternatives

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MLB

Astros are hot, but there are alternatives

Sara Sanchez breaks down the Contrarian Edge Optimer's lineup possibilities.

Sara Sanchez

August 29, 2023

The Houston Astros have terrorized the Boston Red Sox this week, putting up 19 runs over the last two games, both of which started by two of Boston’s best pitchers, Chris Sale and Brayan Bello.

Sale and Bello kept the games close, giving up three and two earned runs respectively, but the bullpen couldn’t contain Houston’s bats. Jose Altuve hit for the cycle in the first game, and Yordan Álvarez homered in both games, hitting seven for nine over the two nights.

Vlad Jr Could Go Off Wednesday

The Contrarian Edge Optimizer likes the idea of doubling down on the Astros stack -- a lineup that tied a franchise record 66 hits in the last four games -- but there are also alternatives to consider. Specifically, take a look at Toronto and Seattle. Both have excellent matchups today, so let’s take a closer look.

The Blue Jays face off against Patrick Corbin and the Nationals at the Rogers Centre this afternoon. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($5000) could be poised for a big day. He’s riding a 10-game hitting streak, during which time he's slashing .302/.333/.438 with two home runs.

If you’re looking for some cheaper options to round out your lineup, keep an eye on both Blue Jays catchers. Danny Jansen ($3600) and Alejandro Kirk ($3000) are each available for less than $4000 on Draft Kings and rostering them should allow you a few extra dollars to roster a top tier bat or one of the three best pitchers on today’s card.

Either Santiago Espinal ($2400) or Whit Merrifield ($4400) could offer hits and runs if the Blue Jays put it together. And don’t sleep on George Springer ($4700), who’s been back in the leadoff spot this series and has put together a really nice run with a five-game hitting streak.

No August swoon for Seattle bats

The Mariners bats were momentarily silenced at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday night, but they’ve been red hot this month, leading the team to a 20-6 record in August. They should stack up nicely against Zach Neal, who’s starting for Oakland for the first time since 2016.

The Mariners have been excellent against right-handed pitchers this season, hitting .240/.323/.419 with a team wRC+ of 108 this season. During their hot streak this August, those numbers are even more impressive -- .279/.363/.486 and a wRC+ of 138 against right-handed pitching.

The Optimizer likes Seattle's Teoscar Hernandez ($4500) as one of your outfielders, and you could do worse than supplementing his production with leadoff man JP Crawford ($4300). Third baseman Eugenio Suarez ($4600) offers some nice pop and while you should avoid Julio Rodriguez, who is day-to-day after a late scratch on Tuesday night, Dominic Canzone ($3000) is a very cost-effective option who’s been on a nice run over the last 10 days, hitting .306/.306/.500.

Pitchers to consider

As for pitching, the wind is blowing in at Wrigley Field, and the Brewers' Brandon Woodruff ($10200) has looked every bit like the ace we know he can be since coming back from the injured list. He’s thrown 22.2 innings across four starts with 29 strikeouts, and only the Rangers scored more than two runs against Woodruff since his return.

Another pitcher to consider is the Giants' Logan Webb ($9500), who has gone five or more innings in 18 of 19 starts this season – including a seven-inning start with seven strikeouts against the Reds at Great American Ballpark in July.

Oracle is a much more pitcher-friendly environment, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Webb surpass that strikeout total from July with a free-swinging Reds team that ranks 25th in MLB with a 24.5 percent strikeout rate.

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2 M's highlight Pick 'Em selections for Aug. 29

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MLB

2 M's highlight Pick 'Em selections for Aug. 29

Justin Fensterman spotlights his top selections on Underdog and PrizePicks for Tuesday's MLB slate.

Sportstopia

August 29, 2023

There are 15 MLB games on tap for Tuesday and a ton of opportunities to cash. The Seattle Mariners-Oakland Athletics game is very intriguing on both sides, and the Mariners have been one of the hottest hitting teams in baseball over the last few weeks. Here are tonight’s Underdog and Prizepicks plays for Tuesday’s MLB slate.

Teoscar Hernandez: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog)
Hernandez has been excellent against left-handed pitchers and Ken Waldichuk has let up six hits or more in three of his last four starts, and he’s sporting an earned run average over six.

He’s hit the over on one and a half total bases in seven straight games. He’s homered three times in his last three contests. Hernandez is scorching hot hitting the ball in August, and he sits with a .371 batting average this month. Waldichuk has been a weaker pitcher on the road than at home, and tonight’s game is in Seattle.

Ty France: 0.5 Singles - Higher (Underdog)
France has singled in five of his last seven contests, and he hits way better against lefties, hitting .309 against them. France is having one of his better hitting months as he’s batting .284 in August. Waldichuk is more of a groundball pitcher, and France hits over 42 percent when it comes to ground balls. Between the amount of hits Waldichuk has given up lately, his struggles on the road and France having a strong month at the dish, he should be able to get on base this evening.

Ken Waldichuk: 5.5 Hits Allowed - More (Prizepicks)
With Waldichuk giving up at least six hits in a few starts recently, it’s hard to think that he’ll be able to shut down the Mariners who have been the best hitting team by average in the MLB over the last two weeks and third best over the last seven days. Waldichuk has a 7.43 earned run average, and opponents hit .303 against him when he’s starting on the road. Seattle hits .262 against left-handed pitchers which is the 8th highest in the majors.

Jose Altuve: 2.0 Hits+Runs+RBIs - Higher (Underdog)
Altuve has crossed the plate nine times total over his last three games. During that span he hit the ball seven times and produced five RBIs. Altuve hits .335 against right-handed pitchers, and even though Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello hasn’t given up a ton of runs in his starts recently, he’s allowed six hits or more in five straight starts. Last week in this exact matchup, Bello gave up nine hits against Houston, and since then, Altuve has heated up. Altuve has also been a better hitter on the road than at home, and this game is in Boston.

Manny Machado: 0.5 Singles - Higher (Underdog)
Machado has been reaching base a lot lately. Tonight, he faces St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Zack Thompson who is not only a lefty, but he’s surrendered six hits in both of his last two outings. Machado hits .327 against left-handed pitchers and he’s hit a single in three of his last five games.

Marcus Semien: 0.5 Singles - Higher (Underdog)
Semien hits better against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers. He’s hit singles in four of his last seven games, and the Rangers' bats have woken up a bit in the last week. Semien has a good history against New York Mets pitcher Jose Quintana, hitting the ball six times in 13 at-bats against him. He has the most hits for the Rangers this season.