Slate Details
DK – Main slate (10 games) – starts 1:35 p.m. EDT
FD – Main slate (10 games) – starts at 1:35 p.m. EDT
Weather Impact
A few games have some questionable forecasts like MIA@BAL, TB@KC and WAS@STL, but they seem like they will play through with a delay being worst case scenario. There will definitely be delays in the SD@PHI and LAD@NYM games, the difference is how long they will be. They should be able to hit the field in Philly after a few hours, but the teams in New York might be waiting a long time and a PPD is definitely in play.
Pitching
Don’t look now, but Kyle Bradish has been absolutely fantastic over his last five starts and really he’s been very good since getting blown up by Boston back on April 25th. His xFIP was 3.19 in June, 2.70 so far in July, and Bradish is settling in as a consistent top option in this Baltimore rotation. Miami isn’t exactly a pushover, but nothing Bradish can’t handle.
Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler are usually automatic plays for me but I’d approach with caution today. Cole is pitching in Coors, which is always going to provide pause. Wheeler is facing a solid Padres lineup and he hasn’t been his usual dominant self over his last three starts, although the stuff is still there.
The safest option of the day, hands down, in my opinion, is Zach Eflin against the Royals. Eflin is as much of a lock for a quality start as there is in the game and the Royals are just a disaster offensively.
Is the old Jack Flaherty back? After allowing 12 ERs in consecutive starts against the Giants and Nationals, Flaherty has followed it up with consecutive scoreless outings, although he did allow nine hits in 6.2 innings at Miami. I wouldn’t exactly put all my money on Flaherty pitching well today, but since he’ll be out for revenge on the mediocre Nationals, I am certainly ok with rostering him in a few lineups.
On paper, Justin Steele looks like a good start today against Boston, but I am very concerned about the hot-hitting Red Sox. This just feels like a post-All-Star break letdown for Steele so I think I am out.
Pitcher Pricing 7-16-2023
Hitting
The Baltimore Orioles have been scorching hot at the plate over the last two weeks and the truth is that there are really no holes in their lineup. You have depth across the board now with their recent prospect call-ups (Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser); Ryan Mountcastle has returned from injury to provide some pop; last year’s rookies starting living up to the hype (Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson); a pair of underrated hitters with averages over .310 (Austin Hays and Ryan O’Hearn); veterans proving they still got it (Aaron Hicks, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander); and a pair of middle-infielders bouncing back from rough first halves (Jorge Mateo and Adam Frazier). The Marlins are starting Steven Okert for a couple innings and then who knows what they are doing after that. All I know is that I like what the Orioles are doing right now and have full faith in their offense.
The St. Louis Cardinals offense has been trending in the right direction as well, with a 130 wRC+ over the last two weeks, good for fourth in baseball. Nolan Arenado has really picked it up of late and Brendan Donovan has been thriving in the leadoff role. St. Louis’ struggles as a team this season have been perplexing in general, but especially offensively since they have such a deep lineup. Paul Goldschmidt and Lars Nootbaar form a weird but intriguing 2-3 duo. Nolan Gorman is about as scary a seven-hitter as there is especially when he is preceded by the likes of Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson/Dylan Carlson. Hell even Paul DeJong, their eight-hitter, has a 30 HR season under his belt in the majors. Josiah Gray was beat up pretty good in his last start against Cincinnati and he didn’t do much better when he faced the Cardinals back in June, allowing six ERs in five innings. He also allowed two HRs in both of those starts. A Cardinals stack looks pretty good in this one.
Other hitters of note:
- Cody Bellinger has been crushing the ball lately and feels like he could follow up his grand slam from yesterday with another HR against Kutter Crawford this afternoon.
- His former teammate and fellow Dodgers castaway Corey Seager has also been on fire lately and won’t be fooled by Tanner Bibee’s secondary offerings on Sunday.
Hitter Pricing 7-16-23