Slate Details
DK – Early slate (7 games) – starts at 1:10 p.m. EDT | Main slate (6 games) – starts at 7:05 p.m. EDT
FD – Very early slate (4 games) – starts at 12:35 p.m. EDT | Early (4 games) – starts at 3:37 p.m. EDT | Main slate (6 games) – starts at 6:40 p.m. EDT
Weather Impact
There is a slight chance of some showers in LAD@CLE, but it looks like it should steer clear of the stadium making it a rainless day of a baseball.
Pitching
We have a lot of baseball to cover here so let’s just dive right in. The Jameson Taillon/Tarik Skubal matchup in the CHC/DET game is an intriguing matchup for me, but I don’t think I would recommend either pitcher.
Neither is a safe option and both offenses are hitting well right now so I think it’s best to avoid. If you’re going to take a shot on one though I would say go with Skubal, who has the higher upside and has been just better this season.
I think George Kirby is about as safe an option as there is against a defeated White Sox club. He was hit around a little bit in his last start by Kansas City but pitched a complete game shutout against Baltimore in his prior start. Plug him in.
This hasn’t been Corbin Burnes‘ best season, but against a Twins team that strikes out a ton, he is a great option. He is coming off a great start against the Dodgers (7 IP, 0 ER, 9 Ks) and has been largely dominant over the last couple of months.
Kenta Maeda is an intriguing pivot but goes against a Brewers team that has averaged 7 runs per game over their last 4. I think there are better options out there.
The Nationals got big time revenge (6 ERs) against Michael Lorenzen after he no-hit them, but this has been a remarkable season for the 31-year-old. He will never be a high-upside option but against a San Francisco offense that is 3rd-worst in baseball in wRC+ (76) over the last two weeks he is certainly a cash-game play.
I am very excited about this Andrew Abbott/Shohei Ohtani matchup this afternoon. Both are great options against two offenses that are sputtering a bit. I am especially intrigued to see how Abbott fares against an Angels lineup that has a 27.4 K% and 55 wRC+ over the last two weeks.
Sandy Alcantara and Seth Lugo are also very solid options in the MIA/SD game. I could certainly see one or both struggling a bit, but the Marlins and Padres offenses just aren’t particularly dangerous.
Aaron Civale has been pretty good for Tampa since coming over from the Guardians and he represents another nice safe play today. Colorado’s offense has been pretty abysmal and they might be the worst in baseball when they aren’t playing in Coors.
Kevin Gausman and Jack Flaherty are both good pitchers coming off terrible outings, but I am not sure this is the matchup for a redemption play. The amount of talent Toronto and Baltimore have in the batter’s box scares me too much to play these two.
I am expecting a big outing out of MacKenzie Gore against the Yankees tonight. The Bronx Bummers have the 2nd-worst wRC+ (74) in baseball over the last two weeks and I like the way Gore has been pitching lately.
Clayton Kershaw is probably the #1 option on the board today, although the strikeout numbers might not be there. He also has only gone 5 innings in each of his last two outings, throwing 71 and 67 pitches respectively. He’s only allowed 6 total ERs in his last 7 starts, but be wary that his usual upside might not be there tonight against the Guardians.
Pitcher Pricing 8-23-23
Hitting
Although Taillon has been better than he was earlier in the season, the Detroit Tigers are on fire right now. Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter have 15 HRs between the two of them over the last two weeks and Riley Greene and Akil Baddoo have been ripping it as well.
Regardless of whether it is Adrián Martínez or Kyle Muller pitching for Oakland, get Bobby Witt Jr. in your lineup. It’s that simple.
Alex Cobb has allowed 15 ERs over his last 15.1 innings and the Phillies have the 3rd-best wRC+ (138) over the last two weeks. With a deep lineup, a full Phillies stack is a great play today.
The 2nd-best wRC+ (139) over the last two weeks belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays, who are averaging a whopping 10.2 runs over their last 5 games. Austin Gomber has actually been pretty good for Colorado the last couple of months, but I don’t think he puts it together today.
I think the 1-5 of Yandy Díaz, Randy Arozarena, Harold Ramírez, Isaac Paredes, and Jose Siri go off today and they are priced very reasonably as well.
Luis Severino is on the mound for New York so naturally the Nationals are a great option tonight. Keibert Ruiz makes a great catcher option and Stone Garrett’s power is intriguing. CJ Abrams, Lane Thomas, and Joey Meneses form a nice 1-3 and don’t sleep on a post-prospect turnaround from Carter Kieboom.
José Quintana has pitched well for the Mets, but Atlanta’s righties are still very much in play today. And Matt Olson of course.
The Angels have been abysmal at the plate lately, but that doesn’t mean that some of their hitters can’t take advantage of Reds starter Brett Kennedy in the nightcap of their doubleheader.
Nolan Schanuel is interesting in the leadoff spot, Mike Trout is back, and Shohei Ohtani is the best player in the league. If you want to chase HRs, there are worse options than Mike Moustakas, Randal Grichuk, and Hunter Renfroe.
Hitter Pricing 8-23-23