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The weekend is here and we have a good sized 11 game main slate starting with Pirates hosting the Padres at 7:05 ET. Some rain is expected for a few games but a delay is no expected at this point. Still, keep an eye out on the weather, especially BAL vs BOS.
Top SP: Luis Severino, NYY ($24,900) @ KC
Rain forced Max Scherzer’s start to be pushed back to today and he is the most expensive pitcher on the slate. He faces the Dodgers who finally have Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner back. Luis Severino has been very impressive lately, throwing six straight quality starts. He gets to face an average Royals squad that hasn’t struck out much. I expect Severino to go deep in this one with strikeout potential as he has 70 in 59 IP in 2018. This should be an easy win for the Yankees since Severino carries a .156 BA allowed against the current Royals team.
Honorable Mention: Max Scherzer, WAS ($27,600) vs LAD
Value SP: Freddy Peralta, MIL ($16,000) VS MIN
I like Rich Hill a lot today especially given his salary of $11,000 but Peralta’s upside was high enough to convince me. It is going to turn heads anytime someone strikes out 13 batters in Colorado. Peralta only lasted 5.2 innings in his first big league start but was dominant in those 5 innings. There is no track record for him other than that one start but Peralta can rack up strikeouts. Peralta also has the advantage since the Twins will be facing him for the first time.
Honorable Mention: Rich Hill, LAD ($11,800) @ WAS
IF: Xander Bogaerts, BOS ($8,500) VS BAL
Thanks to Mookie Betts, every other Red Sox player is going to be overlooked but Xander has completely changed his approach at the plate and now has 6 home runs and 12 doubles while hitting .308. The aggressive approach has paid off and he has been hot at the plate with a mini 4 game hit streak that includes two monster 3-run home runs. Boagerts has hit Bundy pretty well, going 7-22 with a home run and 2 XBH. Like most Red Sox hitters, Bogaerts loves hitting at home – .346 Avg with 4 home runs in 13 games.
Honorable Mention: Freddie Freeman, ATL ($10,200) VS MIA
OF: Mookie Betts, BOS ($10,700) VS BAL
I have no idea why Mookie is not the most expensive outfielder for today but instead of complaining I am going to just pay the $10,700 and put him in my lineup – you should do the same. Betts is averaging 13.47 FPPG at FantasyDraft which is the highest for any batter. He also has 6 multi-hit games in his last 7 games with one home run, 6 steals and plenty of home runs. Betts boast an insane .371 AVG and I will ride this streak as long as I can. Bundy has allowed 2 home runs and 2 steals to Betts in 22 at-bats.
Honorable Mention: Nick Markakis, ATL ($8,600) VS MIA
Value IF/OF: Byron Buxton, MIN ($5,900) VS MIL
Buxton has done absolutely nothing in 2018. He hit the DL early and only has two hits in his first 7 games back. This pick is solely based on his upside. Homeruns and Steals can quickly run up the point total and Buxton can provide in both of those categories. He doesn’t have any splits going his way either – it’s hard when you are only hitting .156. Buxton won’t stay this bad for the whole year and he certainly won’t be this cheap either.
Honorable Mention: Lewis Brinson, MIA ($5,600) @ ATL
Stack: Reds @ Cubs (LHP Jose Quintana)
This is a bit of a risky stack since Quintana is a good pitcher. Quintana currently has a 5.23 ERA and a 1.6 WHIP. He has also allowed a .316 AVG to the current Reds roster. Some of the better lefty hitters are;
Eugenio Suarez ($8,300)
Adam Duvall ($7,200)
Tucker Barnhart ($6,300)
Scooter Gennett ($8,200)
Joey Votto should also be considered but Eugenio Suarez and Votto are both DTD so make sure they are starting before inserting them in your lineup.
Make sure to check the starting lineups before drafting these players.
Honorable Mention: Rangers @ White Sox (RHP Lucas Giolito)