Ben’s 8/5/23 MLB Breakdown

August 5, 2023
8:08 pm

What’s up, 4Deep!? Yesterday was truly wild, and I had one team barely cash with Castillo getting me four, and another team missing by two points, with Detmers getting me -4, LOL. Pitching has been insane this season and I think hedge stacks come into play more than ever. If any pitcher is getting over 40% ownership, the leverage you can get with a hedge stack is definitely worth it. But now, let’s dig into tonight’s slate, where we have a top tier pitcher in a great spot and a couple of cheapies I really like that will let us get all the bats in our lineups!

PITCHERS

Corbin Burnes DK $11,700 – Great play, great matchup, HUGE price tag (as we’ve seen Burnes in the $8K range multiple times this season). I’m not going to say fade him here, but unless he goes out there and drops 40 DK points, I don’t think he’s a must, and I will be going elsewhere on my main team.
Steven Matz DK $6,900 – Has been fantastic since getting sent to the bullpen and taking back his starting job. He’s shut down the hottest team in the league twice in his last three starts (Cubs) and now gets the best matchup on the board in the Rockies. Will be on my main team, and at this price, I think he is a LOCK.
Ross Stripling DK $5,500 – As you can tell by now, I’m spending down at pitcher. Stripling has not been good this year, but at this price/matchup, all we are asking for is 15-20 DK points. He’s struggled with the long ball and this game being in Oakland is going to help him a ton. He’s never been a strikeout pitcher and I don’t expect that to change. But, he has been great at limiting base runners and going deep into games. I have him projected for six innings, four Ks, 1-2 runs, and getting the W here tonight, which will be all we need from him at this cheap price tag.
Honorable Mention: Kirby, Gibson

STACKS

O’s – Megill is getting thrown back in the rotation with Verlander and Max gone. He’s posted an 8.67 ERA in six starts in the minors… Need I say more? Megill struggles against both lefties and righties, making 1-9 all in play with Rutschman, Gunnar, Santander, and Mountcastle being my favorites.
Cardinals – Will be chalky, but in a great spot tonight, as Blach has been terrible against righties. Goldy/Arenado are the top plays of course, with Edman, O’Neill, and Gorman being strong options as well.
CWS/CLE – Both pitchers suck in this game and I expect runs to be scored. For the CWS, it’s going to Robert, Benintendi, Jimenez, and Andrus (stolen base upside), and for the Guardians, it’s Kwan, Ramirez, Gimenez, and Naylor.
Mariners – Looked fantastic last night and Anderson is a worse version of Detmers, in my opinion. Julio leads the way, along with guys like Suarez, Murphy, Hernandez, France, and Moore.