Colin is back on the keyboard thank you to Mario for helping out while I was sick. Last night one of the stars went down as Bryce Harper stumbled over first base and hurt his knee. It doesn’t look good as he was carried off the field with no weight being put on his leg. We hope he is okay, but the Nationals have enough firepower to help them out until the postseason. If he is out for an extended period of time, that may lock up the MVP race for Goldshmidt.
We have a full slate of games today with a number of afternoon games so get those lineups in.
Low-Scoring Plays
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees- It’s Sale Day! Boston out slugged the Yankees last night, however the Yankees gave the a mini-scare as they hit back to back home runs off the Red Sox bullpen. If the Yankees can bounce Sale out of this game early there is a shot they can win. However Sale had his best outing last time out as he was fired out from having his worst outing the game before that. Sale is a head case and can do what he wants when he wants. In a pennant race against the rivals I expect Sale to have a career game in this one.
Targets: Sale, Benintendi, Betts
Kansas City Royals @ Chicago White Sox- Vargas gets the call for the Royals who is one of the main reasons they are even in this race in the AL Central. The White Sox season is over as they are headed for rebuilding. Yoan Moncada showed some potential the other night as he tied it in the 9th and won it in the 11th. However the Red Sox had their way with Moncada, and Vargas is better than everyone on that staff aside from Sale. Look for Vargas to have one of his best days of the season today.
Targets: Vargas, Cain
Low-Scoring Plays
Atlanta Braves @ St. Louis Cardinals- The Cardinals have a shot at the post season? The Cubs and Brewers have not pulled away with division that has allowed the Cardinals to climb back into this one. One of the reasons has been the elevated play of Matt Carpenter. Over the last week he is batting .360 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs. Over that same week Kolten Wong is hitting .455 with 7 RBIs. R.A. Dickey is on the mound so you know the Cardinals are a play that I love.
Targets: Carpenter, Wong, DeJong
Colorado Rockies @ Miami Marlins- The Miami Marlins are officially owned by Derek Jeter! Jeter wants no part of the Yankees as he has only gone back for 1 game in which his jersey was retired. Since then he has been silent and maybe the is because he wanted to buy the Marlins. Either way the Marlins are a team that I love right now because they have the best home run hitting monster in the league, Stanton. But Aaron Judge won the homerun derby…yeah Stanton has been on a tear has 8 home runs in his last night and is having fun. He is a play that you have to lock into your lineup.
Targets: Stanton, Gordon
Undervalued Plays
Murphy-WAS-2B-Murphy isn’t cheap however I would put him as undervalued today. With Harper out the Nationals will have to rely of Murphy help them score. Again not cheap but is undervalued as Harper usually takes the head lines.
Benintendi-BOS-OF- Benintendi also isn’t cheap, however he is a cheaper option than some of the star out fielders. Benintendi has been the hottest player in the league over the past two games as he has 3 homers in those two games.
Cespedes-NYM-OF- Cespedes has been quiet since coming back from injury. He should have a big day against division rivals. He is due for a big game and has star potential we know that. He can’t carry a franchise but put in the middle of a solid line up and he can shine. Look for him to shine today, as he is cheaper than most of the other star outfielders.
Puig-LAD-OF- Just like Cepsedes, Puig is a great play that can do damage in the middle of a line up. He isn’t as expensive as the other stars just like Cespedes, but he can be a star if need be. The Dodgers are home against the Padres so that should be a lock for the win, with Puig having a great day.