Greetings Gamers! We have seven early and seven main slate MLB games for our enjoyment along with Game 7 of the Hurricanes and Capitals first round NHL playoff series along with an NBA doubleheader with both the Rockets and Warriors looking to wrap up Game 5 at home against the Jazz and Clippers respectively. Let’s get it started!
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EARLY SLATE
Milwaukee Brewers at RHP Adam Wainwright – 4.5 implied runs
We are looking at game time temperatures in the low-60s and there is an increasing chance of moisture through the mid-innings, so do keep an eye on the weather.
Most gamers have their eyes on the Coors Field Extravaganza, particularly with an eye on the Rockies against RHP Anibal Sanchez with their 5.8 implied run total or looking to the Oakland Athletics against RHP Kyle Dowdy (not to be confused with doody) so this is of course an alternative recommendation, but still a decent spot for the Brew Crew.
RHP Adam Wainwright’s best days are long gone as his fastball has abandoned him and barely breaks 90 anymore and he has in turn abandoned his changeup as there essentially no difference in the velocity to his fastball anymore, so that means he is relying on cunning, guile and deception as best he can with his cutter and curveball and hope to locate his pitches – this often works for aging left-handed pitchers like Jamie Moyer and C.C. Sabathia, but it is not a path to success for righties, particularly against good opposite-handed batsmen.
Milwaukee boasts plenty of hitters swinging the stick from the left-side of the plate and even without Mike Moustakas, they still have Christian Yelich, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames plus Yasmani Grandal as long as he is in the lineup for this early tilts as he was behind the plate late night and his last day off was Saturday.
MAIN SLATE
Philadelphia Phillies at LHP Jason Vargas – 4.4 implied runs
While it is at Citi Field which portends as a favorable pitching park, I am looking to target the Phillies against 37-year old, thirteen year veteran southpaw Jason Vargas who has made three starts this season totaling 9.1 innings and one ass kicking, err relief appearance where he allowed four earned runs in mop-up duty against the Minnesota Twins. This has culminated in 10.1 innings with a 9.58 ERA, 2.32 WHIP and three homeruns allowed against just a half dozen strikeouts. Last year in 20 starts he tallied a 5.77 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP so it is clear the sand is nearly finished in the hourglass.
Naturally we should be looking to right-handed hitters with Andrew McCutchen, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco all in prime spots today and of course when he can manage to stay on the field Bryce Harper is elite against fellow lefties.
LATE SLATE
Houston Astros vs RHP Kohl Stewart (probable but not official) – TBD implied runs
Though the official transaction has not been consummated as of this writing Wednesday morning, it is expected that the Minnesota Twins will be recalling RHP Kohl Stewart from AAA-Rochester to walk into the buzz saw formally known as the Houston Astros. In three minor league starts this season, Stewart has been knocked around for eight earned runs in a dozen innings of action.
Last year in four starts and eight total appearances in The Show the rookie/former fourth overall draft pick was solid with 36.2 innings and a 3.68 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 24 Ks and just one homerun allowed to the opposition. Across 582.2 minor league innings over seven seasons, Steward had a 3.41 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP and while he only had a combined 6.5 K/9, he also only allowed 0.4 HR/9 so we are hoping for some doubles and the potentially shaky walk rate to play into the Astros favor tonight on our two game evening slate.
Targets of opportunity include Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, George Springer, Michael Brantley and if he is in the lineup, Robinson Chirinos has above average power and can take care of the catcher requirement on your site of choice.
As always, you can reach out to me in Awesemo.com Premium Slack or on Twitter @EMacDFS if you have any questions.
Good Luck Gamers! ~ EMac
