It’s time to wrap up the first batch of series since the beginning of the second half of the season. Don’t worry if you’ve been rusty in the first few nights back, it’s time to shake it off and win today.

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Forecast

It looks like rain might only be a bother in Cincinnati and Los Angeles today. Even with some weather in the forecast, it doesn’t appear is if rain will be enough to cause cancellation.

Pitching Perspective

I’ve gotten to write up slates with incredible pitching options in the past, but I’m not sure I’ve ever had one as deep as the slate today. Among the notables that will be taking the mound today are: Max Scherzer, Zack Grienke, Dallas Keuchel, Johnny Cueto, Chris Sale, Jake Arrieta, Felix Hernandez, Madison Bumgarner, Chris Archer, Cole Hamels and Carlos Carrasco.

Good luck hitters.

Rather than break down some of these guys individually, I’m simply going to rank them like I normally would at the bottom, and provide a brief reasoning for where each ranks respectively.

1. Dallas Keuchel -$10,300 – Opponent : Texas Rangers

– It seems funny that Keuchel would top the list of all those incredible arms but his matchup at home with the Texas Rangers is one of the most manageable. Keuchel gets a ton of ground balls and has picked up an extra strikeout per nine innings this year. He’s a solid option.

2. Max Scherzer -$13,700 – Opponent: Los Angeles Dodgers

Scherzer is the most expensive pitcher today, but rightfully so. The Dodgers are an offense that I typically wouldn’t try to pick on with a pitcher, but Scherzer is a different animal. He’s striking out over 10 hitters per game while walking less than one hitter per nine. It might be tough to fit him, but if you feel comfortable doing so, don’t hesitate.

3. Chris Sale -$13,100 – Opponent: Kansas City Royals

The Royals are a team that I try not to pick on too often. They are pesky and very rarely strikeout, making it tough to reach full potential for a pitcher. Sale however, is too good to hold down versus this lineup. He’s the second most expensive pitcher on the slate, but much like Scherzer, he’s got so much strikeout potential, as well as the ability to work deep into the game.

4. Jake Arrieta -$11,900 – Opponent: Atlanta Braves

Jon Lester started Opening Day for the Cubs, but Arrieta is the bonafide ace of this staff. He checks out near the top of every leaderboard amongst major league pitching categories and should have no problem dealing with a Freeman-less Braves offense. For his matchup and caliber, his price is accessible.

5. Cole Hamels -$10,100 – Opponent: Miami Marlins

Hamels is potentially throwing one of his last games for the Philadelphia Phillies, and I think he’ll throw a good one today. The Marlins offense is made up of a lot of random right-handed hitters that shouldn’t be of too much worry to Hamels. He’s striking out nearly 9.5 hitters per nine innings this year and gets this matchup with a team that is in the bottom-five in wRC. He makes for a great “salary relief” option.

Stack Options

With all the aces on the mound, there are few stack options today.

Again after getting burned by Chris Tillman, the Detroit Tigers come back looking for revenge against Miguel Gonzalez. Believe it or not, they have the highest implied run total at only 4.4 runs. Gonzalez doesn’t miss too many bats, and is a flyball pitcher which bodes will for opposing offenses. The top of the Tigers order rates well for a full stack today. The other side of this game is also advantageous for stacking. Justin Verlander is no longer the most dominant right-handed arm in the game, but rather one of the ones most susceptible to stacking. Verlander isn’t missing any bats, and is getting torched by the home run this year. I love Orioles today.

The Giants will take to the field in the best run scoring environment today and get a matchup with young left-hander Patrick Corbin. While I’m not sure this makes them a suitable full stack team, facing a southpaw makes them a mini-stack option thanks to the prowess of Buster Posey against southpaws. Posey will rank as the top catcher today, and being filtered around him Matt Duffy and others will be suitable values.

The Brewers get a matchup with southpaw Jeff Locke at home in Miller Park today. This about as good as it can get for a potential Brewers stack as everyone near the top of their order has had success against lefties in the past. Ryan Braun will rate as one of the best hitters today, and Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez aren’t far behind. I think they’ll be a popular option, but they’ll have value in cash games as well.

Last but not least, the Angels are playing Sunday Night baseball against the young left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.Rodriguez impressed in the early going, and has fallen back just a bit since. He has struggled a little bit with command and has been prone to giving up a long ball, making some of the Angels right-handed hitters solid values today. You’ll have to wait to see lineups, but I’m sure Mike Trout and Albert Pujols will be there.

Player Rankings

Catcher

1. Buster Posey- $4,800 – San Francisco Giants

2. Matt Wieters – $3,100 – Baltimore Orioles

3. Jonathan Lucroy -$3,300 – Milwaukee Brewers

First Basemen

1. Chris Davis -$3,800 – Baltimore Orioles

2. Jose Abreu -$4,400 – Chicago White Sox

3. Anthony Rizzo – $4,700 – Chicago Cubs

Second Basemen

1. Jimmy Paredes -$3,500 – Baltimore Orioles

2. Ian Kinsler -$4,000 – Detroit Tigers

3. Cesar Hernandez -$2,600 – Philadelphia Phillies

Third Basemen

1. Manny Machado -$4,700 – Baltimore Orioles

2. Aramis Ramirez -$3,100 – Milwaukee Brewers

3. Luis Valbuena -$3,300 – Houston Astros (GPP)

Shorstop

1. Troy Tulowitzki -$3,600 – Colorado Rockies

2. Jhonny Peralta -$4,200 – St. Louis Cardinals

3. Hanley Ramirez -$4,100 – Boston Red Sox

Outfield

1. Ryan Braun -$4,800 – Milwaukee Brewers

2. Chris Parmaless -$2,000 – Baltimore Orioles

3. Mike Trout -$5,500 – Los Angeles Angels

4. Nelson Cruz -$4,400 – Seattle Mariners

Starting Pitchers

See Above!