Please note that late swap is in play today, as there is a solid gap between the games, I’ll try to update anything in the forum comments, but you should monitor the lineups to make sure all your players are in the lineups tonight.  

Pitching:

 

We have only two games taking place tonight, and it is highlighted by four lefty pitchers.  A case could be made both for, and against using any of them.

 

Gio Gonzalez is 3-3 , with a 3.06 ERA over ten career starts vs Cubs   He faced them once this year, allowing only one run, off of two hits over 6 innings  Gio is having one of his better seasons, posting a  2.96 ERA this year , but struggled down the stretch, allowing nine runs over his last 9.1 innings

 

Jon Lester went without a decision, while posting a 2.84 ERA over 12.2 innings vs Washington this season, and oddly, has not beaten them since 2009.  He’s  2-1, with a  2.79 ERA, over six career starts vs them.  While Gio has struggled over his last two starts, Lester allowed just one run over his last 11 innings.  Washington went scoreless last night, and do check in with the highest projected run total today.

Robbie Ray  will be starting on just two days rest after pitching 2.1 innings in their wild card game. Ray had a 2.89 over 28 starts this year, but pitched even better vs the Dodgers.  He went 3-0, with  2.27 ERA over five starts, striking out 53 batters over those 31.2 innings.  He totalled 24 K’s over his last two starts vs them.  

Rich Hill , and the the Dodgers are the favorites in this game, but I do like Arizona’s chances to steal this game.  Hill went 0-3 vs Arizona this year, with a 5.03 ERA.  Most of that was due to a tough, six earned over 3.2 innings in a start vs them.  Hill bounced back by striking out nine D-Backs in the rematch at home.  

 

Hitting:  

 

Hitting is wide open tonight, and believe it depends on which team you want to target.  All four pitchers will rack up K’s, but we have also seen the top pitchers giving up the long ball as well.  With only two games, leaving salary on the table will help separate you from the pack.  There are no clear cut top plays tonight, but I do like Trea Turner.  If, and a big if, the balls don’t leave the field today, then looking for those stolen base points could be key. Lester always has trouble holding runners on, and it was Trea Turner’s base stealing that led to Miguel Montero being released.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, and ask any questions in our forums.  Good luck!