MLB DW Slate Preview - August 26
Thoughts, stats, DFS, player props, and more for today's slate of MLB action
Let’s go over some notable spots to watch tonight in baseball!
The Kyle Bradish Return
Personally, I’m rooting for the guy. I stashed him in the big points league we have running here, and I’m heading toward the #1 seed in the playoffs starting next week. So if he could finish really strongly, I’d appreciate that. But I’ve never really liked the guy, and it’s also tough to trust a guy returning after more than a year off a Major League mound.
The rehab looked pretty good. His sinker averaged 95.1, and the four-seamer was at 94.6. That’s right where he was last time we saw him. He has thrown a pretty even mix of sinkers, sliders, and four-seamers (35% sinker, 32% slider, 21% four-seamer).
The reason I never liked Bradish is that he has never had a very good fastball. He’s been one of these starters who is really, really dependent on the breaking ball to get the strikeouts, and those types often have trouble finding consistent results against big league hitters.
Bradish is not going to survive tonight just by throwing a heater. He’ll need that slider to be on the money, so if there’s any rust at all, I think he could be in for some trouble as he gets back on the horse.
Lucas Giolito, meanwhile, has been in rough shape. He’s now given up 16 homers on a high 18% HR/FB. Lefties have a 13.2% Brl% and a 21.7% K% against him. So he gives up a ton of hard contact. And the Orioles lineup matches up really well here.
I think we’re going to see some fireworks in Baltimore tonight.
Play: Over 8.5 Runs -119
Starving Red Birds
Things are not pretty in St. Louis right now. Willson Contreras tried to kill somebody last night, or something.
The Cardinals have been one of, if not the, worst offenses in the league in this second half. They have a team .665 OPS in this time and the K% has been gravitating up in a hurry.
Mitch Keller is nothing special, of course, but he’s a competent big leaguer who can get deep into games.
Keller hasn’t exceeded 100 pitches since back in April, but he’s been routinely between 85-95, so it’s a full allotment of pitches. I think Keller gets through six innings here.