Monday night appeared to be a surefire winner with both Eickhoff and Syndergaard dealing in Philly. Then the bullpens came into a strange sort of game that at first the Phillies seemed to have no interest in, up to the point the Mets used their closer in a four-run game. The Phils tacked on a run in the non-save situation and made it four runs in the last two innings to push our total. Maybe the only silver lining was that the eighth run was stranded on third when the third out was recorded. Otherwise, I’m just getting over that one. Onto the next one… our first play from Yankee Stadium.
Free Pick
The Yankees’ offense is struggling. Over the last seven games, New York’s has scored 3, 2, 2, 1, 2, 4 and 2 runs. And they were shutout nine games ago (with an 8-spot in between). What’s strange is that you look down the lineup and the numbers don’t look terrible. Brett Gardner is hitting over .300; Starlin Castro has put up good power numbers; and Carlos Beltran has been hot in the middle of the lineup. Will the offense be terrible this year? I don’t think so. Nor do I think it will be great. The point is, it’s struggling right now and I’m not sure
how much a matchup with Kendall Graveman will help that. Graveman has allowed just seven hits and three runs in his two starts this year and really is a nice little pitcher. Yankee Stadium is always a concern when I go under, but Graveman gets so many groundballs that it’s really the home team’s starter that I’m more worried about.
I’m taking a shot today getting behind Nathan Eovaldi. He hasn’t been good this season but he’s been plagued by the long ball against a couple of teams that can do that to a starting pitcher. Two homers allowed in each of his starts against the ‘Stros and Jays have Eovaldi’s ERA a shade under 7.00. I believe he begins to bring that number down tonight when the A’s go for their second in a row at Yankee Stadium. Oakland’s offense has struggled as much as New York’s, but I believe the A’s could just really be this bad. With Danny Valencia more or less neutralized, Oakland looks like Eovaldi’s first great opportunity for a quality start. Just play this one for half a unit, though.
Free Pick: Under 8.5 -115
YTD: 3-2-1 +1.49
2015: 31-25-5 +1.09
2014: 45-28-3 +9.02
eovaldi • graveman • New York Yankees • oakland a's