Another positive week in the books. 14-10-1 in MLB up 6.7 Units. Didn’t have the big weekend we were hoping for, but still came out on the positive side for the 5th straight week. Interested in all my picks? Reach out on Twitter @thegreatknoche
For today’s Free Play Monday I am looking directly at riding on the broad right shoulder of Zach Wheeler. Wheeler has struggled in August with one CG Shutout and 4 not so great starts. I think Joe Girardi has been riding his key starters in Wheeler and Nola way too much and they appear like they are starting to run out of gas a little. You’d ride those two guys as well if you had the Phillies bullpen and their league leading 27 Blown Saves at your disposal. Overall he’s 10-9 with a 2.90 ERA, a 10.83 K/9 and a 1.83 BB/9. Great ratios. The record is diminished due to the 3.46 RS/9 Wheeler has gotten in 2021. Last two times out against the Nationals, Wheeler pitched well. He allowed 2 ER total through the first 5 innings of both starts running into trouble in the 7th inning of both games. Razzball Streamonator has this start with +$15.0 and looks to be another solid play for Zack.
He is opposed by Josiah Grey who will be making his 7th major league start. Grey has three quality offerings and he currently has a 3.75 ERA, but is due for some negative regression. Opponents have a .217 BABIP against him and he has 100% LOB rate. Both way out of line as evidenced by his 6.33 FIP and 4.61 xFIP. He has also shown the long-ball can be had against him as he has allowed 12 HR in 36 IP. Both these offenses are middle of the road in most categories vs RHP so I am leaning to the early success Wheeler has had and hoping the Phillies can at least get him a little run support early on.
FREE PICK: – Phillies (F5) -0.5 EVEN. 1.5 Units
