After a rough start to Wednesday's card (D'backs and Tigers BOTH blowing leads late, turning what could have been a 2-0, +3.20 start to the day to an 0-2, -2.00 start instead), things looked bleak. But thanks to comebacks by the Angels and White Sox, and Manny's 21st career grand slam that sent a Dodger Stadium crowd (and yours truly) into a frenzy, we managed to end the day at 3-2, and up a unit and a quarter, roughly. In addition, since beginning to play Fantasy Top Plays, we have had days of 1-1, 4-0, 3-2 and 3-2 (total, 11-5), and are up close to 6 units playing a single unit on each game. Because I'm on the West coast for a couple days (tending to family matters, sadly, again), here are some fantasy notes on the morning games, with the night game notes coming tomorrow.
NL
Shane VictorinoShane is a career .500 batter off Correia, including a home run. But, like the Tigers, he's not the only one doing damage against his opposition
Some other Phils - In LIMITED experience, Ibanez is 3-for-4, Utley is 3-for-6, and Carlos Ruiz is 2-for-4, but again, not too many AB for those 3 guys against the Padres starter.
Ryan Zimmerman - The big third baseman is batting .417 off Wainwright, though the power numbers haven't quite been there in this matchup.
Ronnie Belliard - Belliard has been struggling mightily, so the odds of him waking up are not that outstanding. Still, he's 4-for-10 off stud Adam Wainwright, with a home run, so maybe this challenge will wake him up.
Dan Haren - Only because it'd be ridiculous if I left him off this list. The best pitcher in the Majors, going against one of the most punchless lineups.
AL
Brandon Inge - Inge is hitting .348 career against Jarrod Washburn with a pair of homers, and he's not the only Tiger, just the best...
A Few Other Tigers - Miguel Cabrera is 3-for-5 with a homer, Gerald Laird has posted a .308 average versus Washburn, and Marcus Thames is 5-for-16 with a homer.
Paul Konerko - Big time numbers when facing Scott Kazmir, and that was when Kazmir was on his game. Konerko is a beastly 7-for-15 with 2 homers and 5 RBI.
Carl Crawford - 7 thousandths better than Konerko against his competition, Crawford is batting .474 against Buehrle, while his teammate...
Carlos Pena - is hitting a mere .412. Neither of them has a homer against Buehrle, however, so the southpaw has manage to limit the damage against the Rays.
Jack Cust - This one is a real mind-boggler; Cust is hitting .333 against Sabathia with a home run and 6 RBI.
Jered Weaver - We are hearing that he messed up his last start because of a stomach virus, and whether ot not that's true, Weaver should pitch well at home tonight against the Twinkies. Minnesota is tired, and Weaver holds a 2.60 career ERA against Minny, and a WHIP under 1.
Chone Figgins - 6-for-16 off Scott Baker, the Angels leadoff man should cause havoc at the top of the order.
Top Plays1)
Detroit Tigers (-115) vs. Seattle Mariners - The Tigers have had solid success against Washburn, and are going to be bugged coming off a tough loss last night at the hands of Russell Branyan. Lucas French has been a consistent, if not overpowering starter coming up from Triple-A. He's done a number on some good offenses so far, and today faces a Mariners lineup lacking most of their best hitters. He should be able to keep them down, while the Tigers, against a solid Washburn, will be able to post just a few runs and take a small lead into the late innings once again. I don't expect them to bumble two nights in a row at home.
2)
Los Angeles Angels (-145) vs. Minnesota Twins - Scott Baker has been manhandled by the Angels in his career, and there are a few familiar faces/names on this Angels team that he should not enjoy facing. Weaver will get back on track at home against a team he's shut down in the past. The only Twin with any kind of success is Joe Mauer, no surprise there, but even Mauer is just 3-for-9 with 1 RBI. This looks like a nice win for the Angels in the making.