Vincent Pensabene 
There were 17 games played on Saturday June 8 due to Boston/Tampa Bay and Oakland/Texas both having doubleheaders. Some players excelled while others did not perform to expectations. All prices and points are based off DraftKings.
Winners
JaCoby Jones ($3,400)
Jones had a game to remember from the nine hole in the order for the Tigers. He went 3-for-4 with two home runs, 5 RBI and two runs scored. His nine total bases are a season-high, as he never had more than six in 2019. Even with his recent hot streak, fade him for today’s slate.
Jones’ Outlook
This was the best game for JaCoby Jones this season. He never really has been a power guy, but has been on fire for the past two weeks. In his last 15 games, Jones is 21-for-51 (.412) with four homers and 13 RBI. It is difficult to expect any better offensive production from him. The Tigers continue their series against the Minnesota Twins this afternoon. Jake Odorizzi has been neutralizing opposing lineups so fade JaCoby Jones.
Nick Pivetta ($8,800)
Nick Pivetta threw the first complete game of his career against the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. His final line was nine innings of one run ball on six hits. He also had six strikeouts and did not allow a walk. Pivetta was throwing strikes consistently and fooling batters. After the first two batters of the game, he did not allow another baserunner until the seventh inning. He seems to be locking in on the mound, and look for him to continue his dominance in his next outing.
Pivetta’s Outlook
This was the best outing in Pivetta’s three-year career thus far. In his three games since returning from injury, Pivetta has been solid, only giving up 12 hits in 20 innings. His next scheduled start is Friday in Atlanta against the division-rival Braves. Atlanta has the third-best batting average in the National League with a .259 mark, so it will be a good matchup to watch. Pivetta’s dominance makes it easy to believe he will continue pitching well.
Losers
Yusei Kikuchi ($5,900)
Even with a smaller price tag compared to other starting pitchers on yesterday’s slate, Kikuchi had the worst overall performance. He was facing the Los Angeles Angels and finished with 3.1 innings pitched and seven runs (six earned) on nine hits. He also had three walks and only a single strikeout on the day. The home run was Kikuchi’s kryptonite, as he gave up three of them, all in the fourth inning, and picked up the loss. Look to avoid Kikuchi for the forseeable future.
Kikuchi’s Outlook
Maybe it’s the transition from Japanese hitters to MLB hitters or the adjustment of a pitching schedule he became accustomed to overseas, but Kikuchi has hit a wall. In his previous three starts, he has combined for 10 innings pitched, 18 runs given up (16 earned), six home runs allowed, 29 hits and has a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 6:2. He has not looked good and maybe a skipped start could provide him some much needed rest. His next scheduled outing is Friday night in Oakland. The Athletics rank eighth in MLB in long balls with 97 and it seems Kikuchi is throwing batting practice recently. Avoid Kikuchi until he can prove he is worthy of at least being a blip on your radar.
Michael Brantley ($4,600)
Brantley did not record a hit yesterday against a historically awful Baltimore Orioles pitching staff. He went 0-for-4 and reached base on a fielder’s choice but was doubled-up on a robbed home run by Anthony Santander in center field. This was definitely a game Brantley wants to forget, but he should be looked upon as a viable outfield option today.
Brantley’s Outlook
Brantley has hit a cold streak, albeit in a small sample size. He is currently hitless in nine at-bats in the first two games of the Baltimore series, something incredible when looking at how historically dreadful this Baltimore pitching staff has been for the first third of the 2019 campaign. Today is the finale of their three-game set in Houston and as long as Brantley is in the lineup, look for him to break his mini-slump with a multi-hit performance.
Injury Update
The Yankees announced Giancarlo Stanton is expected to begin his rehab assignment on Monday while Aaron Judge could begin his within two weeks.
The Boston Red Sox placed Mitch Moreland on the 10-day Injured List with a right quad strain.
Tampa Bay Rays top prospect Brent Honeywell is out for the remainder of 2019 after suffering a fractured bone is his elbow while throwing a bullpen session.
