Alex's Picks (3 Live)
Alex's Past Picks
The Yankees starters have been going 6+ IP almost like clockwork this season. Marcus Stroman should have a solid shot against a Mariners offense that has the sixth lowest OPS against opposing right handed pitching this season.
This is a huge number for Isaiah Hartenstein who to his credit has not only come up huge for the Knicks in this series but has been a key contributor all season long. Both OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are expected to suit up for this game. I would also offer that Game 7s are typically paced down low scoring environments with minimal possessions. I also find it unlikely that Hartenstein is going to play more than 30-32 minutes as well.
TJ McConnell has certainly been a difference maker in this series however I think Game 7 we may see his minutes capped around 15-17. Ive talked a lot about how TJ and Tyrese Haliburton can't be on the court together as McConnell doesn't play well without the ball and offers almost no threat as a perimeter shooter. As a result their minutes are mostly staggered. Game 7s also tend to be very slow and paced down, thus limiting possessions and I expect a low scoring environment.
I find it hard to justify Jameson Taillon having a strikeout line this high versus almost any opponent. Taillon has eclipsed this in just one of his five appearances this season. Taillon has never managed to average over 9.0 K/9 and his underlying metrics are below even his career numbers. He does draw a plus matchup against the Pirates,however I believe this number should be 4.5.
Carlos Rodon is having a nice in his second year wearing pinstripes after a disastrous debut season where he couldn't stay healthy and when he was on the mound struggled to the tune of an ERA of 6.85. Rodon has managed to cut the ERA in half this season and has gone at least 6+ IP in four of his last five starts. He will face a White Sox lineup that sports a league worst .546 OPS against opposing lefties. Rodon also possesses stellar career numbers against Chicago's lineup.
Zac Gallen has looked like a completely different pitcher at home compared to how he has performed on the road. Case in point, Gallen has surrendered just 1 ER over 3 starts and 17 IP this season. He gets another favorable matchup against a Tigers lineup that is ranked just 24th in OPS against opposing right handed pitching. I like Gallen's chances of getting in six innings tonight.
This is a big number for Seth Lugo who has been lights out this season and particularly recently having piled up 34 strikeouts in his last four outings. I would argue that Lugo is running red hot/way above expectations in the K department. If we look at the underlying metrics Lugo is averaging 8.7% SwStr% which is lower than his career average of 9.8%. Lugo does have a favorable matchup against the Oakland As, however this number is high enough where I'm comfortable fading Lugo against almost any opponent.
This is a big number for Gore who has failed to record 7+ Ks in five of eight starts this season. He will face a very familiar foe in the Phillies who Gore has faced six times since 2022 and has failed to eclipse 7+ Ks in all six outings. I also like that Gore threw a career high 111 pitches in his last appearance.
Toronto Ace Kevin Gausman has gotten off to a rocky start this season however I believe it can be largely attributed to the 2x All-Star finding his form versus Gausman being on the decline. Prior to his last outing against the Twins where he got lit up, Gausman had put together four consecutive excellent starts, allowing just two ER. This is a buy low spot as this line is often set at 18.5 outs. I consider TB more of a neutral matchup.
Frankie Montas start to the season has been a bit of a roller coaster thus far. Montas strikeout metrics do not look good and the 31 year old hurler is averaging a 8.8% SwStr% which is significantly lower than is 12.8% career average. He will face the toughest lineup in the league in the Dodgers who unsurprisingly have tremendous career numbers against Montas, in addition to just 7 Ks over 55 career ABs.
This is just a huge number for Josh Hart who has been tremendous in this series, however so much has to go right for a 6'4'' guard to eclipse at least 18 combined rebounds and assists. I also believe we could see fewer possessions in this game compared to what we saw earlier in the series as well. As well know, fewer possessions = fewer opportunities for rebounds and assists. This number is ultimately closer to Harts ceiling.
Hunter Brown has had a brutal start to the season and possesses an ERA of 7.79, in addition to a WHIP of 2.01. Despite the ugly numbers he has some solid strikeout numbers, albeit a fairly small sample. However it appears that he's even running hot/above expectations with strikeouts as well. Brown gets a tough draw against a Brewers lineup that is 14th in K Rate, on top of the 3rd highest OPS against opposing right handed pitchers.