Erik Halterman
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Erik Halterman is the Features Editor for RotoWire. He is one of the hosts of the RotoWire Fantasy Baseball Podcast as well as RotoWire Fantasy Baseball on MLB Network Radio and RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Fantasy Sports Radio, both on SiriusXM.
Erik's Picks
Past Picks

Phillies
Blue Jays
Prop (+125) vs Blue Jays
Prop (+125) vs Blue Jays
Proj: --
Suarez missed the first month of the season due to back issues, then was knocked around for seven runs in 3.2 innings in his season debut. Since then, he's been excellent, allowing a total of six earned runs across six starts, good for a 1.36 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Just as importantly for this prop: in this four starts where he's had an extra day of rest, he's recorded at least 20 outs. He'll be on an extra day of rest for this one, and the pattern should continue.

Brewers
Braves
Prop (+160) vs Braves
Prop (+160) vs Braves
Proj: --
It's a surprise to see this kind of plus money on the reigning NL Cy Young to record a single out in the seventh inning against an offense that ranks 25th in OPS. Yes, Sale has only hit this over in four of 13 starts this year, but that's because he hit it in none of his first six. He's gone at least 6.2 innings (20 outs) in four of his last seven starts, and with the way Atlanta's bullpen has been pitching lately, manager Brian Snitker will really want length from his ace tonight.

Padres
Angels
Prop (-105) vs Angels
Prop (-105) vs Angels
Proj: --
The pitching matchup between Kyle Hendricks and Randy Vasquez is an anachronistic one. The last time MLB had a strikeout rate as low as Hendricks' 14.2 percent was in 1985; the last time it was as low as Vasquez's 10.4 percent was in 1951. All that contact is sure to lead to plenty of hits, and likely plenty of runs as well. The Over, and particularly the Over in the first five innings, could also be interesting bets in this game.

Red Sox
Blue Jays
O/U (+100) vs Blue Jays
O/U (+100) vs Blue Jays
Proj: --
This is a high total, but it should be even higher considering who will be starting on the mound. For the Red Sox, it'll be Lucas Giolito, who missed all of last year due to internal brace surgery and had ERAs of 4.90 and 4.88 the last two times he was healthy. He had a 5.19 ERA and a 16 percent walk rate in five rehab starts. For the Jays, Yariel Rodriguez will be first on the mound, but he's topped out at 2.0 innings this season and is likely opening for Eric Lauer, who has a 4.50 ERA in the minors this year after posting a 4.93 ERA in Korea last season.

Nationals
Phillies
Prop (+100) vs Phillies
Prop (+100) vs Phillies
Proj: --
Sanchez left his previous start last Tuesday with forearm soreness, but he's avoided the IL and been cleared to start eight days later following a successful bullpen session. That leaves three scenarios for him to hit this under: a) it turns out he shouldn't have been cleared, and he exits in the first inning, b) he pitches well, but the Phillies exercise caution and pull him after five, or c) he's well enough to pitch, but not well enough to pitch up to his usual standards, and is knocked from the game early.

Cubs
Dodgers
Moneyline (-120) vs Dodgers
Moneyline (-120) vs Dodgers
Proj: --
The Dodgers ought to have the advantage on offense here (though the Cubs' lineup has come out of the gate hot), and they certainly have the advantage once it gets to the bullpen. What keeps this line fairly close to even is the presence of Shota Imanaga, who has a 2.22 ERA through five starts after posting a 2.91 ERA last year. But Imanaga's strikout rate has collapsed from 25.1 percent to 18.6 percent while his walk rate jumped from 4.0 percent to 8.8 percent. He also gives up too many flyballs, and with the wind blowing out at Wrigley, I'm siding with groundball pitcher Dustin May.

Phillies
Giants
O/U (-120) vs Giants
O/U (-120) vs Giants
Proj: --
This line is set based on the name value of the two starters, Robbie Ray and Aaron Nola, rather than based on their current level of performance. Ray may have a 2.93 ERA through three starts, but that comes with a 13:10 K:BB and 5.33 SIERA. Nola's 17:5 K:BB is fine, but he's allowed four homers and has a 5.51 ERA. Both pitchers are in their early thirties and have lost a tick of velocity this season, so two solid offenses should be able to put up some runs in a good hitters' park in this one.

Reds
Mariners
Moneyline (+110) vs Mariners
Moneyline (+110) vs Mariners
Proj: --
Mariners starter Bryce Miller is to a large extent the product of a very pitcher-friendly home in Seattle, something he won't get to enjoy today. For his career, he has a 2.73 ERA at T-Mobile Park and a 4.60 ERA everywhere else. He also has a poor 13:8 K:BB to go with his 4.50 ERA this season. Meanwhile, Reds starter Nick Martinez may own a 6.06 ERA through three starts, but that comes with a 3.80 SIERA and 15:4 K:BB.

Braves
Phillies
Moneyline (+124) vs Phillies
Moneyline (+124) vs Phillies
Proj: --
The 2-8 Braves are favored over the 7-3 Phillies in this one despite the two team's disparate performances through the first two weeks, likely due to a perceived starting pitcher advantage. But while fantasy players liked Grant Holmes as a sleeper this season, Atlanta seems less convinced, using him once in relief already and disrupting his rhythm by bumping his start due to rain to keep others on schedule. Meanwhile, Taijuan Walker had a disaster of a 2024 season (7.10 ERA) but seems healthier now and threw six shutout innings in his season debut.

Red Sox
Blue Jays
O/U (-109) vs Blue Jays
O/U (-109) vs Blue Jays
Proj: --
This matchup features a pair of decent (or better) lineups in a great hitter's park against a pair of pitchers whose starts to the season don't match their reputations. Gausman may have an acceptable 3.97 ERA after two starts, but his 4:3 K:BB in 11.1 innings is quite poor. His bat-missing ability took a big step back last season, so it's worrisome to see him with a single-digit strikeout rate (9.8%) so far. Houck has struggled as well, with a 6.52 ERA and 8:5 K:BB in 9.2 frames.
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