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We’ve entered the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.
Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. A participant's failure to place a bet on their scheduled day results in a $200 bankroll penalty.
Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-15.
Tampa Bay Rays plus-$150 vs. Houston Astros: $650 to win $975
Tampa Bay has had some success recently with its unorthodox "openers" strategy, in which a relief pitcher works the first inning before giving way to a traditional starter. Since committing to that strategy full-time in mid-May, Rays pitchers have the lowest ERA in baseball.
Ryne Stanek has been an effective "opener," as he hasn't allowed a run in his last 13 innings pitched while deflating his ERA to 1.99 on the season. The Rays have won their last three games "started" by Stanek, including a victory over the Astros on June 19 and two wins over the Yankees on back-to-back days.
It's not the way things are normally done in baseball, but the Rays are making it work. Given the upside on the money line, I'm willing to roll with the opener strategy and see if it pays off.
Keefer (36-29-1, $11,156), Granger (17-17, $8,059), Grimala (17-25, $3,550), Brewer (28-31-1, $3,640)
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