Jack Brayman
Now about this complimentary winner
Now on a 6-1 run with my complimentary plays, after hitting the San Diego Padres last night over the San Diego Padres. Today my Bonus Play goes right off the bat, no pun intended, as I'm playing the Oakland Athletics in Miami, over the Marlins, in a game that starts at 12:10 p.m. eastern.
I want you listing Oakland's Daniel Gossett, only. And yes, I'm well aware he is opposing Edinson Volquez, who registered the season's first no-hitter. But I don't care, so list Gossett only and don't worry about it.
Gossett, the Athletics' No. 5 overall prospect, is making his Major League debut today, and that's music to my ears at a price like this. Horses coming out of the starting gate for the first time are virtually impossible to handicap from a traditional standpoint. You have to know what the trainers know, right?
In this case, the pitcher is the horse, and the trainer is the manager. And who knows more about the thoroughbred, a manager or an oddsmaker? There's a reason these virgins get the call, and that's because the managers have stayed in close contact with the pitching coach.
Miami, on the other hand, knows nothing about Gossett except from a scouting report that hasn't been proven. So the true scout will be from today's initial performace, one that the youngster will be at his best.
In 11 starts at Triple-A Nashville, the 2014 second-round pick is 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA. He was named the A's pitching prospect of the year by MLBPipeline in 2016, and what I do know about him is that he has four above average pitches he is confident in throwing. He can throw his fastball in the mid-90s, and a cutter in the high 80s. There's enough separation to confuse hitters, and he'll be able to keep the Fish off-balance.
Take the A's here, as they catch a value price with Gossett.
1* ATHLETICS (Gossett)
