Two weeks -- thats all thats left, folks. Time to call out all the stops if youre chasing down a title. DFS gamers, stick to your guns. Dont give into temptation and get too aggressive with your bankroll. Monday gives us the typical, abbreviated slate with 11 games, one an afternoon affair. The marquee matchup features a reunion of a couple of the best pitchers in the game. Youve come this far. Lets take this thing to the house.PitchingEliteIn what both teams hope will be a Game 1 NLCS preview, Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw hook up at Dodgers Stadium. The San Francisco Giants southpaw is a better choice than his Los Angeles Dodgers counterpart in terms of DFS. Kershaws lengthy absence is well-documented, and as much as the Dodgers want to beat their long-time rivals, making sure their prized southpaw is playoff-ready is the chief objective. The Giants, on the other hand, need every win they can muster, especially with Bumgarner on the hill. Plus, from a numbers standpoint, the Dodgers bats are below average versus lefties with an above average strikeout rate, which gives Bumgarner the matchup advantage.Challenging Bumgarner for top spot on the card is Noah Syndergaard as the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves?at Citi Field. Thor is working on an extra days rest but draws a club that has been the third best with a righty on the hill since the break. Theres no longer a need to worry about Syndergaards durability, as he has tossed at least seven frames in four of his past five outings. The concern is the low strikeout rate the visitors have registered over the second half, along with their latent production. This might go against the grain, but I like Bumgarner more than Syndergaard on Monday night.SolidFresh off a weekend set with the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox head down the coast to begin another important series with the Baltimore Orioles. Last week, the Red Sox dropped two of three games to the Orioles, including a 1-0 loss to Kevin Gausman with Mondays starter,?Rick Porcello, on the hill. This time, Porcello draws Dylan Bundy, so more run support is likely. The question is whether Porcello can clip the wings of the high-flying Orioles attack for the second time in a weeks span. Seasonal owners should continue to roll with the leagues only 20-game winner. DFS gamers should look elsewhere for a better bang for their buck.Given that we hear about a change in mechanics only when the results are positive, Taijuan Walker has been working with Seattle Mariners pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre for a couple weeks and adjusting his delivery, and it appeared to pay off his latest time out, with Walkers first complete-game shutout of his career. That was against the Angels in Anaheim, and the follow-up will be taking on the Toronto Blue Jays?at Safeco Field. The Jays offer some strikeout upside, so consider Walker a GPP option.Dont be fooled by Jharel Cottons low total of five whiffs in the first 12 innings of his career. The highly regarded Oakland Athletics right-hander routinely punched out a hitter an inning on the farm and often stretched that to a double-digit rate. Missing bats is a good skill to possess when facing the Houston Astros, especially at home at O.Co Coliseum, where some of the visitors power is, at minimum, quenched. Cotton checks in as a GPP option on a short slate.Jason Hammel is a DFS tweener. His style leans more to cash play because his upside is limited, but he is often lifted from games early, and that puts a hole in that floor. With the Chicago Cubs hosting the Cincinnati Reds, the veteran righty is in play for cash, especially on sites requiring multiple pitchers.The final solid option is rookie Braden Shipley as he leads the Arizona Diamondbacks?to Petco Field to play out the string with the San Diego Padres. Normally, Shipley wouldnt be an option, as his strikeout rate is pedestrian, but because the Friars turn ordinary righties into Nolan Ryan, the Snakes freshman is in play for tournament action.StreamersThe outlook is not favorable for those looking to grab an early-week boost in their head-to-head playoffs, with a weak group from which to choose a spot starter. A few will be highlighted, but as always, Im here to help make decisions on anything germane to Mondays slate. Please post your question in the comments or send me a tweet. Just remember, its your team and thus your call. Ill help put the matchup in perspective, but the rest is up to you.Yordano Ventura is maddeningly inconsistent but still in play for a home date with the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. If you want to pick up the Kansas City Royals righty, make sure to get the claim in early, as this is an afternoon affair. The impetus for the call is a pedestrian White Sox offense that gives Ventura the chance to strut his stuff.Theres some risk here, as the formally dormant Oakland Athletics offense came alive last week, but with the dearth of options, beggars cant be choosers. Brad Peacock takes the hill for the Houston Astros in the cavernous Coliseum. The right-hander is making his third start of the season after beginning in the bullpen following an August call-up. Peacock was a starter for much of the season in the minors, and though he isnt fully stretched out, he tossed 79 pitches over six frames his latest time out, so he should be able to manage another six stanzas.AvoidA few of the Atlanta Braves young pitchers have shown some promise for the future; Aaron Blair is not one of them. Its far too early to write off the 24-year-old righty, but theres no reason to take the chance of another blow-up when he takes the hill at Citi Field against the Mets.Martin Perez is such a tough read. He doesnt strike anyone out while carrying a higher than average walk rate, but he keeps the ball in the yard. In a season in which the all-time home run mark is in jeopardy, thats a huge positive. An argument can be made to start Perez if you think youll need some help with wins.HittersIts a Coors Field night, but thats not the lead game. The top spot belongs to the Mets facing Aaron Blair in Queens. The Braves righty has been equally generous to hitters from both sides of the plate, so everyone is in play. Still, expect the home team to go with their platoon and switch hitters, featuring Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce along with either Lucas Duda or James Loney. Plus, dont shy away from Yoenis Cespedes.Globe Life Park should be busy with Jhoulys Chacin dueling the aforementioned Perez. Perez might not yield many homers, but it still makes sense to consider Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, C.J. Cron, Yunel Escobar and Andrelton Simmons.On the other side, the hosts lefty swingers are in a great spot against Chacin. Rougned Odor, Mitch Moreland and Nomar Mazara lead the way.That leaves Coors Field with capable hurlers on the hill for both the visiting St. Louis and home team Colorado Rockies. This makes stacking against Carlos Martinez and Tyler Anderson a risk. That said, getting some exposure, especially in cash games, could pay dividends. All 11 homers Anderson has allowed have come off a righty stick, so focus on the Redbirds Aledmys Diaz, Stephen Piscotty, Yadier Molina, Jedd Gyorko and Randal Grichuk.The lefties are in the spotlight for the home team against Martinez. Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez, David Dahl, Gerardo Parra and Daniel Descalso are the targets.Most likely to hit a homer: Its been a quiet season for Curtis Granderson, though he remains dangerous with a homer-prone righty on the hill, so lets call on the Grandy Man to take Blair out of Citi Field.Most likely to steal a base: Making Syndergaards league-leading steals allowed mark even more alarming is that it isnt easy to get on base against the dominant righty. He obviously is confident that hell get the guy at the plate out. If Ender Inciarte can get on, expect him to take advantage of Thors cavalier approach to the running game. Custom 76ers T-shirts . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Cheap 76ers Jerseys . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. http://www.custom76ersjersey.com/ . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Custom 76ers Jerseys . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Authentic Custom 76ers Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Australia 8 for 324 (Smith 164, Head 52) beat New Zealand 256 (Guptill 114, Hazlewood 3-49) by 68 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFor the first time this summer, Steven Smith could do no wrong. In the Tests against South Africa, he didnt win a single toss, didnt manage a hundred, didnt lead his side to a victory until the series was dead. But a change of format and opposition brought a change of fortunes. Smith won the toss, plundered for himself the highest ODI score ever made at the SCG, then took a truly remarkable catch as Australia secured a 1-0 lead in the Chappell-Hadlee series.There were other highlights in a match that finished as a 68-run victory for Australia. Martin Guptill, for the first time in 41 innings against Australia across all formats, blasted a century. Travis Head struck a fifty to help Australia post 8 for 324. Josh Hazlewood took three wickets. Colin Munro gave New Zealand the faintest glimmer of a late hope with 49. But after Smiths contributions, everything else felt inconsequential by comparison.In 153 one-day internationals at the SCG, nobody has ever scored more than the 164 Smith compiled in this game. It was also the equal seventh-highest score by an Australian in an ODI, as well as Smiths best in all of one-day cricket. His innings was the key difference between the sides, although the standard of fielding perhaps ran a close second, for New Zealand were uncharacteristically sloppy and provided Smith and Head with costly let-offs.Smith was dropped on 13 when he glanced Trent Boult down leg and the wicketkeeper BJ Watling grassed a chance diving to his left. If it wasnt exactly easy, nor was it unattainable: Watling later pouched a very similar take to get rid of George Bailey. An even simpler opportunity went begging when Head was on 7, as he drove Jimmy Neesham to mid-off, where Matt Henry spilled a sitter. Smith and Head went on to build a 127-run partnership.Smith was also dropped on 152 by Munro but by then the horse had bolted, had a few birthdays, won the Golden Slipper and been put out to stud. Still, compare New Zealands catching to that of Australia. George Bailey spilled a tough chance at midwicket when Guptill already had 56, but New Zealand had nothing to match Smiths stunning, diving, one-handed take at backward point to get rid of BJ Watling. The rest of Australias chances were held.It was just one of those days for New Zealand. Not only could they have had Smith on 13, but later in the same over they might easily have had him lbw for 14. Boult swung one in and rapped him on the pads, but the lbw shout was turned down by umpire Mick Martell. New Zealand chose not to ask for a review but had they done so, the decision would have been overturned. To misquote the fine New Zealand band Split Enz, they saw red, they saw red, they saw red.The day had staarted in more auspicious fashion for New Zealand.dddddddddddd In the first over of the match, Aaron Finch played on to Henry for a golden duck, and David Warner also chopped on within the first ten overs of the game, handing debutant Lockie Ferguson a maiden international wicket in his first over. Watlings diving take down leg off Neesham got rid of George Bailey for 17, and when Smiths straight drive flew through Neeshams hands and ran out Mitchell Marsh for 1, Australia were 4 for 92.Had Henry caught Head, it would have been 5 for 115. Instead, Head went on to strike five fours and brought up his second ODI half-century. Eventually, on 52, Head drove hard back to the bowler Boult, who pouched an excellent return catch. But Heads role was a supporting one only. The starring turn in this innings belonged to Smith, who was powerful all around the wicket and particularly punishing when the bowlers dropped short. He moved to his century from 120 balls and struck 14 fours and four sixes during the innings. His seventh ODI century ended when he skied a chance to Munro, but by then the late runs were flowing freely. Matthew Wade pounded three late sixes in his 38 from 22 balls, and Australia piled up 101 runs in their final eight overs. It took New Zealand not quite into record-breaking territory for ODI chases in Australia, but close to it.Hazlewood picked up two early wickets - Tom Latham played on for 2 and Kane Williamson was well held at slip by Smith for 9 - but a 92-run stand between Guptill and Neesham put the innings back on track. Hazlewood played a part in breaking the partnership, completing a fine catch at long-on when Neesham (34) misjudged an attempted slog off Mitchell Starc. Then came Smiths catch of Watling, and New Zealand were wobbling.But while Guptill remained - he was scoring at better than a run a ball - Australia could not relax. He looked effortless in striking six sixes and 10 fours, and brought up his hundred from his 93rd delivery with a six smashed over long-on off Mitchell Marsh. During his innings Guptill also became the quickest New Zealander to the 5000-run mark in ODIs, and the 10th-fastest of all comers, but he was unable to turn it into a match-winning innings.On 114, Guptill pulled Adam Zampa to the substitute Glenn Maxwell at midwicket, and New Zealand slumped. Mitchell Santner holed out to Warner off Zampa for a duck, Colin de Grandhomme was lbw to Hazlewood for 6. Munro and Henry put on 50 before both were caught in the deep by Bailey off Pat Cummins, and Ferguson was finally bowled by Marsh for a duck.But for all the various contributors along the way, this was a win for Smith, a day when everything he touched turned to Australian gold. ' ' '