Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton hits a solo-home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Charlie Morton in the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Welcome to Tuesday baseball! We have a very odd full 15 game slate with some very rough pitching options. Make sure to check out our other articles as they will touch on some pitching options, tournament stacks and any weather concerns that may arise. Make sure you also checkout our baseball podcast that has recently launched. Let's get into our top plays at each position.
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Opponent - TB (Moore) Park - @ARI
FD - 36.4 DK - 19.9
Boy, pitcher is a very tough spot to figure out tonight. We have a few guys here that our decent, however, every option on this slate has some inherit risk. Our first and top option is going to be the most expensive guy on the slate in Zack Greinke. Greinke takes on the Tampa Bay Rays at home in Chase Field. While Chase Field is surely a tough place for a pitcher, the match up more than makes up for it. The Rays have been horrible against righties this season with a team .313 wOBA and a very high strikeout rate of 25.5%, the second highest in the league. Zack Greinke on the other hand, started off the year with some bad luck but has since corrected his peripherals and has had some nice starts over the past month or so. Greinke has the most upside and least risk of anyone on the slate, however, he definitely does have some risk due to the ballpark. Greinke is my top option in both cash games and tournaments.
Opponent - PHI (Eickhoff) Park - @PHI
FD - 34.14 DK - 18
I told you it gets really really bad. When you have a 15 game slate and Kyle Hendricks is the obvious number 2 option, there is a problem. However, even if tonight was a normal slate, I would be looking at Hendricks in tournaments. The Phillies struggle against both lefties and righties and we saw a prime example of that last night when Lester dominated them for an easy 8 innings. While Hendricks is no Jon Lester, he has been great this year with a 3.48 SIERA and a combined .246 wOBA. The Phillies however, are a team that lacks both power and OBP. Hendricks is fairly priced around the industry and makes for a great play in all formats.
Consider - Michael Pineda
Opponent - TB (Moore) Park - @ARI
FD - 9.28 DK - 7.14
Moving on to hitters, we are going to start off with the catcher position and Wellington Castillo. Castillo and the Diamondbacks come into this game against Matt Moore. Moore is a left hander that has struggled mightily against righties over the past few years with a .372 wOBA and has given up a 36.2% hard contact rate. The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be one of my favorite offenses on the day and it is always a good idea to get exposure to a power guy at catcher.
Opponent - CIN (Lamb) Park - @CIN
FD - 9.7 DK - 7.67
It is very tough to roster Yadier Molina as he does lack power upside. However, he is still an efficient hitter and is a great option if you are looking to stack the Cardinals. The Cardinals are in a great spot here against John Lamb, a southpaw who has been bad against righties. Dating back to 2015, Lamb has exhibited a .350 wOBA and a 4.12 xFIP. While Molina certainly lacks home run upside, Great American ballpark will do its best to help him out. I prefer Molina in cash games.
Opponent - TB (Moore) Park - @ARI
FD - 13.3 DK - 10.33
Moving ton to first base, we will go back to the Diamondbacks well with Paul Goldschmidt. Historically, Goldy has obliterated left handers as evidenced by a .426 wOBA and a 45.8% hard contact. Wow, that is rediculous. As we mentioned, they will be taking on Matt Moore who has struggled against righties. They will be at home in Chase Field. Chase Field has ranked as the number 2 ballpark for home runs over the last 2 seasons. The D-backs are going to be under owned tonight and make for superb plays in both cash games and tournaments.
Opponent - STL (Leake) Park - @CIN
FD - 11.21 DK - 8.52
As always, 1st base is very deep and today is no different. Votto is another guy that has been insanely dominant against righties over the course of his career. Dating back to his debut in 2007, Votto has exhibited a rediculous .414 wOBA and a 38.8% hard contact rate. While it goes unsaid, the peripherals have backed up these 9 year old surface numbers. The Reds are taking on Mike Leake, a guy that is way overvalued in the DFS community. However, in reality Leake is a guy that you should have no problem targeting. Over the last 2 seasons, Leake has sported a .336 wOBA and a 4.18 xFIP against left handers. Votto is a great play in all formats, especially on FanDuel.
Opponent - MIA (Conley) Park - @MIN
FD - 10.46 DK - 8.27
Oh man, is second base ugly? That was a rhetorical question. It is absolutely horrible. The one guy I will end up plugging into almost all of my lineups in both cash games and tournaments. Dozier has been very unlucky this season with a .272 BABIP, however, he has still held a very good wOBA against lefties at .409. Adam Conley on the other hand, has exhibited a 4.80 xFIP and a 34.2% hard contact rate. All in all, Dozier is a terrific option in both cash games and tournaments. Make sure you get some exposure to Dozier at this extremely weak position.
Consider - Devon Travis, Howie Kendrick
Opponent - CIN (Lamb) Park - @CIN
FD - 11.18 DK - 8.96
Back to the Cardinals, eh. Seems like a trend. As previously mentioned, they are taking on one of the lesser pitchers on the slate in John Lamb. Aledmys Diaz on the other hand, has been absolutely terrific this season since entering the majors. Against lefties, Diaz has sported a .327 wOBA which is backed up by a 24% LD rate and a 35% hard contact rate. The Great American Ballpark is a huge upgrade from Busch Stadium and will help the Cardinals score some runs.
Opponent - MIN (Dean) Park - @MIN
FD - 7.42 DK - 6.08
The Marlins are another team that is in a terrific spot and we will get to a few more of them as we go on here. They will be taking on Pat Dean, a southpaw who profiled as a 5th starter or reliever when you look at his career numbers. Over the course of his minor league career, he has exhibited a 4.16 and a 1.38 HR/9. While those numbers aren't putrid in the majors, if you move translate those from the minors they are much worse. Adeiny Hechavarria on the other hand, has been a decent hitter against lefties with a .304 wOBA. While I definitely prefer Diaz, Hech is a great play if you are going to stack the Marlins.
Opponent - DET (Boyd) Park - @DET
FD - 12.97 DK - 9.88
I am loving third base today and my top option by far is Josh Donaldson. Donaldson and Stanton (we will get to him soon) have been the 2 best hitters in the league against lefties over the recent few years. He will take on a southpaw tonight in Mat Boyd. While Boyd profiles well for the future, he has had his fair share of troubles against righties so far. Over the past 2 seasons, Boyd has exhibited a .371 wOBA that is backed up by a 4.83 xFIP and 33.7% hard contact rate.
Opponent - MIN (Dean) Park - @MIN
FD - 9.02 DK - 7.09
I told you we would get back to the Marlins and here we are with Martin Prado. Prado has been absolutely terrific this season against lefties with a .351 wOBA and 33.1% hard contact rate. As we mentioned, they will be taking on Pat Dean who has struggled against right handers. While this ballpark is not terrific, it is much better than the Marlins home park, Marlins Park. I do prefer Prado in cash games as he definitely lacks power, however, he is a must in a Marlins stack.
Opponent - MIN (Dean) Park - @MIN
FD - 14.14 DK - 10.65
Here is our 3rd straight Marlins bat over the past 3 positions and this one is absolutely by far my favorite. Over the past 3 seasons, Stanton has exhibited a .418 wOBA and an insane 51.2% hard contact rate. That is so rediculous it is hard to even compare it to anyone else. What more is there to say about this match up with Pat Dean? As long as Stanton is in the lineup, he is a phenomenal play.
Opponent - CHW (Latos) Park - @CHW
FD - 14.95 DK - 11.53
Opponent - CHW (Latos) Park - @CHW
FD - 7.7 DK - 7.03
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Bryce Harper finally got his mojo back last game and the entire Nationals lineup came through with a big game. Harper is obviously a much better hitter than Revere and has exhibited a +.400 wOBA against right handers over the past couple seasons. However, Revere has a ton of upside as well as he brings some speed and a great OBP. They will be facing off with Mat Latos, a right hander that lacks and put-away pitches. Over the past 2 seasons, Latos has been putrid against lefties with a .341 wOBA and has given up a very bad 35.2% hard contact rate. These Nationals will be lower owned and are insanely low priced on FanDuel.
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View Comments
Matz is the go-to SP today in my opinion. He is cheaper and has a higher ceiling and floor than anyone listed. No way I am going anywhere near Pineda unless I am stacking against him.
The Mariners are facing Cody Anderson today. I think they were supposed to face Salazar. However, on DK they are priced like they are facing Kershaw. Mariners stack anyone?
Yeah I'm very confused about this line. Cleveland -130 with 8 o/u and line hasn't moved. Would take the Seattle side of that all day with Anderson on the mound
No Cards bats vs. John Lamb?
Cano vs. Anderson 3800? sign me up
Not sure what you mean? Diaz and Molina in the write up. I'm sure some others will show up once lineups released.
Love that price on Cano though for some reason the game's line is coming in low
I just contacted DK about why they have the 4:05pm Mets/Pirates game on the 7pm slate. I got an odd reply. I was told that although the players are available, that NO points will be awarded to Mets or Pirates players for either contest today. There are going to be a lot of pissed off people. I am so glad I contacted them, as I had Matz in just about every line up. This is very odd, so anyone that has any further info on this please post.
Wow...Thanks for that. I don't like that answer. It would make more sense to not include the first game in the player pool or move both of them out. It seems the only people that would know that information would be sharks with insider info or people that actually contacted them. That is huge because I was leaning DeGrom.
Seattle stack all day at these prices.
Yeah play Fanduel.
I agree with karen...Faneuil had the Matz situation straightened out before I could even send my email...degrom is your starter on the 7pm slate and the first game doesn't appear to be part of the slate today..seattle/Miami stack looking good to me.great writeup...thanks guys
the game in pittsburgh has been moved up to 405 today
Doug is the lineup optimizer for mlb the same in that it's geared towards cash game "safety"? If so how come you guys have been going with some risky pitchers?
All the pitchers are risky today imho.
Ok thanks for responding
I've been monitoring your pathetic picks for a while now, and they are, well, pathetic. You take the cake today with your Kyle Hendricks' comments. Do you do any research at all before you put this crap in writing?
Any idea who is second in baseball in walks plus hits per inning pitched behind Clayton Kershaw? It’s the same person who has a .201 batting average against -- exactly the same as nine-game winner Chris Sale. It’s also the same guy who has given up one fewer home run than Kershaw this season at 4-3. OK, that last stat came in two fewer starts, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Hendricks is quietly putting together some big numbers.
Thanks for reading. Not really sure what point you are making here. We gave Hendricks as a top pick with caution that's all. Seems like in that case we are in agreement. He doesn't have unlimited upside because his K stuff isn't elite and he tends not to go into crazy high pitch counts.
Appears as if we agree on Hendricks as a play or am I missing something?
it seemed like you were both giving Hendricks endorsements....
Ha that's how I read it too. Wasn't sure if I missed something. I like Hendricks a lot. He's clearly not Kershaw though the numbers trend close to Sale than in the past (mostly b/c of Sale, not Hendricks). Biggest issue is PC though he's gone over 100 last two games which is good. But he gets pulled way too often at around the 85 pitch mark to be considered a totally top end pitcher.
that's the Joe Maddon effect. Who knows what the Mad Scientist thinks???