Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 8/2/16

 

Welcome to Tuesday baseball! We have a a full 15 game all day slate on our hands with some aces and a few offenses in great spots to put up some runs. Make sure to check out our other articles as they will touch on more pitching options, tournament stacks and any weather concerns that may arise. Let's get into the top options at each position!

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PITCHER

Carlos Carrasco FD 10100 DK 10500
Opponent - MIN (Gibson) Park - @CLE
FD - 39.44 DK - 25.84

The pitcher position is a very interesting one tonight as there are a ton of guys to consider in both cash games and tournaments. The first of which being Carlos Carrasco, the Indians right hander. While we were burned yesterday by Danny Salazar, he will be getting an MRI today which suggests he may have had some problems with his elbow. Not to mention, he is a better pitcher overall than Salazar. Carrasco, who has sported a .278 wOBA and a 3.56 xFIP, will be taking on a Twins team that has struck out a ton against righties. In 3000 plate appearances, the Twins have exhibited a .310 wOBA to go along with a 22.1% K rate and a .157 ISO. While there are definitely a ton of guys to consider, Carrasco has to be at the top of the list.

Madison Bumgarner FD 11800 DK 13000
Opponent - PHI (Eflin) Park - @PHI
FD - 41.28 DK - 27.06

Madison Bumgarner is coming in as our 2nd guy as of now and while everyone is VERY close, he is a close 2nd to Carrasco. He will be facing off with the Philadelphia Phillies, a team that has been absolutely atrocious against lefties on the year. With the leagues lowest .282 wOBA, you can be assured that they are safe to target. Bumgarner on the other hand, has been fantastic against both left handers and righties. Against lefties, he has sported a .226 wOBA to go along with a 23.5% hard contact rate and a 3.17 xFIP. While he definitely holds a bit of risk, he has a ton of upside as well as some built in strikeouts.

Adam Wainwright FD 9000 DK 8100
Opponent - CIN (Straily) Park - @CIN
FD - 34.95 DK - 23.05

If you are looking to pay down a bit from the top dogs, Adam Wainwright is going to be the best way to do that. First of all, let me be clear. I definitely think it is viable to roster a few more of these top priced options like Jose Fernandez, David Price and Jacob deGrom. That being said, there is always a good reason to pay down a bit for some bigger bats. Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals will be taking on the Cincinnati Reds, who have been the 5th worst team in the league against righties with a .303 wOBA. While the ballpark isn't ideal, the Reds are a bad enough team that it doesn't worry me too much.

CATCHER

Victor Martinez FD 3600 DK 3600
Opponent - CHW (Shields) Park - @DET
FD - 10.99 DK - 8.41
Jarrod Saltalamacchia FD 2200 DK 3300
Opponent - CHW (Shields) Park - @DET
FD - 7.33 DK - 5.48

The Tigers are once again in a great spot here against the aging James Shields. James Shields has been absolutely atrocious this season against lefties with a .341 wOBA to go along with a 4.85 xFIP. While Martinez is certainly a much better hitter, Both Martinez and Saltalamacchia have hit righties well on the year. Martinez is going to be my top catcher option in cash games, while Saltalamacchia is one of my favorite tournament options as he loves the low fastball. Whle the ballpark is far from ideal, neither of these guys are too reliant on power, especially if the Tigers as a whole are hitting well.

Buster Posey FD 3600 DK 4000
Opponent - PHI (Eflin) Park - @PHI
FD - 11.43 DK - 8.83

If you are looking for a catcher that is extremely safe and a terrific cash game play, Buster Posey is the way to go. The Giants will be traveling to Philadelphia and will be taking on Zach Eflin, a right handed youngster that has had some troubles thus far. In 30 innings against righties, Eflin has given up 3 home runs and a 33% hard contact rate. Posey, however, has been great for 10 years now and this year is no different. Posey is the cash game king and gets a huge upgrade moving from AT&T Park to Citizens Bank Park.

 

FIRST BASE

Adrian Gonzalez FD 3800 DK 4600
Opponent - COL (Gray) Park - @COL
FD - 12.59 DK - 9.57

Adrian Gonzalez and the Los Angeles Dodgers are moving into Coors Field, the ultimate hitters paradise. While Gonzalez has not been as great as he has been over the last couple years, he has still been very good against righties. In 275 at-bats, he has sported a .341 wOBA that is backed up by a 33% hard contact rate and a 24.1% line drive rate. On the same hand, Jon Gray has been very good this year. That being said, he still struggles in Coors Field. In cash games, Gonzo is the guy and he is certainly in play for tournaments as well.

Miguel Cabrera FD 3600 DK 5400
Opponent - CHW (Shields) Park - @DET
FD - 13.39 DK - 10.19

Miguel Cabrera has a been great play day in and day out and it has started paying off recently with 4 home runs in his last 5. His numbers suggest that he will continue to impress as his peripherals are way better than his baseline stats. As I just mentioned, James Shields is in a huge career down-swing and we should look to take advantage of him as much as we possibly can. While I do prefer Gonzalez in cash games, I think Cabrera makes for a tremendous play in all formats. That being said, let's take a look at a tournament option in Ryan Zimmerman.

Ryan Zimmerman FD 3100 DK 3700
Opponent - ARI (Ray) Park - @ARI
FD - 9.47 DK - 7.27

While I definitely prefer Gonzalez and Cabrera across the board, there is something to be said for Ryan Zimmerman here. The Nationals are moving from Nationals Park to Chase Field, which is the 2nd best ballpark for right handed power behind just Coors Field. The Nationals will be facing off with Robbie Ray, a southpaw that has had some troubles against right handers. In 84 innings, Ray has given up a .348 wOBA that is supported by a 37.1% hard contact rate. Zimmerman on the other hand, has been terrific against lefties for the better part of 3 years with a . 361 wOBA.

 

SECOND BASE

Joe Panik FD 2900 DK 4500
Opponent - PHI (Eflin) Park - @PHI
FD - 10.03 DK - 8.06

Joe Panik is going to be leading us off here at second base after coming back from the DL only a week ago. The San Francisco Giants are in a tremendous spot here against Zach Eflin and his 5.06 xFIP. Against lefties in particular, Eflin has given up a 5.58 xFIP and a 23.9% line drive rate. Panik has been great against righties over the course of his career with a .334 wOBA and a 22.4% line drive rate. With both Eflin and Panik having high line drive rates, I expect some some hard contact from Panik.

Chase Utley FD 4100 DK 4000
Opponent - COL (Gray) Park - @COL
FD - 11.42 DK - 8.97

The Dodgers are going to be our top offense on the day and while it is close, they are very safe in cash games. While Utley is a poor example, the Dodgers as a whole are priced too low around the industry. Like I mentioned, Gray is definitely a good pitcher, I am not objecting to that. However, Coors Field is a huge upgrade for hitters and even the best pitchers in the game struggle in Denver. Utley, while not great, has been very solid against right handers on the year with a .330 wOBA and a 39% hard contact rate. If you want a guy that is safer than anyone at the position, look at Utley. If you are looking to spend down a bit for some quality upside, let's take a look at Ryan Schimpf.

Ryan Schimpf FD 2700 DK 3400
Opponent - MIL (Davies) Park - @SD
FD - 9.22 DK - 7.07

Ryan Schimpf has came in to the majors and has absolutely raked, though he has been under the radar due to the fact that he plays for the Padres. In only 90 at-bats against righties, Schimpf has hit 8 home runs to go along with a .395 wOBA and a 39.7% hard contact rate. While we will touch on Davies in a bit, he is a youngster that has struggled against righties over the course of his career. Even though the ballpark is far from ideal, Schimpf is not reliant on power and can easily pay off his price with an RBI double or two.

Strongly consider Greg Garcia if he is in the leadoff spot.

 

SHORTSTOP

Corey Seager FD 4400 DK 5400
Opponent - COL (Gray) Park - @COL
FD - 12.58 DK - 9.83

Corey, the brother of Kyle Seager, has bursted onto the major league scene and absolutely dominated thus far. If not for Trevor Story, Seager would be the biggest rookie story of the year. Against righties, Seager has hit 13 home runs to go along with a .398 wOBA and an absurd 36.8% hard contact rate. The Dodgers will be moving from a bottom 10 hitter park to the absolute best and will receive some huge power bumps due to that. You will want exposure to the Dodgers and Seager is a great way to do that. While he is expensive on both sites, I think he is a better play on FanDuel as he will be lesser owned.

Trevor Story FD 3900 DK 5400
Opponent - LAD (McCarthy) Park - @COL
FD - 9.77 DK - 7.87

While this is the first Rockies bat mentioned, they are obviously great plays in both cash games and tournaments. The first guy were going to look at is the power right hander Trevor Story. Story has been absolutely dominant against righties in Coors Field with a .444 wOBA and a 46% hard contact rate. Wow. That is insane. Brandon McCarthy on the other hand, has struggled against righties over the past 5 seasons with a .341 wOBA. When you add in the Coors Field factor, it could definitely get ugly quickly. While Story is certainly not a cash game play, he makes for the best of best tournament plays.

 

THIRD BASE

Jacob Lamb FD 3200 DK 4700
Opponent - WSH (Roark) Park - @ARI
FD - 10.13 DK - 7.87

The Diamondbacks are in a very interesting spot here today. They are taking on Tanner Roark, who is not a bad pitcher. However, Roark is a guy that tends to struggle in hitter ballparks. Chase Field is certainly that as it has ranked the 2nd best in left handed power. Lamb has absolutely mashed right handers over the past 2 seasons with a .371 wOBA to go along with a 34% hard contact rate and a .211 ISO. While Turner and Wallace are better vetted tournament plays, lamb is at the top of the list for me in cash games.

Justin Turner FD 4000 DK 5000
Opponent - COL (Gray) Park - @COL
FD - 12.47 DK - 9.71

Justin Turner is a very odd player, as he is very streaky and is much better against righties, even though he is one himself. Over the past 3 seasons, Turner has hit righties to the tune of a .372 wOBA. To go along with the tremendous wOBA, his peripherals suggest that he is right on course with a 34% hard contact rate and a 11.6% HR/FB rate. Gray on the other hand, is better against righties, though not by much (.6 wOBA points). If you are looking for a lower owed hitter on the Dodgers, Turner fits that mold.

Brett Wallace FD 2300 DK 2800
Opponent - MIL (Davies) Park - @SD
FD - 7.6 DK - 5.77

Brett Wallace is not a cash game play, let me just make that clear. Wallace is going to swing for the fences every single time he swings, which is his claim to DFS relevancy. That being said, he has a decent chance of making some hard contact tonight. The Brewers right hander Zach Davies has been bad against lefties over the course of 50 innings in 2016. Davies has sported a .330 wOBA which is backed up by a 4.41 xFIP and a 34% hard contact rate. With Matt Kemp being traded, the Padres are going to need a power bat or two to step up and Wallace could be a guy that takes on that burden, at least against righties. .

 

OUTFIELD

Carlos Gonzalez FD 4000 DK 5200
Opponent - LAD (McCarthy) Park - @COL
FD - 12.85 DK - 9.87
Charlie Blackmon FD 4100 DK 5000
Opponent - LAD (McCarthy) Park - @COL
FD - 11.18 DK - 9.56

Starting us off in the outfield, we are going to look at Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez. Both Gonzalez and Blackmon have hit righties extremely well over the past 2 years with respective wOBA's of .364 and .382. McCarthy on the other hand, has struggled against lefties over the past couple years with a .336 wOBA and a 4.40 xFIP. If you are looking for a cash game guy, I prefer Carlos Gonzalez. However, I think Blackmon is certainly viable across the board.

David Peralta FD 2200 DK 3600
Opponent - WSH (Roark) Park - @ARI
FD - 9.97 DK - 7.88

Here is our second Diamondbacks bat against Tanner Roark and the Washington Nationals. Peralta, who came back from the DL recently, is a monster against righties. Dating back to 2014, Peralta has sported a .384 wOBA to go along with a 34% hard contact rate and a 24% line drive rate. Roark on the other hand, gave up a .369 wOBA to lefties in 2015. If you are looking for a cash game play, go with Gonzalez or Blackmon. However, if you are looking for a tournament play,go with Peralta as he will be much lower owned.

Mike Trout FD 4800 DK 5000
Opponent - OAK (Manaea) Park - @LAA
FD - 13.96 DK - 10.92

Trout has been flying under the radar lately and that is due to his team as a whole being horrible. That being said, I am all over him today. Trout has absolutely demolished lefties over the past 2 years with a .384 wOBA that is backed up by incredible peripheral statistics. The Angels will be taking on Sean Manaea,a left handed youngster that has struggled against righties as evident by his .341 wOBA. Trout is a great play across all boards, though I prefer him in cash games as cheaper guys have the same upside.

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