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Top SP: Chris Sale ($10,000) vs. LAA
Sale clearly had some issues facing the Yankees in back-to-back starts, but he’s a nice buy-low candidate now that he gets to face a much weaker lineup. The Angels are roughly league average with their .318 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this year, so this is a start where he can be expected to bounce back. While the ERA is rough, Sale still has a 3.55 FIP and a 3.11 deserved run average as well as a 34.6% strikeout rate, which is third-highest among all qualified starters. He has the upside to easily outscore every starter on this slate, and he’s only the fourth-most expensive.
Honorable mention: Matthew Boyd ($11,200) vs. KC.
Value SP: Eric Lauer, SD ($6,700) vs. COL
Lauer is coming off an impressive outing against the loaded Dodgers lineup in which he struck out six batters in six innings and registered a quality start. Lauer isn’t going to blow anybody away, but a guy with a 4.01 FIP can be useful when he’s one of the cheapest starters you can grab. He’s in an extremely pitcher-friendly park at home against the Rockies, who are an abysmal lineup away from Coors Field. Their .284 wOBA on the road ranks them 29th in the league, between the Orioles and the Marlins, and they’ve got a 27.4% strikeout rate as well.
Honorable mentions: Jon Gray ($8,200) vs. TOR.
1B Miguel Cabrera, DET ($3,800) at CHC (RHP Jorge Lopez)
Cabrera has quietly been hitting the ball well over the past two weeks, batting .326 with an .826 OPS. He’s not an exciting play, but Cabrera still has some value batting third for the Tigers, so he can be useful in cash games. Detroit should take advantage of a weak starter in Lopez, who has a 6.19 ERA, so Miggy should be able to give you some counting stats. He’s a great value bat at first base.
Honorable mentions: 3B Eugenio Suarez ($4,300) vs. CHC (LHP Cole Hamels); 2B/SS Gleyber Torres ($4,500) at TOR (LHP Thomas Pannone).
OF Yasiel Puig, CLE ($4,200) at MIN (RHP Kyle Gibson)
On the other hand, Puig is a high-upside, low-floor target in GPP contests. His power and speed combo is one of the best in baseball, with 22 homers and 16 steals, so he’s capable of scoring in a variety of ways. Puig is in a fantastic spot to rack up RBI batting cleanup for Cleveland. As long as he’s not suspended before tonight’s game, he’s one of the highest potential bats that you don’t have to pay a high-end price tag for.
Honorable mentions: OF Eddie Rosario ($4,200) vs. CLE (RHP Mike Clevinger); OF JaCoby Jones ($3,900) vs. KC (Lopez).
Value Bat: OF Nick Senzel, CIN ($4,000) vs CHC (LHP Cole Hamels)
Senzel is an attractive play in any contest as the Reds leadoff hitter, as his ability to get a fourth or fifth plate appearance could make the difference for your lineup. Of course, he’s also in a position to score some runs batting first. Senzel is batting .329 over the past month and has nearly reached double digits in both home runs and steals in his impressive rookie campaign. He’s been obliterating lefties so far, with a 139 wRC+ and an impressively low 10.9% strikeout rate.
Honorable mentions: OF Franmil Reyes ($3,800) at MIN (Gibson); 1B/OF Sam Travis ($3,600) vs. LAA (LHP Dillon Peters).
Lineup Stack: Cubs at Reds (LHP Alex Wood)
The Cubs offense could be in for a big night in a hitter-friendly environment in Cincinnati. On a short slate that doesn’t have many other affordable stack options, there are plenty of Cubs bats that you can realistically get into your lineups. Nicholas Castellanos ($4,200) has obliterated left-handed pitching this year with a 1.049 OPS and is a stellar play out of the 2-hole. He’s only outdone by cleanup hitter Kris Bryant ($4,500), who has a ridiculous 190 wRC+ against southpaws. Any Cubs hitter can be considered in a game where they should put up some runs.
Honorable mentions: Red Sox vs. Angels (Peters); Tigers vs. Royals (Lopez).
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is troyklauder) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games on which I offer advice. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings, and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any nonpublic information.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@FreshMeatComm on Twitter).