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We’ve got two slates tonight on FantasyDraft – a 7pm eastern start, which covers all 14 matchups, as well as a 9:40 start for the four late games. The early Giants-Padres game is not included on either slate.
Must Play SP: Masahiro Tanaka, NYY ($19,400) vs BAL
The Orioles lineup might be hot right now, but so is Masahiro Tanaka – he’s coming off of a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts in his last time out. Baltimore still has just a .300 wOBA versus righties this year, third-worst in all of baseball. Tanaka has a 2.29 ERA in the last month and has a strong 24.9% K-rate this year. Tanaka has been on a tear, and it shouldn’t stop here.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Skaggs, LAA ($22,000) at TB
Value SP: Walker Buehler, LAD ($16,300) vs MIL
Buehler is a great play in GPP contests for his high upside. He’s certainly risky after blowing up last time out, but Buehler’s 3.34 FIP means that it shouldn’t be anything to worry about. His 25.3% K-rate, against the Brewers at 25.1% against righties, means that Buehler should record plenty of strikeouts. The Brewers aren’t nearly as tough a lineup when they’re not at home, so Buehler should bounce back and record the win against Wade Miley.
Honorable Mention: Jack Flaherty, STL ($17,600) vs COL
IF Jose Abreu, CWS ($8,000) vs KC (LHP Danny Duffy)
Abreu’s price has finally corrected now that he’s heating up again, but this is still outstanding value on him against a lefty. Abreu has been destroying southpaws this year, with a 131 wRC+. Duffy has an awful 4.84 FIP, putting Abreu in an awesome spot batting third against him.
Honorable Mention: IF Greg Bird, NYY ($8,100) vs BAL (Ramirez)
OF Leonys Martin, DET ($7,600) vs CIN (RHP Homer Bailey)
Martin should see lots of run-scoring opportunities as the leadoff man against Homer Bailey, who has a 6.29 ERA. Martin has a 113 wRC+ against righties and a sneaky power/speed combo that can score him lots of points in your contests.
Honorable Mention: OF Nick Markakis, ATL ($8,000) vs MIA (Straily)
Value: OF Josh Reddick, HOU ($7,200) at SEA (RHP Mike Leake)
I’d target Reddick in cash games as a cheap outfield play with a high floor. He’s near-lock for some runs and RBIs if he bats third again for the Astros, but he will see chances no matter where he bats in that lineup. Mike Leake and his 14.3% K-rate should get hit around by Houston.
Honorable Mention: OF Kyle Tucker, HOU ($7,300) at SEA (Leake)
Top Stack: Dodgers vs Brewers (LHP Wade Miley)
The Dodgers bats are way too cheap against Wade Miley, who has more walks than he does strikeouts and is clearly not the pitcher his ERA would make him out to be. Manny Machado ($8,600), Max Muncy ($8,200), and Matt Kemp ($8,400) are my favorite plays, but anybody playing is worth looking at.
Honorable Mention: Tigers vs Reds (Bailey)