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After a few full slates in a row, we get a split slate today with 7 games in the afternoon and six games in the evening. And both slates are stacked with pitching, so let’s talk about the top plays and the best ways to attack it…
Top Pitchers
Early Slate
Clayton Kershaw (DK – $13,600, FD – $13,000) – It’s Kershaw Day as and this matchup isn’t even fair. Kershaw is the most dominant pitcher in baseball and the Braves have a bottom five offense in baseball. It doesn’t take much more analysis than that. His price is high, but it’s well worth it in this matchup. Put him in your lineup in all formats.
Johnny Cueto (DK – $10,100, FD – $9,900) – Kershaw. Scherzer. Price. Cueto. Ownership for the big guns will be high on the early slate, which will let Cueto fly under the radar. Cueto has been solid in his return to the NL this year and gets a Diamondbacks team that has been struggling a bit. Bumgarner was unable to get the win yesterday, but Cueto faces Selby Miller. Not Zack Gerinke. Cueto has a good chance to get the win and go deep into this game, making him a great cash or GPP play.
Ricky Nolasco (DK – $6,600, FD – $6,000) – If you need a cheap pitcher to pair with Kershaw or Price on the early slate, Nolasco might be your man. He’s not a high strikeout pitcher, but he has pitched deep into his first two starts and now shifts to the national league and a softer lineup with a pitcher.
Late Slate
Jake Arrieta (DK – $11,100, FD – $12,100) – Arrieta is the most dominant pitcher on the late slate and takes on a Reds team that will easily be the weakest offense he’s faced this year. His price hasn’t risen too much this year, so take the value while you can, and lock him into your cash games.
Gerrit Cole (DK – $10,300, FD – $9,700) – Just as with the early slate, Cole is a great pitcher in a good matchup that might fly under the radar. Cole takes on the hapless Padres team, that despite putting up a few runs yesterday, is a very weak offense. The game is also in pitcher friendly PetCo Park. Cole offense some savings from Arrieta and will likely have a lower ownership, making him a nice GPP play, but he’s a great cash option too. He’s a tremendous value on FD as well.
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Top Hitters
Mike Trout (DK – $5,200, FD – $4,600) – John Danks is always a great pitcher to target vs. righties and Mike Trout is the most dangerous righty in baseball. His price is high, but it’s not outrageous. If you’re loading up on pitching, you likely can’t fit him in, but if you find a value SP2 or SP1, his .434 wOBA and 0.285 ISO is a great play in hitter friendly US Cellular.
Adrian Gonzalez (DK – $3,900, FD – $) – Matt Wilser is a fly ball pitcher that really struggles against lefties (.413 wOBA v. LHH), making him a horrible pitcher to take on the Dodgers. Gonzalez is always underpriced around the industry and he mashes righties. With a price under $4K on DK, he’s a great value.
Jimmy Rollins (DK – $3,500, FD – $2,700) – Shortstop is always a tough position and there aren’t any studs on this slate. Seager makes a nice play, and will likely have a high ownership, so Jimmy Rollins will fly under the radar at only $100 less. Rollins has played well for the White Sox this year. Even in a down year last year with the Dodgers, he has a .333 wOBA vs. righties. He’ll be hitting at the top of the order, offers great value, and makes a sneaky play today.
Catchers – With a full slate last night and 7 day games today, many backup catchers will be in lineups. Make sure your catcher is in today and find a cheap option in a decent lineup position to save money for your pitching heavy lineups.
Top Stacks
Washington Nationals v. Tom Koehler (Mia)
Los Angeles Dodgers v. Matt Wisler (Atl)
Kansas City Royals v. Mike Pelfrey (Det)
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