Pitchers
For the Pitcher Chart as well as Hitter picks and analysis, click NEXT!
Justin Verlander
Verlander will face the Blue Jays in Minute Maid Park. He’s the biggest favorite on the slate and has the lowest OTT (see pitcher chart). He also has the highest strikeout rate of all the starters on the slate. The Blue Jays have the 11th highest strikeout rate against righties, but are a fairly solid offense, ranking tenth in wRC+. That being said, Verlander is in a class of his own, giving up a 0.82 WHIP and a .164 opponent batting average this season. He has double-digit DK points in every game this year and has recorded 15 quality starts in 16 attempts. In cash games, Verlander is a lock, but at high ownership, I understand a tournament fade.
Vince Velasquez
Velasquez will face the Yankees in Citizens Bank Park. It’s clearly a tough matchup for Velasquez, but he’s priced down to $6,600, a $2,000 discount from his last start. Velasquez has a 28.5% strikeout rate this season and will hold the platoon advantage against the Yankees best power hitters. The Yankees also lose their DH traveling to the National League. Velasquez has two games with negative DK points, and eight games with 17+ DK points over his past ten starts. This is a tournament-only option for me, but one I’m strongly considering as an upside punt to pair with Verlander.
For the Pitcher Chart as well as Hitter picks and analysis, click NEXT!
Pitcher Chart
To see my favorite hitters for today’s slate, click NEXT!
The pitching chart will be updated often. Make sure to check back for the newest information, especially if a column is currently incomplete!
Last Updated: 6/25/2018 – 9:57 AM CT
| Pitcher | Team | L/R | $Line | OTT | K | +/- | K% | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Taillon | PIT | R | -109 | 3.5 | 6 | 2.5 | 22.5 | 6 1/3 |
| S. Lugo | NYM | R | +101 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 27.3 | 6 |
| S. Miller | ARI | R | -120 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| D. Straily | MIA | R | +111 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 19.1 | 5 2/3 |
| T. Mahle | CIN | R | +134 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| M. Foltynewicz | ATL | R | -145 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 28.9 | 6 |
| E. Jackson | OAK | R | +102 | 4.5 | 3.5 | -1 | 4 1/3 | |
| J. Zimmermann | DET | R | -110 | 4.5 | 3.5 | -1 | 23.4 | 5 |
| F. Hernandez | SEA | R | -137 | 4 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 19.4 | 5 1/3 |
| A. Cashner | BAL | R | +126 | 5 | 3.5 | -1.5 | 18.8 | 5 2/3 |
| J. Happ | TOR | L | +198 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 27.9 | 5 2/3 |
| J. Verlander | HOU | R | -216 | 2.5 | 8 | 5.5 | 32 | 7 |
| J. Loaisiga | NYY | R | -140 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.5 | 26.3 | 5 |
| V. Velasquez | PHI | R | +129 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 2 | 28.5 | 5 2/3 |
| G. Gonzalez | WAS | L | +106 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 22.1 | 6 1/3 |
| B. Snell | TBR | L | -115 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 27.3 | 6 1/3 |
| J. Lucchesi | SDP | L | +152 | 5 | 4.5 | -0.5 | 25 | 4 2/3 |
| C. Hamels | TEX | L | -165 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 23.4 | 6 |
| M. Clevinger | CLE | R | -123 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 22.7 | 6 |
| J. Gant | STL | R | +114 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 23.9 | 5 1/3 |
| T. Skaggs | LAA | L | -160 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 25.9 | 6 |
| B. Keller | KCR | R | +147 | 5 | 3.5 | -1.5 | 14 | 5 1/3 |
| D. Underwood | CHC | R | +151 | 4.5 | 3 | -1.5 | 4 1/3 | |
| K. Maeda | LAD | R | -164 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 26.6 | 6 |
Key
L/R = Lefty or Righty
$Line = Money Line
OTT = Opposing team’s run total
K = Projected Strikeouts
+/- = K-OTT
K% = Strikeout Percentage
IP = Innings Projection
Many factors can change between the time I write this article and the time lineups lock. I’ll do my best to update the article, so checking back frequently is encouraged. You can also ask questions on Twitter or Facebook. I’ll do my best to get to all of them!
To see my favorite hitters for today’s slate, click NEXT!
Hitters
Mariners Bats
The Mariners will face Andrew Cashner in Camden Yards. Cashner has a 4.77 SIERA and has given up a lot of hard contact this year. The Mariners have a team run total of five, tied for the highest on the slate. Kyle Seager is my favorite bat from this game and is priced at $4,100, affordable for both cash games and tournaments. Dee Gordon has the best chance of getting on base, and has the highest stolen base projection on the slate. Mike Zunino is a powerful catcher option, but I’ll probably use him as part of a stack rather than a cash game staple. Finally Nelson Cruz is too expensive for cash games, but he’s been incredible lately, slugging ten home runs in the month of June. He’s one of my favorite tournament options.
Wil Myers
Myers will face Cole Hamels in Globe Life Park. He’s been hitting first recently, and has a good matchup against Hamels. Hamels has allowed 1.75 HR/9 this season, and while this may regress, Myers has the platoon advantage and the power to knock one out of the park. Hamels also struggles to prevent steals, already allowing 12 stolen bases, fourth highest in the league. Myers has an outside chance of adding five points with a steal if he ends up standing on first. I like Myers for both cash games and tournaments.
Tournament Power Bats to Consider
Chris Davis vs. Felix Hernandez
Joey Gallo vs. Joey Lucchesi
Khris Davis vs. Jordan Zimmermann
Cash Game Power Bats to Consider
Freddie Freeman vs. Tyler Mahle
Cody Bellinger vs. Duane Underwood Jr.
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