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It’s back to a split slate today with seven games in the afternoon and five games in the evening. Despite the night slate being smaller, that’s where the money is. Regardless, well try to give you the top plays from both slates to start your lineups.
Top Pitchers
Chris Archer (DK – $11,400, FD – $11,000) – Archer has the nastiest stuff on the day. His first two matchups of the year were against arguably the top two offenses in baseball in the Blue Jays and the Orioles. He racked up 12 strikeouts against the former, but got lit up by the later. Luckily, he gets a much weaker Indians team here that has struck out quite a bit this year at 25.3% for 26th in the MLB. He’s the top option in all formats.
Vince Velasquez (DK – $7,300, FD – $7,400) – Phillies pitchers have looked like aces against the Padres over the last few days and Velasquez may have the most talent of any pitcher that has faced them thus far. Velasquez has a career 26.3% strikeout rate and 3.67 SIERA since making his debut last year. Combine that with the Padres inability to score runs and Velasquez could be in for a big night.
Jason Hammel (DK – $7,900, FD – $7,900) – The evening slate is a bit slimmer on top end pitching talent. Hammel gets a matchup against a Reds team that has come back down to earth. Hammel was a strong pitcher last year before he got injured and looked like his old self in his debut against the Diamondbacks. Hammel racked up six strikeouts and only allowed one run, to a much stronger offense in a hitter friendly park. He should have little problem with the Reds.
Top Hitters
Mark Teixeira IB (DK – $4,100, FD – $3,200) – First Basemen prices have jumped quite a bit today, but Teixeira still has a depressed price and is in a great matchup. The Yankees travel to the most hitter friendly ballpark in the AL in Rogers Center to take on a right in Marcus Stroman. Teixeira averaged a 0.399 wOBA and 0.339 ISO vs. RHP last year. Stroman has good splits, keeping both lefties and righties under a 0.280 wOBA in his career, but could have a tough time keeping the Yankees and Teixeira down in this matchup. And for this price, he’s a great value.
Colby Rasmus OF (DK – $3,900, FD – $3,800) – Rasmus has been a stable of many people’s cash games lately, and with good reason. He’s batting cleanup for one of the top offenses in baseball and ridiculously underpriced. Here, he gets a matchup against a fly-ball pitcher in Ian Kennedy who allows a 0.356 wOBA to LHH, and he’s still under $4K.
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Jeremy Hazelbaker OF (DK – $3,700, FD – $2,300) – I don’t know how the Cardinals do it but they have a knack for churning out consistent and reliable players. So far this year, its been Hazelbaker in the outfield. In 27 ABs he’s hitting 0.500 with 2 HRs, 5 Rs, 5 RBIs, and 2 SBs. And the Cardinals have been hitting him at the top of the order. He’s a nice price on DK but is next to bare minimum on FD, making him an excellent punt yet value play.
Top Stacks
Coors – SF and Col
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Wily Peralta (Mil)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Robbie Ray (Ari)
Houston Astros vs. Ian Kennedy (KC)
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