Welcome to the Tuesday edition of the MLB Fanduel Cash Game Article. Tonight we have nearly full, 14 game slate. As always, please make sure you check the weather and the team lineups as they are released. Let’s go ahead and take a look at my favorite cash game options for tonight on FanDuel.
Pitcher
Alex Wood LAD: $9,600 vs. CHW
Alex Wood was outstanding in the first half of the season with a 2.02 FIP and a 10.82 K/9. He has regressed back to the norm a little with only a 4.41 FIP and a 5.76 K/9 in five starts since the All-Star break. With that being said, he has an outstanding matchup tonight at home versus the White Sox. On paper, the White Sox have been solid against left-handed pitchers this season, but they have continued to tumble down the rankings in wRC+ and wOBA. Also, they will be losing the DH since they play in a National League park tonight.
Danny Salazar CLE $9,500 @ MIN
Danny Salazar has been lights out in the second half of the season so far and comes into tonight’s start with a slate best, 2.92 SIERA since the All-Star break. In that span he has an impressive 12.79 K/9. Tonight he has a decent matchup against the Twins, who have only been middle of the pack in wRC+ and wOBA against opposing right-handed pitchers this season.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal $2,800 vs. CHW
Yasmani Grandal has been struggling lately, but I’m hoping his home run on Sunday was the start to him getting back on track. Tonight he has an excellent matchup against Miguel Gonzalez, who has allowed a 0.409 wOBA and a 1.95 HR/9 against left-handed hitters on the road this season.
Buster Posey SF $3,100 @ MIA
Buster Posey is still the best offensive catcher in the league and $3,100 is definitely doable tonight since you will likely be using a pitcher who is not priced about $10,000. Dan Straily had a solid first half of the season, but he has struggled some since the All-Star break with a 4.51 FIP over his last five starts.
First Base
Edwin Encarnacion MIN: $3,600 @ MIN
Bartolo Colon was dominant in his last start against the Brewers. However, I think that was more of an outlier than the start of him turning things around. The Indians are in a great spot to do a ton of damage tonight against Colon, and Edwin Encarnacion should be in the middle of all of the production tonight.
Mark Reynolds COL: $3,600 vs. ATL
On the surface it does not look like Mark Reynolds has been great by any means against left-handed pitchers this season. However, when you dig deeper you will see that like most other hitters, Reynolds enjoys hitting at the launching pad, Coors Field. Although it’s relatively small sample size, Reynolds has a 0.399 wOBA and a 0.289 ISO against left-handed pitchers in Coors Field. I think Sean Newcomb has a bright future for the Braves, but I really think he could be in for a long night in his first visit to Coors.
Second Base
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DJ LeMahieu COL: $3,500 vs. ATL
DJ LeMahieu is another Rockies’ hitter who we can use to attack Newcomb. LeMahieu currently has a ridiculous 0.422 wOBA against opposing left-handed pitchers this season.
Carlos Asuaje : $2,200 vs. PHI
The Padres don’t have a great offense, but they do have a couple of decent value pieces who we can consider. One of their cheap hitters who we can use tonight is Carlos Asuaje. Asuaje typically hits near the top of the order for the Padres and he has been solid with a 0.348 wOBA against opposing right-handed pitchers.
Third Base
Josh Donaldson $4,100 vs. TB
If you are spending up at third base tonight, then Josh Donaldson is your guy. I’ve been kicking myself for not jumping onboard with the hot streak that he has been on over the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I become to data driven that I forget subtle things that cannot be seen in statistics. A few weeks ago I was reading an article about Josh Donaldson starting to turn things around this season and in the article there was a quote from Donaldson talking about ditching his chin guard that he has been wearing on his helmet this season. He said that the guard was hindering his viewpoint on certain pitches so one day he decided to scrap it altogether and ever since then he has been raking. Sometimes we need to keep our eyes and ears open for these little queues, because they definitely can give you an edge in DFS over those who are only looking at statistics.
Jose Ramirez CLE: $3,500 @ MIN
Another Indians’ hitter who we can use tonight against Bartolo is Jose Ramirez. Ramirez has been an outstanding cash game option to use this season, since he is a switch hitter and he has solid numbers from both sides of the plate. Against right-handed pitchers, he currently has a 0.391 wOBA and a 0.247 ISO.
Shortstop
Tim Beckham BAL: $3,300 @ SEA
Tim Beckham has been red hot since he was traded from the Rays to the Orioles at the trade deadline. Since August 1st, Beckham is hitting 0.500 with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, has scored 16 runs and has driven in another 10 runs. He has been doing so well that the Orioles have moved him into the leadoff spot for each of their past five games.
Corey Seager LAD: $3,900 vs. CHW
It’s going to be tough to find room for Corey Seager tonight, but if you’re wanting to spend up at shortstop tonight he is the best option. I already mentioned how Gonzalez has struggled on the road, and Seager has been excellent against opposing right-handed pitchers with a 0.374 wOBA and a 0.197 ISO.
Outfielders
Nelson Cruz SEA: $4,600 vs. BAL
If you have room to squeeze in a top dollar bat in the outfield, you always need to consider using Nelson Cruz against a left-handed hitter. Cruz has a 0.393 wOBA and a 0.258 ISO over the course of his career, and tonight he gets Wade Miley, who has really struggled this season.
Jay Bruce CLE: $3,300 / Bradley Zimmer CLE: $2,300 @ MIN
A couple of other Indians’ hitters who we cannot forget about are Jay Bruce and Bradley Zimmer. Bruce should see an increase in run production in a better lineup and Zimmer is a decent value option in an outstanding matchup.
Chris Taylor LAD: $3,800/ Joc Pederson LAD: $2,600 vs. CHW
Another pair of outfielders to consider from the same team tonight is Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson. Taylor has been smoking in the second half and he is a big reason for why the Dodgers are on track for a historic number of wins this season. So far in the second half, he has a ridiculous 0.458 wOBA and a 0.349 ISO. Pederson’s numbers have not been nearly as good, but he does solid power and does give you cheap exposure to a powerful offense in a great spot tonight.
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