Pitching: Schlittler (Optimal), Sale (GPP 1), Cantillo (Value 1), Wesneski (Value 2)
Hitting: BOS (Optimal), HOU (GPP 1), ATH (GPP 2), MIN (GPP 3)
Weather: All Clear
Welcome to a fun Wednesday slate of action as we discuss our favorite pitchers and hitting stacks.
The optimal choice of the slate is Cam Schlittler who takes on the Chicago White Sox. He has strikeout rates of 33% to LHH and 26% to RHH. He’ll get to face five batters with strikeout rates above 22% which gives him some solid upside. The X stats look great as he holds lefties to a rate of (.143/.281) and righties to a rate of (.117/.246). This is a fantastic option to start your lineups with in cash games.
The next pitcher we have our eye on is Chris Sale who takes on the New York Mets. He has a strikeout rate of 30% to LHH and 29% to RHH. He’ll get to face up to seven batters with strikeout rates above 22% which is some elite upside to have in this matchup. The X stats also support this play as he holds LHH to a rate of (.085/.247) and RHH to a rate of (.117/.286). This is a solid option to target in GPPs.
The first value we like is Joey Cantillo who takes on the Cincinnati Reds. He strikes out RHH at a 26% clip which is important considering he’ll be facing eight of them today. Of the eight batters in the Reds lineup, five of them have strikeout rates above 22% which adds to the upside on this play. The X stats also support this play as he holds righties to a rate of (.121/.292). This is a great way to free up salary to spend on premium bats.
The next value we like is Hayden Wesneski as he takes on the Los Angeles Angels. He had a solid rehab start and was built up to 80 pitches, so we aren’t worried about a restriction and he’s super cheap as it is. The upside resides with the strikeouts as he gets to face an Angel team that carries seven batters with strikeout rates above 22%. The X stats last year show that he did well enough against both sides of the plate. He held RHH to a rate of (.341xwOBA) and lefties to a rate of (.137/.293). This is another solid way to free up salary to spend elsewhere.
The optimal team of this slate is the Boston Red Sox who look to have a field day at the Athletics park against Jacob Lopez. The fastball is a pitch he throws to both sides of the plate over 33% of the time so that is where we want to keep our focus. Jahmai Jones, Romy Gonzalez, Wilson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu, Caleb Durbin, Andrew Monasterio, and Connor Wong have had success against the fastball this year. Ceddane Rafaela and Nick Sogard are viable options because they are liked by our projections. Our favorite options are Wilson Contreras and Caleb Durbin.
The Houston Astros make our list next as they take on Grayson Rodriguez. The problem for Rodriguez is that the fastball is his primary pitch and it has been destroyed by both sides of the plate. Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz, and Cam Smith have had success against the fastball this year. Our favorite options are Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena.
The Athletics make our list next as they take on Patrick Sandoval. His fastball has been hit hard by righties so that is where we will begin. Jonah Heim, Tommy White, Colby Thomas, and Henry Bolte have had success against the fastball this year. Sandoval has also struggled mightily against LHH in his first couple starts, so that brings Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jeff McNeil into play as options. Jacob Wilson is a viable option as the leadoff hitter in this lineup. Our favorite options are Nick Kurtz and Colby Thomas.
The last stack we like are the Minnesota Twins who take on Randy Dobnak. The problem for Dobnak is that the sinker is his primary pitch and it has been hit hard by both sides of the plate. Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, Kody Clemens, Josh Bell, Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall, and Alan Roden have had success against the sinker this year. Our favorite options are Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens.