Pitching:Eovaldi (Optimal), Luzardo (GPP 1), Detmers (GPP 2), Valdez (Value)
Hitting: PHI (Optimal), SD ( GPP 1), AZ (GPP 2), SF (GPP 3)
Weather: STL/MIL so AVOID
Welcome to a fun slate of baseball as we discuss our favorite options on this slate.
Our optimal pitcher on this slate is Nathan Eovaldi, who takes on the Los Angeles Angels. He has strikeout rates of 23% to LHH and 27% to RHH. He’ll get to face six batters with strikeout rates above 24%, which is elite upside. The xStats also back up this play, as he holds LHH to a rate of (.189/.329) and RHH to a rate of (.161/.288). This is the ideal way to start off your lineups in cash game contests.
The next pitcher we like is Jesus Luzardo, who takes on the Cincinnati Reds. He has a strikeout rate of 28% to RHH. He’ll get to face at least five batters with strikeout rates above 22%, which is solid upside. The xStats have been solid, as he holds righties to a rate of (.118/.291), which is important because he’ll be facing nine of them today. This is one of our favorite spend-up options on the slate.
We now move on to Reid Detmers, who brings his consistent upside against the Texas Rangers. He has strikeout rates of 24% to LHH and 28% to RHH. He’ll get to face at least five batters with strikeout rates above 21%. The xStats have been reliable, as he holds lefties to the tune of (.078/.291) and righties to a rate of (.141/.275). This is a great, affordable option on this slate that brings the upside to break the slate when he is on.
The value pitcher on this slate is Framber Valdez, who takes on the Athletics. He has strikeout rates of 28% to LHH but only 14% to RHH. Luckily for him, he’ll be able to boost those numbers, as he faces five batters with strikeout rates above 24%. The xStats meet our criteria, as he keeps righties in check to the tune of (.162/.344), while lefties are even worse at (.118/.256). This is a great way to free up salary to spend on premium bats.
The optimal stack on this slate is the Philadelphia Phillies, who take on Brady Singer. He struggles with his sinker against both sides of the plate, so that is what we want to target first. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, and JT Realmuto have had success against the sinker this year. Singer also struggles against LHH in general, which brings Justin Crawford, Bryson Stott, and Gabriel Rincones into play as viable options since they are LHH. Our favorite options are Marsh and Schwarber.
The next stack we like is the San Diego Padres, who take on Merrill Kelly. He has been flat-out terrible, as he struggles against both sides of the plate, and one of the reasons for that is because his fastball gets destroyed as his primary pitch. Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Gavin Sheets, Jake Cronenworth, and Luis Campusano have had success against the fastball this year. Ty France is a viable option if he helps round out your lineups due to his moderate success against RHP. Our favorite options are Campusano and Tatis Jr.
On the other side of that game, we also like the Arizona Diamondbacks, who take on Griffin Canning. He struggles with his fastball against LHH and his sinker against RHH. Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll, and Max Kepler have had success against the fastball this year. Nolan Arenado, Lourdes Gurriel, and Gabriel Moreno have had success against the sinker this year. Lastly, Pavin Smith is a viable option since Canning also struggles against LHH this year. Our favorite options are Marte and Perdomo.
The last stack to discuss is the San Francisco Giants, who take on Ryan Feltner at home. He struggles with his fastball against both sides of the plate as his primary pitch, so that is what we want to target. Drew Gilbert, Bryce Eldridge, Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, Casey Schmitt, Luis Arraez, and Heliot Ramos have had success against the fastball this year. Jung Ho Lee and Drew Cavanaugh are also viable options since Feltner struggles against LHH in general as well. Our favorite options are Devers and Schmitt.