Pitching: Tolle (Optimal), Eovaldi (GPP 1), Messick (GPP 2), Drohan (Value)
Hitting: CHC (Optimal), LAD (GPP 1), BOS (GPP 2), STL (GPP 3)
Weather: ATL/NYY
Welcome to a fun Friday slate of baseball as we discuss our favorite hitting stacks and the top pitching options!
The optimal pitcher of this slate is Peyton Tolle who takes on the Athletics. In the last 30 days, Tolle has had massive strikeout rates of at least 33% to both sides of the plate. He’ll get to face at least six batters with strikeout rates above 22% which feeds into his upside. The X stats have also been elite as he has held lefties to a rate of (.068/.203) and righties to a rate of (.143/.274). This is the ideal option to start your lineups with in cash game contests.
The next pitcher we like is Nathan Eovaldi who takes on a weaker Baltimore Orioles lineup. He has strikeout rates of 22% to LHH and 28% to RHH. He’ll get to face a whopping eight batters with strikeout rates above 22% which gives him some awesome upside to rack up strikeouts. The X stats look solid as well as he holds lefties to a rate of (.173/.323) and righties to a rate of (.165/.301). This is a solid option to consider in your lineups.
Now we move on to a pitcher in a lovely spot as Parker Messick takes on the Chicago White Sox. He has a strikeout rate of 26% to RHH which is key considering he’ll face at least seven of them today. He’ll get to face up to seven potential batters with strikeout rates above 22% which adds to his strikeout upside. The X stats have also been reliable as he holds lefties to a rate of (.088/.270) and righties to a rate of (.116/.275). This is a solid option to use in GPPs considering the favorable matchup.
The value pitcher of this slate is Shane Drohan who takes on the Minnesota Twins. He has strikeout rates of 24% to both sides of the plate. He’ll get to face a Minnesota team that strikes out the 12th most on the road this season. The X stats are the reason we like this play though as he holds righties to a rate of (.130/.288) which is key considering he’ll be facing eight of them today. This is a great way to free up salary to spend elsewhere.
The optimal team of this slate is the Chicago Cubs who take on Daniel Lynch who has seen his fastball get crushed this year. Tyrone Taylor, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, and Seiya Suzuki have had success against the fastball this year. Pete-Crow Armstrong, Michael Busch, Carson Kelly, and Pedro Ramirez have had success against LHP this year. Lastly, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ are viable options to round out this stack since the projections like them. Our favorite options are Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly.
The next team we like are the Los Angeles Dodgers who take on Merrill Kelly. The fastball that Kelly throws has been obliterated by both sides of the plate which is bad news considering it is his primary pitch. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernandez have had success against the fastball this year. Andy Pages, Tommy Edman, and Ben Rortvedt are viable options since Kelly has struggled on both sides of the plate in general as well. Our favorite options are Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani.
Now we move on to the Boston Red Sox who take on Jack Perkins. The sinker is a pitch that has given Perkins trouble this year so that is what we want to focus on. Nick Sogard, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Wilson Contreras, Andrew Monasterio, Jarren Duran, Anthony Seigler, and Jake Rogers have had success against the sinker this year. Masataka Yoshida and Caleb Durbin are viable options due to the form they have been in recently. Our favorite options are Andrew Monasterio and Wilyer Abreu.
The last stack on our radar is the St. Louis Cardinals who take on Ryan Feltner. The fastball has been crushed by both sides of the plate so that is what we want to focus on first. Cesar Prieto, Bryan Torres, Jordan Crooks, Alec Burleson, and JJ Wetherholt have had success against the fastball this year. Feltner struggles on both sides of the plate in general as well so Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Masyn Winn, and Nathan Church are viable options to round out this stack. Our favorite options are Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn.