Pitching: Luzardo (Optimal #1), Imanaga (Optima #2), Imai (GPP #1), Meyer (value)
Hitting: CHC (Optimal), TOR (GPP #1), BOS (GPP #2), HOU (GPP #3)
Welcome to another fun slate of baseball action as we dive into what we like today.
The optimal pitcher of this slate is Jesus Luzardo who takes on the Texas Rangers. He has lovely K rates of 39% to LHH and 25% to RHH. He gets to face 7 hitters with K rates above 24% which is elite upside. He also has the X stats to back it up as he holds LHH to a rate of (.098/.215) and RHH to a rate of (.137/.306). He is the top option on this slate to use in your cash lineups.
The next pitcher we like using is Shota Imanaga. He has K rates of 23% to LHH and 19% to RHH. This is a perfect spot to pick up those numbers though as he gets to face 6 hitters with K rates above 22%. The reason he is such a strong play is because he is facing a weak Washington team. Shota struggles against RHH but only 1 of 6 RHH carry an xISO above .200. Lastly, Imanaga has a rate of (.171/.293) against LHH so that takes care of the remainder of the lineup, This is another solid option to target.
Now we move on to the debut of Tatsuya Imai who makes his MLB debut against the Angels. The upside is fantastic because he gets to face 8 hitters with a K rate above 22% which is elite. We don’t have the X stats for Imai but we can tell you that he had an efficient spring training. He had 7 strikeouts and only one walk over 6 innings. We can expect more of the same from him today.
Lastly, Max Meyer is on our radar as he takes on the Colorado Rockies. Meyer had K rates of 26% to LHH and 21% to RHH. This is a solid spot for him to pick those up as he faces 7 hitters with K rates above 24%. His X stats also back up his good play as he holds LHH to a rate of (.198/.340) and RHH to the tune of (.183/.333). This value is a good way to spend up on your batting options.
The optimal stack of this slate is from Chicago as the Cubs take on Jake Irvin. His fastball got punished last year and this Chicago team can feast on that pitch. Michael Busch (.395/.441), Alex Bregman (.258/.374), Ian Happ (.361xwOBA), Pete–Crow Armstrong (.274xISO), Nico Hoerner (.349wOBA), Moises Ballesteros (.354/.474), Dansby Swanson (.276/.363), and Michael Conforto (.225/.389) have had success against that pitch. Our favorite options on this team are Ballesteros for value and Busch as a top bat.
The next stack we like are the Toronto Blue Jays who take on a struggling Luis Morales. His fastball has gotten crushed by both sides of the plate and the Blue Jays can also succeed against that pitch. George Springer (.487/.503), Nathan Lukes (.362wOBA), Jesus Sanchez (.260/.383), Vladamir Guerrero (.196/.405), Addison Barger (.186xISO), Daulton Varsho (.333xISO), and Andres Gimenez (.202ISO) have had success against that pitch. You can also use Kazuma Okamoto who went 2-3 yesterday. Our favorite options are Sanchez for value and Guerrero as the top bat.
Now we move on to the Boston Red Sox who take on Rhett Lowder. The K rates have been low for him in his MLB career and he has given up over a .350xwOBA to both sides of the plate with his fastball. Roman Anthony (.490xwOBA), Jarren Duran (.382xwOBA), Wilson Contreras (.435xwOBA), Caleb Durbin (.358xwOBA), Masataka Yoshida (.384xwOBA), and Marcelo Mayer (.431wOBA) have had success against the fastball. Wilyer Abreu is also in play with a rate of (238/.344) against RHP. We like using Yoshida for value and Anthony as the top bat.
Lastly, the Houston Astros make our list once again as the offense finally got going and scored 11 runs. They are in a solid place to score a lot against as they face Jack Kochanowicz who struggles with his fastball to both sides of the plate. Jeremy Pena (.324/.437), Yordan Alvarez (.241/.381), Isaac Paredes (.194/.355), Jose Altuve (.268/.368), Carlos Correa (.348wOBA), Joey Loperfido (.189/.397), Christian Walker (.261xISO), Yainer Diaz (.320/.402), and Cam Smith have had success against that pitch. We love Loperfido for value and Alvarez as the top option.