Mookie Betts and the Red Sox have a great matchup Friday
Friday is finally here! We have 14 games on the schedule for the final Friday of July. Tonight’s slate brings us an interesting mix of pitching coupled with some high projected run totals, so it should be a fun night of scoring. Let’s look at a lineup for FanDuel.
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Pitcher
Kenta Maeda (LAD): $9,000 vs. ARI
Max Scherzer faces a San Francisco team that ranks 8th in wRC+ and 29th in strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, so I don’t think I will be forcing him into my lineups. Pivoting to Maeda seems to make sense as he will face the Diamondbacks, who run out a right-handed heavy lineup. Arizona ranks 21st against right-handed pitching and they strike out 23.4% of the time. Maeda is currently a -219 home favorite, with Arizona having just a 2.94 implied team total. To further complicate matters for the Diamondbacks, they could be without the services of Jake Lamb, which would only enhance the matchup for Maeda.
Other Notables
- Max Scherzer (WAS): $11,600 @ SF (cash viable; elite GPP)
- Steven Matz (NYM): $9,700 vs. COL (GPP)
- Vincent Velasquez (PHI): $8,900 @ ATL
- Trevor Bauer (CLE): $8,500 vs. OAK (GPP)
- Jake Odorizzi (TB): $8,100 vs. NYY (GPP)
Catcher
Evan Gattis (HOU): $2,900 @ DET
Gattis has been hitting out of the fifth spot in the batting order against left-handed pitching as of late, which would make him a fine option at a difficult position tonight. Since 2014, Gattis has posted a .232 ISO against lefties, which makes him my top option at catcher given the matchup. Matt Boyd has struggled mightily with right-handed hitters in his young career, allowing a .361 wOBA and 1.95 HR/9. Gattis will be one of several Astros I am targeting tonight.
Other Notables
- Victor Martinez (DET): $3,100 vs. HOU
- Derek Norris (SD): $2,900 vs. CIN (cash viable; elite GPP)
First Base
Jose Abreu (CWS): $2,700 @ MIN
Abreu is incredibly cheap given his matchup against Ricky Nolasco and a bad bullpen. Nolasco is allowing a ton of hard contact this season, which has led to a solid implied team total of 4.45 runs for the White Sox. Abreu has had nice success against same-handed pitching, posting a .375 wOBA and .221 ISO in his career.
Other Notables
- Joey Votto (CIN): $3,900 @ SD (GPP)
- Hanley Ramirez (BOS): $3,800 @ LAA (GPP)
- Wil Myers (SD): $3,600 vs. SD
- Kendrys Morales (KC): $3,000 @ TEX
Second Base
Jurickson Profar (TEX): $2,700 vs. KC
The Rangers have an implied run total of 4.76 runs, which makes Profar an appealing target given his spot atop the batting order. Edinson Volquez has been rather average this season, posting an ERA of 4.56 (4.38 xFIP) to go with a modest 6.8 K/9. Profar is a solid source of salary relief given the contextual factors in his favor tonight.
Other Notables
- Jose Altuve (HOU): $4,500 @ DET
- Dustin Pedroia (BOS): $3,700 @ LAA (GPP)
- Dee Gordon (MIA): $3,500 vs. STL (GPP)
- Rougned Odor (TEX): $3,500 vs. KC (GPP)
Third Base
Nolan Arenado (COL): $3,000 @ NYM
Arenado won’t have the benefit of hitting at home, but he is simply too cheap to pass up tonight. Arenado sports a .365 wOBA and .230 ISO against left-handed pitching the past couple of seasons, which leaves him as the top dollar for dollar option at third base tonight. Steven Matz has been gutting through bone spurs in his elbow, but he’s been susceptible to right-handed hitters this season.
Other Notables
- Josh Donaldson (TOR): $4,400 vs. BAL (GPP)
- Maikel Franco (PHI): $3,300 @ ATL (GPP)
- Jung-Ho Kang (PIT): $2,600 @ MIL
Shortstop
Carlos Correa (HOU): $3,700 @ DET
As I noted earlier, Matt Boyd is simply not a very good pitcher. Correa checks in as a top option at shortstop due to the matchup and being reasonably priced given the healthy 4.71 run total that the Astros possess. Correa has displayed solid power against lefties in his career (.193 ISO), which will certainly aid him against a fly ball pitcher.
Other Notables
- Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $4,000 @ LAA (GPP)
- Trevor Story (COL): $3,000 @ NYM (GPP)
- Tim Anderson (CWS): $2,900 @ MIN
Outfielders
Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,500 @ LAA
Betts has an elite matchup tonight against Tim Lincecum, who is a reverse-splits pitcher. Betts has posted a .362 wOBA and .201 ISO against right-handed pitching in his career, making him worth top dollar tonight. The Angels have a putrid bullpen as well, which has led to Boston having an implied run total of 5.07. With several acceptable values at other positions, it’s easy to plug Betts into your lineups tonight.
George Springer (HOU): $3,700 @ DET
Springer rounds out my trio of Astros tonight as they face a weak starter. Springer brings a tantalizing combination of power and speed to the table, which gives him great upside. Springer has posted strong numbers against lefties the past couple of seasons (.389 wOBA/.246 ISO), so take advantage of his reasonable salary tonight.
Nomar Mazara (TEX): $2,200 vs. KC
Mazara is basically a free square tonight, as he provides exposure to a prime hitting environment in Arlington. Mazara has decent pop, which makes him too cheap to overlook tonight. If he somehow lands in the second spot of the order, he’d move up the rankings even more tonight.
Other Notables
- Mike Trout (LAA): $4,400 vs. BOS
- Bryce Harper (WAS): $3,900 @ SF
- Jay Bruce (CIN): $3,900 @ SD (GPP)
- Gregory Polanco (PIT): $3,700 @ MIL
- Matt Kemp (SD): $3,200 vs. CIN
- Joey Gallo (TEX): $2,000 vs. KC
My Lineup
- SP – Kenta Maeda (LAD): $9,000 vs. ARI
- C – Evan Gattis (HOU): $2,900 @ DET
- 1B – Jose Abreu (CWS): $2,700 @ MIN
- 2B – Jurickson Profar (TEX): $2,700 vs. KC
- 3B – Nolan Arenado (COL): $3,000 @ NYM
- SS – Carlos Correa (HOU): $3,700 @ DET
- OF – Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,500 @ LAA
- OF – George Springer (HOU): $3,700 @ DET
- OF – Nomar Mazara (TEX): $2,200 vs. KC
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.
