Carlos Martinez has his breaking ball striking people out at great rates lately
Friday is finally here! We have a full slate as we head into the weekend, with plenty of action still to be had. The NFL season has started, but MLB is still chugging along, so get your fix while you can. Let’s take a look at a cash game lineup for FanDuel.
Pitcher
Carlos Martinez (STL): $10,000 vs. MIL
The Brewers run out a lot of right-handed heavy lineups, which is a good thing for Martinez and his splits. The Brewers strike out at the highest clip in baseball against right-handed pitching, so there’s plenty of strikeout upside to like as well. With Milwaukee having a low implied team total, and Martinez being a healthy favorite, he’s a very strong option to anchor your cash games with tonight.
Other Notables
- Clayton Kershaw (LAD): $11,000 @ MIA (pitch count risk)
- Julio Teheran (ATL): $8,600 vs. NYM (GPP)
- Tanner Roark (WAS): $8,500 vs. PHI
Catcher
Stephen Vogt (OAK): $2,800 vs. SEA
Vogt is a solid source of salary relief this evening, as catcher is shaping up as a good position to save. Hisashi Iwakuma can be susceptible to left-handed hitters, and Vogt should benefit from a positive lineup spot tonight.
Other Notables
- Buster Posey (SF): $3,600 @ ARI
- Russell Martin (TOR): $3,000 vs. BOS
First Base
Brandon Moss (STL): $3,400 vs. MIL
Moss is in quite a funk right now, but there’s no better way to get things rolling again than against Jimmy Nelson. Nelson has exhibited some wide splits in his career, as he’s struggled mightily against left-handed hitters. Moss can supply plenty of power against right-handed pitching, and he comes with a reasonable price tag tonight.
Other Notables
- Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $4,600 @ HOU
- David Ortiz (BOS): $4,300 @ TOR
- Brandon Belt (SF): $3,800 @ ARI
- Mark Teixeira (NYY): $2,300 vs. TB
Second Base
Jose Altuve (CHC): $3,400 vs. CHC
Jon Lester is not someone I particularly like to pick on, but Altuve comes in at a discount that is worth exploiting. Altuve possesses a .423 wOBA and .190 ISO against left-handed pitching, and he will get the benefit of hitting at home. Take advantage of the second baseman’s soft salary tonight.
Other Notables
- Daniel Murphy (WAS): $4,300 vs. PHI
- Matt Carpenter (STL): $4,300 vs. MIL (GPP)
- Tommy La Stella (CHC): $2,000 @ HOU
Third Base
Josh Donaldson (TOR): $4,100 vs. BOS
Third base currently lacks any clear-cut value, and is short in the middle range as well. This leads me to spend up for a top option, and I like doing so with Donaldson at home. Donaldson is having another MVP-caliber season, and he will face a right-handed pitcher who has allowed 1.31 HR/9 to same-handed hitters this season.
Other Notables
- Kris Bryant (CHC): $4,000 @ HOU
- JaCoby Jones (DET): $2,100 vs. BAL
Shortstop
Addison Russell (CHC): $2,500 @ HOU
The Cubs’ lineup should benefit overall from the addition of the designated hitter, and I’m not afraid to pick on Joe Musgrove as a result. Musgrove can be a high strikeout pitcher, but he’s vulnerable to power, and that can get him into trouble against a lineup like this. Russell represents a cheap way to get exposure to this lineup tonight.
Other Notables
- Brad Miller (TB): $3,300 @ NYY (GPP)
- Brandon Crawford (SF): $3,200 @ ARI
Outfielders
Bryce Harper (WAS): $4,000 vs. PHI
Harper is my top overall hitter tonight, as he will face an underwhelming pitcher in Jake Thompson. Thompson has an xFIP of 5.55, doesn’t miss bats, and allows a lot of hard contact. This all adds up to a potential disaster, with Harper being a phenomenal play as a result.
Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,500 @ LAA
DeShields has been leading off against lefties lately, and he will face a volatile one in Tyler Skaggs. DeShields is a strong value play, as he brings speed upside to the table for a team that has a 4.63 implied run total.
Jorge Soler (CHC): $2,300 @ HOU
I noted some of the contextual factors playing in the Cubs’ favor earlier, so if Soler makes the lineup, he’s a great way to get cheap exposure to this lineup. Joe Musgrove has issues with power (1.69 HR/9), and Soler can provide plenty of it at near minimum price.
Other Notables
- Gregory Polanco (PIT): $4,000 vs. CIN (GPP)
- Mookie Betts (BOS): $3,900 @ TOR
- Jose Bautista (TOR): $3,800 vs. BOS
- Andrew McCutchen (PIT): $3,200 vs. CIN
- Denard Span (SF): $3,100 @ ARI
- J. Pollock (ARI): $3,000 vs. SF (GPP)
My Lineup
- SP – Carlos Martinez (STL): $10,000 vs. MIL
- C – Stephen Vogt (OAK): $2,800 vs. SEA
- 1B – Brandon Moss (STL): $3,400 vs. MIL
- 2B – Jose Altuve (HOU): $3,400 vs. CHC
- 3B – Josh Donaldson (TOR): $4,100 vs. BOS
- SS – Addison Russell (CHC): $2,500 @ HOU
- OF – Bryce Harper (WAS): $4,000 vs. PHI
- OF – Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,500 @ LAA
- OF – Jorge Soler (CHC): $2,300 @ HOU
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.
