Cash games — which are double ups and 50/50s — are the daily baseball games that offer the best odds to cash in paying out roughly half the field the field in double ups and exactly half the field (minus rake) in 50/50s. Comparatively, GPPs pay out approximately 20-25% of the field. Understandably, strategy for these games is different.
In cash games, gamers are encouraged to avoid volatility as best as possible. The best way to limit volatility in an inherently volatile sport is to pay up for pitching.
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Starting Pitchers
Pitchers are the backbone of cash games rosters. Their performance is more predictable than that of hitters. It’s typically wise to identify the best pitchers on the slate and build your team around them.
What makes the best pitcher on a slate? Apparently, the talent level of a pitcher is important. The matchup is important, too. The ballpark is another factor to consider as well.
Sometimes the top pick is obvious. For instance, if Max Scherzer is slated to draw the rebuilding Marlins at pitcher-friendly Marlins Park, there’s a high probability he’ll be projected to be the highest-scoring pitcher on the slate. Barring a complete lack of viable cheap hitting options or an overabundance of excellent affordable pitching alternatives and high-scoring games to target top hitters from, Mad Max will be the “chalk” (most popular) cash games pitching option in this hypothetical situation.
Using betting odds and over/under totals is one good way to immediately identify some of the top pitching options for a slate. Big betting favorites in games with low over/under totals are the most desirable pitching options.
Punting Positions
One way to free up salary for the best pitching options on a slate is to identify “punts.” Punts are minimum or low-salary hitters. Usually, they’re reserves getting a spot start.
One of the most commonly punted positions is catcher. Simply put, there’s a lack of top-end hitting options at catcher, so it’s often beneficial to nab a low-priced option instead of overpaying for mediocrity. Occasionally, punts are relatively decent options who are underpriced at other positions.
The most popular punts are also slotted into a favorable lineup position. In the case a punt is an obviously underpriced player who the majority of the field is going to use, it’s unwise to fade them under most circumstances.
If this player performs below expectations, that’s no sweat off of your back since the majority of the field will also be rostering him. If instead he delivers on expectations and your swerve falters, you’ll be behind the eight ball and playing catch up.
Lineup Position
Lineup position is an important consideration when selecting hitters on a cash games roster. You can elevate your team’s floor by picking hitters in the top half of the lineup. These players will receive the most plate appearances in a game, and plate appearances equal scoring chances.
A favorable lineup spot also increases run scoring and RBI potential due to the quality of surrounding hitters in the top half of a lineup. Occasionally down-order hitters are viable cash games option, but they’re usually punts.
Furthermore, hitters in the top of the order often boast higher OBPs than hitters lower in the lineup. OBP is a stat that I value greatly in identifying cash games hitters. High-OBP hitters are among the steadier point scorers in baseball.
Park Factors and High Over/Under Totals
Park factors and high over/under totals can be lumped together as an important consideration for selecting hitters. Hitters who are in hitter-friendly ballparks stand out as better options than similarly skilled and priced hitters in pitcher-friendly. In the same vein, hitters on teams with a high over/under total typically stand out as better options than similarly skilled and priced hitters on teams that oddsmakers assign a low team over/under total.
Stacking
Stacking is a strategy that’s used to maximize ceiling. Ceiling is important in GPPs since the payout structure is heavily tilted toward finishing higher in the standings. However, whether you finish in first or the last cashing position in a cash game, you’ll win the same amount of money.
Stacking enhances volatility since an offense can run into a good pitching performance and deliver a low scoring total to your roster. As I noted in the intro, it’s wise to avoid volatility as much as possible in cash games. Having said that, using teammates is perfectly fine.
If the Yankees are playing a home game against a below-average pitcher with fly-ball tendencies and an inability to miss bats, it stands to reason Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge make for desirable options. However, I would advise avoiding a full stack of four players or five players — depending on your preferred daily gaming site’s stacking rules.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
