Tonight’s slate features nine games on DraftKings, including the second game of a doubleheader between the Brewers and Mets following Tuesday’s rainout. The slate features eight games on FanDuel.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel 
Wednesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The bargain bin is bereft of pitching talent tonight. Zack Wheeler headlines the high-end options, and Chris Paddack is my second-favorite pitcher. However, there's merit to spinning down to Hyun-Jin Ryu in cash games. Paddack, though, is a great GPP option.
Tonight’s slate features nine games on DraftKings, including the second game of a doubleheader between the Brewers and Mets following Tuesday’s rainout. The slate features eight games on FanDuel.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel
Wednesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The bargain bin is bereft of pitching talent tonight. Zack Wheeler headlines the high-end options, and Chris Paddack is my second-favorite pitcher. However, there's merit to spinning down to Hyun-Jin Ryu in cash games. Paddack, though, is a great GPP option.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Zack Wheeler (PHI) at CHC
Don't count Wheeler among the pitchers who have struggled since MLB's crackdown on sticky substances. In his last five starts totaling 31.2 innings, he's tied up opposing hitters with a 0.85 ERA, 2.88 SIERA, 0.95 WHIP, 5.6 BB%, 31.2 K%, and 28.2 CSW%, per FanGraphs.
He's a good bet to keep things rolling against the struggling Cubs. Over the last 30 days, the Cubbies rank 29th in wRC+ (76) and have struck out in a whopping 29.5% of their plate appearances. Wheeler should have little trouble carving them up.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (TOR) at BAL
Ryu hasn't been in good form, recording a 4.55 ERA over his last five starts. Still, he's soaked up 29.2 innings. He's responsible for a respectable 3.65 ERA, 4.22 SIERA, 1.15 WHIP, 5.5 BB%, 19.4 K%, and 28.1 CSW% in 16 starts stretched across 93.2 innings this year. He also has a lengthy track record of success.
Betting Pros lists the veteran lefty and the Blue Jays as commanding -227 favorites, a number gamers are unlikely to ignore. He's a little more expensive than I'd like, given the matchup and his recent play. However, he's cheaper than Paddack on DraftKings. I'm not veering off of Wheeler in cash games on FanDuel, so the savings using Ryu as my preferred SP2 on DraftKings is notable.
GPP Recommendation:
Chris Paddack (SD) vs. WAS
One ugly start in which the Diamondbacks jumped him for five runs on eight hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in only 2.1 innings skews Paddack's numbers in his last five turns. During that stretch, he's struck out five or more batters, pitched five or more innings, and yielded three or fewer runs in the other four starts.
Strand-rate issues have created a big gap between his 4.56 ERA and 3.75 SIERA this season. However, that hasn't been a problem before this year, so I'm expecting him to straighten it out. As for Paddack's GPP appeal, I'm fixated on his 29.5 K% in his last five starts. Punchouts equal fantasy points, so they enhance his ceiling tonight.
Top Lineup Stacks
Matt Harvey hasn't resembled a big-league caliber pitcher for an extended period of time in years. You have to go back to 2015 for a season in which he recorded an ERA south of 4.86. He has a 7.58 ERA over the last three years. The Blue Jays' high-octane offense should pummel him tonight.
Patrick Corbin's excellent 2019 season is becoming more of a distant memory by the day. After posting a 4.66 ERA last year, he's up to a 5.56 ERA this year. The long ball has been a big problem for the southpaw, as he's yielded 1.75 HR/9 in 2021. The Friars have a few hitters who can worsen Corbin's home-run woes.
The Giants are one of MLB's top offenses against right-handed pitchers this year. They're also one of the hottest offenses. Johan Oviedo represents a fantasy-friendly matchup, striking out an underwhelming 16.5% of batters faced this year while backing it with below-average control (11.6 BB%). Add in their affordability, and I love this stack tonight.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is my favorite core stud tonight. He's tattooed righties for a .369 ISO and 205 wRC+ this year. Good luck, Harvey.
- Fernando Tatís Jr. has given lefties the business with a .385 ISO and 143 wRC+ in 2021, and Corbin is not the caliber of southpaw to keep him in check.
- The talented duo of Juniors are the only core studs I'm locked into on DraftKings while rostering Wheeler. With that in mind, I'm highlighting Crawford as an outstanding FanDuel play, at a slight bargain salary to boot.
- Jake Fraley has been a force against righties this year, amassing a .456 OBP, .322 ISO, and 190 wRC+ against them. He's underpriced at DraftKings and FanDuel.
- Wilmer Flores is specifically a value at FanDuel. However, I'm happy to roster him at the hot corner on DraftKings. He's done well in same-handed matchups this year, recording a .345 OBP, .207 ISO, and 122 wRC+ against righties.
- LaMonte Wade Jr. sits atop San Francisco's order against righties. He's earned that lineup spot by netting a .364 OBP, .276 ISO, and 155 wRC+ against them.
Wednesday's Hitter Strategy
Loading up on Guerrero and Tatís is the priority tonight. Fitting them in around Wheeler as the top starting pitcher requires punting and value hunting. Thankfully, hitters like Fraley, Flores, and Wade offer salary relief.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
