Monday night was a difficult slate to navigate the pitching options as expected. Tuesday night’s 15-game slate doesn’t look to be much better. We do have Clayton Kershaw on the slate but with such a huge salary he could be difficult to fit in. There are about six teams that I like for stacks but I will give three below that are a little less expensive so you have a chance to fit in Kershaw if you wish.
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Let’s mow down the competition 3 Up and 3 Down…
3 Up
Ace
Clayton Kershaw (FD-$12,700 / DK-$14,000)
It is going to be difficult to not pay up for Kershaw without any strong pitching options to pivot to. He commands a huge salary but he has been pitching extremely well lately allowing just two runs over his last three starts (23 IP) while reaching double-digit strikeouts in each game. He will face a White Sox offense that has good overall numbers versus lefties but have struggled lately with the fourth-highest strikeout rate (29.4%) and a bottom 10 wOBA and wRC+ against lefties over the last 30 days. Maybe, just maybe, Kershaw’s ownership percentage won’t be too high due to his high salary and concerns about the matchup for those looking at the White Sox season-long numbers versus lefties. Kershaw in Cash for sure and try to squeeze him into GPP lineups also.
Value
Blake Snell (FD-$6,400 / DK-$6,600)
If we are using Kershaw then we need to find a cheap pitcher to pair him with on two-pitcher sites. Snell is my top option as a small road favorite pitching against the A’s in Oakland. The A’s have the third-highest strikeout rate (26.1%) against lefties this season and rank in the bottom five in wOBA, ISO and wRC+ versus southpaws. Snell has averaged over a strikeout per inning in his career and has limited home runs (0.77 HR/9) in his 29 big league starts. With a pitcher-friendly ballpark and a good matchup, Snell should be able to be a solid #2 pitcher in Cash and GPPs lineups on two-pitcher sites.
Darkhorse
John Lackey (FD-$7,900 / DK-$6,200)
Lackey is more of a gut call than one that is supported by numbers. The Cubs have started the second half of the season hot with four straight wins while scoring 31 runs. Lackey should get some run support on Tuesday to give him a chance for a win. Lackey is a veteran pitcher who last pitched 13 days ago and I expect the extra time off to help him putt together a strong outing against the Braves. I expect him to rise to the challenge for a Cubs’ team making a second half push towards the playoffs. I told you my recommendation of Lackey isn’t supported by any numbers. Give him a shot in GPP lineups and you may be pleasantly surprised.
3 Down
Top Stacks
Diamondbacks vs. Sal Romano
The Diamondbacks aren’t the cheapest stack but you could swap in Brandon Drury or Chris Owings for Paul Goldschmidt and then it has some value. Romano has pitched decently in his first two big league starts (4.50 ERA) but he didn’t strike out too many batters in the minors (5.84 K/9 in 10 Triple-A starts this season) so look for the Diamondbacks’ hitters to make some contact which could result in fantasy production in hitter-friendly Cincy.
Paul Goldschmidt (FD-$4,300 / DK-$5,500) – Goldschmidt is riding a nine-game hitting streak that includes a pair of homers and has a .440 wOBA and .300 ISO versus right-handed pitching this season.
Jake Lamb (FD-$3,400 / DK-$4,400) – Lamb’s salary has dropped some recently as he has been cold at the plate but with a .428 wOBA and .274 ISO on the road versus righties look for him to start heating up again.
AJ Pollock (FD-$3,400 / DK-$4,400) – Pollock homered and had two steals in his last game against the Reds just before the All-Star break. He has a .414 wOBA on the road versus righties this season.
David Peralta (FD-$3,000 / DK-$4,200) – Peralta has recorded one hit in each of his last six games and has a .358 wOBA versus righties this season.
Orioles vs. Tyson Ross
The Orioles’ hitters offer some nice value for a team playing at home in hot weather (high 80s) in a game with one of the highest Vegas totals on the slate. Ross has allowed a .359 wOBA to right-handed hitters over his first five starts.
Adam Jones (FD-$3,100 / DK-$4,000) – Jones has been batting leadoff recently and has a .190 ISO versus right-handed pitchers this season.
Manny Machado (FD-$3,300 / DK-$4,400) – Machado collected three hits yesterday and has multiple hits in five of his last seven games. He has performed better at home than on the road this season with a .344 wOBA and .232 ISO.
Jonathan Schoop (FD-$3,100 / DK-$4,100) – Schoop has a .357 wOBA and .215 ISO versus right-handed pitchers this season.
Chris Davis (FD-$2,900 / DK-$3,100) – Davis has been slow to produce since returning from the DL but he is very cheap for someone with a .252 ISO versus righties this season.
Contrarian Stack
Tigers vs. Travis Wood
I’m not sure the Tigers will be too contrarian but with so many good stacking options, none of the teams will likely garner too high of an ownership percentage. The Tigers are underpriced (especially on DraftKings) for a right-handed heavy team facing a lefty in a game with one of the highest Vegas totals on the slate. Wood has pitched primarily in relief this season but has allowed a .370 wOBA to righties. Note that I am excluding JD Martinez who may miss the game due to injury if he plays he is also a solid option.
Nick Castellanos (FD-$3,100 / DK-$3,600) – Castellano has homered in two of his last three games and has a .369 wOBA and .320 ISO versus lefties this season.
Miguel Cabrera (FD-$4,100 / DK-$3,700) – Cabrera has a 54.8% hard hit rate versus lefties this season contributing to a .388 wOBA against southpaws.
Ian Kinsler (FD-$3,100 / DK-$3,600) – Kinsler had three extra-base hits yesterday and has a .369 wOBA on the road versus lefties this season.
Justin Upton (FD-$3,600 / DK-$4,100) – Upton has a .375 wOBA versus lefties this season (.476 on the road).
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