So if you haven’t noticed, I haven’t had a DRAFT article in a couple of weeks. That’s due in part by me having to go back to my day job as a teacher. My normal routine for DRAFT won’t work with me working, so I had to nip it in the bud as they say.
I enjoy DRAFT a lot and I liked writing that article. Hopefully, we can bring you more DRAFT content in the nearer future.
They did launch a new DFS format – Blind Auctions. I encourage you to check it out, or challenge me even – @hotdogphingers.
They will be rolling with that for golf and football, and other sports moving forward if it’s successful.
I’ve got that football itch, but we must scratch Major League Baseball tonight in salary format, which features 14 games because the Mets and Phillies play at an oddball time of 6 p.m. eastern.
Some stud pitching is on this slate, the Rangers are at home where it’s back to being hell on earth again in Texas, and there are some other great spots where great offenses take on awful pitching…
CLEVELAND INDIANS
- Jose Ramirez
- Francisco Lindor
- Michael Brantley
- Yonder Alonso
- Melky Cabrera
Analysis: I know the hard-on I’ve had for the Indians has yet to release for quite some time. But they are a hard offense to ignore night in and night out, especially against starting pitching that gives up runs and hits to lefties like they are food stamps. David Hess happens to be that guy today and the Baltimore Orioles are a team depleted in all areas because they are pretty much done for the season. Meanwhile, Hess gets a chance to show us all he doesn’t suck. But he does, evidenced by his .372 wOBA, 2.43 HR/9 and 7.28 ERA (5.79 xFIP). I’ve said it before, but Ramirez, Brantley and Lindor are the monsters in this lineup with Alonso close behind and Melky being really hot at the plate recording 8 hits in his past 4.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
- Brandon Belt
- Brandon Crawford
- Joe Panik
- Alen Hanson
Analysis: Honestly, I like Cincy’s Anthony DeSclafani today, especially if the lineup the Giants roll out is more RH heavy than the stack I like tonight. But I do like the lefties in this lineup against DeSclafani, who has allowed a .375 wOBA and 3.00 HR/9 this season to lefties. It’s righties he’s been tough on. But you can make an argument for Longo, Cutch and Posey in a stack because once DeSclafani is out of the game, the Reds’ bullpen gets a crack at things and that’s like watching paint dry. But this stack is all lefties, led by Belt, whose .395 wOBA against RH pitching returned from the DL a few days ago. Crawford, Hanson and Panik are all capable lefties with solid numbers against RH pitching. This stack will most certainly be low owned and could be leveraged against a potentially chalky pitcher.
ATLANTA BRAVES
- Ronald Acuna
- Ozzie Albies
- Adam Duvall
- Tyler Flowers
- Johan Camargo
Analysis: It’s hard to ignore what the Braves are doing this year. Their lineup is ripe with young talent (and some old, like Nick Markakis, who is having a season WAY over his head), and they can all hit the cover off the ball. Look what Acuna did in the last week before being cowardly plunked by a cry baby pitcher. Tonight they get a southpaw in the form of Kyle Freeland, who has a 4.51 xFIP this season and due for some regression. Everyone on this list but Duvall has a wOBA of more than .350 against lefties this season. All have big power potential though with ISOs of .180 or greater. Duvall might be more of a GPP play than a cash game play, but these other guys are all worthy of your lineups because of their numbers against lefties.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Ketel Marte
- A.J. Pollock
- Nick Ahmed
- Steven Souza, Jr.
Analysis: I think tonight the Diamondbacks will be rather under valued with Padres’ starter Joey Lucchesi on the mound. Arizona is 4th in the league in wOBA against lefties this season led by Goldy, who not only owns lefties (.409 wOBA and 51% hard contact), but he owns Lucchesi, going 5-for-7 against him with a home run, two walks and a double against. All of the hitters above are in the .250 to .300 range in ISO against lefty pitching. Ahmed has hammered Lucchesi with a couple of home runs in only 7 ABs, while Pollock has a home run in 6 ABs plus a steal against him. Humidor or not, the D-Backs are a strong offense tonight.
