Today we have 9 games in the majors, split into two slates, a 4-game early slate and a 5-game evening slate.
Neither slate is very big, but we are still providing you with an Expert Consensus today for both slates, so be on the lookout for those as you continue your research and begin building your lineups.
First the early slate, then the evening. Let’s get to it.
EARLY
Chris Davis – 1B – Baltimore Orioles – $4,600
Analysis: Targeting bats against Jordan Zimmermann has been great all year long and I don’t see any reason to stop. The guy is giving up nearly 2 HR/9 to lefties this season, producing a 47% hard contact rate and lefties have a ..385 wOBA against him. Crush Davis also is on fire with 4 home runs in his last 4 games. He has the BvP against Zimmermann to boot – 4-for-7 with 2 HRs and 3 RBI.
Manny Machado – 3B – Baltimore Orioles – $4,800
Analysis: It’s going to be very tough for me to pivot off Kris Bryant versus a lefty with the wind blowing out in Wrigley, especially for cash games. But I will have some shares of this guy, Manny Machado. Ever heard of him? He’s facing Zimmermann, too, who has been even worse against RH bats this season, surrendering a ..406 wOBA, a 2.21 HR/9 rate and a 38% hard contact rate. Machado also appears to be on a roll, so the Orioles stack is a great play today as a pivot off the Cubs.
Billy Hamilton – OF – Cincinnati Reds – $4,200
Analysis: Jon Lester can’t hold on runners. No one can hold on Billy Hamilton. While I don’t like to use Billy as much against lefties because he doesn’t hit as well from the right side, he’s firmly in play because all he needs to do is get on base – fielder’s choice, error, HBP, walk, etc. He’s got 6 steals against Lester, but surprisingly, he’s got 2 home runs off of him too. That wind in Wrigley will certainly help Hamilton in the HR department. Hamilton is 7-for-13 with a double and a walk against Lester as well. A great play all around.
Late
Giancarlo Stanton – OF – Miami Marlins – $4,400
Analysis: I skipped Stanton in the “always play versus a lefty” rotation the other day when he and the Marlins were up against Dallas Keuchel. But he’s back on that train today against Dodgers’ lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has been a noodle-arm southpaw so far this season. In 2017, RH bats have a .380 wOBA against and a 2.09 HR/9 rate. Have you forgotten how good Stanton is against lefties? Well, since 2016, Stanton has a .433 wOBA, a .376 ISO and 52.6% contact rate against southpaws. Locked and loaded.
Kyle Seager – 3B – Seattle Mariners – $4,100
Analysis: Third base is a wasteland on this slate and Seager looks like the No. 1 option against White Sox rookie Dylan Covey, who has been much tougher on lefties than righties this season. But I am going to take a side and say he’s due for some positive regression against RH bats and some negative regression against lefties. Nelson Cruz is a great play today, but it’s Seager at a weak position that is my official pick tonight.
Corey Seager – SS – Los Angeles Dodgers – $4,500
Analysis: Edinson Volquez is in trouble tonight. Facing a lefty-heavy Dodgers’ squad on the road does not look good on paper. Volquez has been dreadful against lefties as they have a .399 wOBA against are smashing the ball with a 46.8% hard contact rate. Volquez has a 1.71 HR/9 to lefties as well. And if you have been following the Index all year, you know Seager is one of my favorite players to play, cash or tournament. Tonight is Corey Seager (and Kyle Seager…Bash Brothers!) night!
