Well it looks like we have a few more games tonight that have some weather concerns.
Things turned out OK for playing baseball on Monday, but we didn’t get clarity on a few of them until closer to lock.
It appears that could be the case with games on tonight’s 15-game slate.
Outside of the weather, the rest of tonight’s contests offer some intriguing ways to build your lineups.
Of course, we have Beast Mode Clayton Kershaw on the mound, but then we have this lower tier of pitchers that are extremely cheap, a few of which I don’t think are crazy to consider tonight. Outside of Kershaw, the pitchers on today’s slate are relatively cheap (McCullers is the other stud I would consider) and you can almost do whatever you want with Kershaw in your lineup.
As usual, I will not be recommending Kershaw as an official pick. He’s a no-brainer every night, especially in cash games.
Anyway, it’s time to get down to business, so here are the guys I like tonight.
Lance McCullers – SP – Houston Astros – $10,200
Analysis: When it comes to pitching, I have a few rules for DFS play. One of those rules is play Lance McCullers at home. The Astros are coming off a combined 1-hitter of the Tigers on Monday and that includes a 4.1 IP, 8 K performance by Brad Peacock of all pitchers. Now that the bullpen got a lot of usage, the Astros, the first team to 30 wins, will need a nice, long comfortable performance by the phenom. At home this season, McCullers has a 2.08 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. The Tigers are going to throw out 6-7 RH bats in this one and McCullers has dominated righties so far this season. RH bats against him only have a .271 wOBA, a .180 batting average, a 27% hard contact rate and a 3.23 GB/FB rate. Needless to say, it’s difficult to hit this guy. The Tigers are a formidable opponent, but I think McCullers is getting a discount here due to his matchup, a team that strikes out 22 percent of the time.
Dustin Pedroia – 2B – Boston Red Sox – $3,900
Analysis: I don’t know when it is going to happen, but it is going to happen. What am I talking about with that statement? Andrew Cashner’s regression. Since being inserted into the rotation, Cashner has avoided disaster and helped peg some wins for the Rangers and has not allowed more than 3 ER in any start. But he hasn’t faced a team with upside (outside of Houston) like the Red Sox. Sure, the power has been absent from the Boston lineup, but they still have quite a bit of talent up and down the lineup. One of those guys still producing is Dustin Pedroia, who has a 12 hits in his last 10 games, including 7 in his last four with three multi-hit efforts. Cashner has allowed a .335 wOBA and a 30% hard contact rate to RH bats since 2016. The Green Monster favors the RH hitting and Pedroia has the pop left to send one over.
Michael Conforto – OF – New York Mets – $4,800
Analysis: I love targeting bats against Jhoulys Chacin. It has worked out quite nicely so far this season and I will be going back to the well tonight as the Mets take on the Padres. Conforto has been on fire lately, recording 10 hits in his last 8 games, including 4 doubles and 2 home runs in that span. Conforto has crushed RH pitching this season, earning a .433 wOBa, a .318 ISO and a 44% hard contact rate to go along with 8 home runs. In the lead off spot against Chacin’s .338 wOBA and 34% hard contact rate allowed to lefties since 2016.
