In what I hope is just the start of a daily series on here, I'll try to highlight some of the best plays at each position for each day's slate of games. Many of these picks can work in both H2H and GPP lineups.
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Weather - For today's 7:05 PM slate, proceed with caution on ATL @ PHI, as storms have been forecast for the area around game time. I recommend adding @KevinRothWx on Twitter for live weather updates as it gets closer to lock time.
Stack Recommendations - Astros, Cubs
Starting Pitcher -
Max Scherzer - ($13,000) @ LAD - Max isn't going to come cheap today but should be the centerpiece you build around. While on the surface the matchup with the Dodgers seems to be a difficult one, LA's bats have been quiet recently posting a .328 SLG over the last 7 games. The park factor comes into play here too, as Dodger Stadium is a particularly friendly one for flyball pitchers like Max. The Dodgers aren't afraid to go down on strikes too with a 26.4% K-rate vs righties this year.
James Paxton - ($8,800) vs MIN - The Twins are notorious lefty-killers, striking fear into even Chris Sale when he faces them. Paxton has looked so sharp this year that I believe he's going to need to beat himself before anyone else does. Coming in at 97-98 from the left side like a Big Unit/Kershaw hybrid, his fastball control has been incredible this year and has made all the difference. The only thing I'm worried about is he may be limited to around 90 pitches, but at his salary I'm willing to take the risk as he still can K double digits even in a short outing.
Dinelson Lamet - ($6,800) @ ARI - With back-to-back 8 K performances to start his major league career, Lamet comes off a win over the defending champs only to face a hot D'Backs team in their bandbox of a stadium. While this matchup sees potential for Lamet to give up a couple ER, the swagger he's shown this year gives me reason to think he's not likely to change his approach from what's worked. At $6,800 he's a great pick if you're looking to cover Max's price tag and still get some impact hitters.
Catcher -
Tucker Barnhart - ($2,800) vs STL - Great value play when you consider splits - Barnhart isn't really a very good switch-hitter, but he's significantly better against righties and facing one in Wainwright that he's hit well before. Great American Park in Cincy is a good place to hit, and Barnhart is slugging about 80 points more here than any other park.
Buster Posey - ($4,300) @ MIL - Hard to argue with the type of consistency you get out of Posey every night out. Good matchup for him but not great, so proceed with caution on GPP slates but should be worth his tag in H2H since a consistent fantasy catcher is a bit of a unicorn.
1st Base -
Yuli Gurriel - ($3,900) @ KC - Everyone on the Astros is hot right now, but Yuli especially with back to back HR and multi-RBI games. His price tag is still pretty low and I see no reason for Houston to slow down now. The matchup against rookie Jake Junis is an appealing one. The Royals rookie has very fringe-y stuff for the majors and his 1.95 WHIP suggests some weaknesses for the Astros to exploit. Yuli's price tag is a great way to start an Astros stack while still getting Max in the lineup.
Miguel Cabrera - ($4,400) vs LAA - Between Miggy's relatively low price-tag and the matchup with Jesse Chavez tonight, I think he's primed for a big value night. Chavez has faced Miggy many times and one thing is repeated - Miggy puts the ball in play. With 4 walks and only 1 strikeout in 16 PA against, it's clear Chavez is opting not to attack him. When one of the best hitters of my lifetime gets 3-4 chances to put the ball in play, good things happen.
2nd Base -
Ben Zobrist - ($3,600) vs MIA - Zobrist has been having a bit of a down year, specifically having a lot of troubles against lefty pitching. This is not the usual story for him, as BenZ has matched up much better against lefties in the past. Going up tonight against notoriously erratic Locke, Zobrist will have a chance to do what he does best - work the count, get on base and score runs. Good price for a guy capable of contributing in multiple ways - bat, power, speed.
Roughned Odor - ($3,000) vs NYM - Purely a value play, he took Brad Peacock deep in his last game after a golden sombrero the day before. He plays with an emotional edge and has been very streaky in the past, I think this is the start of the former 30-HR hitter finally starting to shake off some cobwebs. Probably a GPP only play, especially since Zobrist is a much better H2H pick.
3rd Base -
Kris Bryant - ($4,600) vs MIA - Great matchup here at home versus a subpar lefty in Jeff Locke. Bryant's been pretty hot lately and this seems like a very fair price tag for such a premium power hitter. Bryant's getting much better at taking pitches and waiting on ones he likes, which is a scary thought thinking of how quickly he can turn on even a well placed pitch.
Maikel Franco - ($3,400) @ ATL - Good value play for GPPs, Braves new stadium has been very friendly to hitters producing a lot of tape-measure shots. Franco's barely been hitting .200 this year and at times looks pretty lost out there, but still has prodigious power and has been known to catch fire before.
Shortstop -
Carlos Correa - ($5,500) @ KC - Huge pricetag on Correa but he's just been mashing it lately with 4 HR and 12 RBI in his past 8 games. Like I went over with Gurriel, the matchup tonight against soft-throwing Jake Junis is a particularly appealing one for Correa. He's the catalyst of the best offense in baseball, and worth the price if you can fit him in.
Addison Russell - ($3,200) vs MIA - Very cheap price on Russell who has speed and power, though is having a tough time tapping into either this year. Good matchup for him to exploit, as he's been very patient with lefties this year to the tune of a .389 OBA. One of the best things to do when the bat isn't on fire is to just get on base and try to make something happen. Locke is really bad for a lefty at holding runners, so he'll have some chances to swipe bags too. If it seems like I'm ganging up on Locke maybe I am, but he's been dreadful at Wrigley multiple times in the past - I'm just not buying in to last week's start.
Outfield -
George Springer - ($5,600) @ KC - His 1-5 effort last night was the first time in 10 games he hasn't scored in double-digits on DK. Nearly all of the things I said about Correa apply here - super premium price-tag but you're buying into a red-hot offense.
Nelson Cruz - ($4,900) vs MIN - In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, "POWWWEEEERRRR!!!". Cruz has gone yard in 2 straight and is doing everything he can to dispel the notion of Safeco being a pitcher's park. Tonight he matches up against lefty Hector Santiago, who isn't shy about giving up the long-ball in his attacking style. Cruz has already taken Santiago yard 3 times in 18 AB, wouldn't be surprised if he adds to that total tonight.
Odubel Herrera - ($3,600) @ ATL - 76 DK points in his last 3 contest, including back to back 30 point efforts make Herrera the value pick of the night. He's been known to be extremely streaky, and it looks like June is when he decided to actually start his season. Watch the weather in this one, but a little bit of rain isn't going to cool him down. As with the Franco pick, great park factor here in Atlanta.
Albert Almora Jr - ($3,000) vs MIA - Great value play for a Cubs stack, he's got everything you want in a cheap GPP lottery ticket. Slugging .564 vs lefties and .510 at home, today looks to play into Almora's strengths pretty well. A former #3 overall pick, he tends to get forgotten about with the extreme amount of top prospects the Cubs brought through their system, but he's only 23 and is just starting to get comfortable with the league.
Let me know anything I can do to improve these going forward, any feedback is greatly appreciated!