MLB Cash Game Picks: 4-11-15

Cash games typically reward high floor rosters. You don't need to score 60 points on FanDuel or 160 on DraftKings to win money. Instead, you should aim for a nice base of around 40 and 120 points, respectively. Our MLB Cash Game Picks will highlight the top pick and a value pick at each position for both platforms.

Pitcher

Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, and this is not a disputable assertion. Last year, he led qualified pitchers in strikeout rate, K-BB% (27.8%), FIP and a number of other ERA estimators. Any concerns about the homer park factors at Chase Field can be alleviated by his 51.8% groundball rate. He's the safest cash game option, but unfortunately, he's too pricey to be rostered heavily on FanDuel. I'll likely stick in a roster or two with him as my pitcher, but I love him at DraftKings. Because DraftKings uses two pitchers, pairing him with one of the slightly cheaper arms I like will leave enough cap space to flesh out a roster of usable hitters.

Putting Madison Bumgarner's historic postseason run aside, he was still a fantastic pitcher last year when not factoring in his other worldly performance under the brightest lights. The lefty ranked 15th in FIP and eighth in K-BB% (20.2) among qualified pitchers last season. He's facing a revamped Padres offense, but one that has looked a whole heck of a lot like the old punch-less one thus far in 2015. The betting total on the game is tiny at six runs, and Bumgarner is the favorite. He's in play at both FanDuel and DraftKings for me in cash games, and a slightly cheaper alternative to his fellow NL West lefty.

Doug Fister opposes Cole Hamels tonight at Citizens Bank Park. Because he's backed by a better offense, he's a betting favorite. Teammate Gio Gonzalez ran into trouble last night against the boys from the City of Brotherly Love when his control faltered. Don't expect for Fister's control to fail him. In 2014, Fister's 3.6% walk rate was tied for the third lowest among pitchers who threw a minimum of 120 innings. The righty's 48.9% groundball rate should also aid him today in a homer-friendly venue. Fister won't pile up strikeouts, but he's a cheap option who should get the win and makes for my favorite option at FanDuel and DraftKings. Fister won't be my SP1 on DraftKings, but he'll be the pitcher who I roster the most given his price point and expected win.

The beauty of facing Jeremy Guthrie is that you'll probably get run support and be a sizable betting favorite. The latter holds true for Jered Weaver for now, and by night's end I'd expect the former to prove true as well. Weaver isn't his peak year's self, but last year he continued to post a better than league average walk rate and best his ERA estimators. His strikeout rate leaves something to be desired, but pitching at home, he's pitching in a run suppressing environment. Weaver is another cheap option who I will be using as an SP2 at DraftKings and he'll net a few turns in my FanDuel lineups.

Catcher

Miguel Montero's price tags are vastly different between FanDuel and DraftKings. He's the most expensive catcher at DraftKings, making him a non-option in cash games there. However, he's still cheap enough at FanDuel to use heavily. Assuming he's in the lineup -- and he should be -- he's by far the best catching pick at FanDuel. As a left-handed batter, he'll hit with park factors of 107 for doubles/triples, 119 for homers and 133 for runs, per StatCorner. The game has a double-digit betting total, and Montero hits right-handed pitchers better than lefties. You'd be crazy not to use him heavily on FanDuel in cash games and GPPs. If he's out of the lineup, Russell Martin is an excellent contingency plan facing bad hurler Ubaldo Jimenez in Baltimore.

The bloated prices for hitters at Coors Field in DraftKings games didn't balloon Nick Hundley out of consideration for cash game usage. He's priced under $4,000, and given the run scoring environment and high total, he's the most affordable useful option in that game for gamers who are rostering the top pitchers toeing the rubber tonight. As a right-handed hitter he'll hit with park factors of 111 for doubles/triples, 120 for homers and 135 for runs. Hundley isn't a great hitter, but there is plenty to like here.

First Base

You might be catching onto a trend. Justin Morneau is priced to use at FanDuel, but a bit too rich for my blood at DraftKings (especially when considering my favorite option's cost ... more on him soon). In addition to getting the perks of playing in a game with a high betting total and great park factors, Morneau actually is a really good hitter. It's a small sample, no doubt, but in 209 plate appearances against a right-handed pitcher at home last year, he totaled a staggering 147 wRC+ and .210 ISO. Morneau clearly loves his home digs and facing righties, and he hits in a great lineup spot to boot.

Adrian Gonzalez's torrid start resulted in a big price increase at FanDuel, but he remains priced well for usage at DraftKings. Gamers who chase hot streaks will without question inflate his ownership rate, but a matchup with a rookie right-handed pitcher at Chase Field is the real reason to use him. Chase Field offers left-handed park factors of 117 for doubles/triples, 114 for homers and 121 for runs. As the number three hitter, Gonzalez is in the catbird seat for run production should Archie Bradley struggle in his first big league start.

Second Base

Neil Walker isn't the bargain he was as recently as yesterday, but his hitting skills -- among other things -- make him a strong play at both FanDuel and DraftKings even at his new price. He's a cleanup hitter at a weak offensive position, facing one of the lesser pitchers throwing today playing in a ballpark that's great for left-handed hitters. Miller Park has left-handed batter park factors of 101 for doubles/triples, 125 for homers and 105 for runs. Walker should give Jimmy Nelson fits tonight.

He's not what he once was, but Chase Utley remains one of the better hitters at the keystone position -- namely against right-handed pitchers. Since 2012, among second basemen who have received at least 800 plate appearances against righties, Utley ranks fifth in wRC+ and third in ISO. As the number three hitter for the Phillies, he has high run production upside. On rosters I'm not using Fister on FanDuel and DraftKings, I'll be using Utley.

Shortstop

As the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers, Jimmy Rollins is in prime position to score runs if Bradley struggles in his first big league start. The Dodgers are projected by Vegas to carry the run scoring load in this game, and the catalyst atop the lineup should have a hand in that. The switch-hitting shortstop has been better against right-handed pitchers than lefties in his career. Also, he'll get the same park factor pick-me-up I noted in Gonzalez's write-up.

My bargain pick in cash games -- and GPPs for that matter -- at shortstop is Erick Aybar. His lineup spot isn't great hitting sixth for the Angels, but facing Jeremy Guthrie is what dreams are made of for left-handed batters. Aybar is a switch-hitter, but he'll be hitting left-handed against Guthrie. Why is that notable? Guthrie is awful against lefties. Since 2012, Guthrie's .377 wOBA allowed to left-handed batters is the fifth highest among qualified starters.

Third Base

Ah, that's where Ryan Zimmerman is in the cash game touts! He's no longer playing the hot corner this year, but he retains eligibility there (and outfield, too) in DraftKings games. He's only first base eligible in FanDuel contests, and a great pick in cash games there as well. Since 2012, among all qualified hitters he ranks tied for 44th in wRC+ versus lefties. Hamels isn't the easiest lefty to beat up on, but factor in Zim's lineup spot (likely third) and the 148 park factor for homers for right-handed hitters at Citizens Bank Park, and you have a value.

Josh Donaldson is always a better play against lefties than righties, but on a day with a ton of great pitching on the hill, his simply above average production against right-handed pitchers will do for FanDuel gamers. He hits in the heart of a loaded Blue Jays offense and is facing one of the worst pitchers starting today. Jimenez has allowed a .324 wOBA to right-handed batters since 2012, and a patient hitter like Donaldson should work himself into favorable hitter's counts against the erratic pitcher.

Outfield

Jose Bautista left last night's game early, but it was reportedly only cramps in both legs. Expect to see him back in the three-hole for the Blue Jays. As a right-handed batter, the .324 wOBA allowed by Jimenez since 2012 to righties also applies to him. He, like Donaldson, is a patient hitter who can work favorable counts and lock in on a pitch and location. Joey Bats has swatted 68 homers off of right-handed pitchers since 2012, the 10th most in that time frame, and he ranks 11th in ISO. He's a dangerous hitter when he's able to pitch seek ahead in counts.

Charlie Blackmon is a touch pricy for extremely high usage on DraftKings, but of the hitters playing in the likely slugfest in Colorado today, he's one of the players priced closest to fair. At FanDuel, though, I love Blackmon and will be using him a ton. Blackmon first reached the majors in 2011, but last year was his first full year in the majors. Since reaching the majors, he owns a 134 wRC, .390 wOBA and .173 ISO versus right-handed pitchers at home in 424 plate appearances. All of those are fantastic numbers. He'd be a great cash game pick based on those stats alone, but he's the leadoff hitter in a game with a double-digit betting total at Coors Field! Use him. Use him. Use him!

The number-two hitter for the Dodgers, Yasiel Puig, has demonstrated the ability to abuse left-handed and right-handed pitching in his young big league career. Today, his hitting prowess against his same-handed foes (righties) are what we care about, and as the numbers in his table indicate, he can rake. Don't be deceived by the 7.5 run betting total in the Dodgers game, the team run total provided by Pinnacle Sports is more telling. They've set the over/under line at 4.5 runs for the Dodgers. Puig and the Dodgers should do plenty of run scoring tonight, making him a very good play at both FanDuel and DraftKings.

Kole Calhoun is going to be a cash game staple in all of my lineups across both sites. Yes, hitting leadoff is great. Being left-handed against Guthrie is better, though. Let me re-iterate Guthrie's struggles with left-handed batters. He's allowed a .377 wOBA to them since 2012. Calhoun is an above average hitter against right-handed pitchers who will get a huge lift from Guthrie's ineptitude retiring lefties.