MLB Cash Game Picks : 4-18-15

Cash Game Locks: MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball

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

Felix Hernandez is an easy choice for the number one pitcher tonight, he is at home and takes on the Texas Rangers. It is no surprise, but Texas ranks in the bottom ten in the league against right-handed pitching. The Mariners are favored at -205, which is the most favorable line for any pitcher tonight. He went twenty starts last season with eight plus strikeouts, and pitches in a ballpark that limited runs and home runs on both sides of the plate in 2014. King Felix is a great play on both sites tonight.

On DraftKings, I don't mind Zack Greinke as a number two starter, but on FanDuel I much rather pay up for Felix Hernandez, or use Jacob DeGrom. Greinke is off to a great start in 2015, allowing one earned run in two starts. The Dodgers are a -185 favorite tonight, and Greinke should be in line for a win come the end of the night. Out of the three top pitchers Greinke has the toughest matchup, but is heavily favored in a low scoring game. Most of the offense in this game should come from L.A., since Jordan Lyles is the opposing pitcher. Greinke is one of the safer plays tonight.

Miami has struggled early to find offense, and they struggled to find any against DeGrom in 2014. In four starts versus Miami, he allowed five earned runs, and struck out 34. The Marlins have had a rough time offensively so far in 2015, with a team wOBA of .280, and a 23% strikeout rate vs. right-handed pitching. After watching Bartolo Colon shut them down yesterday, I would say DeGrom has a great chance to do the same. He has yet to showcase his strikeout potential, but today's matchup will give him the opportunity. deGrom is a -134 favorite, and although that is lower than the other two pitchers, I like his odds of getting a win just the same.

Catcher

Rubby De La Rosa has struggled at the big league level in his career, and has allowed a .339 wOBA to right-handed bats. It may be tough to roster Buster Posey on a slate like tonight, but he still is the best hitting catcher on the board. Posey owns a .357 wOBA against right-handed pitching in the last three seasons, and that is comparable to a lot of players on this list, while hitting from the same side. I am looking for the Giants to rough up De La Rosa like they did earlier this season.

With David Wright out, Travis D'Arnaud has jumped up to the two spot in the lineup. It benefits him greatly hitting in front of Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda, rather than Juan Lagares, and Wilmer Flores. Mat Latos has looked anything but sharp so far this season, and the Mets lineup is not the cupcake lineup in used to be. D'Arnaud had the day off yesterday, and I always like a catcher coming off a rest day refreshed and ready to go.

First Base

The only downside to Adrian Gonzalez is his ridiculously high price tag, but he is worth every dollar right now. He has seven multi-hit games out of the first ten this season, and already has five home runs. He faced Kyle Kendrick last night, and had another multi-hit game. Tonight he gets to face Jordan Lyles, who is equally as bad versus left-handed batters. Lyles has allowed a career .360 wOBA to left-handed bats, and Gonzalez is locked in right now. The salary is high, but it's hard to avoid him right now.

Lucas Duda is the next best thing at first base right now, he is cheaper on both sites, which will help tonight. One thing that has always been a problem for Duda was his lack of contact, but this season he has jumped out of the gates hitting .381 with six doubles. I don't believe we will see a Latos turn around tonight, and the Mets offer some value compared to the other big names on tonight's slate.

Second Base

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes, and Jose Altuve versus left-handed pitching. This guy is almost a guarantee when a lefty steps on the mound. C.J. Wilson has had a 4.27 FIP against right-handed bats in the last three seasons. In 2014, nearly a quarter of the balls hit by right-handed bats off Wilson were line drives. The old guys of the Angel's staff are certainly trending downwards. If you can manage to cough up some cash for this second baseman, you will be rewarded.

Neil Walker is your power bat, and an opposite type of player from Altuve. There is no clear cut game tonight according to Vegas, but the Milwaukee-Pittsburgh could be a game to look into for offense. Kyle Lohse has had a 4.21 FIP against left-handed bats over the last three seasons, and Walker will take care of an average right-handed pitcher. He has great power numbers, and although Pittsburgh limits home runs, he has a career .150 ISO at home.

Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins is worth the extra few hundred tonight being the table setter for a favorable offense tonight. As mentioned earlier, Lyles has allowed a career .360 wOBA to left-handed bats. There is a good chance that he will be driven in if he gets on by Gonzalez. Rollins is also still a threat to steal a bag -- he has three this season already.

With two lefties going in this game, Wilson is by far the weaker one to attack here. Jed Lowrie has gotten a big boost by moving to Houston, and has already hit three home runs. All those home runs have come from the right side so far this season. He hits in a prime spot in the order, and there is no elite option outside of Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop tonight. Lowrie enters the night at a solid price, especially on DraftKings.

Third Base

The Seattle Mariners have a favorable matchup tonight against Colby Lewis, who has allowed a .356 wOBA to left-handed bats in the last three seasons. The Mariners are off to a slow start, but tonight's matchup can turn that around. I was hoping Kyle Seager's price of $3,600 on DraftKings would hold, but it shot up a bit today. That means they know he is a top tier option tonight, and I do as well. He has mashed right-handed pitching over the last few seasons, and he has the best matchup out of the third base position tonight.

PNC Park takes a bite out of this play a little bit, but Aramis Ramirez has obliterated left-handed pitching over the last three seasons. The price also helps me overlook the park factors of PNC Park as well. He is very cheap on both sites due to his slow start. Jeff Locke has a career 4.30 FIP against right-handed bats and a 12.6% home run to fly ball ratio.

Outfield

Ryan Braun's cold start has allowed his price to drop down a bit. He has been a premier lefty masher over his career, and the numbers above prove that. His price makes him an attractive play tonight against the lefty Locke. He does not break the budget of a Mike Trout, or Andrew McCutchen, and has a better matchup than both. Teammate Khris Davis gets an honorable mention here too, he has a .367 wOBA and a .277 ISO against left-handed pitching in the last three seasons.

De La Rosa has struggled vs. left-handed bats in his short career, allowing a .372 wOBA. Angel Pagan has been the most consistent Giants hitter this season, hitting .370 in the opening weeks here. I love the fact he hits third, and still is sitting in front of Posey and Brandon Belt. He has a great price on both sites tonight, and can help round out a balanced outfield with the top pitchers going.

I just have to target Seth Smith tonight vs. Lewis, especially on FanDuel. Smith is a platoon hitter, who has mashed right-handed pitching over the last three seasons. The Mariners could be in for a breakout game tonight, and Smith would be a big part of that.