MLB Cash Game Picks: 4-7-15

Cash Game Locks: MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball

Pitcher

The Cubs game being rained out is a bummer since it eliminates Jake Arrieta from daily game consideration, but it also makes Zack Greinke the no doubt top pitching option at both DraftKings and FanDuel. Greinke was one of the best pitchers in baseball last year ranking 14th in FIP, ninth in strikeout rate and ninth in K-BB% (20.0%). His 48.7% groundball rate will help him navigate Dodgers Stadium's homer amplifying park factors while getting the best of its run suppressing park factors of 95 to lefties and 89 to righties.

The best value pick is an easy selection at both DraftKings and FanDuel, too, and he's Jesse Hahn. The park factors of 92 and 101 to lefties and righties, respectively, for runs, according to StatCorner, are nice. Facing a Rangers lineup that isn't projected to be one of the better ones in the league is a plus as well. And oh yeah, Hahn is pretty darn good himself. His strikeout rate bested what FanGraphs had as the league average last year (20.4% K) and he keeps the ball on the ground at a very high rate (50.3% GB). The betting total for tonight's game between the A's and Rangers is low, and Hahn is the second biggest betting favorite, narrowly getting edged out by Greinke.

Catcher

Buster Posey is my top pick in cash games at DraftKings at catcher. The pitching is cheap enough you'll have some money to splurge, and picking on Ruby de la Rosa with the Giants cleanup hitter is one place to splurge. The Diamondbacks starting pitcher allowed a .348 wOBA to right-handed batters last year, and as a right-handed batter, Posey will hit with park factors of 106 for runs and 107 for homers, according to StatCorner.

My top pick at FanDuel at catcher is Jonathan Lucroy. The $500 price difference between he and Posey exceeds the difference in their talent levels. An injury to Ryan Braun -- more on that later -- could result in Lucroy's lineup slot changing, but he'll be in a great spot for run production one way or the other. He's playing in a game with one of the higher Vegas run totals on the night, and in a park with right-handed batter park factors of 123 for homers and 107 for runs.

The best bargain pick at DraftKings is Stephen Vogt (he's not catcher eligible at FanDuel). His down order lineup spot hurts his value a bit, but a matchup with Colby Lewis is the primary motivation for using him. Lewis has allowed a staggering .357 wOBA to lefties since 2012, tied for the 13th highest mark among qualified pitchers.

Mike Zunino is the best bargain pick at catcher on FanDuel. He could move up a spot in the order with a southpaw on the hill, but it's facing off against C.J. Wilson that gets my attention. Wilson's skills retiring right-handed batters have been eroding since posting a .290 wOBA allowed in 2011. In 2013, he allowed a .329 wOBA. Lat year, his wOBA allowed ballooned to .345.

First Base

The Cubs and Cardinals got rained out, and that leaves Adrian Gonzalez topping the first base cash games picks at DraftKings. Tyson Ross makes for a tough assignment, but he hits third in his lineup and roughs up right-handed pitching. His power rebounded against right-handed pitchers last year, and Dodgers Stadium features a park factor of 122 for homers for left-handed batters.

The gap in price between Gonzalez and Paul Goldschmidt is much smaller at FanDuel, and Goldy is a superior hitter facing a lesser pitcher (Ryan Vogelsong). Getting exposure to the game with the highest Vegas betting total tonight (8.5 runs) is a must. Doing so with the best hitter on either team is even sweeter.

The bargain pick at first base on FanDuel is Ike Davis. He debuted with his new club in a favorable lineup slot. Davis has been an above average hitter against right-handed pitchers over the last three years, and he, too, will benefit from Lewis' struggles with left-handed batters.

While his price has gone up on DraftKings, Adam Lind is still less than $3,000 on FanDuel. He's a steal. He hit fifth yesterday but could move up in the order with Braun at less than 100%. Even if he hits fifth, he's still a strong play. As a left-handed batter, Miller Park will award him park factors of 124 for homers and 104 for runs. He'll also have an opportunity to exploit Jordan Lyles' shortcomings against left-handed batters. Lyles has allowed a .358 wOBA to them since 2012, tied for the 12th highest wOBA allowed among qualified pitchers.

Second Base

Another member of the Athletics gets the nod, this time it's Ben Zobrist. He's the top pick in cash games at both DraftKings and FanDuel. The switch-hitting Swiss army knife hit third for the A's yesterday and should slot there again tonight. His run production potential is fairly great as an above average hitter surrounded by lefties who should give Lewis trouble.

Joe Panik delivered for daily gamers hitting in the two-hole for the Giants, and he's my favorite value pick at the keystone position on DraftKings. He once again faces one of the worst pitchers of the night. Right-hander de la Rosa allowed a .364 wOBA to left-handed batters last season. This game features the highest Vegas betting total of the evening, and Panik offers cheap exposure to the game from a great lineup spot.

Scooter Gennett is still very cheap at FanDuel. With a Vegas betting total of eight, he's in one of the highest projected scoring games of the night. Like his teammate, Lind, he'll enjoy being left-handed facing Lyles. If Braun misses tonight's contest, which seems highly likely after exiting yesterday's game early with what is described as a lower side injury, Gennett could shoot up the lineup. It's possible manager Ron Roenicke could drop Carlos Gomez from leadoff to third in the order while moving Gennett atop the order. Such a move would be great for his daily value.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki is head and shoulders above his peers at shortstop in regards to offense. He's also priced like it. That's okay, the cost of pitching tonight is conducive to rostering a big ticket hitter like Tulo. A shortstop who hits third in his club's order is almost unheard of. He'll hit with favorable park factors at Miller Park, too. He's my top pick at both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Jimmy Rollins gets the nod as my value pick at DraftKings. He provides sizable savings from using Tulo. He doesn't however, sacrifice much in terms of lineup slot. Rollins hits leadoff for the Dodgers, and while I don't love trotting out hitters against Ross, you won't get penalized for outs from Rollins and the extra plate appearances he'll award you compared to most of the other shortstops who hit lower in the order make him worth his price.

The value pick at shortstop on FanDuel tonight is Chris Owings. He's a right-handed hitter, so he won't get a boost from Vogelsong's struggles with lefties, but Vogelsong is one of the worst starting pitchers toeing the rubber tonight. Get another piece of the highest total of the night, and don't discount the value of Chase Field's park factors to right-handed batters of 117 for doubles/triples, 107 for homers and 106 for runs.

Third Base

The slam dunk pick at third base on both DraftKings and FanDuel is Evan Longoria. He annihilates left-handed pitching. Since 2012, he ranks in the top 15 among all qualified hitters in wRC+ and ISO against southpaws. He hit cleanup yesterday, and he'll do the same today. You want him hitting for your daily game teams.

Jake Lamb won the competition for third base for the Diamondbacks this spring, but he opened the year on the bench with the club facing a southpaw. As a result, we don't know exactly where manager Chip Hale will hit him in the order. I would guess he'll hit fifth, and that's a good lineup spot. He's a steal as a minimum salary player on FanDuel. Last year, he spent most of the year at the Double-A level and raked to the tune of a .318/.399/.551 triple slash line with a 162 wRC+, per FanGraphs. As a left-handed batter, he'll get to capitalize on Vogelsong's .328 wOBA allowed to lefties since 2012.

Outfield

Mike Trout is the best player in baseball, and he wasted little time reminding people taking King Felix deep in his first at-bat. With such a cheap SP2 getting my endorsement at DraftKings, you'll have some extra money to use. Between lineup spot and hitting excellence, Trout makes for a strong play.

I'll be using Nelson Cruz on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but he gets the tout as the top pick at FanDuel. The new cleanup hitter for the Mariners is one of the best hitters in the game when facing a lefty. Since 2012, he cracks the top 20 of all qualified hitters in both ISO and wRC+ versus lefties. As a right-handed batter, he'll be in the ideal batter's box against Wilson. As I noted in Zunino's write-up, Wilson's ability to keep right-handed batters in check has been in a nose dive.

The value pick at DraftKings for the outfield is Rickie Weeks. He's in a platoon with Dustin Ackley and will get a start against Wilson tonight. Manager Lloyd McLendon speculated Weeks could hit leadoff against lefties this year, and that would provide a sizable uptick to Weeks' daily fantasy value. Even if he hits down order, he's worth slipping into DraftKings lineups thanks to his 117 wRC+ since 2012 and Wilson's struggles with righties. For those looking to use him at FanDuel -- which is a fine move -- you'll have to do so at second base since he's not outfield eligible.

Gerardo Parra wraps up the cash games picks as my value pick in the outfield at FanDuel. This tout is contingent on Braun's expected absence from the Brewers lineup. He's exceptionally cheap for an above average hitter against right-handed pitchers. Between his hitting skills, Lyles' massive struggles with right-handed hitters and the offensive-friendly park factors featured at Miller Park, you've got plenty incentive to use Parra on the cheap.