MLB Cash Game Picks: 4-8-15

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

DraftKings

Top Pick: Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians, $8,800

Value Pick: Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox, $6,900

Carrasco is the third most expensive pitcher, but his price tag is extremely cheap. He's both the best pitcher and the best value today. After a breakout 2014 season, Carrasco is a potential top 10 starting pitcher. His pitch selection is nasty, and he's become more aggressive since a demotion last year. The Astros possess a powerful offense, but they're also extremely prone to strikeouts. Carrasco could easily reach double-digit punch outs.

We'll be picking on the Phillies with frequency this season. Porcello is a layup choice. He won't rack up strikeouts, but he should last deep into the game. Chase Utley and the ghost of Ryan Howard are the only real power threats in the lineup. Neither is terrifying. Porcello should be in line for an easy win against Aaron Harang.

Fanduel

Top Pick: Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians, $8,700

Value Pick: Brandon McCarthy, Los Angeles Dodgers, $7,600

Since FanDuel has a smaller budget than DraftKings, Carrasco is not the same startling value. He's still slightly underpriced based on a fantastic skill set.

McCarthy does a little bit of everything. His velocity jumped to 92 mph last season, which lead to an increase in his strikeout rate. His walk rate remains tiny – under four percent the last two seasons. He also rolls more than his share of ground balls. While his strikeout rate is merely good, the Padres will be whiff happy this year. He's supported by a good offense. Unfortunately, Andrew Cashner isn't a gimme opponent. McCarthy struggled this spring. If that bothers you, look elsewhere.

Catcher

DraftKings

Top Pick: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, $4,400

Value Pick: Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies, $3,600

FanDuel

Top Pick: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, $4,200

Value Pick: Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies, $2,500

Posey won't have the platoon advantage, which is often a no-no for pricey DFS picks. However, he'll face a mediocre righty in Jeremy Hellickson. He's a fly ball pitcher. Combined with hitter friendly Chase Field, Posey will have an improved shot at a home run. Even if he doesn't find that elusive long ball, he's always a multi-hit threat amidst a decent Giants lineup.

He'll never be a sexy pick, but Ruiz could provide good value at this price. As the Phillies fifth hitter, he'll have RBI opportunities. He'll often reach base since he's a patient, high contact hitter. He's opposed by Rick Porcello, who we know will allow plenty of balls in play. Ruiz isn't a source of power, but most DFS owners are happy with a couple hits from their catcher.

First Base

DraftKings

Top Pick: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks, $5,100

Value Pick: Brandon Moss, Cleveland Indians, $4,500

Goldschmidt is a monster pick. He's facing crafty right-handed pitcher Chris Heston. Crafty righty is a nice way of saying low-velocity right-handed pitcher. Goldschmidt should have little trouble hammering a pitcher who belongs in the minors or serving in long relief.

Moss is expensive for a so-called value pick. He'll face Scott Feldman in Houston. The park is friendly for left-handed power, and Moss appears to be recovered from various injuries that slowed him in the second half of 2014. He's primed for a powerful season with 30 home run upside. One of those could come today.

FanDuel

Top Pick: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks, $4,700

Value Pick: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians, $3,400

Santana is a cheaper alternative to Moss on both platforms, but the difference is slightly greater on FanDuel. His calling cards are walks and home runs. This makes him a high floor, high ceiling pick on most days. Santana is a switch-hitter, but he's generally better against left-handed pitchers. Unfortunately, he'll face a righty today. Cleanup hitters are always a good get, especially at an affordable price.

Second Base

DraftKings

Top Pick: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, $4,600

Value Pick: Asdrubal Cabrera, Tampa Bay Rays, $3,800

Cano will often be the top second baseman on the board. His three-year averages overstate his power due to those halcyon days in Yankee Stadium. He's still an excellent play based on spot in the lineup, supporting cast, and matchup. He's opposed by Angels' righty Matt Shoemaker. The splitter specialist was inconsistent this spring.

Sometimes role outweighs talents. Such is the case with Cabrera. He's not much of a hitter, but he's slotted third in the Rays lineup. The switch-hitter is opposed by homer prone righty Miguel Gonzalez. Don't count on that long ball – Tropicana Field is notoriously pitcher friendly.

FanDuel

Top Pick: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, $4,400

Value Pick: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, $3,500

Cabrera isn't eligible at second base on FanDuel, so give Utley a try for value. The 36-year-old will be rested more frequently this year, so keep an eye out for days off and late game substitutions. Since this is the third day of the season, usage patterns are still relatively unknown. Utley is a solid hitter against fellow southpaws, but he mashes righties to the turn of .295/.370/.501. That includes the prime of his career, so expect quite a bit less now. His opponent, Porcello, is merely decent.

Shortstop

DraftKings

Top Pick: Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox, $4,800

Value Pick: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox, $3,900

Ramirez bats at the heart of the best lineup in baseball. His Opening Day exploits carried many DFS rosters. It's a feat he could repeat on any day, especially against a pitcher like Aaron Harang. The fly-ball pitcher performed well in Atlanta last season, but Philadelphia will offer a greater challenge.

The thin nature of shortstop can make it hard to go cheap at the position. Ramirez probably doesn't have enough power to put one out in Kauffman Stadium. However, he does have the necessary bat-to-ball skills to post a multi-hit game. He'll need baserunners ahead of him to provide value. Danny Duffy isn't an easy matchup, but Ramirez does hit better against southpaws.

FanDuel

Top Pick: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies, $4,600

Value Pick: Asdrubal Cabrera, Tampa Bay Rays, $2,800

Tulowitzki might not be a smart play against Wily Peralta. It's always tempting to find a space for Tulo, but the opportunity cost might be too great. If you find yourself considering a $2,500 outfielder, ask yourself if an elite outfielder with Cabrera are a better play. That said, Tulowitzki is a monster when healthy. Miller Park is one of the best hitters parks in play today.

Third Base

DraftKings

Top Pick: Pablo Sandoval, Boston Red Sox, $4,300

Value Pick: Brett Lawrie, Oakland Athletics, $3,800

There aren't enough superlatives to describe the Red Sox offense. Other teams have good lineups. Boston is in a whole other world. With Sandoval hitting fifth behind Ramirez, he'll be there to pick up the pieces. An added bonus: he hits better from left side.

Lawrie has the components of a fantasy asset, but he's struggled to put it all together. He blames the turf in Toronto for various nagging injuries. Now playing on solid dirt, it's time to see if he can cash in on his 20 home run power. He's shown small reverse platoon splits over his career. You should mistrust reverse splits, they're almost always a statistical fluke. He'll face southpaw Ross Detwiler.

FanDuel

Top Pick: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies, $3,900

Value Pick: Pablo Sandoval, Boston Red Sox, $3,000

Sandoval remains the top pick of the day. However, he's such a massive bargain on FanDuel that we'll include an alternative in Arenado. Like Tulowitzki, Arenado won't have the platoon advantage against Wily Peralta. However, Peralta isn't a particularly imposing pitcher. Miller Park has a 118 park factor for right-handed home runs (read as 18 percent above average).

Outfield

DraftKings

Top Pick: Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians, $4,600

Value Pick: Travis Snider, Baltimore Orioles, $3,800

Technically, Mike Trout is probably the top dog. That will be the case most days. Let's break the tyranny of Trout with Brantley. He'll face an exploitable pitcher in Feldman. Brantley broke out in a big way in 2014. Whether such improvements will remain in 2015 is open to debate. He's in the heart of a potent lineup in a pitcher friendly park.

Snider will have the platoon advantage against fly ball pitcher Jake Odorizzi. As with Cabrera, Tropicana Field will decrease his chances for a home run. Unlike Cabrera, Snider has the requisite power to overcome the obstacle. He batted third for the Orioles Tuesday, so he's a good bet for run production.

FanDuel

Top Pick: Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox, $4,300

Value Pick: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox, $3,500

For those looking to play in a GPP, it would seem that a Red Sox stack is both affordable and valuable. Don't expect this to last. Cash game players will want to limit their exposure to one lineup. If you'd like to pass on Boston's cleanup hitter, try the cheaper leadoff man. Betts may be “unproven," but his patient, high contact approach will create a boatload of run scoring opportunities. He's a multi-hit threat, and he can also hit for decent power.