MLB Cash Game Picks : 5-23-15

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

Jake Arrieta (R), Cubs
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opponent	Park Factors	FIP	K%	GB%	Vegas Team Run Total & Line
$9,900	$9,500	Cubs	Basic 104 HR 104	2.20	27.1	51	3.5 -128

Jake Arrieta is coming off two excellent starts, allowing two earned over 15 innings pitched. He has not had a start yet this season where he totaled less than five strikeouts, and his strikeout rate ranks ninth in the majors. He also ranks second behind Max Scherzer in FIP. Arizona's offense is sitting at about the league average against right-handed pitching, not a cupcake offense by any means, but Arrieta has a solid matchup.

Mike Bolsinger (R), Dodgers
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opponent	Park Factors	FIP	K%	GB%	Vegas Team Run Total & Line
$6,400	$7,100	Padres	Basic 96 HR 102	3.47	20.6	57.8	3 -150

The afternoon games could not spare us a stud starter or two, so we are forced to dig deep for an SP2. On FanDuel, I am using Arrieta all the way, but Mike Bolsinger is a solid second starter on DraftKings. He has stepped up, due to all the injuries, and has thrown three solid starts this season. The Dodgers are the heaviest favorites in the night slate, and San Diego is the only team that has a team run total of three. The Padres' offense has been staggering as of late, with only a 73 wRC+ in the last two weeks. They also rank top ten in strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, at 21.5%.

Catcher

Buster Posey (R), Giants
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$4,500	$5,100	David Hale - R	.358	.153	134	4	5

Buster Posey is out of the lineup in game one of the double header, which means it is safe to use him without worry in the second game. The Giants come in once again as the favorable offense in tonight's slate. He is pricey, but 7.5 FDP and 18 DKP last night is great production from your catcher spot. If David Hale can't crack the Rockies' rotation, then I have zero hope for him tonight. Posey has been locked in, hitting .380 with three home runs in the last ten days.

Miguel Montero (L), Cubs
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$2,900	$3,600	Rubby De La Rosa - R	.340	.138	111	5	4.5

Rubby De La Rosa has done a great job against right-handed bats, but lefties have a lot of success off him. He has allowed a .398 wOBA to lefties this year and a .359 wOBA in his career. The Cubs lefties are my favorite bats tonight, outside of Coors of course. De La Rosa only has a 34.2% groundball rate to go with a 40% flyball rate against lefties. Miguel Montero is a great cheap option behind the plate, and he visits his old stomping grounds. He has a .404 OBP against right-handed pitching this season, and the Cubs have a great team total to target.

First Base

Anthony Rizzo (L), Cubs
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$4,200	$5,300	Rubby De La Rosa - R	.374	.221	137	3	4.5

All of the De La Rosa info above, plus Anthony Rizzo, makes for a top play tonight. Everything about Rizzo is impressive, nine stolen bases, his batted ball stats are off the charts, and he only has a 12.6% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. Arizona is an above average park for Rizzo. Chase Field had a 103 park factor for left-handed home runs in 2014.

Brandon Belt (L), Giants
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$3,800	$5,000	David Hale - R	.366	.185	139	5	5

It will be a tough call choosing between Rizzo and Brandon Belt tonight, but you can do no wrong. He has homered in four straight road games, and he's in the best ballpark for hitters in baseball. His ISO is through the roof on the road, as expected being a Giant and all, sitting at .316. He is hitting .375 this month, and is hitting .374 off right-handed pitching altogether this season.

Second Base

Joe Panik (L), Giants
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$3,200	$3,800	David Hale - R	.310	.081	101	2	5

Easy call for me on Joe Panik tonight, cheap option, and he is in what should be the highest scoring game of the night. He is hitting second, and if he gets on, I love his chances of being brought in. He sports a solid 101 wRC+ against right-handed pitching in his career, and he has a 115 wRC+ this season. Not an exciting position tonight. Dustin Pedroia is an option, but the Red Sox offense has been awful against lefties this season, despite guys' track records.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki (R), Rockies
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$4,500	$4,400	Yusmeiro Petit - R	.388	.214	132	3	5

Nobody has the ceiling Troy Tulowitzki has at shortstop, and Petit is a flyball ball pitcher (51.5% for his career). The pitchers tonight allow you to play Tulo with ease on salary, even though this salary is really cheap for him. Petit and that 1.40 HR/9 to right-handed bats over his career should wake up Tulo from his slumber.

Erick Aybar (S), Angels
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$2,300	$3,800	Steven Wright - R	.303	.099	96	1	4.5

The Angels are a great squad to target, facing a knuckleballer tonight, which gives a big boost to their running game. Erick Aybar is in the leadoff spot now for the Angels, and he's coming off a monster night. A great cheap play, especially if you are pairing him up with a few of his teammates.

Third Base

Jimmy Paredes (S), Orioles
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$3,300	$4,200	Dan Haren - R	.322	.146	103	2	3.5

On FanDuel, Jimmy Paredes is only second base eligible, but on DraftKings you can use him at third. Paredes is hitting .361 against right-handed pitching this season with a 187 wRC+. He is hitting .333 over the last ten games, and even though Baltimore loses the DH, they should find a way to keep his bat in the lineup, but be sure to keep an eye on that. Dan Haren has allowed six home runs and a .339 wOBA to lefties this season, which goes towards his 5.66 FIP.

Mike Moustakas (L), Royals
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$2,900	$3,800	John Lackey - R	.307	.157	92	2	4

The Mike Moustakas drop off has yet to come, and he gets to take on John Lackey, who is not the toughest pitcher. He carries a 4.56 FIP against lefties this season, and is allowing a 24% line-drive rate. Because of the other options tonight, the Royals offense comes in as my fourth favorite, but they have a lot of great cash game plays. Moustakas is hitting above .350 against right-handed pitching, and only has a strikeout rate of 9.1%.

Outfield

Mike Trout (R), Angels
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$5,300	$5,600	Steven Wright - R	.416	.258	174	2	4.5

Not much diving into needed when we talk about Mike Trout, he is one of the best in baseball, and gets to take on a knuckleballer tonight in Fenway. He has nine hits in the last three games, and is almost a lock for at least one stolen base tonight. I believe he will pay off his high price tag with all his all-around abilities to create points. Pitching tonight makes it easier to fit him in, which makes him a cash game play.

Charlie Blackmon (L), Rockies
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$3,800	$4,200	Yusmeiro Petit - R	.350	.159	106	1	5

Charlie Blackmon should be in for the second game, they are banged up, and he is one of the more durable Colorado guys. You are entering in on FanDuel without knowing any lineups for the Coors game, but he is pretty safe. On DraftKings, you have the luxury of a late swap, but you will need to stay on top of it. Petit has allowed a career .346 wOBA, and a 1.57 HR/9 to lefties. His flyball tendencies create a lot of chances for the long ball tonight.

Dexter Fowler (S), Cubs
FanDuel Salary	DraftKings Salary	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Vegas Team Run Total
$3,600	$4,400	Rubby De La Rosa - R	.347	.156	111	1	4.5

Another Cubs' lefty, and Dexter Fowler is a great bat to target. He has a lot going for him, hitting leadoff, steals bases, and can hit for some power. He has a .189 ISO against right-handed pitching this season, and I will mention again that De La Rosa really struggles against left-handed bats.

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