MLB Cash Game Picks : 6-11-15

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

Garrett Richards (R), Angels
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp	Park Factor	FIP	K%	GB%	Moneyline - Total
$8,600	$8,900	Rays	Basic 95 - HR 95	4.06	19&	54.6%	-113, 3.5

Welcome to Thursday night's pitching selection, may I hand you a bag to barf in? Garrett Richards has been nowhere near where he was last season before the injury, but tonight's slate leaves no options to use other than Richards. The matchup is Richards' favor, the Rays rank 19th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching, and carry a 21.2% strikeout rate. He will also get the benefit of pitching in Tropicana Field, which suppresses both runs and home runs. He is holding both sides of the plate to under a .310 wOBA, and his last start has sent most of his seasonal stats through the roof. Hitters have a very poor line drive rate off Richards, at just 12.1%.

Tsuyoshi Wada (L), Cubs
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp	Park Factor	FIP	K%	GB%	Moneyline - Total
$6,300	$6,800	Reds	Basic 102 - HR 101	4.30	24.1%	41.5%%	-143, 3.5

Do I feel good about this pick? No, and if you asked me that about any of the pitchers tonight, I would give you the same answer. The Reds will be without Zack Cozart and most likely be without Brandon Phillips today. This is going to create a lineup where Tsuyoshi Wada just needs to really worry about Todd Frazier and Joey Votto. If he works around those two, and keeps guys off base in front of them, he should have a decent start. He has a nice strikeout rate so far this season, and combining 2014 numbers, it rounds out to a 20.7% for his career. Wada has been better off at Wrigley, with a 2.65 ERA, and has held right-handed bats to an average .333 wOBA. Not ecstatic numbers, but given the talent he is facing I am willing to take his numbers. Chicago is the heaviest favorite on the board tonight, which is another plus for Wada. The weather could be a concern, if storms pop up more over the day, or the wind starts blowing out, I will be making a pivot to Tanner Roark or Tim Lincecum. Those two are also in play tonight in the second pitcher slot.

Catcher

Buster Posey (R), Giants
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$3,700	$4,100	Jon Niese - L	.421	.244	176	4	3.5

I doubt you will need a value catcher today, or any deep value plays in general. Buster Posey is one of the best left-handed pitching hitters in the game, and you can compare numbers to Giancarlo Stanton down below on how good he really is. He will face Jon Niese tonight, and unfortunately Citi Field isn't a huge step up from AT&T Park. but I will take it. Niese has allowed a .378 wOBA to right-handed bats this season, and has a 1.46 HR/9 to go with that. Posey is the only catcher you need tonight.

First Base

Anthony Rizzo (L), Cubs
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$4,400	$5,500	Michael Lorenzen - R	.379	.228	140	2-3	4

Anthony Rizzo in cash games, lather, rinse, and repeat. Rizzo will take on Michael Lorenzen, who has a 4.74 FIP against lefties this season. He is also allowing a 34% line drive rate to left-handed bats, so despite the success, this is still a matchup to pick on tonight. Rizzo ranks top in wOBA off right-handed pitching this season, also is a threat to steal a base, which adds to his cash game value.

Second Base

Dustin Pedroia (R), Red Sox
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$3,400	$4,300	Chris Tillman - R	.328	.112	104	1	4.5

On DraftKings you an get creative at second base, because there are guys like Steve Pearce and Martin Prado who are eligible. They both take on lefties, and can do some damage. On FanDuel, neither of those guys are available, and it is a weaker position to deal with. Dustin Pedroia stayed hot with another two hit game last night, and is now hitting over .380 in the leadoff spot. He has a .355 wOBA off right-handed pitching, and will face a struggling Chris Tillman. Right-handed bats have a .401 wOBA off Tillman so far this season.

Third Base

Todd Frazier (R), Reds
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$4,400	$5,000	Tsuyoshi Wada - L	.352	.224	122	3	3.5

So I mentioned Todd Frazier as being one of the two who can do real damage against Wada. Manny Machado or Kris Bryant are fine pivots away from him if you do end up taking Wada. Frazier has a .403 wOBA and a .351 ISO against lefties this season. That .ISO is top three in baseball in hitters against left-handed pitching. Wada has a low groundball rate against right-handed bats, and like I said, Frazier is the one Wada needs to watch out for.

Matt Duffy (R), Giants
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$3,100	$3,200	Jon Niese - L	.297	.056	93	7	3.5

The Duff Man -- Matt Duffy has stayed hot this month, after hitting .313 in May. Duffy has a 30% line drive rate off left-handed pitching in his short career, although not much falling for him this season against lefties. With Niese struggling against right-handed bats, Duffy offers solid value for his price. If he sneaks up in the lineup today, I like him even more.

Shortstop

Xander Bogaerts (R), Red Sox
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs RHP 2012-2015	ISO vs RHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs RHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$2,600	$4,000	Chris Tillman - R	.282	.107	75	5	4.5

Tulo has an affordable price on FanDuel, opposed to the ridiculous $5,900 he is priced at on DraftKings. Hanley Ramirez offers a cheaper alternative to Tulo on DraftKings, so there is that luxury. Just wanted to get those honorable mentions out of the way at shortstop.

Xander Bogaerts has been one of the stabler average guys for the Red Sox this season, with the other being Pedroia. He is nearing .300 on the season, mainly because he is starting to hit right-handed pitching quite well. He has a .288 average against righties, and has lowered his strikeout rate by 10% from last season's. He missed a home run last night by a foot, and has ben red hot hitting over .400 in June.

Outfield

Giancarlo Stanton (R), Marlins
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$5,300	$5,800	Chris Rusin - L	.437	.344	181	3	4.5

If there is one man I am paying $5,800 for it is Giancarlo Stanton, especially against a left-handed pitcher. The pitching on tonight's slate will allow you to fit Stanton in with a bundle of studs on both sites. He has a .472 wOBA off lefties this season, and not much has changed, as he has a .550 ISO to go with it. Rusin has done well this season in three starts, but still allows a career .371 wOBA to right-handed bats.

Adam Jones (R), Orioles
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$3,300	$4,600	Wade Miley - L	.364	.200	131	3	4.5

The outfield trio here all has the profile of mashing lefties, and next up is Adam Jones. He was going through quite a cold stretch, but has turned it around this month, hitting .323 this month. He has a .409 wOBA off lefties this season, and gets to take on an average Wade Miley. He is allowing a .334 wOBA to right-handed bats this season, which is on par with his career averages. Jones is a steal on FanDuel tonight.

Marcell Ozuna (R), Marlins
FanDuel	DraftKings	Opp Pitcher & Handedness	wOBA vs LHP 2012-2015	ISO vs LHP 2012-2015	wRC+ vs LHP 2012-2015	Batting Order	Team Run Total
$3,100	$4,300	Chris Rusin - L	.353	.183	124	5	4.5

I guess you can call Marcell Ozuna a poor man's Stanton tonight. He has mashed lefties through out his career, and that has carried into 2015. He has a .437 wOBA this season versus lefties, and a whopping 32.3% line drive rate. He is coming off a home run yesterday, and I expect a few Miami bats to make some noise today against the lefty.

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