MLB Cash Game Picks : 6-15-15

Pitcher

Francisco Liriano is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the business. He ranks sixth among qualified hurlers in strikeout rate this year, and he owns the highest mark among pitchers getting the ball tonight. He does a great job of keeping the ball on the ground, and when you couple that with his high strikeout rate, his 8.7% walk rate becomes easier to swallow. He's a sizable betting favorite, pitching in a pitcher-friendly park and facing a bad White Sox offense. The White Sox rank dead last in wRC+ (47) and wOBA (.242) against southpaws this year, per FanGraphs, and they've struck out in 22.3% of their plate appearances. There is always the risk of Liriano being unable to find the strike zone, but since the White Sox have walked in just 5.5% of their plate appearances against lefties this year, the risk of Liriano walking himself into a messy outing are reduced. His floor is higher than usual, and his ceiling might be the highest among pitchers today.

Dallas Keuchel doesn't have the strikeout prowess of the southpaw that joins him in this article, but he has a much higher floor as a result of his ability to consistently throw strikes. Keuchel's underlying stats result in him ranking tied for 17th in FIP and 13th in xFIP (2.95) among qualified starting pitchers. The lefty does a great job of keeping the ball on the ground, and that helps alleviate any concerns about the long ball biting him in the behind at homer-friendly Minute Maid Park. The lefty is the biggest betting favorite of the night, elevating his floor above that of any other pitcher, and he's facing a Rockies offense that is dreadful against lefties. They rank 28th in wRC+ (68) and 24th in wOBA (.293) against lefties this year while striking out more than any other club (25.7% strikeout rate). Keuchel isn't a huge strikeout pitcher, but he'll get a boost tonight and could strikeout a batter per inning while turning in a quality start.

Catcher

The Dodgers are tied with the Tigers and Orioles for the highest team over/under total of the evening, per Pinnacle Sports, making them a great target for some of your cash games picks. One of the names you should be considering is switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal. He's a better bargain on FanDuel, but he's affordable on DraftKings, too. He's better against righties than lefties, and he gets a nice park factor boost in Texas with a left-handed batter park factor of 108 for runs, according to StatCorner.

First Base

Prince Fielder is putting any questions about health concerns in the rear view mirror with a great showing after missing most of last season. He continues to be a rare breed of hitter who hits for power (10 homers) while making tons of contact (11.7% strikeout rate). That's a combination rarely seen. He hits in the heart of the Rangers order and has a great matchup against Carlos Frias tonight. Since reaching the majors last year, Frias has served up a .377 wOBA to left-handed batters. That wOBA might be the only thing tastier than the barbecue in Texas tonight.

Eric Hosmer is a more cost conscious first base option for gamers looking to spend elsewhere on their cash game rosters. He's hitting in a great venue for hitters. Miller Park has left-handed batter park factors of 102 for doubles/triples, 127 for homers and 112 for runs. That's a far cry from what he's used to at home. His since 2012 numbers aren't overly impressive, but the 25-year-old first baseman is in the midst of a breakout and does his best work against right-handed pitchers. In 155 plate appearances against righties this year, he has a .203 ISO, .387 wOBA and 152 wRC+.

Second Base

Like Hosmer, Kolten Wong's numbers are unimpressive since 2012 but are more impressive this year as he breaks out. This year, Wong has a .193 ISO, .372 wOBA and 138 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Wong has a sweet lineup spot, and he'll take aim at Trevor May's exploitable .348 wOBA allowed to left-handed batters in his career.

Third Base

Manny Machado has exhibited a reverse platoon split in his career, so a showdown with a right-handed pitchers is a plus. He makes it back-to-back leadoff hitters getting touts as cash games options. He'll get the maximum number of plate appearances, which is especially useful at DraftKings since there is no negative scoring for hitters (with the exception of getting caught stealing). Aaron Harang isn't a great matchup for right-handed batters, but he's not tying them up at an alarming rate either. Since 2012, he's allowed a .307 wOBA to right-handed batters.

Shortstop

Price considered, Wilmer Flores is easily my favorite play at shortstop. Troy Tulowitzki is awesome against lefties, but Keuchel is a tough matchup and he's not at home. As a result, he's a GPP only play for me. Flores, on the other hand, is a nice option in both cash games and GPPs. Flores has ascended to a much more desirable lineup spot hitting fifth most of this month, but he did hit cleanup against a southpaw on Friday. Either lineup spot is great, and there aren't many of his peers who can boast a similarly favorable lineup spot. Flores got off to a slow start in the majors, but he's hitting lefties hard this year with three homers, a .294 ISO and 168 wRC+ in 38 plate appearances. Considering Flores track record of excellence against southpaws in the minors, I'm buying Flores growth against them this year.

Outfield

Andrew McCutchen is one of the best offensive players in baseball, and he's especially good against southpaws. He doesn't have enough plate appearances to be a qualified hitter, but among hitters with 400 or more plate appearances against southpaws, he ranks third in wOBA and first in wRC+. His base stealing isn't what it once was (18 steals last year and just three this year), but that's roughly the only blemish in his offensive profile. You want walks? His 10.4% walk rate will satisfy. What about lots of contact? He's only struck out in 14.2% of his plate appearances, so he's got you covered there. Injuries slowed Cutch early in the year, but he's been raking since the month of April ended. Rookie Carlos Rodon is going to have his hands full with McCutchen tonight.

Shin-Soo Choo is having a bounce back season after failing miserably in his first year in Texas. The story remains the same, though. He's lost against lefties, and tough as hell on righties. This year, Choo has 169 plate appearances against righties and has totaled a .215 ISO, .368 wOBA and 134 wRC+. Compare those to his since 2012 numbers, and you see a player who annihilates righties and has a track record of doing so. Furthermore, like Fielder, he gets a bite of that juicy wOBA allowed to lefties that Frias is saddled with.