MLB Cash Game Picks : 6-18-15

Cash Game Locks: MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball

Pitcher

The Nationals may come across has a better than average offense to some, but they sit in the middle of the league for most offensive categories this season. They have a decent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, which Chris Archer will send that number up tonight. Archer has a strikeout rate that is just a shade underneath Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale's. Archer and the guy below there are ranked second and third in FIP among qualified starters, and Archer has been pitching lights out. He had three straight starts with double digit k's, prior to his last start, and has an ERA sitting at a cool 2.00.

The only thing against Gerrit Cole tonight, is that he is pitching in U.S. Cellular. Other than that, a matchup against the White Sox is one that favors Cole heavily. Cole and Archer do not have the heavy Vegas line that Zack Greinke possesses, but their strikeout rate is a noticeable difference from Greinke. Chicago ranks 26th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season, and 28th in team ISO. Even in U.S. Cellular their offense has not been good, just with a 75 wRC+. The ballpark won't scare me off Cole, and I am taking these two ahead of Greinke tonight.

Catcher

It maybe won't be a night to pay up for Buster Posey on FanDuel, but his DraftKings price is not bad at all. Salvador Perez, and J.T. Realmuto are some cheaper options behind the dish tonight. Posey has been a notable play anytime a lefty is on the mound, and he will faced an inexperienced one in Mike Montgomery. Posey has a nice floor for a catcher, which is why I recommend him tonight. He has a 42% hardball rate, and a 28% line drive rate, which is among some of the best in baseball this year.

First Base

Miguel Cabrera is on the cusp, pricing wise, of a GPP play, but it is hard to pass on him tonight in Cincinnati. Great American Ballpark has held a 123 park factor for right-handed home runs over the last three seasons, as if Cabrera needs anymore help. I usually like to target lefties against Mike Leake, but he has absolutely nothing to fool Cabrera. He is a pitch to contact type of pitcher, and his struggles at home have been rough. He owns a 6.23 ERA at home, and has been allowing a .357 wOBA at home to right-handed bats.

A cheaper option at first, in comparisons to the field, head on over to the other dugout. Justin Verlander is making his second start this season, and looked decent against the Indians. Until Verlander shows any sort of dominance against hitters again, which is unlikely, I will target select hitters against him. Great American Ballpark has had a 151 park factor for left-handed homers over the last three seasons, which gives Joey Votto a huge boost. Votto has a .421 wOBA off right-handed pitching this season, with a .294 ISO.

Second Base

I am not willing to pay up for some of the higher priced second basemen tonight, and Neil Walker has a depreciated price across the sites. Lefties have hit Jeff Samardzija hard this season, with a .364 wOBA, and a 33% hardball rate. Samardzija has a poor groundball rate, at 37.4% this season, which can aid Walker and our chase for the long ball. Walker is having a down year compared to 2014, but still has solid batted ball stats that should lead to a surge here shortly.

Third Base

Todd Frazier or Josh Donaldson was a tough call for me tonight, but I am leaning towards Dongaldson. He has been crushing the ball at home this season, with a .469 wOBA. He has a 38% hardball rate against right-handed pitching, so he is not strictly limited to hitting lefties. Toronto has a nice team total of 5 tonight, which is tied for the second highest with the Yankees.

I love Kyle Seager's DraftKings price tonight, and given him facing Ryan Vogelsong, he jumps to one of the top value plays for this slate. Seager has been doing most of his work against lefties this season, which is a bit surprising. Vogelsong is allowing a .414 wOBA to left-handed bats this season, with a 35% hardball rate. Lefties have always hit Vogelsong well, which could make the Mariners a decent play tonight.

Shortstop

Jose Reyes is the only high priced option who is worthy of a cash game play, but I am not going to try and fit him in. Adeiny Hechavarria is who I will turn to, the only downside is his lineup spot, but at this price I don't really mind. The Marlins are one of the best lefty hitting teams in baseball, and now they will move to Yankee Stadium to do some damage. I believe the team run total is modest for this team. C.C. Sabathia is allowing a .403 wOBA to right-handed bats, and is getting crushed at home. Hechavarria has been great against lefties this season, he has a .448 wOBA off them, adding to this team's reputation against lefties.

Outfield

Not much explaining needed for this pick. Giancarlo Stanton + LHP + Yankee Stadium = $ - He leads the league in home runs, and has a .521 ISO against lefties. He has a 55% hardball rate off left-handed pitching, which is just an absurd rate. Another bat I like in the higher price range for outfield, is Jose Bautista. He looks healthy, and is really picking it up, with a .428 wOBA in June.

Mat Latos surprisingly shut down the Rockies in his last start, but I doubt that will be the case tonight. Lefties have a 39% line drive rate off Latos this season, which leads to the last two outfield picks. Brett Gardner is far better off at home this season, with a .372 wOBA, compared to .296 on the road. As any Yankees' bat would, his ISO also shoots up when playing at home. A team total of five, and Latos' struggles against lefties, makes Gardner a nice option tonight.

Okay bear with me here, you will likely need a bare minimum play to fit in Stanton and some other top bats with a top pitcher. This is a pick that will help do that. He will likely be hitting 5th or 6th, and sitting in a game with a high total. Yankee Stadium is a cheap home run park for lefties, and it is something to take advantage of. That 39% line drive rate that Latos allows, gives me some confidence in Carlos Beltran.