MLB Cash Game Picks : 6-20-15

Cash Game Locks: MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball

Pitcher

Corey Kluber is your top cash game option tonight, and he will be the only pitcher I select on FanDuel tonight. He leaves you with $3,000 per player to create the rest of your lineup, which is soft given FanDuel's pricing. Kluber has the top strikeout rate among pitchers in tonight's slate and will have a matchup he can exploit. Tampa Bay has an average walk rate, and they have a 21% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. When Kluber is on, he can quickly separate you from those who did not use him in cash games, kind of like Chris Sale last night. He has the fifth best swinging strike rate in the majors.

With Kluber being my lone option on FanDuel tonight, John Lackey makes an excellent SP2 on DraftKings. The Lackey/Kluber duo leaves you with a decent amount left over to make a solid cash game lineup with. Vegas favors the Cardinals heavily tonight, and Philly has that run total set in stone at three. Lackey has pitched well this season, and the Coors start shot up his road ERA, so he doesn't have dramatic home/away splits. Philadelphia has a 69 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season, which is the worst in the league. A quality start and win is in order for Lackey.

Catcher

Derek Norris against a lefty is the definition of a cash game lock. Nothing has changed this year, he is hitting .341 off them with a .382 wOBA. He has an impressive 40% hard hit ball rate. Robbie Ray has looked a lot better this season, but is nothing special to right-handed bats. He has just a 6% swinging strike rate and is allowing a 27% line drive rate to right-handed bats.

First Base

For the expensive first base play, it is hard to look anywhere else. Joey Votto has upped his power numbers this season, and looks at whole health, which is a nice thing to see. He has a .290 ISO against right-handed pitching this season and a 43% hard hit ball rate. He is hitting .333 in June, with nearly a 50% hard hit ball rate. Votto is locked in, and he will face Tom Koehler tonight. He is allowing a .357 wOBA to lefties this year with a 2.31 HR/9.

Victor Martinez has some position complications, he is only eligible at catcher on FanDuel, and only first base on DraftKings. His value is absurd on DraftKings, while he is still a fine play over Norris on FanDuel. The matchup and park factor makes V-Mart one of the best value plays on DK tonight. He has yet to show any signs of his 2014 self, but tonight could be the night he does. Nathan Eovaldi has allowed a .440 wOBA to lefties this season. Eovaldi is also pitching on three days rest. His mid 90's fastball may be taken down a few notches tonight.

Second Base

Your top priced second base play is Jason Kipnis, who is dialed in again. He is hitting .345 this month, and .450 in the last week. Kipnis has just a 9% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this year, and a 29% line drive rate. He has a whopping 200 wRC+ against righties, and has been worth the price when he gets on these rolls. Erasmo Ramirez has a poor ground-ball rate in his career against lefties, and allows a 24% line drive rate. He may run into some trouble against a heavy lefty lineup, yet the rest of the Indians are not as consistent as Kipnis.

Joe Panik has been an absolute stud this year, and he has quickly proven last year's second half was not a fluke. He has a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitching and a 25% line drive rate. Carlos Frias has consistently struggled against left-handed bats in his career, allowing a .375 wOBA. Those numbers will create a few value plays to target tonight given the Giants' number of lefty bats.

Third Base

With enough value plays tonight, I may try and squeeze in Todd Frazier. He has been a different animal at home this season, with a .524 wOBA, compared to a .333 wOBA on the road. He has a .422 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year with a 44.7% hard hit ball rate. We talk about paying up for Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper, but the Todd Father has been just as good. Koehler struggles on the road and does not miss many bats. He should give up some runs in Great American Ballpark tonight.

Your cheaper alternative at third is Chase Headley. Alredo Simon does not have enough swing-and-miss stuff to keep me off of him, regardless of his success this season. Headley has a 33% line drive rate off right-handed pitching this season and will hit in the lefty heaven that is Yankee Stadium. With Jacoby Ellsbury out, he has moved up to the two spot, which also increases his value.

Shortstop

Not a ton to like at shortstop tonight, but the low strikeout rate middle infielder is a decent play. Alcides Escobar has hit right-handed pitching well, with a 24% line drive rate, and a .284 average. This may not excite you, but go take a gander at some of the other shortstops' stats tonight. Over the last month, Rick Porcello has an ERA over six a FIP over four. He doesn't miss many bats, and also doesn't hold runners on well, which factors into the Escobar pick. He can snag a base, but is usually a timely runner. I like his odds tonight.

Outfield

From the wise words of Ron Burgundy - that escalated quickly, and I am talking about Brett Gardner's DraftKings price. Six hits and two homers in the previous two games will do that. He has a .404 wOBA at home this season, and enjoys the short porch, with a .226 ISO as well. You will not get those numbers on the road. With the same reasons as why I like Headley, Gardner can really take advantage of this matchup. He also has the speed factor, which adds to his price.

With Justin Upton being much more consistent over Matt Kemp, he will headline the Padres' outfield choice. Upton has mashed lefties, and will get the benefit of playing outside of Petco tonight. Chase Field has held a 102 park factor for right-handed home runs over the last three seasons, and Upton knows this park fairly well. If you need the extra savings, Matt Kemp at $2,800 is not a bad guy to drop down to. He has had similar success against lefties.

To round out the outfield, Angel Pagan is dirt cheap and is hitting third for San Francisco. Is it the right spot for him, probably not, but we don't care. Pagan should be able to take advantage of Frias' struggles against lefties. He has cooled off big time after the hot April, and has not looked great this month. The matchup, lineup spot, and price is favorable, and he will allow you to get an extra big bat in your lineup.