MLB Cash Game Picks : 6-8-15

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

Chris Sale isn't as large of a betting favorite as the typical top cash games pick is, but he was still a no brainer. The lanky lefty had a slow start, but he ranks eighth in FIP, ninth in xFIP (2.81), fifth in strikeout rate and sixth in K-BB% (24.0%). He paces today's group in all but FIP and xFIP (I'm not counting Brad Hand's marks since 14 of his 16 appearances this year have been in relief). Unfortunately, the pitcher he's opposing, Lance McCullers, is besting him in FIP (1.70) and xFIP (2.80), and that's why Sale isn't a huge favorite. Sale can still deliver without a win thanks to enormous strikeout upside. The Astros have struck out in 24.0% of their plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this year, and a double-digit strikeout performance is highly likely for Sale tonight.

A.J. Burnett is a slightly bigger betting favorite than Sale, but his strikeout upside isn't as great. That said, Burnett has been great in his return to Pittsburgh. The righty ranks 15th in FIP, tied for 22nd in xFIP (3.25) and 30th in strikeout rate. His walk rate checks in at an acceptable 7.8% and Burnett does a great job of keeping the ball on the ground. He faces a bad Brewers offense that ranks 28th in wRC+ (82) against right-handed pitching, per FanGraphs, and they are prone to striking out with a 21.6% strikeout rate. His ceiling isn't as great as that of Sale, but he's the clear cut number-two pitcher for cash games tonight and one who is significantly cheaper than Sale. If you're looking to save a bit at pitcher to invest more heavily in the game at Coors Field, grabbing Burnett is a fine cash games alternative to rolling with the more expensive Sale.

Catcher

Russell Martin is one of three Blue Jays to get some love in today's article. It's easy to understand why, too. The Blue Jays are the leaders in ISO, wOBA and wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year, and Brad Hand is a bad one. The reliever pushed into starting duties has allowed a .333 wOBA to right-handed batters since 2012, and he's the owner of a career 4.43 FIP and 4.61 xFIP. In other words, he's an easy target for Blue Jays hitters. Then, of course, there are the great park factors at the Rogers Centre. Right-handed batters hit with park factors of 114 for doubles/triples, 118 for homers and 101 for runs, per StatCorner. On FanDuel, Dioner Navarro makes for a nice minimum salary alternative to Martin at the catcher position.

Salvador Perez is better against left-handed pitchers than righties, and his lineup spot isn't ideal, but those warts can be overlooked at his salary. Obviously there are things to like about Perez, too, or he wouldn't get a tout. The main thing to like about him -- beyond his cheap salary -- is that he's hitting right-handed against Phil Hughes. Hughes is the owner of a reverse platoon split holding lefties to a .303 wOBA since 2012 but getting battered by righties to the tune of a .356 wOBA in that time frame.

First Base

Adrian Gonzalez is far and away the top option at first base tonight. Gonzalez's power has been trending upwards the further removed from his 2010 shoulder surgery he gets. Since the beginning of last year, he's sporting a .248 ISO, .398 wOBA and 159 wRC+. Those numbers pair nicely with Rubby De La Rosa's shortcomings against left-handed batters. De La Rosa has allowed a .381 wOBA to them since 2012.

Second Base

Kolten Wong is the first of a few touts at Coors Field. As a left-handed batter, he'll hit with park factors of 107 for singles, 117 for doubles/triples, 123 for homers and 135 for runs. Wong is coming into his own this year and is especially good against right-handed pitchers totaling a .176 ISO, .366 wOBA and 134 wRC+. The Cardinals have the biggest team over/under total, and Wong is leading off for them, so you can do the math.

Neil Walker is a more affordable option at the keystone position if you can't quite budget for Wong. No, he won't get the same favorable run scoring environment, but Walker does have a better lineup spot hitting cleanup and has a juicy pitching matchup. Jimmy Nelson has allowed a .356 wOBA to left-handed batters in his big league career. That lines up nicely with switch-hitter Walker's platoon split that slants heavily in favor of him hitting righties harder.

Third Base

Josh Donaldson is a monster against lefties. Since 2012, he ranks second in ISO, tied for fifth in wOBA and fifth in wRC+ against left-handed pitchers among qualified hitters. He's priced like an elite hitter, and he is one under these conditions. As an elite hitter who is in a hitter-friendly ballpark against a subpar starter, you'll want to get some Donaldson exposure since his upside rivals that of any hitter today. If you're looking for salary relief on your cash games rosters, his teammate, Danny Valencia, provides that at the hot corner at both FanDuel and DraftKings.

Matt Carpenter is easier to budget for at FanDuel than DraftKings, and he's significantly cheaper than Donaldson there. Hooking he and Wong will net you the first two hitters on the team with the highest over/under total. Carpenter hits right-handed pitching hard, literally. Since 2012, he has a crazy 27.0% line drive rate and just a 1.5% infield fly-ball rate against righties. That line drive stroke will play well in the spacious outfield of Coors Field. Also, and not previously noted with Wong, righty David Hale has served up a .337 wOBA to left-handed batters since 2012.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki is the best hitting shortstop in baseball. As I've often said, he hits like a first baseman at a position lacking offense. As a right-handed hitter, he'll be treated to park factors of 114 for singles, 118 for doubles/triples, 116 for homers and 135 for runs. At FanDuel, you can opt to save $800 and spin down to Jhonny Peralta, but there is no salary relief to be had making the same change at DraftKings, so just pay for Tulo there.

Outfield

Carlos Gonzalez is heating up. He's in the midst of a five game hitting streak (three multi-hit efforts) and he's smacked a homer in back-to-back games. The Rockies have kept him in the cleanup spot through his struggles and it's paying off as he rounds into his normal form. Since joining the Rockies, he's posted no lower than a 147 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers at Coors Field in a single season (save for his 111 mark this year).

Chris Colabello's since 2012 numbers aren't overly impressive. The former Indy ball player raked in the upper minors and is hitting the ball hard this year. The truth is, though, he's getting the nod here based on a few factors. He's cheap. You'll need salary relief to grab some Coors Field action and Sale. He's hitting in the heart of the Blue Jays order getting the cleanup gig with Edwin Encarnacion out yesterday and slotting fifth when Encarnacion is in the lineup. The Blue Jays offense is the best in baseball against lefties, as I've previously noted, and that elevates the floor of all parties involved. The park factors are great, and Hand is a bad pitcher.