MLB Cash Game Picks: 7-7-15

Pitcher

Max Scherzer is your top option yet again, and he will likely always be the top option going forward. The problem is that $14,000 price tag he has on DraftKings, and there are a few other aces going for about $4,000 less. Francisco Liriano is who I have my eye on tonight, and he has some big time upside against the Padres. San Diego ranks 22nd in wRC+ against left-handed pitching, with a 24.3% strikeout rate. Liriano faced the Padres earlier this year, striking out 11 over six scoreless innings. Liriano has totaled seven-plus strikeouts in half of his starts this year and is tied for the third best swinging strike rate in the league. Tied with whom you ask? Max Scherzer. Pitching at home against one of the league's bottom offenses, Liriano enters as one of the top options tonight.

Taking a look at the money line you would think Clayton Kershaw was on the hill tonight, but instead we have Brett Anderson going. In fact, Anderson has a lower ERA than Kershaw this season, and yes I know it is by the slimmest of margins. Anderson has been a reliable SP2 all season, and he has that really nice ground-ball rate. The Phillies take their below average bats and raise them to an average level against left-handed pitching. They are not nearly as bad against left-handed pitching, but Philly is still a team to pick on. Anderson has allowed three earned in his last three starts and has been dialing up the strikeouts lately. With the Dodgers being a monster favorite, and Anderson's track record for this season, he is an easy call as a cheaper option.

Catcher

While there is a game in Coors, the A's deserve some love too as one of the top teams to choose from tonight. Nathan Eovaldi is allowing a .395 wOBA to left-handed bats this year with a 25% line drive rate. Oakland will bring quite a few lefties to the plate tonight, and Stephen Vogt is one of them. Vogt has a .392 wOBA off right-handed pitching this year with a .247 ISO. On a night like tonight punting behind the plate would be a choice, but it is hard to pass up on Vogt at this price.

First Base

I am completely baffled at Adrian Gonzalez' price tonight, mainly because Carlos Santana is priced higher on both sites. After the hot start to the season he did cool off, but he cut his strikeout rate down by 8% during his slumping month and did not have a significant drop off in batted ball stats. Gonzalez has three hits this month, and each one has left the yard. Chad Billingsley has allowed a career .337 wOBA to lefties and a .351 wOBA since 2012. The price tag will allow you to spend elsewhere, and you are still getting an elite matchup.

Second Base

Attacking Eovaldi with another lefty, this time Ben Zobrist. Yankee Stadium has had a 151 park factor for left-handed homers in the past three seasons, and this gives Zobrist a little oomph for his play today. Zobrist could be auditioning for the New York teams this week, as both the Mets and Yankees are interested in his services. Zobrist has a .350 wOBA off right-handed pitching with just a 7.7% strikeout rate.

Joe Panik is like Zobrist, just without the park factor tonight. Bartolo Colon is allowing a .327 wOBA to lefties this year, and Panik has arguably been the Giants' steadiest hitter this year. He has a .362 wOBA off right-handed pitching and an 11% strikeout rate. I like him more on DraftKings if you need to save the $1,000, while I would lean heavier on Zobrist on Fanduel.

Third Base

Kris Bryant, Josh Donaldson, and Nolan Arenado, we have our top third basemen all facing lefties tonight. They all come with heavier price tags, so if you are not going that route, Justin Turner is pretty cheap and will be in the three spot tonight. Turner is obliterating everything in site right now. He has a .467 wOBA off right-handed pitching with a 31% line drive rate. After hitting .330 in June, the calendar has changed, and he is hitting .313 this month.

Shortstop

It seemed everyone was marked up with the Coors price gun but Troy Tulowitzki. He is your top option at shortstop, and as close to a for sure thing for tonight as you can get. He has a .459 wOBA off left-handed pitching with a 47% hard hit ball rate. Andrew Heaney has looked sharp so far in 2015, but Coors is a different animal. A sub $5,000 Tulo is almost as good as a free one. Get him in your lineups.

Outfield

If I am paying up for an outfielder at Coors tonight, it will be with Kole Calhoun. His bat really came alive in Texas over the weekend, with two homers and he drove in 10 RBI. The wOBA against right-handed pitching is below his career rate, but he has a 25% line drive rate off right-handed pitching this year. He will get the Coors bump and take on Chad Bettis, who has allowed a career .335 wOBA to lefties. He will have a chance to continue his hot streak tonight, and it is very likely he does so.

The Red Sox have a team total of five, and many of them are in great GPP situations tonight, just being behind some other top scoring games. Mookie Betts is one to get into your cash games tonight. He had a monster June and has not slowed down in July. He is hitting .409 this month, with three doubles and a homer. He has a .352 wOBA off right-handed pitching, while Dan Haren has allowed a .331 wOBA since 2012.

In comparison, Matt Joyce is a cheaper Calhoun, and he is one of the Coors value plays tonight. He will not have the lineup spot, but I expect him to get plenty of at-bats in this game. While nothing has come from Joyce this season for the Angels offense, he is still capable of coming through in good matchups. Bettis is an average righty, which may be a generous statement, and Joyce has hit righties well in the past.