MLB Cash Game Picks : 8-1-15

Pitcher

Jacob deGrom has arguably been the Mets best pitcher this season, and that is saying something with their rotation. The Nationals have not been a full strength this season, but do have a middle of the road offense, and a 21% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. Granted legroom stays clear of Harper, he should do well yet again. deGrom has the second best ERA in the bigs, behind the man he just beat, Zack Greinke. He ranks 13th in swinging strike rate. (12.2%) He also draws a matchup not against one of the Nationals top pitchers, so he comes in as a slight favorite tonight.

There are a few options among aces tonight, with Gerrit Cole and Lance Lynn also being in play. Dallas Keuchel is going to highlight the cash game picks today, he goes up against a fairly decent Arizona offense, but Keuchel has been lights out this season. Keuchel has the second best groundball rate in the majors, and does an awesome job at limiting walks and home runs. Keuchel and the Astros are heavy favorites, and I believe he is in the same boat as the other top tier starters, which is a little risk, but likely to produce a solid line.

Catcher

Not a ton to work with behind the plate tonight, and Kyle Schwarber remains at a really nice price tag. He has a ton of upside, but we have seen that floor go a little bit over the last few games. The only reason Schwarber has been in the minors is due to his poor defense, otherwise he would be up with the rest of the Chicago young guns. He has hit above .300 at every level in the minors, and is still doing so in the bigs. Great matchup and park factor for Schwarber, facing off against a struggling Matt Garza.

First Base

Anthony Rizzo has kicked that slump of his, homering in the last three games. He will get to hit in the friendly confines of Miller Park today, which has had a 135 park factor for lefty homers in the last three seasons. Garza has been lit up by lefties this season, allowing a .375 wOBA. Step up to the plate and grab some Rizzo in your cash game lineups today. He owns a .382 wOBA off right-handed pitching, and a .255 ISO.

Second Base

Raisel Iglesias has been tagged by left-handed bats this season, meaning Neil Walker is going to get a great matchup in Great American Ballpark. Iglesias has allowed a .387 wOBA to lefties this season, with a 27% line drive rate. Walker has great power for a second baseman, posting a .163 ISO. This goes along with a .339 wOBA. With a 38% hardball rate off right-handed pitching, which is better than his career average.

Third Base

Trevor Plouffe comes in as one of the value third baseman tonight, and I love the matchup against a regressing Mike Montgomery. I prefer Miguel Sano on FanDuel, just being cheaper, but on DraftKings they have adjusted his price tag. Of course Alex Rodriguez is the top play against John Danks, but has a very hefty price tag. Plouffe has been reinstated from his paternity leave, and gets to face a lefty on his first day back. Plouffe has been solid against lefties in his career, and hits right in the middle of the order.

Shortstop

If you want to talk about a man in a hot streak, Jung-Ho Kang is your guy. He is hitting .440 since the break, with seven doubles, and three homers. He had another three hit game last night, racking up three doubles. July was a big month for Kang, with a .457 wOBA, and he is mashing both lefties and righties this season. Kang has deservingly become an everyday, and now is starting to insert himself into more and more of my cash game lineups.

Outfield

With some big priced pitchers on the hill this evening, going cheap in the outfield is not a bad move, especially with these three. There is a reason why the Cardinals keep winning, despite the injuries. They have an amazing depth of talented players, and one is Randal Grichuk. He has a .371 wOBA off left-handed pitching, and has even hit well against righties, with a .382 wOBA. Jorge De La Rosa has allowed a career .344 wOBA to right-handed bats.

A repeat pick from a few nights ago, Aaron Hicks did not let us down, with a multi-hit game, which included a homer. Hicks has crushed left-handed pitching in the majors, and this season owns a .467 wOBA. He also has a 30% line drive rate, and he carries a safe floor, and as we have seen lately a monster upside. It is really hard to get away Hicks at this price tag. Montgomery has hit the regression button, allowing 16 runs in the last four starts, including six homers.

We have seen what Chris Young can do against left-handed pitching this season, especially the other night against Texas. He is an absolute steal on DraftKings tonight, and pretty close to a must play. Danks has allowed a .380 wOBA to right-handed bats, with a poor groundball rate. Young has a .477 wOBA off lefties this season, with an ISO over .300. U.S. Cellular enhances homers from the right side, with a 115 park factor over the last three seasons.