MLB Cash Game Picks: 8-10-15

Pitcher

It's a two-horse race for top pitching option in cash games today with Johnny Cueto sitting as the biggest betting favorite, but Chris Sale my favorite choice. Neither the Detroit Tigers nor the Los Angeles Angels are in good current form, but the Angels are scuffling just a bit more. On the year, the Angels have also been worse against lefties than the Tigers have been against righties, although those totals need to be taken with a grain of salt with Miguel Cabrera out and Yoenis Cespedes playing for the Mets, and with the Angels making some additions prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. Ultimately, both should get the win, but Sale's floor is elevated by his strikeout rate that's nearly 10% higher than Cueto's (22.6%), and that tips the scales in favor of Sale. Also, while Sale's been a bit messy over the last 30 days, according to his 6.16 ERA, his 3.13 FIP is strong and his 27.9% strikeout rate is nearly double Cueto's 14.2% strikeout during the same time frame.

Pairing Sale and Cueto is viable on DraftKings, but if you'd like to squeeze some big bats on your rosters, Jon Niese is an awesome, cheap SP2 to pair with fellow lefty Sale. Niese is a big favorite and the Rockies are trash against lefties. They rank dead last in wRC+ (61) against southpaws on the year and have a 24.3% strikeout rate. They're also awful on the road, sporting an 87 wRC+ and 24.4% strikeout rate away from Coors Field. Niese hasn't been spectacular by any measure this year, but he's been rock solid, and he's been at his best of late. Over the last 30 days, Niese owns a 15.5% strikeout rate, 3.3% walk rate, 3.83 FIP and 3.85 xFIP in five starts spanning 30.1 innings. He's also continued to do a great job of keeping the ball on the ground tallying a 54.3% ground-ball rate in those five starts.

Catcher

Jesus Montero earned his promotion to the parent squad by raking at the Triple-A level, and he's carried his hot stick to the bigs totaling a .250 ISO, .406 wOBA and 166 wRC+ through 43 plate appearances. He smacked his second homer of the year yesterday, and he's very cheap on both sites. Prior to his promotion, he was scalding hot against lefties. Through 92 plate appearances at the Triple-A level against lefties Montero racked up a .191 ISO and .388 wOBA, per Minor League Central. Finally, Montero's bat will get a lift from facing Wei-Yin Chen. Chen has allowed a .334 wOBA to righties since 2013.

First Base

Paul Goldschmidt will probably be the chalk play on FanDuel at a cheaper price, but Jose Abreu comes at a substantial discount on DraftKings. If you have the extra cash on FanDuel, though, and the stomach for fading the masses, Abreu is my favorite option tonight. The Cuban slugger is on a heater. Over the last 30 days, he has a .283 ISO, .391 wOBA and 152 wRC+. He's also swatted seven homers, and he could add to that total tonight. Opposing starter Matt Shoemaker has allowed a 43.1% fly-ball rate and U.S. Cellular Field has a homer-friendly park factor of homers for righties of 118, per StatCorner.

Second Base

Yesterday was a day off for Chase Utley, but if he's back in the lineup tonight, he's excellent salary relief at the keystone on a night when you'll need to save some money somewhere to roster the top pitchers and sluggers. Utley hit leadoff in his last start, and continuing to hit there would be a plus for his daily fantasy value. Wherever he hits in the lineup, he'll be doing so as a lefty facing Rubby De La Rosa, which has been quite fruitful for left-handed batters. Since 2013, De La Rosa has allowed a .380 wOBA to the 541 lefties he's faced.

Third Base

Third base is rather ugly tonight, and the top option, Manny Machado is expensive on both sites. Todd Frazier is my favorite pick on FanDuel, where he comes at a discount and you can't use Ryan Zimmerman, since he's only first base eligible. On DraftKings, I'm completely enamored with Zimmerman at his cheap cost and coming off of a two-homer game on Sunday. His overall season line is underwhelming, but the table above illustrates his excellence against lefties in recent years. Brett Anderson isn't the most giving pitcher to right-handed batters, but his .311 wOBA allowed to them since 2013 isn't anything to avoid, either.

Shortstop

Shortstop is a rather easy position to punt tonight with a collection of rubbish to pick from. When selecting from the garbage pile, saving money and landing a player in a good lineup spot should be your top objectives. Enter Alcides Escobar, who is just a tick above the minimum salary on FanDuel, and while he's a touch overpriced on DraftKings, he's not too expensive to squeeze in and surround with other talented hitters. Escobar will be leading off for a Royals team with a solid team over/under total, and he has a soft matchup against Matt Boyd. Boyd has only faced 38 righties through his first three starts in the majors, but his .356 wOBA allowed to them adds to the case for using Escobar.

Outfield

Nelson Cruz is very expensive on both sites, but if you fade him, you're fading the top hitting option on the slate. He's annihilating left-handed pitching this year with a .360 ISO, .503 wOBA and 234 wRC+ in 114 plate appearances. He's also white hot after smacking a homer yesterday and seven in his last nine contests (yes, I know, arbitrary end points). Even the best lefties can't seem to keep Cruz in check, and Chen isn't among the best lefties in the league. This year, the southpaw has served up a .340 wOBA to righties and an inviting 44.3% fly-ball rate.

I can't very well tout all expensive hitters and the most expensive pitcher. Alex Rios makes for a decent source of salary relief and he's recently been bumped up in the order. He's not hitting in a desired top-five lineup spot, but the promotion is a plus. Rios isn't lighting the world on fire, but he's only been a bit below average hitter since the All-Star break. Furthermore, when you're targeting a punt, getting one who is facing a bad pitcher, in this case Matt Boyd, is an obvious plus.

Jayson Werth is one of a handful of recently healthy reinforcements added to the Nationals' lineup. He is also one coming off a dinger yesterday. His tater provides some optimism he's shaking off the rust, and his track record of excellence against lefties has earned him some leash with me, especially at his bargain bin price on both DraftKings and FanDuel.