MLB Cash Game Picks : 8-29-15

Pitcher

Tonight's slate offers a pretty clear cut number one in Corey Kluber. He is facing the Angels who have been in very poor form of late, and have never really established themselves as a top offense this season. In the last 30 days, the Angels rank last in wRC+, and second to last in ISO. The Angels have been right around the league average for most of the season, but now are dropping down the rankings. Kluber has been fairly dominant, outside is start in Boston, but other than that he has been his usual self. He has 37 strikeouts in the last four starts, and two complete games. Kluber leads the slate in swinging strike rate and strikeout rate, so no surprises there. He is the top option tonight.

Jon Lester is the top lefty to pay up for tonight, but for a DraftKings SP2, I like J.A. Happ to get some big bats. Colorado ranks last in wRC+ against left-handed pitching, and have a 23.3% strikeout rate. The Pirates are monster favorites tonight, and Happ has been in very good form. He has allowed just on earned run in the last three starts, and has 16 strikeouts over that span. Happ is more reserved for GPP's on FanDuel, being such a cheap pitcher with minimal upside, but on DraftKings he is a top value SP2. The Pirates offense should back him up with plenty of runs.

Catcher

Matt Wieters has started the last few games, and could always be due for a rest, so check the lineup beforehand. If he is out, there are plenty of options behind the dish. Welington Castillo and Derek Norris are cheap options, while Kyle Schwarber and Brian McCann are guys to pay up for. Wieters has mashed lefties over his career, and that has not changed this season with a .368 wOBA. Martin Perez has allowed a .338 wOBA in his career to right-handed bats, and possesses a 6.5% swinging strike rate this season. The Orioles have a handful of bats to target tonight.

First Base

The only offense against Clayton Kershaw last night came from Anthony Rizzo, who hit a solo blast. The Cubs will face Mat Latos this evening, who has allowed a .340 wOBA to left-handed bats this season. Rizzo is one of the dominant options at first base tonight, and Dodger Stadium is actually a great place to hit for lefties. Over the last three seasons, Dodger Stadium has had a 124 park factor for left-handed homers. Rizzo has a cool .388 wOBA off right-handed pitching this season, with a 35% hardball rate.

Second Base

You are probably thinking this is an odd pick for cash games, but I am not really intrigued with any second baseman above him tonight. Jedd Gyorko has been solid against lefties in his career, and offers monster power out of a position that doesn't usually have such a thing. Gyorko has a .343 wOBA off lefties in 2015, with a 42% hardball rate. Adam Morgan has allowed a .372 wOBA to right-handed bats this year, with a 2.28 HR/9. The matchup and price make Gyorko a cash game play tonight

Third Base

You can pay up for Manny Machado tonight, but if you can't Todd Frazier is a great alternative. He is heating back up, after a horrid slump to start the second half, hitting .345 in the last ten games. Frazier has a .334 wOBA off right-handed pitching this year, with a .209 ISO. Miller Park is a nice pivot from his usual stomping grounds of Great American Ballpark, with a 128 park factor for right-handed homers in the last three seasons. Matt Garza has been a gas can this season, allowing a .338 wOBA to right-handed bats.

Shortstop

Ian Desmond has found 2014 form, making him a comfortable play tonight at shortstop with some upside. Desmond has a .367 wOBA in the second half, with a .238 ISO. We have not seen much of these stretches this season, but we are in the midst of one now. Tom Koehler is an average right-hander, who is allowing a 33% hardball rate to right-handed bats. Desmond is not at a bad price for the recent stretch he has been on, and there are not a lot of enticing cheaper options.

Outfield

Starling Marte is a Pirates' bat I want to throw in my lineups tonight, Pittsburgh is facing a weak southpaw, with a big run total. Chris Rusin has allowed a .357 wOBA to right-handed bats, with a 6.39 ERA in the second half. Marte has dropped off from earlier in the season against lefties, but has a .344 wOBA, .196 ISO this season. Marte has a ton of upside in the running game, and hits for decent power.

A repeat pick from last night, and deservingly so, Carlos Beltran kept his hot streak going with a three hit game. Beltran is hitting .385 in the last ten games. The Yankees are in a similar situation again tonight, facing a weak right-hander. Matt Wisler has allowed a .464 wOBA to left-handed bats this season, with nine homers in 29.1 innings. It could be another monster night for this Yankees offense, so feel free to get more than Beltran into your lineups.

After a scare on Thursday in Kansas City, Adam Jones was back in the lineup last night, so no concerns there. Jones is another elite lefty-masher for the Orioles to target tonight. Jones has a .379 wOBA off lefties this season, on par with his track record. Perez has struggled most of the time through is short career, and park factors are in Jones' favor tonight, being in Texas.