MLB Cash Game Picks: 8-3-15

Pitcher

Corey Kluber is actually a small road underdog tonight, and there are a wealth of options to choose from, but Kluber is also the most talented pitcher getting the ball. There's a low over/under total for the Angels, so oddsmakers clearly expect a low scoring game. The righty owns the second highest strikeout rate on the slate, yet he has outstanding control, too (5.1% walk rate). Kluber has pitched five or more innings in all 22 of his starts this year, and he's pitched seven or more innings in a whopping 15 starts. Adding to his consistency is his ability to miss bats. Kluber has struck out at least five batters in 19 of 22 starts. That type of consistency is huge when selecting a cash games pitcher. He'll be hard pressed to get a win opposing fellow talented starter Garrett Richards, and the Angels are a very good offense against right-handed pitchers, so he's not bulletproof. That said, Kluber is a supremely talented pitcher who I trust to provide a positive return on his sizable cost.

Francisco Liriano is the only pitcher on this slate with a higher strikeout rate than Kluber. The biggest knock against the southpaw is his mediocre control (8.4% walk rate). His control could be put to the test by a Cubs squad that walks a ton against lefties (10.0% walk rate), but he should add to his hearty season strikeout total since they also punch out frequently (22.9% strikeout rate). Liriano is one half of a star studded lefty pitching matchup facing off against Jon Lester. Predictably, the game has a low over/under total, but the host Pirates are the favorites, putting Liriano in a more favorable position to get the "W" than the aforementioned Kluber. He's also aided by pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark tonight, with PNC Park suppressing runs to lefties and righties alike. Liriano hasn't reached or bested seven innings pitched in his last four starts, which is a concern, but he also hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in his last six starts. He's pitched five or more innings in 19 of 20 starts, and he's struck out five or more batters in 16 turns. When factoring in the difference in cost and the greater likelihood of Liriano earning a win, I'd slightly prefer Liriano to Kluber tonight in cash games, but both are strong options. On FanDuel, Lance McCullers gives both pitchers a run for their money for top cash games option thanks to a silly low cost of just $6,700. How his price remains that low is beyond me.

Catcher

Catcher is arguably the ugliest position tonight, and Jonathan Lucroy looks like the best price considered option. Gamers using McCullers on FanDuel can pay up for Buster Posey, but gamers using either of the top arms suggested in this article would be wise to spend down a bit at catcher. Lucroy calls a great lineup spot home and is hitting at home, where the right-handed batter park factors are 135 for homers and 106 for runs, per StatCorner. If Tyson Ross' below average control fails him, Lucroy is capable of working a walk, and perhaps more importantly, it means Ross won't pitch deep into the game, allowing Lucroy to face a likely less imposing arm coming out of the bullpen.

First Base

Freddie Freeman is rounding into form and he's shaken off the rust of his disabled list stint. He went 0-for-5 yesterday, but had recorded five hits in his last 13 at-bats in the three previous games, including a homer. It appears there are no ill effects of the wrist injury that sent him to the disabled list. First base is an offensively loaded position, and Freeman adds to that depth. He's fairly priced, making him someone you can budget for with the top pitchers. He'll be taking cuts against Matt Cain tonight. Cain has struggled with lefties this year, allowing a .370 wOBA to the 49 he's faced.

Second Base

If Robinson Cano is healthy enough to return to the field tonight, he'll be the top option at second base since the Mariners are facing Eddie Butler at Coors Field. That said, he's expensive on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Logan Forsythe is a much more affordable option, and as his numbers in the table above indicate, he's been death for lefties. This year, he's hammering them to the tune of a .310 ISO, .397 wOBA and 163 wRC+.

Third Base

Kyle Seager is probably the top option at third base tonight, but he's received the Coors Field price boost. Evan Longoria is a great alternative at a fraction of the cost. Jose Quintana is an excellent pitcher, but he's allowed a .339 wOBA to the 438 righties he's faced this year. Playing at U.S. Cellular Field tonight, Longo gets a big park factors boost hitting with right-handed batter park factors of 116 for homers and 101 for runs.

Shortstop

The most obvious knock against Brad Miller is his down order lineup spot, but he's an above average offensive options against righties at a position with a dearth of offensive options. Shortstop stinks on a level similar to catcher, adding to the appeal of Miller. The left-handed hitting shortstop will hit with sweet park factors of 113 for singles, 108 for doubles/triples, 111 for homers and 132 for runs. He'll also hold the platoon advantage over Butler. The right-handed pitcher has allowed a .444 wOBA to the 187 left-handed batters he's faced in his career.

Outfield

After highlighting Butler's massive struggles with lefties, it should come as little surprise another left-handed batter from the M's gets a shout out. Seth Smith hits in the heart of the club's order, and he's a superior hitter to his teammate, Miller. The Mariners team over/under total of five runs adds to the appeal of using an affordable Smith in one of your outfield spots tonight.

Left-handed batters have found facing Colby Lewis to be quite fruitful in recent years. Since 2013, Lewis has ceded a .352 wOBA to the 754 lefties he's faced. Preston Tucker hit cleanup in the last game the Astros played against a righty after the acquisition of Carlos Gomez, a great spot for run production. As a lefty, Tucker will hit with a park factor of 107 for runs scored at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Astros should hang some runs on the board tonight, and Tucker should play a hand in that.

The addition of Carlos Gomez has made an already good Astros offense even better. Hitting in the two-hole provides Gomez run scoring upside. Even in his down year, he's been an above average offensive player with a .157 ISO, .327 wOBA and 106 wRC+. He swiped a bag yesterday, his eighth of the season. He's also hitting with a park factor of 104 for runs scored, which is yet another check in the pros column for using Gomez tonight.