This article will give you an early look at the top pitchers and hitters on the slate geared for cash and single entry contests.
Listed will be my favorite pitchers, bats and team/s to target on the slate in additional to a value arm or dark horse and a few value bats.
15 Game Slate starting at 7:05-
*Utilize this article along with The Donger’s Club & Cycle articles by Steve Renner and Chris Rose
PITCHERS
Max Fried
Fried has been up and down most of this season having some very good starts along with getting hit hard a few times. Tonight is a good spot for Fried as he faces a Pirate team that has not hit LHP that well on the year .249 average, .127 ISO and 25% K rate. Over the past 7 games they have really struggled .176 average with a 33% K rate and 1 HR. The Pirates best hitter will be batting from the right side of the plate where he is a bit worse. Looking at 6 innings 8Ks and 1 ER for Fried tonight.
Masahiro Tanaka
Tanaka has been solid for the most part of the year with a 3.20 ERA and 65 Ks over 70 innings. He is averaging 5.8 innings per start with a 8K/9. He faces the Jays tonight who have struggled most of the year and even more so over the past 7 games with a .195 average 24% K rate and 2 HRs over 128 at bats. The Jays also struggle vs Tanaka’s pitch types (sliders and splitters). Looking at 7 innings 6 Ks and 2 ERs for Tanaka tonight.
VALUE ARM
Jerad Eickhoff
Eickhoff has struggled a bit over the last 4 games, but gets a solid matchup tonight vs the right handed heavy Padres. He does well vs RHHs allowing only a .225 average, .285 wOBA with a 24% K rate and 50 % ground ball rate. Over all the Padres have not hit well vs RHP with a .235 average and 27% K rate and they are a bit worse over the last 7 days with a .225 average and 28% rate. The Padres have some power bats that worry me (Renfroe & Reyes mostly), but I can see Eickhoff doing well enough tonight vs them. Looking at 6 innings 6Ks and 2 ERs.
TEAM/S
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are at home tonight and face Jeff Hoffman who has not pitched very well this year and in the past. He gets smacked around more by RHHs with a low K rate vs them. Decent weather with 11 MPH winds blowing out which will help the ball carry. Javier Baez-price is down, Wilson Contreras are my favorite 2 RHHs with Kris Bryant coming in next. Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber matchup up well also.
Core: Javier Baez, Wilson Contreras, Rizzo
Value: Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell
Sneaky: David Bote- low ownership HR.
LA Dodgers
The Dodgers have been one of the best offenses this year vs RHP as they rank 1st in average (.271), 2nd in ISO(.218) , 7th in HRs (69) and strike out the 2nd lowest. Tonight they head in to Chase Field (roof scheduled to be open which helps he hitters) and face a rookie arm who has a low K rate and struggled so far vs LHHs allowing a .394 average and 2 HRs/9 in limited innings. Elite spot for the Dodgers LHHs. Joc Pederson has hit 39 HRs over the past calendar year vs RHP (39 in 418 PA and 364 AB), Cody Bellinder & Max Muncy have both hit 27 in that time frame with Bellinger batting .341. Corey Seager is finally starting to hit the ball and my favorite Dodger tonight . Kiki Hernandez & Justin Turner are sneaky play as they have power upside vs RHP
Low Ownership Sneaky Team
Baltimore Orioles
Orioles head into Texas tonight to take on Drew Smyly who has not pitched well over the past year allowing a .444 wOBA and 3.6 HRs/9 to LHHs and a .441 wOBA & 2.6 HRs/9 to RHHs. The Orioles have hit LHP well as of late batting .272 with a .208 ISO over the past 14 days. They have 4 hitters with over .400 wOBA vs RHP on the year.
Core: Trey Mancini, Hanser Alberto, Renato Nunez
Secondary: Pedro Severino, Keon Broxton
BATS
Ozzie Albies & Ronald Acuna
Albies and Acuna prices are both done a bit and they are in excellent spots tonight vs Brault. Albies is hitting .337 with a 40% HC and Acuna with a .441 wOBA, .349 ISO and 49% HC vs LHP.
Eugene Suarez
Nice spot for for Suarez vs a rookie left handed pitcher. Suarez has been crushing the ball as late with a 58% HC over past 14 days.
Khris Davis
Davis is back in the lineup and destroys LHP .358 ISO and 42% HC. In the 2 games back he has crushed the ball as well with a 57% HC. Faces the rookie Canning who has a lower K rate vs RHH’s and has given up a few long ball to them. Like Davis to go deeeeeep tonight. Under priced so take advantage.
VALUE BATS
Brian Dozier- hitting the ball well as of late.
Miles Straw-speeeeeeeeeeed 3 SBs one game already
Jose Peraza
Christian Arroyo- swinging a hot bat.
Jake Marisnick- power upside with speed.
Jese Aguilar
Mike Zunino
