Madison Bumgarner sits on top of the Stream-o-Nator today at a $29 value, yet he’ll cost you only $9,600 on DraftKings. There’s a lot to like here in both the pitcher himself and today’s match-up. This season, Bumgarner sports a 9.97 K/9 to go along with a 2.61 BB/9. He’ll face the Twins today, who have the seventh worst strikeout percentage in baseball. For a price tag under $10K, it’s as good a play as we’ll find. There are a couple of $12K+ options in Adam Wainwright and Masahiro Tanaka, but I’m finding that spending that much on pitching cripples my ability to spend what I want on hitters. If I can find an arm around $10K instead, I’d rather jump on that and land some better bats. Bumgarner looks like one of those arms today.
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Francisco Liriano, SP: $7,300 – This is a nice price for Liriano in a game that has the lowest line of the day at 6 1/2. Stream-o-Nator likes his start at a $15 value (6th overall) and the Nats are currently tied with the Mariners and Red Sox for the eleventh worst strikeout percentage in the league (21.2%). My only trepidation with this pick is that the Nats have hit lefties better this year. Hopefully that trend does not continue against Liriano.
Chris Davis, 1B: $5,200 – Watch out for this one in case Davis isn’t in the lineup for the birth of his child, but he makes a nice play against right-hander Trevor Bauer in Baltimore. He’s numero uno on the Hitter-Tron, and while Bauer has pitched better lately, he’s been known to struggle with his control and Davis could make him pay. There are two games with a line of 9 for today and this is one of them. I’m looking to play several Orioles and Indians if my budget allows it.
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B: $3,700 – Chisenhall has been swinging a hot bat with a 1.253 OPS over his last ten games. He gets the platoon advantage against Miguel Gonzalez today.
Jose Bautista, OF: $5,300 – The other game with a line of 9 is the Toronto/Oakland match-up. Bautista will square off against lefty Drew Pomeranz today. He’s hitting .293/.415/.528 with two homers and eight walks over his last ten games. Joey bats is crushing lefties this year with a 289 wRC+ against southpaws. wRC+ is based off of wOBA, and 100 is considered about league average. I honestly thought the 289 number was a hallucination when I first saw it.
Yoenis Cespedes, OF: $4,300 – Cespedes put on a show yesterday in what was a great call by fellow Razzball writer Ralph. Cespedes looks like a good value again today as he’ll have the platoon advantage against lefty J.A. Happ. Happ has been killed by walks and long balls (5.6 BB/9 and 1.99 HR/9). The Rogers Centre is the wrong place to make those kinds of mistakes.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There’s a chance of rain for ARI@NYM and COL@ATL, but nothing more than 30% / scattered storms. I’d say the bigger issue will be at my cookout, where there will be a 100% chance of me slipping into a bratwurst coma.
Doing Lines In Vegas (4-9)
I’ll take the over in both games mentioned above. CLE@BAL and OAK@TOR (both 9). With my luck, this means Trevor Bauer will pitch a CGSO, so you should get on that.
Mike’s on Twitter @643ball
