You know we’re getting wild when I’m starting your weekend off with some Soulja Boy. We have a 14-game slate on FanDuel, so sit back and “watch me crank it, watch me roll” through the options today. Our Superman today is Yu Darvish ($9,400), who has had quite the Jekyll and Hyde season. In 18 starts to begin the season, Yu Darvish threw 97 innings of 5.01 ERA baseball, with a 2.26 K/BB%. However, in five starts since July 12th, he’s gone 29 innings while allowing a 2.17 ERA and a 19.0 K/BB%. That’s 38 strikeouts versus just two walks. To be fair, the change started earlier, as noted by Alex Chamberlain’s fantastic piece here. Yuuuuuuuuu (sorry, I’m pot committed at this point) faces the Reds today, who’s projected starting lineup has a 25.4% strikeout rate and just a .308 wOBA against right-handed pitching. Now “watch me crank dat Robocop” as we take a look at the rest of today’s FanDuel slate.
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Walker Buehler, SP: $11,400 – If you’re looking for more safety than Darvish, this is your spot……you just have to pay for it. Buehler’s 2.81 pCRA leads today’s slate.
Drew Smyly, SP: $7,600 – After two vintage-2015-Smyly starts to start his Phillies career, Drew reverted back to the meh he is against the White Sox. However, he does face the Giants in Oracle Park, so I could see him not being the worst.
Jalen Beeks, SP: $5,900 – You want all the big bats? Here’s your super pay-down option. He’ll likely only go around four innings, but the Mariners are just so bad against lefties.
Yuli Gurriel, C/1B: $3,500 – Yuli’s one of the leagues hottest hitters right now. Since the beginning of June, Gurriel has mashed 19 bombs while striking out just 9.6% of the time and faces a pitcher who struggles with giving up homers.
Mitch Moreland, C/1B: $3,000 – I’m desperate to get Red Sox into my lineup today against Jaime Barria. Sometimes I talk about a guy’s splits, like “oh he gets crushed by lefties”, but in this case, Barria just gets crushed by all.
Mike Ford, C/1B: $2,700 – This is one of the lone cheap bats in the Yankee lineup and I want to pick on Sean Reid-Foley.
Keston Hiura, 2B: $3,600 – Real talk, remember when they sent this dude down to get Travis Shaw back in the lineup?
Hanser Alberto, 2B: $2,600 – I preface this with Wade Miley has been good, but Alberto crushes lefties and has a .407 wOBA against them.
Isan Diaz, 2B: $2,400 – Diaz’s first (and only so far) hit of his career was an absolute bomb off Jacob deGrom. If you’re looking to punt second base with some upside, here’s your boy.
Rafael Devers, 3B: $4,400 – Might be the best bat in the Red Sox lineup today.
Manny Machado, 3B: $3,900 – The Padres are my sneakier team to play. They crush lefties and face Kyle Freeland, who’s allowed a .408 wOBA to right-handed hitters this year.
Jose Ramirez, 3B: $3,400 – Ramirez is on a serious heater and gets a matchup with Drew “My Last Name Sounds Like A Fish” Smeltzer. For the year, Smeltzer’s allowed a 46.8% hard-hit rate.
Bo Bichette, SS: $3,800 – Just how good has Bichette been since his callup? He currently has a .429 ISO and .520 wOBA. He good.
Didi Gregorius, SS: $3,400 – Yay! Another cheaper bat in the Yankees’ lineup. Didi should be hitting third or fourth today, making this a must-play.
David Fletcher, SS: $2,700 – The Angels face Brad Johnson, who is not good at baseball. He’s allowed a .524 wOBA to right-handed batters this year, making the righty leading off for the Angels (Fletcher) very attractive at this price.
Mike Trout, OF: $4,800 – If you can afford this, Trout is easily the lock of the day.
Mookie Betts, OF: $4,300 – Just love the Red Sox today, as they should have a field day against Barria.
Whit Merrifield, OF: $3,400 – Definitely want to pick on Edwin Jackson, so let’s lock in their leadoff man, who should at least get two ABs against him.
Ryan Braun, OF: $3,300 – Braun still mashes lefties and faces Kolby Allard, who will make his Rangers’ debut.
Alex Gordon, OF: $2,900 – Gordon’s a professional hitter and Edwin Jackson is our target.
Wil Myers, OF: $2,800 – Myers has finally seemed to turn a corner, putting up a 127 wRC+ over the last two weeks.
Manuel Margot, OF: $2,700 – Margot has quietly been really good against left-handed pitchers, putting up a .441 wOBA against them this year.
Franmil Reyes, OF: $2,700 – Despite not being on the Padres anymore, Reyes also faces a lefty in Smeltzer today. Fish and chips time! Smeltzer and taters? Too much of a stretch?
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
We have beautiful weather across the country today. No precipitation at all and no temperatures over 86.
Doing Lines In Vegas
As of this writing, we’re currently waiting on lines in four games. Currently, the Astros (-250) and Dodgers (-200) are the biggest favorites. There are also only two games with double-digit totals in the Astros/Orioles (10.5) and Yankees/Blue Jays (10.5). I woke up Friday morning to see that Edwin Jackson may be starting for the Tigers and I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. If the Royals’ team total comes out at 4.5 runs, I’m all over the over. You get Jackson followed by a really poor Tigers bullpen.
