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All 30 teams are in action tonight, and we’ve got two slates on FantasyDraft. The 7pm eastern slate covers all 15 matchups, while the 10pm slate covers just the three late games.
Must Play SP: Rich Hill, LAD ($16,800) at SD
Hill’s price is low right now because he exited his last start with neck tightness. Of course, there’s always an injury risk with Hill, but he seems to be completely healthy entering this start and has an awesome matchup against the Padres. They’ve got the third-highest K-rate against lefties at 24.5%, as well as just a .295 wOBA. We know that Hill can flat-out dominate when he’s healthy, as he showed against Colorado when he struck out 10 batters in seven innings. I love Hill in GPP contests for his huge upside at a low cost.
Honorable Mention: Justin Verlander, HOU ($25,600) vs OAK
Value SP: Jhoulys Chacin, MIL ($15,900) at MIA
I don’t believe that Jhoulys Chacin is actually a very good pitcher. However, I do believe that he can produce a valuable start for you at this price against the Marlins, one of the worst lineups in baseball. Miami has a .303 wOBA versus righties and are at home in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league. Chacin is coming off of an outstanding start against the Braves where he struck out seven over seven innings with just one earned run. If he can do that well at home against a tough lineup, he should have no problems here.
Honorable Mention: Jose Quintana, CHC ($16,200) at SF
IF Jose Abreu, CWS ($7,400) vs STL (RHP Miles Mikolas)
Not that fan voting really means anything, but it’s crazy to see the starting first baseman for the American League in the All-Star Game at such a low price tonight. Abreu has been abysmal over the last month or so, but he’s certainly not this bad of a hitter. He’s got a career 134 wRC+ and should be turning things around any day now. While opposing starter Miles Mikolas isn’t a bad pitcher, he’s got just a 17.1% K-rate, so Abreu will be putting the ball into play.
Honorable Mention: IF Ketel Marte, ARI ($8,200) at COL (Anderson)
OF Curtis Granderson, TOR ($7,200) at ATL (RHP Julio Teheran)
Granderson has quietly put together an awesome season against right-handed pitching, as he’s got a 131 wRC+ against righties this year. He’s in a great spot batting leadoff for the Blue Jays in an extreme hitter’s park in Atlanta. Julio Teheran has a 5.15 ERA at home this year, so if the Blue Jays have a big day against him, Granderson will certainly be involved in some runs.
Honorable Mention: OF Nomar Mazara, TEX ($7,500) at BOS (Velasquez)
Value: OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($6,500) at CWS (RHP Dylan Covey)
If nothing else, Ozuna is a dirt cheap cleanup hitter in a lineup that should score a ton of runs on Dylan Covey. Covey has a 5.54 ERA, so Ozuna should be in line for lots of RBIs. It’s pretty much impossible to find a cleanup hitter at this price, and it’s not like Ozuna is horrible, so I’m rolling him out in GPPs for his upside.
Honorable Mention: IF Yonder Alsonso, CLE ($7,200) vs CIN (Romano)
Top Stack: Indians vs Reds (RHP Sal Romano)
The Indians should score lots of runs against Sal Romano, who has a 5.40 ERA with a 5.18 FIP. Getting one of Jose Ramirez ($10,900) or Francisco Lindor ($10,200) will always work out well, and there are some cheaper bats to pair them with like Edwin Encarnacion ($8,700), Yonder Alonso ($7,200), and Jason Kipnis ($7,600).
Honorable Mention: Yankees at Orioles (Cashner)