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Tonight’s FantasyDraft slate features 28 teams and starts at 7pm eastern. We’ve got lots of different lineup combinations to choose from, so let’s get to some picks!
Must Play SP: Chris Sale, BOS ($21,100) vs CWS
Sale is cheaper than Verlander, Bauer, and Strasburg tonight, but I like his odds to be Friday’s top pitcher. Even coming off of two poor starts, Sale’s numbers are eye-popping, as he’s got a 34.0% K-rate with a 2.33 Deserved Run Average. He’s got massive strikeout upside against the White Sox, who strike out 27.0% of the time against lefties, which is the highest mark in the league. The White Sox also have just a .300 wOBA against southpaws, ranking them 24th. This is the perfect opportunity to buy Sale at his lowest price.
Honorable Mention: Jacob deGrom, NYM ($20,200) vs NYY
Value SP: Vince Velasquez, PHI ($16,100) vs MIL
Velasquez has been on fire in the last month, striking out 41 batters in 28 2/3 innings with a 2.20 ERA. Velasquez can continue his strikeout rampage against the Brewers, who strike out 24.6% of the time against righties. The Brewers aren’t a bad lineup, and Philadelphia is a hitter’s park, so be careful with Velasquez in cash games. However, in GPP tournament contests, Velasquez’s upside can pay off.
Honorable Mention: Masahiro Tanaka, NYY ($18,500) at NYM
IF Anthony Rendon, WAS ($7,600) vs SF (LHP Andrew Suarez)
Rendon is batting .313 with a .942 OPS in the last 15 days and is in a fantastic spot batting third for the Nationals, where he can rake in runs and RBIs. Opposing starter Andrew Suarez has a 4.74 ERA this year and most importantly he’s left-handed. Rendon crushes lefties, as he’s got a .394 wOBA against them this season. It’s not clear why Rendon is priced so cheap, but he can certainly provide value on Friday.
Honorable Mention: IF Alex Bregman, HOU ($8,300) at TEX (Fister)
OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($7,600) at CIN (RHP Matt Harvey)
Ozuna has gotten his act back together, batting .375 with a .994 OPS and two homers in the last 15 days. His full season line is finally beginning to look respectable and he’s got a great matchup tonight. Matt Harvey has a 5.79 ERA with a 1.75 HR/9 and will be pitching in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in all of baseball. Look for Ozuna to drive in some runs out of the Cardinals cleanup spot.
Honorable Mention: OF Teoscar Hernandez, TOR ($7,700) vs BAL (Cashner)
Value: OF Odubel Herrera, PHI ($7,500) vs MIL (RHP Jhoulys Chacin)
Herrera’s price has tanked because of a cold streak, but he’s still worth playing on Friday. Herrera still has a 128 wRC+ this year with a career low 17.8% K-rate, and is in an awesome spot batting second against Jhoulys Chacin. Chacin hasn’t pitched nearly as well as his ERA would suggest, as he’s got just a 17.2% K-rate with a 10.0% walk-rate, good for a 4.00 FIP. His 5.21 Deserved Run Average is even worse. In a hitter’s park, the Phillies could put up plenty of runs on Chacin, and Herrera will definitely be involved.
Honorable Mention: IF Kendrys Morales, TOR ($6,300) vs BAL (Cashner)
Top Stack: Blue Jays vs Orioles (RHP Andrew Cashner)
Cashner is one of the worst regular starters in baseball, with a 5.02 ERA and a 5.01 FIP. He’ll be facing the Jays in Toronto, which is an extreme hitter’s park. Most of these Blue Jays bats are very affordable against him: Justin Smoak ($8,200) is the most you’ll have to shell out. Teoscar Hernandez ($7,700), Yangervis Solarte ($7,700), and Curtis Granderson ($6,700) are all worth playing.
Honorable Mention: Cardinals at Reds (Harvey)