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We’ve got two slates on FantasyDraft tonight – the main slate covers all 15 games and starts at 7pm eastern, and there’s a late slate at 9:40.
Must Play SP: Blake Snell, TB ($22,200) vs KC
Snell got up to 76 pitches in his last start, so I’m confident running with him tonight against the Royals. He can easily go deep into his start tonight against the Royals, who are the third-worst lineup against lefties with their .287 wOBA. Kansas City also has a 23.5% K-rate against southpaws, so Snell has huge strikeout potential with his 28.5% K-rate. Snell has progressed into an ace this season, with a 2.70 Deserved Run Average, and he’s my favorite starter available.
Honorable Mention: Patrick Corbin, ARI ($23,100) vs LAA
Value SP: Steven Matz, NYM ($12,200) vs SF
Sometimes you have to take some risks to win big in DFS contests. Matz has got blown up in his first start back from the disabled list, and was struggling before he was placed on the DL. However, he’s had some extremely tough matchups recently, and I think he can bounce back here against the Giants. The Giants have a very weak .298 wOBA versus lefties, and Matz gets to face them in pitcher-friendly Citi Field. There’s lots of upside here against a poor lineup, and you can get Matz at a cheap price and a low ownership rate. I’m rolling with him in GPP contests.
Honorable Mention: Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD ($17,800) vs STL
IF Mike Moustakas, MIL ($8,300) vs CIN (RHP Sal Romano)
Moustakas is in a fantastic spot batting third in the Brewers lineup where he can rack up runs and RBIs against Sal Romano. Romano got lit up for six earned runs his last time out, and he’s got a 5.16 FIP with a 1.53 HR/9 this year. The Brewers should score plenty of runs against him in the extreme hitter’s environment in Miller Park. Moose should easily give you some production tonight.
Honorable Mention: IF Jake Bauers, TB ($7,200) vs KC (Sparkman)
IF/OF Kyle Schwarber, CHC ($8,400) at DET (RHP Jordan Zimmermann)
Schwarber has hit right-handed pitching well this season, with a 126 wRC+. He’s got a ton of power upside against Zimmermann, who has a 1.62 HR/9 and a 4.36 ERA. The Cubs lineup is going to tee off on Zimmermann, so Schwarber should see plenty of RBI opportunities.
Honorable Mention: IF/OF Nicholas Castellanos, DET ($8,300) vs CHC (Hendricks)
Value: IF Jonathan Villar, BAL ($7,700) at TOR (RHP Sam Gaviglio)
Batting second for the Orioles, Villar has nice fantasy upside. He’s got nine homers and 18 steals in just 355 plate appearances this year, and he will get multiple opportunities against Sam Gaviglio. Gaviglio has an awful 5.13 ERA and will be pitching in a hitter-friendly park in Toronto.
Honorable Mention: IF Asdrubal Cabrera, PHI ($7,200) at WAS (Roark)
Top Stack: Nationals vs Phillies (RHP Vince Velasquez)
Velasquez has been ineffective as of late and there are some great discount bats you can stack against him. Anthony Rendon ($8,000), Ryan Zimmerman ($8,100) and Daniel Murphy ($8,400) are all affordable, and you can pair them with Bryce Harper ($9,800) or Trea Turner ($9,000).
Honorable Mention: Cubs at Tigers (Zimmermann)