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With a full 15 games on deck, we’ve got three slates on FantasyDraft tonight – the main slate starts at 7pm eastern and covers every game, and there are also late slates at 8:05 and 10:07.
Must Play SP: Carlos Carrasco, CLE ($19,400) vs MIN
There’s a ton of pitching to choose from tonight, and it feels like Carrasco is getting lost in the sea at this price. He’s had yet another fantastic season, posting a 3.13 SIERA with a 28.0% K-rate. Carrasco also has 39 strikeouts to just three walks in his last 31 1/3 innings. With those numbers, you’d expect him to be more expensive. The Twins are a middle-of-the-pack lineup against righties, so Cookie should have another stellar start.
Honorable Mention: Charlie Morton, HOU ($18,600) vs OAK
Value SP: Jakob Junis, KC ($13,800) vs DET
Junis has quietly been pitching well over the last month, posting a 3.25 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. Granted, he’s had some great matchups, but he gets another one tonight against Detroit. The Tigers have the second-lowest wOBA versus righties at .289, and you can get Junis for real cheap against them. He probably won’t go very deep into the game, but Junis is a great play in cash games for some safe innings.
Honorable Mention: Felix Hernandez, SEA ($11,300) at SD
IF Mike Moustakas, MIL ($8,300) at CIN (RHP Anthony DeSclafani)
The Brewers lineup is in line for a big day against DeSclafani, owner of a 4.97 FIP and a 1.90 HR/9. They’ll be facing him in an extreme hitter’s park in Cincinnati, which means that Moustakas has great odds at going deep. Moose has 24 homers this year, with two in his last three games, as well as a .917 OPS in the last week. Even if he doesn’t homer, Moustakas will likely drive in some runs and give you a productive day.
Honorable Mention: IF Yonder Alonso, CLE ($8,000) vs MIN (Gibson)
OF Brett Gardner, NYY ($8,100) vs CWS (RHP James Shields)
Gardner is no spectacular hitter, but his value comes from batting leadoff for the Yankees, one of the most high-powered lineups in the game. He’ll maximize his plate appearances atop the lineup, which will give him lots of chances for runs scored and any other production. James Shields has a 4.80 FIP and just got obliterated in his last time out.
Honorable Mention: IF/OF Brian Anderson, MIA ($8,500) at BOS (Johnson)
Value: IF Ian Kinsler, BOS ($7,500) vs MIA (RHP Jose Urena)
It’s been a quiet year for Kinsler, but he’s got a great matchup against Urena in Fenway, a hitter’s haven. Urena has a 4.50 ERA with just an 18.9% K-rate, making him a pitcher to target tonight. If you can pair Kinsler with any of his Red Sox teammates, you could have a nice stack.
Honorable Mention: IFJake Bauers, TB ($7,600) at ATL (Teheran)
Top Stack: Blue Jays at Orioles (LHP Josh Rogers)
Even though the Blue Jays got shut out in Baltimore last night, I’m going back to them with another easy opponent in Josh Rogers (process over results!) Rogers is making his major league debut after posting a 4.13 FIP in triple-A with the Orioles, including a pathetic 14.8% K-rate. Toronto hitters should feast on him. Some of my favorites include Justin Smoak ($8,200), Kendrys Morales ($9,700), and Devon Travis ($7,700).
Honorable Mention: Red Sox vs Marlins (Urena)