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We’ve got two slates tonight on FantasyDraft – the 7pm start covers 14 games, while the 8pm covers the seven late matchups.
Must Play SP: James Paxton, SEA ($19,600) vs SF
Grabbing pitchers in their first start back from the disabled list can be a great way to find value at starting pitcher, as they are often priced much cheaper than they usually would be with no injury. Of course, you run the risk that Paxton is still rusty in this start, but his upside is incredibly high at this price. If he’s near full strength, Paxton will have no issues producing well against a Giants lineup that has just a .299 wOBA versus lefties. As a pitcher with a 3.16 FIP and a 32.2% K-rate, Paxton has no business being this cheap, so take advantage while you can.
Honorable Mention: Masahiro Tanaka, NYY ($16,900) at TB
Value SP: Zack Wheeler, NYM ($15,700) vs SD
Wheeler has been awesome over the last month, posting a 3.16 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. He gets the easiest matchup in baseball tonight against the Padres, who are dead last with a .286 wOBA versus righties. They also have the highest K-rate at 26.0%. At this low of a price, I like Wheeler in all formats, as it’s tough to avoid him in any contests.
Honorable Mention: Shane Bieber, CLE ($15,700) vs PIT
IF Rougned Odor, TEX ($8,200) vs OAK (RHP Frankie Montas)
Odor has been an absolute monster in the last month, batting .329 with a .959 OPS while putting up five homers and seven steals. It’s easy to forget that Odor is coming off of two straight seasons with 30+ homers and 14+ steals, so he’s got a ton of fantasy potential. He’s now batting second in the Rangers order and gets a nice matchup against Montas, who has a measly 14.6% K-rate with a 5.94 Deserved Run Average.
Honorable Mention: IF Mike Moustakas, KC ($7,700) vs DET (Zimmermann)
IF/OF Nicholas Castellanos, LAA ($8,100) at KC (RHP Burch Smith)
I’m not really sure why Castellanos isn’t more expensive with the type of season he’s had – the 26-year-old’s got a 133 wRC+ in the midst of his breakout season. He will bat third in the Tigers lineup against Burch Smith, who might be the worst pitcher on tonight’s slate, as he’s got a 5.98 ERA.
Honorable Mention: IF/OF Willie Calhoun, TEX ($7,500) vs OAK (Montas)
Value: IF Rafael Devers, BOS ($7,300) at BAL (RHP Yefry Ramirez)
Devers is a cheap power play to consider in GPP contests for his power upside. While he hasn’t had an ideal sophomore season to this point, he can easily go deep in Camden Yards, one of the best offensive environments in baseball. The Red Sox lineup can put up a crooked number on any given night, so Devers can definitely get in on some RBIs.
Honorable Mention: IF Jose Abreu, CWS ($6,900) at LAA (Pena)
Top Stack: Cardinals at Reds (RHP Homer Bailey)
DFS players rejoice as human pitching machine Homer Bailey returns to the mound against the Cardinals! Bailey has a 6.68 ERA with a 2.18 HR/9 and will be facing the Cards in hitter-friendly GABP. Grab Marcell Ozuna ($7,600) and Jose Martinez ($7,700) if he’s in the lineup, and consider Matt Carpenter ($10,500) as an elite bat.
Honorable Mention: Red Sox at Orioles (Ramirez)