Let’s do this.

Pitchers

Jake Arrieta, CHC

Even in a slate with Clayton Kershaw and six pitchers priced over $10k today, Jake Arrieta tends to stand out the most. His SO/9 rate is “only” top five, but his batted-ball distance allowed of 177 feet leads all pitchers. Furthermore, his exit velocity of 85 mph is equivalent to Max Scherzer. Projected to allow only 2.9 runs, Arrieta is arguably the top cash option at DraftKings, where he has a Bargain Rating of 78%.

David Price, BOS

The Rays have produced a wOBA of only .245 vs. LHP this season. With as many Pro Trends as Kershaw tonight, Price can easily be argued as a secondary cash option, or even an overlooked tournament play. His rather-high WHIP of 1.12 isn’t considered an issue, as Tampa Bay has accumulated a bottom-two BB% versus lefties this season.

Pitchers to Exploit

Chris Tillman, BAL

Although a batted-ball distance allowed of only 187 feet, Tillman finds himself in an impossible position of pitching to Toronto at Camden Yards — the Blue Jays’ projected wOBA is the third highest tonight. With the wind blowing 11 mph out to left field, all right-handed batters — of note, Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Troy Tulowitzki — are certainly considered an elite cash stack.

Mike Pelfrey, DET

I believe the phrase I used prior to his last start was “Pelfrey shouldn’t be starting in a major league game.” He did actually end up going as far as six innings, but note his 2:1 BB/K ratio that evening. Projected to allow 5.1 runs, it’s an easy spot to roster the top half of the Royals lineup. Both Pelfrey’s WHIP and SO/9, for instance, are bottom three among pitchers tonight.

C

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DET

Even if Saltalamacchia weren’t leading the AL in RBIs (a stat I’m sure has no relevance whatsoever), there might not be anyone hitting the ball better at any position. His batted-ball distance (269 feet), exit velocity (98 mph) and hard-hit percentage (46%), for instance, are far and away the highest among catchers with at least six starts. Despite his -.103 ISO Differential vs. RHP, Saltalamacchia is an elite cash option if in their starting lineup.

1B

Jose Abreu, CWS

Our models show Abreu with wOBA and ISO Differentials of .079/.133. With the White Sox projected to score 4.7 runs, Abreu is certainly a cash option at FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 90%.

Eric Hosmer, KC

Hosmer actually includes a higher Bargain Rating (93%) than Abreu at FanDuel. Although a lower ISO and slugging percentage than Kendrys Morales, Hosmer is still considered the stronger option for an equivalent price. He, of course, can additionally meet expectations in other ways, as shown by his steal rate of .038 per game (top five among first basemen).

2B

Ben Zobrist, CHC

Only James Shields (1.57) has a higher HR/9 rate than Brandon Finnegan (1.47) over the last 12 months. This is the part where I mention Zobrist’s slugging and ISO of .241/.527 vs. LHP, both top-three marks among second basemen. Even if he were to continue batting sixth, his absurdly low price of $2,900 at FanDuel is all too good to pass on.

3B

Jose Ramirez, CLE

As long as Cleveland wants to bat Ramirez at leadoff, he remains an intriguing tournament option. His Distance Differential of 22 feet qualifies in the top four at his position. It only bodes well that Nate Karns has been pelted for a bottom-three batted-ball distance this season.

SS

Javier Baez, CHC

Baez is expected to hit one spot ahead of Zobrist, making the duo an immaculate stack. As mentioned previously, Finnegan’s HR/9 qualifies as bottom two in this entire slate. Baez’s wOBA and ISO Differentials are both fortuitously the highest among shortstops. Given his ridiculous .682 slugging percentage vs. LHP, Baez arguably makes for the most valuable skill position player in this slate.

OF

Adam Eaton, CWS

Eaton is slugging only .484, but now finds himself leading off against Jered Weaver at the hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field. Although a median Park Factor of 40, the White Sox are projected to score the third-most runs tonight. Eaton remains a steal at FanDuel where he has a Bargain Rating of 95%.

Justin Upton, DET

With a righty back on the mound, Upton is once again considered a strong tournament play. His ISO Differential, after all, is .113 higher against said handedness.

Chris Coghlan, OAK

Luis Severino admittedly isn’t the best pitcher to target (as proven by his slate-low FB% of 11% this season), but Coghlan is suddenly a two-hole hitter with a $1,000 discount at FanDuel. It’s additionally an advantageous spot as his wOBA Differential of .184 is the highest among outfielders with at least five starts. As long as he sits second in their batting order once more, Coghlan even warrants cash consideration (due solely to his value).

Preston Tucker, HOU

There’s always an outside chance Tucker plays when Houston opposes a RHP, and today is no exception. If starting, he’s a strong tournament option given his exit velocity that remains a mirror-image of Jose Bautista’s. He also has an ISO Differential of .212 against said handedness.

Weather Watch

Mariners-Indians will almost undoubtedly see showers, but as the first game of the day, there shouldn’t be any issue regarding postponement. If anything, that keeps their hitters in play (but not so much pitchers since a delay is entirely possible). Angels-White Sox, on the other hand, needs to be monitored closely — thunderstorms are expected about an hour into first pitch.

Good luck!