Let’s do this. (And don’t forget to check out our Vegas dashboard for any line movements.)

Pitchers

Chris Sale, CWS

If you don’t mind, I’m going to pull a Freedman and quote myself:

Ask any logical person how many pitchers there are to choose from tonight, and the answer (hopefully) will be 28. But if you ask me, there are only two: Sale in cash games, and everyone else in tournaments.

That’s what I wrote about Sale prior to his last start. Once again, he’s the only viable option for cash games, perhaps even more so now as this slate has only 18 pitchers. 

Not only are his 13 Pro Trends far and away the most at his position, but Sale also leads the slate in strikeouts per nine innings. And don’t worry about the Astros: They strikeout in 25.7 percent of their at-bats versus left-handed pitchers. This isn’t 1949, so don’t worry about any death of a Sale(sman) tonight.

(I’ll see myself out.)

[Editor’s Note: When you write a line that bad, your punishment is having the line published.]

Jonathan Gray, COL

I’m admittedly not too confident in this suggestion (helluva way to start a paragraph). But if you’re going away from Sale, you’re obviously looking for someone with similar Upside. That could be Stephen Strasburg, but the Mets do have a .202 Isolated Power (ISO) versus right-handed pitching.

Instead, I’m much more inclined to take a flier on Gray, who’s the only pitcher on the slate besides Sale or Strasburg who has a double-digit SO/9. He’s also the UGK of pitchers on the road, as he has limited opponents to a -0.360 and -0.220 slugging and Weighted On-Base Differential (wOBA) away from Coors Field.

And before you ask: That would make him Drake at home. Because Drake sucks.

Pitchers to Exploit

Jeff Locke, PIT

A lot of DFS players will likely target Michael Foltynewicz against Pittsburgh, but Locke can also be stacked against, as he offers very little in the way of peripherals. He’s a lefty facing the Braves — so he has that going for him — but over the last two weeks he has allowed a slate-high batted-ball distance and exit velocity. He also has a bottom-two WHIP. Don’t go overboard with Atlanta (you never go full Braves [Editor’s Note: For reference.]), but there’s enough positive signs here to warrant exposure to Freddie Freeman or even one of their lesser known infielders.

Kendall Graveman, OAK

Both offenses in Oakland are likely to flourish, but note that Graveman is a bottom-three pitcher in terms of home runs per nine innings allowed. He also is tied with Locke and Jhoulys Chacin for the slate’s worst exit velocity allowed. I wouldn’t fade Oakland entirely, but if you’re picking only one team to stack from this game, remember that the Yankees are projected to score more runs for a reason.

C

Yan Gomes, CLE

For a guy who has the highest Rating at his position in the Bales Model, $2,700 at FanDuel is all too cheap. In fact, Gomes’ depressed salary has allowed him to achieve a strong Plus/Minus recently:

 

 

Also, Gomes has six Pro Trends, two more than any other catcher has. Even if you’re not stacking the Indians, Gomes deserves strong consideration for your cash lineups.

Stephen Vogt, OAK

Vogt has produced a 228-foot batted-ball distance as of late, but even that doesn’t matter as long as he stays sandwiched in between Khris Davis and Danny Valencia in Oakland’s lineup. Vogt’s top-10 ISO Differential and wOBA make him an enticing option in an Athletics stack tonight.

1B

Jose Abreu, CWS

Abreu’s batted-ball distance is about average over the last two weeks, but he’s still an immaculate option tonight. Note his dazzling .084/.105 wOBA and ISO Differentials. Also, opposing pitcher Colin McHugh is receiving the fewest moneyline bets of any pitcher on the slate. 

Joey Votto, CIN

Votto is slightly worse against right-handed pitching (as shown by his negative ISO Differential), but his raw slugging percentage is still top-six at his position. Given that his hard-hit percentage remains the highest among starting first basemen tonight, Votto is once again mandatory if you’re stacking the Reds.

2B

Joe Panik, SF

Panik is probably the most under-the-radar player to have a top-three slugging percentage at any position. His .087 ISO Differential is also top-four. He should have no issues flourishing against James Shields, who has allowed 1.19 HR/9 in the last year.

3B

Danny Valencia, OAK

Much like a few of his teammates, Valencia is likely to be a popular pick tonight. And why not? Since returning from injury, Valencia has led all third basemen with a 269-foot batted-ball distance, and he trails only Nolan Arenado with his .254 ISO. He’s also one of only three starters with at least five Pro Trends at his position tonight.

Jose Ramirez, CLE

The Indians are projected to score the most runs in tonight’s main slate. If you’re stacking them, Ramirez should be rostered, even with his average exit velocity over the last 10 days. After all, he is second only to Matt Carpenter in Consistency.

SS

Zack Cozart, CIN

Cozart has a bottom-five wOBA Differential vs. RHP, but he still has a top-five recent batted-ball distance at shortstop. As one of the few at his position guaranteed to hit leadoff, he’s a perfectly viable option tonight.

OF

Carlos Beltran, NYY

Brett Gardner was the priority last night, but Beltran is where you want your exposure tonight. His batted-ball distance in the last 15 days is 25 feet farther than Gardner’s. Also, like all left-handed batters in this game, Beltran is likely to benefit from the winds blowing out to right field at 16 miles per hour, especially since he has a top-three fly-ball percentage at his position.

Kevin Pillar, TOR

Even if he’s not leading off, Pillar is still a unique way to get exposure to Ervin Santana’s 0.93 HR/9. Not only does Pillar have (albeit slight) positive wOBA and ISO Differentials, but he also quietly has a top-six batted-ball distance among outfielders tonight. And his .145 steals per game should give him a little more potential to reach value.

Jay Bruce, CIN

Josh Tomlin has received 76 percent of moneyline bets, but he’s still prone to getting donged. Just note his whopping 1.83 HR/9 in the past year. Bruce might have the same batted-ball distance as Matt Joyce, Khris Davis, and Melvin Upton in the last 15 days, but his hard-hit percentage is superior to theirs.

Khris Davis, OAK

It has almost become too obvious, but if you’re using even one player from the Athletics, you should probably just go ahead and attempt to fit in Davis, as well. His .551 slugging percentage is just outside the top-10 among outfielders, but his batted-ball distance in the last 10 days is top-seven. Batting cleanup over Danny Valencia is only a plus.

Weather Watch

Another free and clear day. Enjoy.

And good luck!