Baseball is back! Check back here throughout the day for updated blurbs as teams confirm their lineup. We’ll keep you updated on some of the day’s highest-impact trends by utilizing our Models and Vegas dashboard. Projected and confirmed lineups for every game can be found on our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Giants (-154) at Reds (+142) — 7:10 PM
Joe Panik will move up to the two-hole for the first time since late June, and Buster Posey will slide down to the third spot in the lineup vs. the Reds and righty Matt Harvey on Saturday. Although the Giants are implied to score 4.7 runs, they have the third-highest Team Value Rating (87) on FanDuel. Panik sticks out as a viable punt option at $2,200 on FanDuel. He leads the team with seven FanDuel Pro Trends, a 227-foot recent batted ball distance, and a 42% recent hard hit rate. Among second basemen, he carries the seventh-highest year-long wOBA, but he’s significantly cheaper than the rest of the options while also averaging the lowest SO/AB (0.061) rate. His upside is limited, but he’s a cost-effective second baseman.
Rays (+185) at Red Sox (-202) — 7:10 PM
Carlos Gomez will bat leadoff for the second time all season, and Mallex Smith will sit against the Red Sox and left-hander David Price on Saturday. Gomez has the second-lowest wOBA in the lineup, and the Rays are presently implied to score 3.5 runs — the lowest mark in the main slate. Rain is in the forecast, which reduces the appeal for Price in cash games despite the solid matchup. Tommy Pham is the only Ray with a positive recent batted ball distance, which is highly skewed since it’s based on a two-game sample. Only two Rays have a positive ISO differential and three Rays have a positive wOBA differential against lefties over the last 12 months. Price’s recent Statcast data increases his appeal, but that is offset by the forecast.
Angels (-127) at Rangers (+117) — 8:05 PM EST
Rangers in: Adrian Beltre (strained left hamstring)
After missing the previous three games due to a strained left hamstring, Adrian Beltre will bat third as the designated hitter vs. the Angels and left-hander Andrew Heaney on Saturday. Additionally, Rougned Odor will bat leadoff for the first time this season. The Rangers are one of six teams presently implied to score at least 5.0 runs in the main slate, and they face a pitcher with the fourth-highest HR/9 (1.687) rate. A light rain could impact the game slightly, but both offenses are projected to perform well as hitters possess a solid 81 Weather Rating. When Rangers hitters have claimed a similar rating at home since last season, they’ve averaged a FantasyLabs’ +1.73 FanDuel Plus/Minus. Heaney has limited hitters to a 194-foot recent batted ball distance, but the humidity and temperature will benefit the hitters tonight.
