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Pitcher
Justin’s Pick: Joey Lucchesi
Joey Lucchesi has seen mixed results in 2019, posting a 7-5 record with a 4.27 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through 19 starts. Those numbers are backed by a 4.25 xFIP and a 4.35 SIERA. He has held his opponents to 35.2% fly ball and 13.1% HR/FB rates in 2019. He has also held them to a 34.5% hard hit rate, while recording a 16.6% soft hit rate. Lucchesi brings 22.6% strikeout and 11.3% swinging strike rates into this game. He’ll be playing in San Diego tonight, where his xFIP drops to 3.90 on the season. He gets a great matchup against the San Francisco Giants, who rank fifth on the slate in strikeouts per at-bat, while also ranking last in team wOBA. Lucchesi is currently a -141 favorite in a game set at 8 total runs tonight, and he makes a solid option in all leagues for his current price tag.
Jason’s Reaction: Joey Lucchesi is definitely one of my favorite pitcher recommendations tonight. Zack Greinke makes a lot of sense in cash, if the money is available, and he can easily be paired with Lucchesi.
Jason’s Pick: Nick Tropeano
For the first time in a while, I’m recommending that fantasy owners spend down at the pitcher position. Nick Tropeano has not pitched in the MLB since the beginning of June, but after the Los Angeles Angels played 16 innings against the Baltimore Orioles yesterday, they are desperate for well-rested arms. Tropeano provides just that, as his last pitching appearance was on July 20 in the Triple-A. Vegas seems to have quite a bit of confidence in the 28-year-old, as he is currently a -210 betting favorite to win tonight’s game, giving the Orioles an implied run total of only 3.9. Tropeano also has a strikeout prediction close to the top-end of the pitching field tonight. He is cheap, he should win, and he has strikeout upside. That kind of combination is hard to find. Roster him in all leagues.
Justin’s Reaction: I understand this, but I’m not on Tropeano tonight. I’d rather spend down for someone like Jose Urquidy.
Infielder
Justin’s Pick: Hunter Dozier
Hunter Dozier has been playing at an elite level recently, posting a .342 average with a .684 slugging percentage and a 1.129 OPS over his last 10 games. He boasts six extra-base hits (three home runs) and nine RBIs in those games, as well. Furthermore, he enters this game with 50% hard hit and 47% fly ball rates to go along with a 95 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days. Dozier gets a plus matchup against Zach Plesac, and boasts 0.069 wOBA and 0.154 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching. He’s hitting third in the Kansas City Royals lineup, and makes a solid option in all leagues for a surprisingly low price tag.
Jason’s Reaction: Justin is well aware of my infatuation with Dozier. Great recommendation.
Jason’s Pick: Joc Pederson
This constant recommendation is probably getting boring, but Joc Pederson is still entirely too cheap. He is expected to continue to hit leadoff for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, and the Washington Nationals are expected to surrender 5.4 runs. Anibal Sanchez is on the mound tonight, and Pederson enters the game with 0.196 ISO and 0.123 wOBA differentials against right-handed pitching. In the last 15 days, he has an average batted ball distance of 240 feet, an average exit velocity on batted balls of 95 MPH, a fly ball rate over 50%, and a hard hit rate over 55%. Pederson is a serious home run threat, and he has plenty of upside tonight.
Justin’s Reaction: Sanchez is due for quite a bit of regression, and I love the Dodgers lefties tonight. Pederson was going to be my pick, so I love this recommendation.
Outfielder
Justin’s Pick: Michael Conforto
Ben has put me on the New York Mets tonight, and they make for an elite stack. One of the biggest parts of their offense is Michael Conforto, who has posted a .333 average with a .429 slugging percentage and a .777 OPS over his last 10 games. He has recorded two extra-base hits (one home run) and five RBIs in those games, as well. Conforto also brings 40% hard hit and 51% fly ball rates with a 93 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days into this game. He owns 0.07 wOBA and 0.043 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching, and he gets a matchup against Dario Agrazal, who is due for major regression. Conforto is hitting second in the Mets lineup, and he’s one of many pieces that can be used tonight for them.
Jason’s Reaction: Conforto makes a great option tonight. Feel free to use him in all leagues.
Jason’s Pick: Shohei Ohtani
The Los Angeles Angels are a great team to target tonight in both cash games and tournaments. Asher Wojciechowski is scheduled to take the mound for the Baltimore Orioles, and the Angels could score as many runs as his last name is letters long. Shohei Ohtani tends to go overlooked on a team that sports baseball’s best hitter, Mike Trout, but he has plenty of upside. Ohtani is expected to hit third tonight, and he enters the game with a 0.125 ISO differential against right-handed pitching. In the last 15 days, he has an average batted ball distance of 238 feet, an average exit velocity on batted balls of 94 MPH, a fly ball rate over 30%, and a hard hit rate over 35%. His price tag is rather reasonable for his upside, and he should be under-owned, as he has not hit a home run in over 10 games.
Justin’s Reaction: I’m on Ohtani tonight, as well. Love it.
Be sure to follow Justin (@BalesSJustin) and Jason (@BalesTJason) on Twitter!
