So, we’re back to having to really care about weather on these MLB slates. Gone are the dog days of summer. However, there’s nothing on the radar to keep on your own radar for this evening’s collection of 11 games.
Instead, let’s just focus on the players and the stats. Let’s dive in.
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PITCHER
Stud
Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels, $9,100 – Lopez has been a completely different pitcher in his last 13 starts. Dating back to June 23, the RHP possesses a 2.51 ERA and a 2.77 FIP with a 26.5% strikeout rate. Late in 2024, Lopez is also throwing harder than he ever has before, averaging a season-best 96.8 mph with his fastball in his most recent outing on September 5. In his current form, he should have little issue working against an Angels squad that owns baseball’s lowest batting average (.189) and wRC+ (73) across the last 30 days.
Value
Alex Cobb, Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox, $7,600 – Last night the Guardians had a rookie pitcher with an ERA over 7.00 take a perfect game into the seventh inning. If you ever needed the “use anyone against the White Sox” strategy validated — that was it. Cobb was scratched from his last start on Saturday, but the veteran RHP appears ready to go on Tuesday. Cobb’s two most recent outings have been spectacular, with the 36-year-old allowing just a single earned run across 11.2 innings of work. That success will likely continue in a matchup with a Chicago lineup that owns a microscopic and league-low .086 ISO over the past 30 days.
INFIELD
Stud
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets at Toronto Blue Jays, $5,700 – It feels like you should stack against Chris Bassitt ($8,400) and the Blue Jays’ bullpen this evening. Bassitt has struggled significantly over the past couple of months, pitching to an ugly 6.03 ERA across his last 11 starts. Left-handed opponents have been the 35-year-old’s largest issue, as those within the split have combined to slash .322/.407/.568 with a .415 wOBA during this stretch. The switch-hitting Lindor will be dangerous in this matchup. Heck, he’s been dangerous in every matchup since the All-Star break, posting a 159 wRC+.
Stud
Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox, $4,500 – Naylor translated an impressive start to the season into his first-career All-Star nod back in July. Then, the veteran LHB fell into a slump. However, that underwhelming stretch appears to be over. Naylor has been red-hot in his last 10 games, slashing .366/.395/.561 with six extra-base hits. Tonight, he’ll get the privilege of facing-off with Jonathan Cannon ($5,500), who has definitely had his issues retiring left-handed hitters. Lefties are averaging 1.72 home runs per nine off Cannon with a .362 wOBA.
Value
Edouard Julien, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels, $2,900 – Julien has been his usual self since being re-called by the Twins in mid-August. In 56 plate appearances against RHPs, the Canadian infielder is slashing .294/.357/.412 with a 122 wRC+. For his career, Julien owns an .810 OPS and a 130 wRC+ within the split. He’s cheap. He’s in the platoon advantage. He’s batting leadoff versus Griffin Canning ($5,000), who has pitched to a 5.02 ERA and a 5.07 FIP in 2024. He’s nothing special.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox, $5,800 – No pitcher in baseball has surrendered more home runs this season than Kutter Crawford ($7,500), who has given up 29. Many of those have been hit by LHBs, as Crawford is allowing those within the split to leave the yard 1.94 times per nine innings. Woof. This should all be good news for Santander — a man that has already hit 40 long balls for the Orioles. Santander’s also been seeing the ball well lately, registering a .916 OPS in his last 10 games. What’s not to like?
Stud
Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres, $4,500 – There are two things are play here. First and foremost, Rodriguez has a hit in 11 straight games and few players are as streaky as the face of the Mariners’ franchise. In that 11-game sample, Julio is slashing .370/.434/.609 with a .239 ISO and a 198 wRC+. The second aspect of Rodriguez’s viability is the presence of Yu Darvish ($8,300). Darvish looked understandably rusty in his first start off the IL last week and would expect to see something similar on Tuesday.
Value
Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros, $3,900 – How is Butler still this cheap? The man comes into tonight’s action riding an 18-game hitting streak. It’s a span of 78 plate appearances where Butler is slashing .392/.423/.811 with a 248 wRC+. Plus power and an aggressive approach at the dish? It’s the perfect combination for DFS. Add in the fact that Spencer Arrighetti ($8,400) didn’t even make it out of the first inning in his last outing, and it seems like Butler is one of the slate’s best dollar-for-dollar plays.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Rally Cap [$50K to 1st]
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
