Even though the CIN/CHC game starts at 2:20 pm (EST) and is included in the DRAFT 15-game slate, I will not be including hitters from that matchup. Instead, I’m sticking to the 14-game (7:05 pm EST start) and the four-game (9:40 pm EST start) slates on Friday’s DRAFT schedule.
Five games have an over/under of at least nine total runs, according to Vegas. Four teams are currently tied with the highest implied run total of 5.3: Indians, Nationals, Red Sox, and Yankees.
As far as pitching is concerned, three teams are heavy favorites (-200, or greater): Nationals, Astros, and Red Sox. One game has the slate-low over/under of seven total runs: TB/NYM. The Mets are favored in that matchup, so look for their pitcher to be highlighted in our rankings.
This article is posted well before lineups are released by the managers. If you have a question, feel free to reach me on Twitter @CharlieSideHstl.
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Pitchers
1. Chris Sale, BOS (@ KC)
2. Jacob deGrom, NYM (vs. TB)
3. Lance McCullers Jr., HOU (vs. CWS)
4. Freddy Peralta, MIL (vs. ATL)
5. Kenta Maeda, LAD (@ LAA)
6. Nick Pivetta, PHI (@ PIT)
7. Zack Godley, ARI (vs. SD)
8. Carlos Carrasco, CLE (vs. OAK)
9. Joey Lucchesi, SD (@ ARI)
10. Mike Foltynewicz, ATL (@ MIL)
As I noted in the intro, the TB/NYM matchup has an over/under of seven total runs (I’ve seen some sites list this game with an over/under of 6.5 total runs). The Mets are decent-sized favorites and deGrom is the main reason for those odds. He’s tallied at least seven strikeouts in eight of the last nine starts and has allowed two earned runs, or less, in eight of the last 10 performances. The Rays are 26th in runs scored (334 runs in 86 games) and 10th in strikeouts (763) this season.
Carrasco returns from the disabled list on Friday and will take the hill against the Athletics. Typically a top tier talent, I put Carrasco lower on my ranks because he hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 16th. However, Carrasco has compiled double-digit strikeouts in two of his last three MLB outings.
Infielders
1. Francisco Lindor, CLE (vs. OAK)
2. Jose Ramirez, CLE (vs. OAK)
3. J.D. Martinez, BOS (@ KC)
4. Nolan Arenado, COL (@ SEA)
5. Ozzie Albies, ATL (@ MIL)
6. Alex Bregman, HOU (vs. CWS)
7. Freddie Freeman, ATL (@ MIL)
8. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI (vs. SD)
9. Nelson Cruz, SEA (vs. COL)
10. Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (@ TOR)
11. Jose Altuve, HOU (vs. CWS)
12. Jesus Aguilar, MIL (vs. ATL)
13. Max Muncy, LAD (@ LAA)
14. Manny Machado, BAL (@ MIN)
15. Edwin Encarnacion, CLE (vs. OAK)
16. Matt Carpenter, STL (@ SF)
17. Anthony Rendon, WSH (vs. MIA)
18. Mitch Moreland, BOS (@ KC)
19. Didi Gregorius, NYY (@ TOR)
20. Matt Adams, WSH (vs. MIA)
One smart way to target hitters is to look at the stats of the lineups with the highest projected totals and select the hottest hitters. For Cleveland, they are tied with the slate-high 5.3 implied runs and Lindor leads the club with 10 hits in the past week (.417 AVG). Of those 10 hits, four were home runs and three were doubles (four walks, too).
While his team is only projected to score 3.6 runs on Friday, don’t forget about Albies when ranking your infielders. He’s produced at least two hits in three straight games and has recorded three extra-base hits in the past three starts. Albies is also 8-for-22 (.364) in the month of July, with one double, one triple, and one home run.
Outfielders
1. Mookie Betts, BOS (@ KC)
2. Mike Trout, LAA (vs. LAD)
3. Aaron Judge, NYY (@ TOR)
4. Bryce Harper, WSH (vs. MIA)
5. Nicholas Castellanos, DET (vs. TEX)
6. A.J. Pollock, ARI (vs. SD)
7. Aaron Hicks, NYY (@ TOR)
8. Michael Brantley, CLE (vs. OAK)
9. George Springer, HOU (vs. CWS)
10. Charlie Blackmon, COL (@ SEA)
11. Andrew Benintendi, BOS (@ KC)
12. Rhys Hoskins, PHI (@ PIT)
13. Shin-Soo Choo, TEX (@ DET)
14. Juan Soto, WSH (vs. MIA)
15. Eric Thames, MIL (vs. ATL)
16. Eddie Rosario, MIN (vs. BAL)
17. Ronald Acuna Jr., ATL (@ MIL)
18. Joc Pederson, LAD (@ LAA)
19. Odubel Herrera, PHI (@ PIT)
20. Wil Myers, SD (@ ARI)
Boston is tied for the slate-high 5.3 runs on Friday, and Betts leads the team with eight hits in the past week (.364 AVG). He’s also recorded five walks and a stolen base during that span. Opposing pitcher, Jason Hammel, has allowed at least six earned runs in back-to-back appearances.
Seeing the Yankees bats towards the top of the rankings shouldn’t be a surprise. However, one name might shock you. Hicks is tied for the team-lead with four home runs in the past week (.333 AVG). Add in his five walks and one stolen base in the past week and you have a player who is a threat in all facets of offense, right now.
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Adam Meyer is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Adam, check out his archive and follow him @CharlieSideHstl.