I’m filling in for Elliott today to provide you my cornerstone plays of the day and the top pitching options. It is a smaller eight-game slate with a few aces to choose between and enough gas cans on the mound that you should have no trouble finding enough value in the lineup to afford an ace if you want. I’ve got a different plan, however.
Win cash playing in FanDuel’s MLB Squeeze 
Pitcher Analysis
With Patrick Corbin (@ NYM) and Chris Paddack (vs ARI) as options, you can bet on 70% of the ownership ending up with one of them. While both are quality plays, you can’t stack the Astros while squeezing in an ace’s salary as well. Some will turn to Mike Soroka (@ SFG), Luke Weaver (@ SDP) or even the blazing Jake Odorizzi (@ LAA) but we still haven’t cut enough money for my liking because I also want exposure to the Rangers against Mike Leake. Truly, I’d rather fade all of those quality pitchers than fade the prized lineups today with a combined implied total over 12 runs. Guys, that is like a Coors Field game on steroids. Give me Brad Peacock at $7,800 and I’ll see you in the green.
I’m filling in for Elliott today to provide you my cornerstone plays of the day and the top pitching options. It is a smaller eight-game slate with a few aces to choose between and enough gas cans on the mound that you should have no trouble finding enough value in the lineup to afford an ace if you want. I’ve got a different plan, however.
Win cash playing in FanDuel’s MLB Squeeze
Pitcher Analysis
With Patrick Corbin (@ NYM) and Chris Paddack (vs ARI) as options, you can bet on 70% of the ownership ending up with one of them. While both are quality plays, you can’t stack the Astros while squeezing in an ace’s salary as well. Some will turn to Mike Soroka (@ SFG), Luke Weaver (@ SDP) or even the blazing Jake Odorizzi (@ LAA) but we still haven’t cut enough money for my liking because I also want exposure to the Rangers against Mike Leake. Truly, I’d rather fade all of those quality pitchers than fade the prized lineups today with a combined implied total over 12 runs. Guys, that is like a Coors Field game on steroids. Give me Brad Peacock at $7,800 and I’ll see you in the green.
Peacock has 1 or fewer runs allowed in 4 of his 7 starts this season and is a virtual lock to get the win with the Astros’ lineup taking on a lefty. He might not secure a quality start but you can also be sure a blowup isn’t in store versus the White Sox. At his salary, I’m looking for just 30 points to hit value. With the win in hand, that means we need just 5 innings, 5 Ks and 2 ER to make the mark.
Four Cornerstones
Tyler White (C/1B – HOU): $2,400 vs CWS
With both Aledmys Diaz and George Springer out of the lineup in Houston, White could jump to second in the order. Even if he doesn’t, we are talking about one of the supreme lefty-mashers in baseball at an incredible price. Last season White hit 10 homers against southpaws in 155 at-bats and prior to then, he carried a 1.073 OPS in the minors. Jordan Guerrero is by far the worst pitcher on the slate tonight so don’t hesitate to use four lineup slots for Astros.
Rougned Odor (2B – TEX): $2,900 vs SEA
Don’t look now, but Odor is getting hot again. You likely gave up on him for the third time in his career, but we should know by now that he is as streaky of a hitter as you’ll find. Eventually, it always balances out, as evidenced by his 87 HRs and 264 runs since 2016. Both of those numbers are more than Javier Baez, and Odor has just as many steals as well. Add in a killer split situation tonight against Mike Leake and an implied 6.00 runs from Vegas and you’ve got to take advantage of his low price tag.
Willie Calhoun (OF – TEX): $3,000 vs SEA
Calhoun may not be Vlad Jr. or Chris Paddack, but he belongs in the conversation with Michael Chavis, Nick Senzel and others as one of the top rookies this season. Although he is 5’8″, Calhoun hits the ball extraordinarily hard. You won’t be surprised to find out that he carried a .973 OPS in Triple-A before his debut. He should be batting second tonight for the Rangers who may put up double-digit runs this evening so five trips to the plate seems likely.
Alex Bregman (3B – HOU): $4,300 vs CWS
If you are going to spend on on any one hitter, I’d recommend Bregman. With George Springer likely out of the lineup, Bregman should be batting lead-off and could see 5 or even 6 trips to the plate. In a smaller sample size, Bregman hasn’t done much this year versus lefties but over the last three years, he has been significantly better than against righties. His .311/.389/.548 line over that time is among the best in all of baseball. His opponent, Jordan Guerrero, had a 7.82 ERA in Triple-A before being called up, and last year, it was 6.06 in Double-A.
Current Cash Game Lineup
*subject to change based on final starting lineups
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