All 30 MLB teams are playing tonight. So, the pick ’em lobby at Underdog Fantasy is overflowing with options. Today’s pick ’em predictions narrow the top choices to five picks. The picks mix higher and lower selections and hitter and pitcher choices.
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Tuesday’s Top Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick ‘Em Picks
Austin Hedges: 0.5 Hits – Lower
Hedges isn’t on the field for his offense. According to FanGraphs, Hedges has a .160 batting average in 147 plate appearances this year. The veteran catcher has a .187 batting average in 2,148 plate appearances in his career. Additionally, Hedges has had a .174 batting average and 89 hits in 568 plate appearances and 216 games against righties since 2021. Additionally, Hedges bats ninth for the Pirates and is a candidate to get pulled for a pinch-hitter. Thus, he’s had three plate appearances or fewer in 32 of 48 games this year.
The matchup isn’t easy for Hedges tonight, either. Yu Darvish has held 137 righties faced this year to a .230 batting average. So, Hedges will have his work cut out for him to record a hit tonight.
Rodolfo Castro: 0.5 Hits – Lower
Castro won’t have an easy time against Darvish, either. Darvish allowed only a .257 batting average to 194 left-handed batters in 2023.
Yet, Castro’s ineptitude against righties is the most encouraging reason to take the lower for 0.5 hits. The switch-hitting utility player crushes lefties. However, he’s dreadful against righties. In 358 plate appearances against righties since reaching the majors in 2021, he’s had a .196 batting average. Castro has been worse this year, too. He has only a .174 batting average in 104 plate appearances against righties in 2023. So, like Hedges, he’ll have difficulty rattling off a hit tonight.
Garrett Whitlock: 4.5 Strikeouts – Higher
Whitlock has bat-missing stuff. Per FanGraphs, in eight starts spanning 46.0 innings, he has a 13.3 SwStr%, markedly higher than the league average (11.0 SwStr%) this year. Sadly, Whitlock’s strikeouts haven’t been eye-popping.
He has produced 39 strikeouts, 7.63 K/9 and a 21.0 K% in 46.0 innings. Still, Whitlock has had over 4.5 strikeouts in six of eight starts. Furthermore, he’s struck out batters at a stellar rate at home. In 104.1 innings at home in his career, Whitlock has had 101 strikeouts, 8.71 K/9 and a 24.4 K%. He’s also cleared five strikeouts in all three of his starts at Fenway Park this season.
The Marlins aren’t the easiest lineup to strike out. However, they have a 21.9 K% against righties and a 22.1 K% on the road in 2023. Therefore, they’re not impossible to strike out.
Ranger Suarez: 4.5 Strikeouts – Higher
Suarez isn’t a high-strikeout pitcher. Still, he’s on a roll and can strike out batters. In his last five starts spanning 32.2 innings, he’s had a 1.38 ERA, 3.58 xFIP, 1.04 WHIP, 29 strikeouts, 7.99 K/9, a 22.7 K% and 27.6 CSW%. The lefty has struck out over 4.5 batters in three straight starts and in four of his last six.
The matchup is mouthwatering for Suarez’s strikeout potential tonight. The Cubs have a 25.0 K% against lefties this year. They also have a 23.0 K% at home in 2023. As a result, Suarez should strike out over 4.5 batters tonight.
Ryan Noda: 0.5 Walks – Higher
Noda is a walk-earning machine. The 27-year-old rookie has a 17.5 BB% in 240 plate appearances against righties this year. His patience has resulted in a walk in 35 of 66 starts this season.
Conversely, Jhony Brito isn’t shy about issuing free passes. This season, the right-handed hurler has allowed 10 walks to 84 left-handed batters (11.9 BB%). Finally, Noda should have plenty of chances to walk tonight since he’ll slot into one of Oakland’s top three spots in the lineup.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.