On tonight’s MLB slate, there are many pick ’em options at Underdog Fantasy. However, two teams are well represented in this piece, with a pair of hitters suggested from both clubs. And one pitcher in an excellent matchup is also featured.
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Tuesday’s Top Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick ‘Em Picks
Josh Naylor: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher
Naylor is raking with the platoon advantage this year. According to FanGraphs, in 262 plate appearances against righties, Naylor has 17 doubles, 11 homers, a .318 batting average, a .527 slugging and a .209 ISO.
Conversely, Zack Greinke is dreadful against lefties. He’s coughed up eight doubles, one triple, nine homers, a .327 batting average and a .552 slugging to 176 lefties this year. Kansas City’s bullpen is also a tire fire, allowing the second-highest BABIP (.320) and the third-highest ERA (5.16) this season.
Jose Ramirez: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher
Ramirez is also excellent exposure to Greinke’s struggles against lefties. Cleveland’s switch-hitting third baseman has 17 doubles, four triples, eight homers, a .320 batting average, a .516 slugging and a .196 ISO in 292 plate appearances against righties this year. Thus, like Naylor, he should have over 1.5 total bases in a Charmin-soft matchup tonight.
Andrew Abbott: 5.5 Strikeouts – Higher
In nine starts spanning 55.2 innings this year, Abbott has a 2.10 ERA, 3.44 xERA, 0.92 WHIP, 57 strikeouts, 9.22 K/9, 26.8 K% and 27.6 CSW%. The rookie lefty has pitched at least 6.0 innings in seven of nine starts and struck out over 5.5 batters six times.
Abbott has faced the Brewers three times and struck out six, six and three batters. The strikeout success shouldn’t come as a surprise, either. The Brewers are tied for the highest strikeout rate (26.7 K%) against lefties this season. Milwaukee also has a 25.6 K% at home this year.
Freddie Freeman: 9.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Freeman is smashing righties this year. In 326 plate appearances against righties this season, he has 26 doubles, two triples, nine homers, a .335 batting average, a .540 slugging and a .205 ISO. Freeman is also white-hot this month, banging out seven doubles, one triple, six homers, a .370 batting average, a .740 slugging and a .370 ISO in 84 plate appearances in July.
He should rip the cover off the ball in a cushy matchup tonight. Chris Bassitt has struggled against lefties and on the road this year. And when combining both splits, he’s been a disaster. Bassitt has coughed up nine doubles, one triple, 11 homers, a .360 batting average and a .757 slugging to 121 lefties on the road this year.
James Outman: 0.5 Total Bases – Higher
Outman is a second piece of exposure to Bassitt’s inability to handle lefties on the road. In 259 plate appearances against righties this season, Outman has 29 singles, eight doubles, three triples, 11 homers, a .226 batting average, a .434 slugging and a .208 ISO. The left-handed hitter’s batting average leaves much to be desired. Still, lefties have an absurd .360 batting average against Bassitt in the pitcher’s road starts.
Whether you’re new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to a more advanced strategy – like Maximizing Your Potential in Multi-Lineup Contests – to learn more.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.