We have an eight-game slate this evening and we have quite the spread of pitchers on the slate. From Brandon Woodruff, to Kyle Hendricks, and then to guys like Matt Manning and John Gant! Typically, Woodruff is a no-brainer, but he’s at Coors Field, so that might be of some concern. However, keep on reading to find my preferred pitcher of the day, who is not one of the top three priced guys on either site, as well as plenty of value bats on the board today. Whether you’re playing cash games or trying to take down a GPP, there are some guys below that can help you out. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Both Sites
Raimel Tapia, OF COL ($3,200 FD/$3,600 DK) - Typically when I see Brandon Woodruff pitching, I look the other way. In fact, I run the other direction. However, Tapia has at least eight points on DraftKings in four of his last five, and he has nine multi-hit efforts in 14 games this month. Furthermore, he’s notched an RBI or crossed home plate himself at least once in all but three games in June. He’s white hot and atop the lineup in a great hitter’s park. Additionally, Woodruff has pitched twice at Coors Field in his career, and across 7.2 innings of work, he’s allowed eight earned runs and has a 9.39 ERA.
Kyle Hendricks, SP CHC ($8,800 FD/$8,800 DK) - Are the days of picking on Kyle Hendricks over? They might be. He posted a 2.67 ERA in the month of May, and it’s sitting at 3.93 through three June starts. However, he’s logged six straight quality starts, and while home runs have still been an issue, he’s managed to limit the overall damage they have caused. He still isn’t striking many guys out, but he’s won six in a row and has lowered his ERA from 6.23 to 4.46 during this impressive stretch. He’s the sixth-most expensive pitcher on FanDuel, and fifth on DraftKings.
FanDuel
Tyler O’Neill, OF STL ($2,900) - O’Neill crushes righties, we all know that at this point. He’s hitting .297 off them this year with a whopping 14 home runs! The Cardinals are on the road today, and O’Neill is hitting .302 on the road this year and has homered nine times in 96 at-bats. Sheesh! Morton has struggled in his last two outings, allowing eight runs (6 earned) across nine innings of work. Home runs haven’t hurt Morton too much in 2021, but he’s getting hit a bit, and O’Neill has punished mistakes from righties this year. Additionally, Morton’s numbers at home are less impressive, most notably his 1.16 HR/9 at home (0.66 HR/9 on the road). I’d bet on that.
Brandon Lowe, 2B TB ($2,800) - Overall, batting averages aren’t overly impressive against Justin Dunn. However, the other metrics provide optimism, especially for the lefties in the Tampa Bay lineup. Dunn has allowed an OPS near .800 versus lefties, not to mention a .350 wOBA. Well, Lowe has hit righties at a .250 clip with a .358 wOBA, and a home run every 17.8 at-bats. Also, Lowe has homered once every 15.4 at-bats on the road this year, and he has at least six FanDuel points in four of his last five, including two performances with 18+ points. Dunn lives off his fastball and curveball, and Lowe has solid marks against those pitches, posting a .588 slugging percentage and .355 batting average respectively.
Chas McCormick, OF HOU ($2,000) - Chicago’s Dylan Cease has been tough on lefties, but righties have fared a bit better, hitting .258 and posting a .312 wOBA. However, the big thing to know here is that Cease has a 1.63 ERA at home this year, compared to a 5.79 ERA on the road. Well, Chicago is on the road today, and from an ERA perspective, June has been Cease’s worst month thus far (4.70). The Houston outfielder is hitting .260 off righties this year, but he does have five home runs in just 50 at-bats. He’s minimum price on FanDuel, and he has four hits in his last three games, not to mention two runs scored and one RBI in that span as well.
DraftKings
Billy McKinney, OF NYM ($2,800) - I really like Kyle Hendricks today, but if you put a bat in your lineup against him, take a look at McKinney. He’s hitting righties at a .289 clip this year, with three homers in 38 at-bats, and Hendricks has served up a .320 average and .423 wOBA to opposing lefties. If you have the money, you could take a look at Dominic Smith, but a cost-effective option in the New York lineup is definitely McKinney. Oh, McKinney has also homered off Hendricks, so there’s that.
Jake Bauers, 1B SEA ($2,500) - Since coming to Seattle, Bauers has been solid, hitting safely in six of seven games and posting a quality .333 average in that span. We haven’t seen much of Bauers against lefties this year, but he does have three hits in four at-bats against opposing southpaws. Rich Hill hasn’t been friendly to lefties, so there’s some cause for concern there, but for the price point here, you could do worse, and Bauers may not see too much of Hill, as he’s failed to go more than five innings in any of his last three starts.