Hitters
Play of the Day: Daniel Murphy – Murphy is 4-6 with two homers lifetime vs Dickey. Murphy is keeping pace with his career high .347 average last season by hitting .340 so far this year. Six of his eleven hits vs the Braves this year have gone for extra bases.
Top Play: Nelson Cruz – Cruz ranks slightly above Bautista as an outfield target outside of the top 30 priced on Y! Tonight. Went hitless last night after back to back two hit games, but is 4-8 with 2 HR’s lifetime off the lefty Manaea.
Value Play: Wilmer Difo – Difo is available for the Nationals if you don’t have the salary to fir in Murphy at 2B tonight at only $8. Difor is 4-6 over his last two games, and has reached base safely 10 times in four July starts.
Value Play: Seth Smith – Smith leads the pack of O’s outfield options that are all priced at $12 or under. Smith is only 2-17, both for doubles in July, but face a rookie call-up in Jorge, placing them with one of the top projected run totals tonight.
Pitchers
Play of the Day: Max Scherzer – Scherzer is the largest favorite of the night, and the Braves are the only team projected to score under three runs at the moment. Since a rough stat at Atlanta on May 20th, Scherzer has pitched at least seven innings with double digit strikeouts in seven of his last eight starts.
Top Play: Zack Greinke – Greinke has won his past two starts and four of his last five to become second in the NL in wins, and third with a 1.02 WHIP. Greinke is 8-0 at home with a 2.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 11.9 K/9.
Value Play: Cole Hamels – Hamels takes the mound tonight as the 12th priced pitcher on Y!. Hamels is coming off his best start of the season, and faces an Angels team in which he has recorded five of six quality starts with a 2.93 lifetime ERA against. That includes one run off four hits vs them back in April.
GPP Play: Drew Pomeranz – Pomeranz is shuffled in with plenty of nice $44-$45 pitching options tonight. Drew is 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA over his last nine starts, and faces a Tampa team that struggles vs lefties. He struck out 11 Rays in his last start vs them last August.