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Michael Conforto, OF, NYM ($3,400 DK; $2,700 FD). Injuries have derailed Conforto’s season to this point, but he gave us a glimpse yesterday with the two doubles. The Pirates are sending J.T. Brubaker to the mound who the Mets just pounded for six runs in five innings his last time out. In fact, Brubaker has allowed seven home runs in his last three starts. Conforto is hitting 74 points higher against righties this season and hit a whopping .352 against them in 2020. You know the production is coming from Conforto and the farther he gets away from the injury the better the chance. He gave a glimpse yesterday, watch him bring the noise again today against a subpar pitcher.
Andrew Vaughn, 1B/OF, CHW ($2,700 DK; $2,600 FD). He doesn’t have a hit in either of the games coming out of the break, but Vaughn is a guy I have high hopes for in the second half. The Astros are starting Framber Valdez who has been off his last two times out including a game where he allowed five earned runs and another where he walked six batters. Vaughn crushes lefties with a .303 average and 1.036 OPS as opposed to .220 and .620. Half of his ten home runs have come against southpaws despite 102 fewer at-bats against them. He has faced Valdez three times and has gotten on base all three times including a home run.
Robbie Grossman, OF, DET ($3,200 DK; $3,200 FD). He homered yesterday and had a hit in each game of the doubleheader, and I like Grossman for a couple reasons. First, the price. It is a little more value on DraftKings, but the salary on FanDuel is pretty attractive too. He hits 33 points higher at home and seven of his 13 home runs have come in Detroit despite 22 fewer at-bats there. He also hits lefties 63 points higher than he does right-handed pitching and his OPS against lefties is a very solid .929. The Twins are throwing J.A. Happ who has 12 home runs in his seven starts since the calendar changed to June.
DraftKings
Teoscar Hernández, OF, TOR ($4,300). This isn’t like a free spot, but Hernandez should be priced well higher than this. He is hitting near .300 and has 50 RBI already. He homered in his last game and is facing Kolby Allard who gave up four home runs in his last start alone. Hernandez crushes lefties with a .343 average and 1.062 OPS and a home run every 14 at-bats as opposed to a long ball every 32 at-bats against righties.
Charlie Culberson, 3B, TEX ($2,200). This is your pitcher vs batter and lefty specialist low price of the day! Culberson isn’t an everyday player, but he has hit .384 with a 1.081 OPS against lefties this season and I won’t say exactly what his average is against righties but trust me it is ugly. He has also hit .313 against Blue Jays starter Hyun Jin Ryu in his career with a double and a triple. Be sure he is in the lineup, but with these splits I’d be surprised if he was on the bench.
FanDuel
Willy Adames, SS, MIL ($2,600). Can you say hot, Hot, HOT!?!?! Adames has come out of the break smoking with six hits, five RBI, and four runs scored in the two games. The Reds are throwing Sonny Gray fresh off the Injured List. Adames has three hits including a home run in six at-bats against him and he hits 46 points higher against right-handed pitchers. The game is in Cincinnati which we know is a hitter’s paradise, and Adames is hitting .307 on the road this season. Keep the wave going with this kid today.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, KC ($3,400). He had a three-hit game right before the All-Star Break and now has three hits in the two games out of the break. The main reason he is here though is because the Orioles are throwing Matt Harvey. Yes, Matt Harvey with the 3-10 record, 7.70 ERA, and 1.76 WHIP. Eight of Benintendi’s ten home runs have come against right-handed pitching and his average is also 39 points higher against them. He has not faced Harvey in the past, but few batters have much trouble against him anymore.
Player News
Bryce Miller is going back on the injured list ahead of his expected start Wednesday, with Logan Evans set to rejoin the Mariners.
It seemed pretty clear that Miller wasn’t right in two starts since returning from a bone spur in his elbow, and while initial reports didn’t state the cause of his return to the IL, the assumption is that his elbow remains a problem. Evans was 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts before getting sent down at the end of May, so this seems like an upgrade, given the way that Miller had been throwing.
Justin Martinez exited Monday’s game against the Mariners with right elbow tightness.
Tightness doesn’t sound bad, but that’s pretty much always the initial diagnosis these days, and we’re assuming there’s a good chance Martinez, who was on the IL last month with shoulder inflammation, will land back on the injured list. Shelby Miller will be the clear favorite for saves in the Arizona pen while Martinez is sidelined, and he’s worth picking up in most leagues.
Alejandro Kirk finished 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles to lead the Jays past the Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings Monday.
The second double plated the go-ahead run in the 10th inning. It’s his seventh career four-hit game and first ever with three extra-base hits. All four of Kirk’s balls in play tonight left the bat at over 95 mph, upping his hard-hit rate to 57.3 percent. That puts him fifth place in the majors, right in between Kyle Schwarber and Aaron Judge. Alas, he’s much further down on the barrels list, which is why he has only four homers.
José BerrÃos shut out the Cardinals for 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision Monday.
BerrÃos left with a 3-0 lead that went to 4-0 before the bullpen wiped it out by giving up four runs in the bottom of the eighth. It’s pretty remarkable that he has recorded just two wins while giving the Jays nine quality starts and a 3.38 ERA over 82 2/3 innings this season. He’s pitching a little better than he did last season, when he finished 16-11 with a 3.60 ERA in 32 starts. If he matches up with Paul Skenes at any point, the score might go into the negatives. Next up, though, is a matchup with the Phillies and probably Zack Wheeler on Sunday.
Jeff Hoffman earned his 10th save with a perfect 10th inning against the Cardinals on Monday.
Hoffman had just one run to work with, so he had to prevent the automatic runner from scoring, which he accomplished by retiring the side on nine pitches. Although he’s given up a couple of homers along the way, Hoffman has converted six straight save chance since May 26.
Andre Pallante gave up two runs in six innings Monday in a no-decision against the Blue Jays.
Even if’s not a win, Pallante needed to show some improvement tonight and did so in lowering his ERA to 4.75. It’s Pallante’s first quality start in his last four tries and fifth in 13 outings overall. He’s set to pitch in Milwaukee this weekend.