With only eight games on tap this evening, the slate leads to limited value vault options but there's some value to be mined in them. Good news, the weather appears positive across the board so be sure each player highlighted below appears in his team's lineup and act accordingly. Also note if they project better for cash game builds (a better option on a smaller slate) or tournament (GPP) play. Good luck and be well Fantasy Alarm family!
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Joc Pederson (L), Atlanta - OF ($3,500 on DK, $3,100 on FD)
Raise your hand if you knew Pederson owns a higher batting average versus left-handed pitching (.303) than right-handed ones (.215) this season. It's a perplexing result in a small sample, yet one which cannot be overlooked on a short slate tonight. Six of his 14 hits versus southpaws have resulted in extra-bases (five doubles, one home run) with a .378 on-base average this year. Plus, he owns some history against tonight's starter, Matt Moore (L) going 3-for-11 in previous match-ups with a double and a home run yielding a .294 xBA (expected batting average) along with a .741 xSLG (expected slugging) with a 99.2 MPH average exit velocity on his batted ball events. Batting lead-off with Atlanta, there's plenty of opportunity for Pederson to produce either against Moore or the leaky Phillies bullpen. Giddy up.
Matt Beaty (L), Los Angeles Dodgers - 1B/OF ($2,000 on DK, $2,300 on FD)
First, identifying a player with multiple eligibility helps suit any build in DFS. Second, Beaty hit third last night versus the Giants and may appear there again tonight if Mookie Betts (R) sits out again. Over his last 18 plate appearances, Beaty owns a .357 average getting one base 50 percent of the time. He's launched two of his four home runs at home facing right-handed pitching and reached base in all four plate appearances against Anthony DeSclafani (R) with a home run among his three hits along with a walk. His 98.7 MPH average exit velocity of his batted ball events, a potential prime spot in the batting order and a plus match-up make Beaty a solid cash game option due to his solid floor and possible upside if he produces an extra-base hit or two.
Bradley Zimmer (L), Cleveland - OF ($2,400 on DK, $2,200 on FD)
Another lead-off hitter, Zimmer's heating up with a .324/.378/.529 slash his last nine games with five runs, two home runs, six RBI and two stolen bases over 37 plate appearances. It's rare a dual threat with power and speed remains below the radar but he's burned so many in fantasy, it's understandable. Facing rookie Luis Patiño (R) at home may be a tough match-up, but all Zimmer needs to do is be on base two times and steal a base or score a run to reach three times value.
FanDuel Only
Josh Donaldson (R), Minnesota - 3B ($3,100)
Known as a lefty killer during his career, Donaldson enters tonight's match-up averaging a home run every 13.3 at-bats (six home runs in 80 at-bats) against left-handed pitching with a .263 isolated power and a .939 OPS. He's produced four barrels and 13 hard hits (54.2 percent) of his last 24 batted ball events and as a sweetener, owns a .414 xBA with a 1.026 xSLG against Andrew Heaney (L) with a home run among his three hits in seven previous at-bats during their careers. Take the bargain price on FanDuel and run with it at third base.
Miguel Rojas (R), Miami - SS ($2,600)
Grossly underpriced, the underappreciated Rojas owns a .365 batting average against left-handed pitching this year with seven doubles, two home runs and 25 runs plus RBI. He's walked nine times versus 10 strikeouts in 97 plate appearances and one should not overlook his .951 OPS with a .411 wOBA facing southpaws in 2021. Over his last 14 days, he's hitting .378 with a .533 slugging percentage and is familiar with tonight's starter, Blake Snell (L), going 3-for-5 in past interleague match-ups when he pitched for the Rays.
DraftKings Only
Tanner Houck () (R), Boston - SP ($5,300)
It's not highly recommended going after low priced second pitching options on this site, but Houck enters this match-up as a slight favorite (-135) and fired three scoreless frames against the Yankees his last time out giving up a hit and a walk with three strikeouts en route to his first career save. Facing a Yankees lineup hampered by a litany of injuries, Houck could log five innings with a chance at the win bonus at a lower price point than Rhys Hoskins (R).
Lewis Brinson (R), Miami - OF ($2,000)
Not for the risk averse, Brinson's best splits come at home against left-handed pitching (12 of 30 hits XHB, 23.7 K%). Tonight he faces a struggling Blake Snell (L) and should be in the lineup. In past match-ups, he's 2-for-5 facing him with a home run fueling a .216 xBA but an intriguing .818 xSLG with a .418 xwOBA tilting the odds in his favor. At minimum price, and in a tournament, if Brinson hit a less than five percent owned home run, things suddenly get interesting.
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.