Catcher/First Base, High End Spend
Anthony Rizzo, $4,100
N/A
Rizzo has gotten off to a very slow start this season and part of that is he’s spent part of the season on the disabled list with a back issue. It’s just a matter of time before he gets going and he gets to face Josh Tomlin, who hands out home runs at a frightening pace. Even this season, his fly ball rate is spiked to almost 50 percent and the hard contact is above his career normals as well. Rizzo hammers righty pitchers and Tomlin is struggling against lefty hitters this season to the tune of a .604 wOBA and a 43 precent hard hit rate. The factors all line up for Rizzo tonight.
Also Consider – Paul Goldschmidt, $4,600 and Hanley Ramirez, $4,000
Mid-Range
Jose Abreu, $3,600
N/A
There are 16 players listed ahead of Abreu tonight which is frankly quite stunning. The White Sox are up against lefty Marco Gonzales and Abreu has always feasted on lefty pitching. That’s held true this season as the first baseman for the Sox has posted a .333 average, an .868 OPS and a .380 wOBA. Gonzales seems ill-equipped to stop Abreu today since he’s been smoked by righty hitters this season. He’s giving up a .328 average to go along with a .350 wOBA and a 41 percent hard contact rate. This is one of the plays that make me want to play at least a little bit of money in the all day slate.
Also Consider – Chris Iannetta, $3,200 and Ryan Zimmerman, $2,900(borderline must play even on a big slate)
Value
Lucas Duda, $2,300
.200/.429/.200 with 0 HR in 5 at-bats
Duda may not be the best all-around player but he’s useful at one thing- hitting right-handed pitching. It’s a bummer that this game isn’t in Milwaukee but Duda has the power to leave any ball park. He’s been hitting righties exceptionally well so far in 2018 with a .300 average, an .814 OPS and a .362 wOBA. Opposing starter Zach Davies is nothing too special and he’s giving up fly balls and hard contact around 34 percent of the time. He’s yet to give up a home run to a lefty batter but that’s due to change, possibly by tonight.
Also Consider – Wellington Castillo, $2,300