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Three Up, Three Down: MLB DFS Overview for Sat. July 20- Evening Slate

By Juan Carlos Blanco

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

Three Up for Saturday, July 20- Evening Slate

Best Pitcher

Luis Castillo, CIN vs. STL:

Castillo has been outstanding at home this season and has also stymied most current Cardinals hitters during his career, making him particularly appealing Saturday. The hard-throwing right-hander has limited St. Louis hitters to a collective .194 average and .294 on-base percentage over a sample of 139 at-bats. He’s missed a ton of those bats altogether, with 46 of the 112 outs he’s recorded during that span having come on strikeouts.

Castillo also boasts a 1.69 ERA, .146 BAA and .209 wOBA over 64.0 home innings. He’s generated a 28.0 percent strikeout rate and 3.40 xFIP at Great American Ballpark, while the Cardinals entered Friday night’s action with a .267 wOBA, 26.3 percent strikeout rate and -10.0 wRAA against right-handed pitching on the road over the last month of play.

ALSO CONSIDER: Clayton Kershaw, LAD vs. MIA; Zack Greinke, ARI vs. MIL;

Best Hitter 

Francisco Lindor, CLE vs. KCR:

Lindor boasts an outstanding track record versus Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis, having lit up the right-hander for a .500 average over 23 career plate appearances. That sample includes six extra-base hits (three doubles, three home runs) and only one strikeout. The switch-hitter has also enjoyed his greatest success versus righties, as evidenced by his .307 average, 12 home runs, .361 wOBA and .241 ISO versus that handedness.

In turn, Junis is yielding a .351 wOBA to left-handed hitters that rises to .364 when facing them on the road. He’s also surrendered a 44.1 percent hard-contact rate to lefty bats, along with a 2.5 HR/9 when traveling. Then, when Junis exits, Lindor will still have an appealing matchup, considering Royals relievers entered Friday night’s action surrendering a .346 wOBA (including 15 extra-base hits) on the road over the last month of play.

Best Stack

Reds vs. Cardinals (RHP Miles Mikolas):

As good as the matchup is for Castillo against the Cardinals offense, it’s equally appealing for the Reds bats against Miles Mikolas. The veteran right-hander hasn’t come close to replicating his 2018 form this season, and he’s experienced the overwhelming majority of his issues on the road. Mikolas sports a 7.40 ERA, .340 BAA and .407 wOBA across 41.1 away frames, and he also owns a mediocre 63.0 percent strand rate outside of Busch Stadium.

Current Reds bats have had plenty of success versus Mikolas as well. They own a collective .311/.340/.544 line against him over 90 at-bats, a sample that includes 11 extra-base hits (six doubles, five home runs) and only 11 strikeouts. Since Mikolas has had plenty of trouble against either side of the plate on the road (.438 wOBA allowed to lefty bats, .382 wOBA surrendered to right-handed hitters), the likes of Yaisel Puig, Jesse Winker, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett are all especially appealing as potential stack components.