MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 5/27/15 (Night Slate)
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As for today's lineups -- those can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the things completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until the games start, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Top Pitchers
High-Cost Pitcher
Zack Greinke – If you're playing the night slate, your cash game choice at pitcher is more than likely coming down to Greinke and Max Scherzer. Our numbers like Greinke, especially in the win department, where we're projecting him for 0.55 wins versus Scherzer's 0.45. That's more than likely because Scherzer is facing Jon Lester, while Greinke gets Alex Wood. Regardless, Greinke and his 1.48 ERA, which is bound to regress given his FIP is north of 3.00, will be taking on a Braves lineup that's been average in terms of wOBA against right-handed pitching this year. They don't strike out a lot though in the split, which is the downside in using Greinke. Because of this, he may be the safest pick tonight, but Scherzer against a Cubs lineup that strikes out at the highest rate in baseball is probably the highest upside one.
Alternative Option: Max Scherzer
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Lance Lynn – If you want to save some cap -- which, in cash games, I probably wouldn't tonight -- Lance Lynn could be your man. The Diamondbacks are as average as you can be against right-handed pitching, striking out at a 20.0% rate. But they also play in one of the best hitter's parks in the bigs -- they'll be in St. Louis tonight, which is a nice park shift that favors Lynn. If Lynn can keep up his awesome 10.21 strikeout per nine rate tonight, he should be a good value.
Alternative Option: Garrett Richards
High-Cost Hitter
Matt Carpenter - I was going to mention Mike Trout here since he's essentially the only other viable high-cost player to choose from tonight, but his matchup isn't ideal against Andrew Cashner. Carpenter's is though, as he'll have the platoon advantage against Josh Collmenter. Carpenter has a silly-good .431 wOBA against righties this year, while Collmenter, over his career, has given up a .324 wOBA to left-handers, far worse than what he's done versus righties. Carp is the right call tonight if you're spending on a bat.
Cost-Effective Hitters
Kolten Wong - Wong is a reverse-splits guy, but with such a small slate, you have to pick on one of the worst pitchers that'll be on the mound. Even still, against right-handers in his career, Wong has a .303 wOBA, and his ISO is stronger in the split than out of it. The Cardinals are the only team tonight projected by Vegas to score four runs, so getting exposure with their leadoff guy makes a lot of sense.
Justin Turner - Like Wong, Turner has some interesting splits as well. But I don't mind using him as a punt option tonight against Alex Wood, who's surrendering a .367 wOBA to right-handed bats this year. Wood has been bad -- very bad. And like Wong, I'm going to target a lineup facing a not-so-good pitcher, hoping the other aces going tonight are able to keep their opposition in check.
Alternative Option: Howie Kendrick
