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On a day with only nine games, the options are limited. You need to make each pick worthwhile and be able to afford the top pitchers on Thursday, August 13th. I have gathered the statistical information from each game and have found the best matchups with reasonable prices. With fewer games, you need to find the top pitchers, meaning you need to save money on the offensive options. I wish you the best of luck, and hopefully I can help you find the right matchups that will help you cash out at the end of the day.
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Noah Syndergaard will enjoy playing at home as Citi Field heavily favors pitchers. With a 32 K% against RHB and 2.95 ERA against LHB, Syndergaard is going to be a force that should produce on Thursday. He does struggle against LHB which should give Ben Paulsen ( .379 wOBA / 127 wRC+ / .528 SLG%) a good chance to be the only Rockies player to perform well given his very low price. Curtis Granderson and Travis d’Arnaud should lead the Mets to victory with a 151 and 150 wRC+ respectively.
The thing that scares me about both Sonny Gray and Mark Buehrle, is the fact that Rogers Centre in Toronto is one of the most favorable parks to batters. That being said, Marcus Semien (.350 wOBA / 128 wRC+ / .440 SLG%) destroys LHP this season and has been hot this past week with five RBI. Josh Donaldson ruins RHP statistics with a .382 wOBA this season, and his four homers have helped contribute to six RBI in the past week. This should be a great day for both Semien and Donaldson.
Cole Hamels has enjoyed his new team and Rangers fans must feel the same way about him. He kills LHB with a 1.65 ERA and has an outstanding 26.3 K% against RHB. There are no Twins that should change that, and Hamels should be able to handle them with ease. Mitch Moreland faces a struggling Ervin Santana, so his lower price and 144 wRC+ / .554 SLG% against RHP, should make owners feel confident in starting him.
*Editor's Note: Chi Chi Gonzalez will be pitching instead of Cole Hamels. Gonzalez tends to let up a lot of contact and could bring some Twins bats back into play.
Jon Lester has my vote to carry the Cubs along with Kyle Schwarber to win at home against the Brewers. Lester against LHB has a 27.1 K% and 10.34 K/9 which should be a problem for the Brewers. Kyle Schwarber is also on fire with two homers and eight RBI in the past week which is enough for me to advise a Schwarber start.
If any Yankees are able to produce off of a dominant Trevor Bauer (25.4 K% / 3.89 ERA vs. RHB and 22.1 K% / 8.36 K/9 vs. LHB) it would be Mark Teixeira. Teixeira has a .402 wOBA / 160 wRC+ / .610 SLG% which means he is possible of producing every time he is at the plate. Nathan Eovaldi has had trouble with LHB this year, so I expect Carlos Santana (.344 wOBA / 122 wRC+ / .434 SLG%) to make something of the struggling Eovaldi.
Francisco Liriano and Lance Lynn are two dominant pitchers that I would suggest as top options for Thursday. Liriano vs RHB has a 28.6 K% and 2.94 ERA where Lynn is similar with a 29.6 K% and 2.03 ERA. Where Lynn slightly struggles against LHB with a 20.1 K% and 3.67 ERA, Liriano is not nearly as bad with an 8.89 K/9 and 24.1 K%. There may not be much offense in this game, but if anyone is going to produce off of Liriano, it should be Jason Heyward and his .344 wOBA and 121 wRC+ against LHP this season. For the right handed Lynn, Neil Walker (.344 wOBA / 117 wRC+ / .448 SLG%) is my favorite as a cheaper option for Thursday.
In a game where the pitching talent is nothing to worry about, both Albert Pujols (.371 wOBA / 145 wRC+ / .536 SLG% vs R as R) and Kole Calhoun (.338 wOBA / 122 wRC+ / .453 SLG% vs R as L) should dominate Jeremy Guthrie who struggles against both RHB and especially LHB with a 7.62 ERA. The Royals Kendrys Morales has been hot this week with one homer and eight RBI which should be a problem for Garrett Richards who has trouble with RHB this season.
Keyvius Sampson has limited experience so it is hard to predict how the Dodgers will fare against him. Hopefully after tomorrow there will be something more to tell about Sampson. Mat Latos on the other hand struggles with LHB, and Joey Votto should be able to blow him up with his already impressive .416 wOBA / 166 wRC+ / .543 SLG% against RHP this season.
Neither team has a set pitcher, so I decided to skip this game completely. Giants stadium also heavily favors pitchers so expect this to be a pitching duel.
*Editor's Note: Stephen Strasburg is facing Ryan Vogelsong in this matchup Thursday night. Strasburg could certainly be of value as a pitcher, while Nationals' batters (especially lefties) are usable against Vogelsong.
Pitchers to Target for DraftKings
Noah Syndergaard (NYM) - $11,000
Jon Lester (CHC) - $10,800
Francisco Liriano (PIT) - $11,000
Lance Lynn (STL) - $10,300
Infielders to Target for DraftKings
Travis d’Arnaud (C, NYM) - $4,400
Marcus Semien (3B/SS, OAK) - $3,500
Josh Donaldson (3B, TOR) - $5,800
Mitch Moreland (1B, TEX) - $3,500
Kyle Schwarber (C, CHC) - $4,800
Carlos Santana (1B/3B, CLE) - $3,800
Neil Walker (2B, PIT) - $3,200
Albert Pujols (1B, LAA) - $4,400
Kendrys Morales (1B, KC) - $3,800
Joey Votto (1B, CIN) - $4,200
Outfielders to Target for DraftKings
Ben Paulsen (3B/OF, COL) - $3,100
Curtis Granderson (NYM) - $4,300
Jason Heyward (STL) - $4,000
Kole Calhoun (LAA) - $4,100
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