Geovany Soto Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Gregory Soto will make the second start of his career vs. a good A’s lineup that will likely have some heavily-owned bats. Soto projects to be a terrible pitcher at the Major League level as he is projected for about a 5.50 ERA and 1.75 WHIP by most projection systems. His main issue is control; he walked a whopping 5.56 batters per 9 in 113 innings in High-A in 2018 and projects for about a 5 BB/9 by most projection systems at the Major League level. Since Soto doesn’t project to pitch deep into this game given the control issues and matchup, we can assume Oakland bats will see a decent amount of plate appearances vs. the Tigers’ pen. Their pen has been awful this year with the 2nd worst xFIP at 5.10 and 2nd worst HR/9 allowed with a 1.78 mark. Chad Pinder (.364 xwOBA vs. LHP since 2018), Stephen Piscotty (.361), Khris Davis (.347), Mark Canha (.344), Ramon Laureano (.337) and Matt Chapman (.322) have all seen success vs. LHP and are options today. Semien (.311) will leadoff and is a good value play on all sites. Chad Pinder (.439 xwOBA over the past 10 days) has been the A’s hottest hitter while Matt Chapman (.294) has been the coldest. The Athletics currently have a juicy 5.75 total vs. Soto and the Tigers this afternoon.

With Max Scherzer and another Coors game on the slate, player are bound to be looking for cheap bats somewhere and a good place to start is the Dodger lineup if Andrew Toles ($3K on DK) bats leadoff. Toles has a 123 wRC+, .189 ISO vs RHP and Ivan Nova, though off to a strong start, has shown a significant vulnerability to LHBs (.348 wOBA since 2015). With Catcher looking fairly weak behind Sanchez tonight, players might want to drop down in the order to find the red hot Sandy Leon (390 wRC+, 3 HRs over the last week) for $3.2K on DK, $2.7K on FD in a great spot in Milwaukee against Wily Peralta (LHBs .385 wOBA since 2015). Geovany Soto (133 wRC+, .245 ISO vs LHP since 2015) is another Catcher punt option for $2.5K or less on either site against the punishable Hector Santiago (RHBs 37.9 Hard% since 2015), though this may be the coldest game of the night with temperatures not expected to reach 50. Jason Castro (102 wRC+, .195 ISO vs RHP since 2015) is another cheap Catcher ($2.9K or less) on the other side of that matchup against Mike Pelfrey (LHBs .379 wOBA since 2015). Yonder Alonso has a 50% fly ball rate and five HRs over the last week. He and Matt Joyce (117 wRC+, .206 ISO vs RHP since 2016) are both sub-$3K bats on either site against rookie Alex Meyer. FanDuel players can add Joe Mauer (214 wRC+ last seven days), also with a higher fly ball rate this year (37.9%) for $2.6K, Brad Miller (114 wRC+, .234 ISO vs RHP since 2016) for $2.6K and Joc Pederson (142 wRC+, .265 ISO vs RHP since 2015) for $2.7K if looking to afford Scherzer.

Players paying up for Chris Sale or even a number of other high cost arms tonight will be looking for savings in other spots. Luckily, there are a number of places where players can do so tonight. Looking for above average bats, regardless of lineup situation, Geovany Soto (125 wRC+, .253 ISO vs LHP) can be a lower lineup Catching punt for near the minimum on either site against Danny Duffy, who has HR issues against RHBs (over 40 allowed since 2015). Michael Conforto (134 wRC+, .252 ISO vs RHP career) leads off against the knuckleball and still inexplicably costs just $3.3K on DraftKings (Jay Bruce 117 wRC+, .264 ISO costs just $100 more). Marwin Gonzalez (115 wRC+, .197 ISO vs LHP since 2015) faces a pitcher with declining peripherals (Cole Hamels) and costs less than $3K on either site. Alex Avila (117 wRC+, .162 ISO vs RHP since 2015) faces Corey Kluber with the wind blowing out in Cleveland for just $2.6K on DraftKings. Jose Osuna doesn't have much of a resume yet, but is now a middle of the lineup batter for just over the minimum on FanDuel, facing the reverse split Scott Feldman with the wind blowing out in Cincinnati. Matt Joyce (120 wRC+, .215 ISO vs RHP since last season) bats second for The A's against Ervin Santana for $2.5K or less. Cheaper, potentially below average bats with great lineup spots include Joey Rickard (below average against Chris Sale at least) at the minimum on FD ($2.8K on DK), Ben Gamel ($2.8K or less) against Matt Shoemaker, and Carlos (Yolmer?) Sanchez, who bats second against Danny Duffy for exactly $2.3K on either site. Gorkys Hernandez ($2.5K on either site) was also just confirmed to lead off against Alex Wood.

The Dodgers will have rookie Ross Stripling (.426 ERA, 9.2 BB%) pitching against the Angels tonight. Stripling has allowed a .341 wOBA and a 21.9 Hard-Soft% vs. RHB, making the Angels' bats viable options tonight. Mike Trout has really started to pick it up and has 9 hits in his last 5 games, including 2 HRs. Trout (.443 wOBA, 193 wRC+ vs. RHP this season) is also the most expensive hitter available today. Albert Pujols (.179 ISO, .308 wOBA, 98 wRC+ vs. RHP in 2016) is also starting to pick it up and has 6 hits in his last 3 games, after struggling to start the season. Geovany Soto has been sent to the disabled list and will be out 4-6 months with a torn meniscus.

C.J. Cron has dropped to the 8th spot against Carlos Rodon and this makes a bit of sense given his 74 wRC+ vs LHP since last season. Rodon has dominated lefties (.236 wOBA), which is why you only see one in the lineup, but has been handled by RHBs (.347 wOBA). The young lefty has continued to have issues getting ahead of batters, as he walked five Twins in his last start. His 22.8 K% in the majors is nice, but it's not elite, especially combined with his 11.6 BB%, yet he continues to command a price tag well above $8K. The Angels are an average offense, but lean heavily right-handed and could pose some problems for Rodon here. Trout (172 wRC+, .261 ISO, 38.3 Hard% vs LHP since last season) is the obvious name and one of tonight's top bats, but Yunel Escobar (150 wRC+ vs LHP) is an interesting and affordable 3B option. At a weak Catcher position tonight, take a look at Geovany Soto's 127 wRC+ vs southpaws over the last year plus. Rodon is talented, but still a work in progress could potentially struggle here at was seems like it could be an over-pay.