Matthew Szczur Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

With just two part time players (Cameron Rupp 308 & Matt Szczur 306) above a 300 wRC+ over the last week (10 PA min.) players may need to lower their expectations for the league's hottest bats, although Rupp has three HRs over the last seven days as well. Jose Altuve (287 wRC+, 31.8 Hard%, one HR) could have a big night against Jordan Zimmermann (RHBs .365 wOBA since last season) and has to be considered one of the top batters on the slate. Manuel Margot (287 wRC+, 50 Hard%, two HRs) is coming off a strong home stand, but actually transitions to a park that's much harder on RH power in Pittsburgh against a pitcher who has stifled RHBs this year (299 wOBA vs Chad Kuhl since last season). Luis Valbuena (282 wRC+, 70 Hard%, three HRs) is unlikely to see opportunities against J.A. Happ. James McCann (280 wRC+, 50 Hard%, 0 HRs) only has 12 PAs over the last week, but now has a 146 wRC+ with a .308 ISO and 46.1 Hard% against LHP since last season. While he faces Dallas Keuchel tonight (RHBs .308 wOBA since last season), he hasn't seen major league action in nearly two months and may not be up to his normal standards. Austin Jackson (274 wRC+, 28.6 Hard%, 0 HRs) hasn't hit the ball particularly hard and has only the requisite 10 PAs, but he's in a great spot (RHBs .494 wOBA vs Derek Holland since the start of June) and has pummeled LHP this year (168 wRC+, .250 ISO, 34.7 Hard%).

While there aren't really many incredibly expensive arms tonight, the game in Coors likely dictates players are still going to need to save money somewhere. Players can probably consider Ezequiel Carrera a top punt option, batting second for the Blue Jays against Chase De Jong for exactly $2.7K on either site. De Jong has just a 10 K% and 50% fly ball rate through two starts. Ryan Rua is a league average bat against LHP that bats further down in the lineup, but in one of the more run friendly environments in Texas and at a cost of $3K on DraftKings, $2.5K on FanDuel. Chris Coghlan is another average bat against RHP, who is even cheaper ($2.5K on DK, $2K on FD). Matt Davidson (139 wRC+, .361 ISO vs RHP) bats sixth against Phil Hughes (RHBs .355 wOBA since 2015) for just $2.6K on FanDuel. The punt catcher may be Chris Gimenez tonight. He faces Derek Holland (RHBs .340 wOBA since 2015) for less than $3K on either site and has done the most with his opportunities against southpaws since 2015 (129 wRC+, .244 ISO). He can be paired with teammate Jorge Polanco (117 wRC+, .179 ISO vs LHP since 2015) for just a bit more on either site ($3.2 DK, $2.8 FD) at another difficult position. Matt Szczur (77 wRC+, .162 ISO vs LHP since 2015) bats second against Martin Perez (RHBs .339 wOBA since 2015) for just $2.3K on FanDuel. Conor Gillaspie (84 wRC+, .154 ISO vs RHP since last season) could be a min-priced bat or close to it in the middle of the San Francisco lineup against Bronson Arroyo. If Andrew Romine (77 wRC+ vs RHP since last season) leads off again against JC Ramirez, he's not very good, but costs just $2.1K on DraftKings.

Despite the fact that his team is a prohibitive favorite and having favorable strikeout upside, Kyle Hendricks is a risky proposition today facing a Brewers team that has been mashing the baseball. Hendricks has upside and is worth being in a GPP lineup or two if you are playing multiple lineups but the risk is also there given the Brewers potent lineup. The other SP in the game, Tommy Milone, can easily be faded as he's not very good and allows hard contact to both sides of the plate. The hot-hitting Eric Thames and his unsustainable hitting (.500 wOBA, .400 ISO vs RHP) leads the Brewers options. Jonathan Villar and Travis Shaw are also worth consideration while Ryan Braun would normally be worth rostering but he is not in the lineup today. Kyle Schwarber sits today for the Cubs and Matthew Szczur leads off in his place and is a top value option facing Milone. Ben Zobrist is also resting but Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, and Wilson Contreras are all solid options from the Cubs top of the order.

You'd expect Joe Maddon to take advantage of Chase Anderson's reverse splits. RHBs have a .363 wOBA and 35 Hard% against him since last year and the Cubs have stacked the lineup with RHBs aside from Rizzo (152 wRC+, .268 ISO vs RHP since 2015), who still might be the top bat in the order and Zobrist (115 wRC+, .170 ISO vs RHP since 2015), whom Maddon may even persuade to bat right-handed. Matt Szczur (134 wRC+, .154 ISO vs RHP this season) gains instant top value consideration in the leadoff spot for a below average cost on either site. Kris Bryant (138 wRC+, .224 ISO vs RHP career) is a very strong and multi-position eligible bat on DraftKings. Jorge Soler (102 wRC+, .207 ISO vs RHP this season) bats cleanup for just $2.9K on FanDuel and has a 230 wRC+ over the last week. Willson Contreras (116 wRC+, .195 ISO vs RHP) has a 152 wRC+ and 46.2 Hard% over the last week and is a great, moderately priced Catcher play in a lineup projected for five runs.