Hitters 

Play of the Day: Paul Goldschmidt-- Goldschmidt is always an elite play vs. a lefty, and faces a very hittable one tonight.  Milone is 0-2, with a 10.50 ERA with the Mets this year, after being traded from the Brewers.  He has been out since May 21, but allowed 12 earned runs over seven innings during his last two starts in the big leagues.  Goldschmidt is 2-for-3, with a homer off of Milone, and is in a great spot to go deep for the 30th time this year, while also breaking out of 0-for-11 slump.

Top Play: Adrian Beltre-- Beltre went deep last night for the third time over his last nine games, and is batting .371 over his last 10 games.  Nolasco leads the majors with 31 home runs allowed this year, and Beltre is 4-for-5, with a homer of his own off of Nolasco this year.

Value Play: Ozzie Albies-- Ozzie remains a minimum price option on Y! tonight, and also remains a top value option.  He had two hits and a triple for the second-straight game last night, and faces another weaker lefty tonight in Marco Gonzales, who has allowed four or more runs in three of his five starts.

GPP Play: Joey Votto-- Both Votto and Rizzo are top options at first base tonight if not looking at Goldschmidt tonight.  Rizzo is 8-for-21, with two homers off of Bailey, but Votto has owned the Cubs this year.  He’s batting .367, with five homers, five doubles, and 13 RBI in 13 games vs. them this season.  Votto is also 8-for-27, with two home runs off of Lackey.

 

Pitchers

Play of the Day:  Chris Archer--  Archer is the top-priced pitcher today, and a heavy favorite in his matchup vs the Blue Jays.  It will be his second-straight start vs. them, with Archer’s biggest mistakes last start all coming to Donaldson, who took him deep twice.  Archer did go seven innings, while striking out 10 Blue Jays.  He’s at home tonight, and has a career ERA of 3.16 through 23 appearances vs. Toronto.  

Pivot Play: Carlos Carrasco--   Carrasco and the Indians check in as the largest favorites tonight vs. the Red Sox.  You need to erase his last start vs. them, in which he didn’t make it out of the second innings, out of your mind.  He is 2-0, with a 0.69 ERA over his last two starts, striking out 19 batters over 13 innings.  GPP-only as of now, due to weather concerns.

Top Play: Jeff Samardzija--  Samardzija is home tonight vs. a Brewers team that was shutout in the first game of the series, and have lost 10 of their last 11 vs. the Giants.  He has won his last three home starts, but hasn’t been elite.  He allowed one earned run over 7+ IP in his last start vs. the Brewers.  He struck out 10 that game, without allowing a walk.  

GPP Play:   Lance Lynn-  The Cardinals have a streak going of allowing five or more runs in 11-straight games.  I believe that ends tonight with Lynn vs. the Padres.  Lynn has not lost a start since back on July 4th.  He’s allowed two runs or less in every start since, while also pitching for at least six innings.  The strikeouts haven’t been there, but the Padres should help add an extra few to his total tonight.