Hey WiseTake Family this is CK013 covering “Straight Cash Home” for Patio Joe. Patio Joe will return Wednesday 7.5.17 but don’t worry we will make sure the cash game articles are covered. Patio Joe has a Cash Game template he goes by and I happen to like it. I will be writing up the top cash plays at each position based off of his cash game preferred template.
Straight Cash Homie w/CK013
NOTE: This slate is not appealing to me for cash and typically cash game templates may be apply.
8 GAME SLATE. I’m here to break it down your best cash options and make the decision making process a little easier.
WEATHER: No real weather concerns.
PITCHERS: Patio Joe generally pays up for the top pitcher on the slate, biggest favorite, etc. On this slate there really isn’t a top stud you must have.
Masahiro Tanaka– It’s never a great cash slate when paying up for pitcher means rostering Masahiro Tanaka in Yankee Stadium. Tanaka has shown flashes of dominance but has been inconsistent to say the least. He does sport a 23.7% K rate over his last two years at home and gets a match-up with a Blue Jays offense that just hasn’t been able to get it going this year. Tanaka does seem to have an increased swinging strike rate this year at 13.5% (compared to 11.6% last year) however in Yankee Stadium I do have concerns with safety.
Aaron Nola- This kid has great K-upside and finds himself in one of the lower totaled games on the slate. It’s almost a shame the kid pitches in Philly because the park certainly doesn’t help his cause. The Phillies like this kid and as long as he has his control they should leave him in there for a while. In addition to the small park he also draws a match-up against a team that doesn’t strikeout all that much, on the plus side their team wOBA and ISO numbers are pretty bad so I think Nola is fine here.
Jarrell Cotton- Cotton has struggled with his consistency however he comes at an attractive price. He also draws a solid match-up against a team that struggles a bit against right-handed pitching. Now add in the fact that the White Sox have a projected team total of 4 (lowest on the slate) and of course the fact that they get to play in Oakland (notorious pitcher’s park) and he actually seems quiet enticing.
CATCHER: Joe generally pays down at catcher. $2700 below is my mark. I will list the best play but please look at the value section for the catcher I like.
Yadier Molina– Molina has been having a pretty good year and draws a match-up against a lefty. Molina has an xOBA of .425 this year to lefties and his Exit Velocity is currently 88.7 over his last 14 days (compared to 83.3 this season overall). Molina typically bats in the middle of the line-up which should get a decent amount of at-bats.
Martin Maldonado– Maldonado is very cheap on both sites and gets a lefty tonight. Maldonado has a .334 xOBA to lefties and a 60% hard-contact rate over his last 14 days. He may not be as established as Molina but we know he has upside and a solid match-up against Mejia and his 1.58 HR/9.
FIRST BASE: Joe generally pays up for a first base. These days there are always high priced options in good spots. Most offensive production comes from first base and third base.
Joey Votto– It’s Coors and it will be chalk, but you don’t want to be the only one in a cash game that doesn’t have this guy. Jeff Hoffman hasn’t be bad at all but Votto is carrying a .438 xOBA to righties and his average distance in 2017 is a crazy 222.8.
SECOND BASE: Joe generally pays down for a player that is batting at the top of the order that is $2600 or below but this is an 8 game slate with limited options.
Jed Lowrie- Cash Game porn (as Patio Joe refers to him as) is a decent cash game play though his price is higher than we like for cash games.
Paul DeJong– I would like to see this guy get moved up in the order before considering him in a cash game but if for any reason they play him up top he is a solid pivot at a good price. He has been hitting the ball hard as of late and people still don’t really play him because they don’t really know him.
THIRD BASE: Joe generally pays up for a top play at third base (along with first base). The most production comes from third base.
Nolan Arenado- Obviously Nolan Arenado at home is always in play, its Coor’s and without a stud pitcher to pay up for he will be popular in cash and if he happens to go off and you don’t have him it may hurt.
Jedd Gyorko – If you want to come down a little on price Gyorko has a match-up against a lefty. Gyorko has .354 xOBA against lefties this season, a 60% hard contact rate and an average exit velocity of 88.74 both over his last 14 days.
SHORT STOP: Joe generally pays down at SS but this slate is fugly.
Zack Cozart– Cozart is back and is in Coors. SS is typically a weaker position which is why it is recommended to pay down but on this slate its particularly weak.
OUTFIELD- I generally will pay down at least 1 OF position $2500 or below, perhaps even two depending on the pitcher. I try and pay up for one elite OF.
- Carlos Gomez
- Schebler
- Grichuk
- Daniel Nava (Value)
- Duvall
- Nomar Mazara
