The following Spotlight Hitters were selected by Awesemo.com writer Jake Hari. For more analysis on the slate, check out the MLB Strategy Video and Night Shift Podcast.
Eugenio Suarez ($5,000 DK/$3,900 FD)
Suarez continues to blast lefties this year, with a near 60% hard-hit rate and one of the highest ISOs in all of the MLB against them. Jose Quintana is known as a solid pitcher, but he is allowing over 40% hard-contact to righties this year, so there’s a good chance for Suarez to make solid contact each time he faces Quintana. In a small park and with the platoon advantage, Suarez makes for a great one-off 3rd basemen on both sites as a nice discount off of Nolan Arenado and Jose Ramirez.
Yuli Gurriel ($4,300 DK/$3,000 FD)
Gurriel will bat 5th today against lefty Danny Duffy behind the likes of Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, and George Springer, which is an enviable spot to be in. Gurriel has a 114 wRC+ and 35+ hard-contact while ranking 2nd on the Astros in Line Drive % against LHP behind only Carlos Correa. Gurriel should be able to square up Duffy, and with the foursome hitting in front of him, he should have plenty of opportunities to hit with men on base, making him a high-upside 1st baseman with a great price on both sites.
Luis Valbuena ($2,900 DK/$2,200 FD)
After a multiple home run game last night, we’re going right back to Valbuena against a flyball righty in Marco Estrada. As he showed just 24 hours ago, Valbuena has huge power against righties, and he’s up to almost 41% hard-contact against them this year. The matchup against Estrada is tasty, as he’s only striking out 19% of lefties with a 5.05 xFIP on the season. For a punt price on both sites and dual-position eligibility on DraftKings, Valbuena is a fantastic one-off in tournaments batting 5th tonight.