This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Be sure to checkout tonight's FAWBC Qualifier, as the winner gets an entry to the $250K Fantasy Aces World Baseball Championship live in Anaheim, California at Angel Stadium on August 15. Only 20 will win a trip to the final and the winner takes home a cool $100K.
Fantasy Aces also features a unique SalaryPro format were you're rewarded with additional fantasy points for staying below the salary cap, and if you choose to go over the cap you're penalized points.
There is a Freeroll and many other GPP contests to enter Wednesday. These picks and analysis cover the 11 evening games from the schedule and all late contests lock at 7:05 PM ET.
Make sure to double-check Fantasy Aces' unique scoring settings.
Pitchers:
Doug Fister ($5,750, 10.5 percent of cap): The Braves have scored 12 runs over their last eight games, as the absence of Freddie Freeman (wrist) is proving to be an offense killer. Fister limited Atlanta to four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his last outing. His upside is somewhat limited by his lack of punch outs, but look for Fister to pitch deep into the game and limit base runners.
Jon Lester ($6,800, 12.4 percent of cap): June wasn't kind to Lester, and he hasn't won since May 16. Perhaps a date with the reeling Mets will help start July on the right foot. New York has a .235 wOBA and .523 OPS over the past two weeks, which is last in the league. Still, at his cap hit and with his recent inconsistency, Lester isn't a risk-free start.
Carlos Carrasco ($7,150, 13.0 percent of cap): Over his last seven starts, Carrasco's 3.38 ERA lines up closer to his year-long 2.93 FIP. He has also allowed three runs or fewer in six of those starts with 46 strikeouts over 45.1 innings. The Indians are modest favorites, and it is unlikely opposing hurler Alex Colome (4.81 FIP) holds the Indians off the scoreboard again Wednesday.
John Lackey ($6,400, 11.6 percent of cap): The Cards are hefty favorites, and the White Sox have an uninspiring .281 wOBA, .130 ISO and .639 OPS over the past 30 days. Lackey boasts a 2.05 ERA over his past three starts and allowed just six base runners per outing.
There are other pitching options, but the above four are all receiving chalk with their opposition holding a run-total prop of 3.5 or lower. They also leave enough cap space to fill out your lineup without throwing too many darts at low-priced fliers. The scoring settings can turn unfavorable quickly for hurlers, so tread carefully with your two arms.
Catchers:
Brian McCann ($5,000, 9.1 percent of cap):Matt Shoemaker has a 1.72 HR/9 and 14.7 percent HR/FB rate. McCann has 12 home runs and 49 RBI and will slot into the heart of the lineup against Shoemaker. There is also the handedness advantage for McCann.
A.J. Ellis ($3,100, 5.6 percent of cap): Purely a source of cap relief with limited upside, Ellis has started the past five games against southpaws. If you're looking to punt a position, catcher isn't a bad starting point, and Ellis should receive an RBI opportunity or two.
Other catchers to consider (in order of preference):Yadier Molina ($4,800, 8.7 percent of cap), Salvador Perez ($4,600, 8.4 percent of cap), Yan Gomes ($4,450, 8.1 percent of cap), J.T. Realmuto ($4,400, 8.0 percent of cap).
1B/3B:
Mark Teixeira ($5,300, 9.6 percent of cap): With the above mentioned matchup against home-happy Matt Shoemaker, Teixeira is the building block of a New York stack. Just note, Teixeira isn't in his best form with a .195/.313/.317 slash line over his past 12 games.
Yasmany Tomas ($4,900, 8.9 percent of cap): Six of Toams' 14 hits against southpaws have gone for extra bases, and he posted an .850 OPS in June. He should fly under the radar Wednesday, too.
Adam Lind ($5,000, 9.1 percent of cap): Over his last nine starts, Lind has a .419/.472/.742 slash line with two homers and eight RBI. He also has a .385 wOBA and .900 OPS against righties this season. Plus, Aaron Harang had a 7.28 ERA and 6.29 FIP over five June starts.
Xavier Scruggs ($3,250, 5.9 percent of cap): Scruggs has the handedness advantage, and he continues to see semi-regular at-bats. He remains an excellent source of cap relief with upside. Just make sure he is in the lineup.
Other 1B/3B to consider:Paul Goldschmidt ($6,000, 10.9 percent of cap), Anthony Rizzo ($5,850, 10.6 percent of cap), Manny Machado ($5,500, 10.0 percent of cap), Mitch Moreland ($4,750, 8.6 percent of cap).
2B/SS:
Jason Kipnis ($5,800, 10.5 percent of cap): Kipnis has at least one hit in 22 of his last 24 games, and he has a .374/.458/.505 slash line over that span. Look for a solid outing Wednesday against Alex Colome, and Kipnis is the No. 1 target, if you're spending up for a middle infielder.
Yunel Escobar ($4,600, 8.4 percent of cap): Batting in the heart of the order and sporting a .351/.378/.481 slash line with 10 runs and 13 RBI over his past 19 games, Escobar has nice upside for his cap hit.
Rougned Odor ($4,350, 7.9 percent of cap): The demotion to the minors worked, and Odor has returned to post a 1.040 OPS with two home runs, nine RBI and four stolen bases over his 53 plate appearances since his recall. Just note, he doesn't have the handedness advantage vs. Wei-Yin Chen.
Other 2B/SS to consider:Brandon Crawford ($4,750, 8.6 percent of cap), Howie Kendrick ($4,950, 9.0 percent of cap), Danny Espinosa ($4,450, 8.1 percent of cap), Matt Duffy ($4,500, 8.2 percent of cap).
Outfield:
Yasiel Puig ($5,150, 9.4 percent of cap): Puig has a 1.119 OPS over 26 plate appearances against southpaws this season, and he proved his health with a two-hit showing Tuesday. At his cap hit and with the handedness advantage, there is huge upside Wednesday.
Brett Gardner ($5,050, 9.2 percent of cap): Is there anyone hotter in baseball? Over his past 12 games, Gardner has 15 runs, seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, 11 RBI and a .481/.525/.870 slash line. Plus, there is the favorable pitching matchup noted already.
Alex Rios ($4,250, 7.7 percent of cap): There is nothing to like about Rios' 2015 season after his decent start. So this is nothing more than a hunch. He provides cap relief and has a favorable matchup against Vincent Velasquez.
Other outfielders to consider:Ryan Braun ($5,700, 10.4 percent of cap), Brandon Moss ($5,050, 9.2 percent of cap), Kole Calhoun ($4,650, 8.5 percent of cap), Gerardo Parra ($4,500, 8.2 percent of cap), Angel Pagan ($4,250, 7.7 percent of cap).
