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Daily fantasy baseball: Start Odorizzi, Abreu to win today's games

SI's FanNation app has arrived, offering daily fantasy sports games that let you put your skills on the line for money or just for bragging rights, leading off with the launch of Baseball Throwdown. Every day, SI's Michael Beller will release his lineup for that day's Baseball Throwdown contest and offer up other recommendations to get your team ready for the day's slate of games. Download the FanNation app today and get started challenging your friends.

Pitcher

Jake Odorizzi, Rays (vs. Tigers) -- How is it possible that Odorizzi is available in so many fantasy leagues? He hasn’t had a monthly strikeout rate below 25 percent since April. His walk rate has declined every single month this season. In April, it was 10.9 percent. In August, it’s down to 6.1 percent. He has a 3.82 ERA, 3.32 FIP, and more than 10 strikeout per nine innings. Odorizzi has quietly been one of the best starters in the majors since the first month of the year. He’s a great play against the Tigers on Wednesday.

Infielder

Jose Abreu, White Sox (vs. Orioles, Wei-yin Chen) -- Abreu finally broke his home-run drought on Tuesday, leaving the yard for the first time since July 29. It was his only hit in three at-bats, though he did also draw a walk. While August has been his worst month to date, fantasy owners have to look at his performance over the last week (7-for-23, two walks) as a possible turnaround. He went 1-for-3 in a game against Chen earlier this year. The one hit? It was a home run.

Outfielder

Jason Heyward, Braves (@ Pirates, Gerrit Cole) -- Heyward is swinging a hot bat, going 5-for-10 with a homer and five RBI in his last two games. He has really turned it on in August, slashing .323/.361/.446. Go back to the start of the second half, and his slash line is .323/.385/.438. He has never faced Cole, but he is hitting a robust .306/.391/.443 against righties this season. Everything lines up for Heyward to have a big day against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Other Recommendations

Pitchers

Garrett Richards, Angels (@ Red Sox) -- Richards has allowed three runs with 21 strikeouts in his last three starts, a stretch of 22 2/3 innings.
Johnny Cueto, Reds (@ Cardinals) -- Cueto hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start in the second half of the season, and has gone at least eight innings in each of his last three outings.

Infielders

Adrian Beltre, Rangers (@ Marlins, Nathan Eovaldi) -- Beltre is 7-for-15 with a double, two RBI and two walks in his last four games.
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (vs. Giants, Jake Peavy) -- Rizzo has homered in consecutive games, going 4-for-6 with four RBI in those contests.

Outfielders

Starling Marte, Pirates (vs. Braves, Alex Wood) -- Marte is on a six-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 11-for-24 with three homers, three doubles and five RBI.
Michael Morse, Giants (@ Cubs, Edwin Jackson) -- Morse has been a beast in August, slashing .366/.435/.537 with a homer, two doubles and seven RBI in the month.