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Cueto, Cabrera best options for July 13 Throwdown recommendations

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.

Johnny Cueto, Reds (vs. Pirates) – If Cueto weren’t pitching Sunday, he would have a great shot at starting the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Given the understandable reluctance teams have to let their starting pitchers throw in an exhibition game two days after making a start, however, Cueto likely won’t see the mound in the All-Star Game. His last start of the first half comes against a Pirates team that he has handled well in two outings this year, allowing just two runs on 10 hits in 16 innings.

Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (@ Royals, Bruce Chen) – Cabrera has 49 career plate appearances against Chen, the sixth-most amount of times he has faced any individual pitcher. Unsurprisingly, Cabrera has gotten the better of this matchup, and then some. He’s slashing .410/.531/.897 with five homers and 11 RBI. They have yet to see each other this season, but daily leaguers should feel safe betting on the fact that the power balance in this relationship hasn’t changed. Cabrera is the best play of any hitter today.

Bryce Harper, Nationals (@ Phillies, Kyle Kendrick) – It has been a struggle for Harper all season. He missed nearly 60 games with a thumb injury and is hitting just .244/.318/.370. If there were a good time to wager on him turning it around, Sunday is it. Harper’s hitting .391/.462/.739 with one home run in 26 career plate appearances against Kendrick, and five of his nine hits against the Phillies’ righty have gone for extra bases.

Other recommendations

FanNation app debuts with Baseball Throwdown, a daily fantasy challenge

Pitchers

Julio Teheran, Braves (@ Cubs) – The All-Star Teheran makes his last start of the first half against a Cubs team that he held to one run on one hit in eight innings back on May 9. He fanned nine batters in that game as well.

Tyson Ross, Padres (@ Dodgers) – Ross has four consecutive quality starts, holding the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Reds and Rockies to a combined six runs on 20 hits in 29 innings. He has 27 strikeouts in the stretch.

Infielders

Todd Frazier, Reds (vs. Pirates, Francisco Liriano) – Frazier is hitting .284/.352/.506 with four homers against lefties this season. He’s batting .353/.450/.824 with a pair of jacks against Liriano in his career.

Jose Abreu, White Sox (@ Indians, Trevor Bauer) – If Abreu leaves the yard on Sunday, it will give him 30 homers before the All-Star break, despite the fact that he missed 14 games due to injury. I like his chances.

Outfielders

Hunter Pence, Giants (vs. Diamondbacks, Vidal Nuno) – Pence is 12-for-33 in his last eight games, and that includes an 0-for-4 on Saturday. Nuno is unlikely to find the NL or his new home environment friendlier than the AL and Yankee Stadium.

Alex Rios, Rangers (vs. Angels, Tyler Skaggs) – Rios is 11-for-34 with four doubles, a homer and three steals in his last eight games. The way he can fill up the box score makes him a very intriguing daily player.