To play or not to play, that is the question. When there are home games at Coors, you can be faced with that question. Do I do what it takes to roster guys in games at Coors, or do I do my best to build out a more balanced lineup with more reasonable prices?
Alas, in cash games, you will probably have to have some exposure into the game in Denver. Afterall, it’s likely the highest run total of the night and you always want to have some exposure in that game, whether it’s in Denver, Toronto, New York or wherever.
In tournaments, though, it’s a little more difficult to decide, so I default to wanting to have it all. I make sure I at least have one tourney lineup with players in the Coors game and another one without or with less. Everyone is going to be in on them, so in tourneys it makes a lot of sense to pass, but you don’t want to be too cute and miss out when you could have had some players in that matchup.
Tonight, the Rockies are actually very reasonably priced, and will be well owned. How much you have in your lineup will depend on the value you can find elsewhere. I’ll make some picks below that will highlight some less expensive players that would enable more Coors players and some alternates if that’s not what you want to do.
Again, in cash games, you’ll want some of these guys, but maybe not stacking the whole team. To play or not to play, or do both. It’s the American way.
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Jacob deGrom, SP: $11,400 – deGrom is the biggest K-factor on the board, along with Corey Kluber, and he has the lower run total in Miami (7) and the better odds of winning.
Drew Hutchison, SP: $7,100 – I love to play D-Hutch at home because you are paying the price of the guy who gets lit up on the road. At home, things are okay, like a warm, snuggly blanket on a cold evening. D-Hutch loves his blankey, and loves to pitch in Toronto.
Ryan Hanigan, C: $3,000 – Watch the lineups, for sure, but the righty Hanigan against the LHP Adam Morgan seems like it should ride, and Hanigan has a .345 matchup wOBA against the hittable Morgan.
Brian McCann, C: $4,000 – If you aren’t banking for bigger bats in the outfield, then I always love to take on McCann in Yankee Stadium against RHP.
Clint Robinson, 1B/OF: $2,200 – If he’s in the game, he’s a tough bat, as evidenced by his 16 DK point total Thursday night. A tremendous punt play if you are saving up for Coors, and he bats fifth often when he plays.
Joey Votto, 1B: $5,200 – Nobody is hotter than Joey Votto right now, not that it should influence you in the vacuum that is DFS daily preparation. However, he’s going against Matt Garza (1.564 WHIP, 1.396 HR/9 over last calendar year) at home at the Great American Ballpark (2nd most HR rate this season behind Coors), so he makes out to be the best anti-Coors play or great blend play.
Kelby Tomlinson, 2B/SS: $3,300 – Great low entry play at Coors in the weaker middle infielder position, Tomlinson continues to play with Joe Panik out for the Giants and has been a solid DFS play.
Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF: $4,200 – Zobrist faces the hittable John Danks, where Ben has a matchup wOBA of .370. The Royals also have a very high team total of five, making Zobrist a strong play.
Xander Bogaerts, SS/3B: $3,800 – Against LHP Morgan, Bogaerts has a statistically (highly favorable) matchup. He also carries a strong .408 wOBA vs. LHP. With the game total at 9.5, this is a very reasonable high-lineup, great stat play.
Andres Blanco, 3B/SS: $2,500 – Three straight weeks with Blanco, but he continues to pop due to matchup, this time in a high game total against Joe Kelly. Very inexpensive and a great place to stash a productive player so you can get guys like Votto in the lineup.
D.J. Lemahieu, 3B/2B: $4,400 – Coors. Coors. Coors. Lemahieu has been steady and solid and batting high in the lineup. Double digit DK point games in four of his last five.
Charlie Blackmon, OF: $4,900 – Leading off, in Coors, against a likely RHP target (Heston), Blackmon is averaging almost 10 points in the last 10 games.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF: $4,700 – Here is the guy that may have something to say about Votto being the hottest in the game. Back to back double-dinger games, but don’t chase that; simply look at the run total, the handedness of the pitcher, the price, and roster accordingly.
Bryce Harper, OF: $5,000 – With the money saved, you can still play a guy like Harper against Julio Teheran. Harper had the unusual 0-0, 4 walks, 4 runs and an RBI game, but it shows he can still be productive even when an SP won’t pitch to him.
Marlon Byrd, OF: $4,300 – Marlon Byrd against a LHP, in Coors. Yes, please.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
Our nation’s capital is forecasted for thunderstorms as is Detroit, so watch the Braves, Nationals, Tigers and Indians players as you check the weather throughout the day tomorrow.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Coooooooooooooors (SF @ COL) is the leader at 10.5 runs and then Boston @ Philly and Baltimore @ Toronto are 9.5 run totals. The Mets in Miami and the Dodgers in San Diego are the low run leaders at a 7 total. Your starting pitching odds leader? Tanner Roark in Washington hosting the Braves at -190.
