Have you ever seen the pictures of those little birds that ride around on hippopotami? They cruise around on their backs, picking off random bugs and what not. They have a symbiotic relationship. Despite you not weighing 4,000 lbs and/or being a bug eating bird, you too can be part of a symbiotic relationship and here’s how. The thing about DFS and DFS research is that you’re most likely doing the research anyway. Think about it; as you sit down in front of your computer in the morning with your cup of joe and ponder that day’s potential RCL streamers, what you’re also doing is researching cheap pitchers for the day’s DFS slate. Those guys available to you on the RCL waiver wire are going to be your mid to low priced DFS options. Next, as Rudy has already empowered you with the knowledge of the importance of maximizing ABs in the RCLs, you check the wire to see if Player X is facing a lefty at home today. Well, what you’re doing once again is finding a nice low-priced DFS option on offense. Just like the hippo and the bird, it’s a symbiotic relationship this DFS/RCL research. The fun doesn’t end there either. Another time you’ll see this relationship is during year long head-to-head playoffs. This is where you’re throwing everything and the kitchen sink out there. Any and all streamers welcome, it’s all about racking up points. Your regular 2B has been lousy of late and is playing in Petco? See ya later and say hello to DJ LeMahieu playing at home this week! It seems kind of obvious, but if you’re doing all this research anyway, why not apply it towards something where you can win more than the couple Bennies in your home league or RCL? Roll those skills out into a 50/50 or 20 and make that research count. Before you know it you’ll be picking bugs off a hippo and using your DFS research to pick out offensive streamers in your RCL. It’ll only make you a better overall player and who doesn’t want that?
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Matt Harvey, SP: $9,300 – Let me put this very simply: there won’t be a lineup I create for tonight that doesn’t feature the Dark Knight. David Buchanan and the garbage quad-A lineup (sorry Mike) the Phillies are trotting (Pun Point!) out there don’t stand a chance against Harvey in his first home start since August of 2013. Matt Harvey is going to push Clayton Kershaw for the “best pitcher in baseball” title as soon as, well, have you seen Kershaw pitch this year? It’s going to be soon anyway, that I believe. Start Harvey, don’t overthink it and be happy you didn’t miss out on the 12 strikeout gem.
Jake Arrieta, SP: $8,600 – Now we have to decide who we’re pairing with the above beast. I’ll provide a more cash game option as well as a bigger shot in the dark for those tournament entries. I’m such a sucker for Jake. He gets some love around these parts but in general people don’t see to buy into his stuff. I’m a believer, he’s an absolute ace that always goes for below that true ace level pricing. He should cost up around $9K if you ask me. He’s got gas, great secondary offerings, strikeouts paired with a high groundball rate, I’m drooling over here. If Harvey/Arrieta doesn’t move your shorts, then we need to have a heart to heart.
Odrisamer Despaigne, SP: $6,400 – Here’s my GPP play of the evening. Odie gets the ball after Ian Kennedy limped off the field the other night and I’m actually excited to see the defector. This guy is just fun to watch and has very interesting stuff. He has an uncanny knack for getting guys out. He replaced Kennedy after his injury and proceeded to sit down the next 14 Giants he faced. Then there’s the 16 MPH difference between his fastball and his changeup. If that doesn’t keep batters off-balance I don’t know what will. His K-rate fell off the table last year but in AA and AAA he boasted a 14 and 11 K/9 respectively. There’s K upside but given the price point, we’re just looking for him to not get pounded.
Shane Greene, SP: $5,800 – After his gem against the Twins I’d be more than willing to let Shane roll at this price point in hopes he stays on a roll. Left handers were Shane’s problem area last season so the fact he’s pitching at PNC park which is brutal on LH power is a big plus. Like Odie, at this price point we’re just hoping these guys don’t implode while the money we saved is well spent on offense.
Carlos Santana, C: $4,100 – I hate catchers. I’m channeling my inner Cram and just throwing that out there. I typically find the cheapest startable option and roll with them. Today however, catchers are a mess. The cheapies all seem to have match-ups I don’t like and others are way overpriced. $4,700 for Brian McCann just seems silly when Buster Posey is $4,300. So, if we’re paying up we might as well go for some big time power upside. I’m kinda in love with Carlos this season for many of the same reasons Sky mentioned this preseason. He’s facing a lefty which he prefers as he enjoys a 50 point batting average spike and 40 point slugging increase while batting from the right.
Albert Pujols, 1B: $5,200 – Break out those Angels, Nick Martinez is in town. A winning strategy for me has been to always check where the Rangers pitching staff is currently residing and make note. Even with the righty/righty match-up I can’t help myself but make Pujols my #1 play at first tonight. It should be a hit parade in Texas tonight and I want as many pieces as I can handle. Sky covered this same scenario yesterday with Detwiler and Nick Martinez is no better.
Steve Pearce, 1B: $4,000 – For those less giddy to beat up on the Rangers putrid pitchers, perhaps you’ll ponder Pearce. Pearce gets what left of CC Sabathia’s arm. I so want to make a joke about CC trying to eat his own arm here but that seems so overdone. I’m not as down on Pearce as some were this year and when he’s at home facing a bad lefty, my interest is piqued. Piqued I say!
Jace Peterson, 2B: $3,300 – I covered Jace last week and will continue to do so until a) he proves he can’t hit major league pitching or b) DraftKings raises his price above $3,500. He and Panik are my go to cheap 2Bs.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B: $3,500 – Speaking of $3,500. I tend to pick out a couple pitchers every night to pick on and tonight CC is one of those pitchers. I really hope Schoop gets to see the field. Power potential on the cheap in the middle infield positions is a rare and glorious thing like a unicorn, or a liger.
Chase Headley, 3B: $4,400 – Miguel Gonzalez is taking the mound for Baltimore tonight. Between CC and him, Vegas has already bumped the line up from 8 to 8.5. I’m particularly fond of Miguel’s HR rate of 1.4 per 9 last year as well has his near 1.3 WHIP. These Yankees may be old, but there’s a couple guys mixed in this lineup that are usable and Headley is one of them.
Evan Longoria, 3B: $4,600 – Honorable mention goes to Manny Machado here. I didn’t want to just name the entire the Orioles lineup, but I wouldn’t frown on that approach. As for Longo, he gets Daniel Norris at the launching pad in Toronto. I’m as excited to see the Van Man as everyone else, but the fact is, he struggled his first time out giving up 2 HRs. Norris moved very quickly through the Blue Jays system and that’s not to say he’s not ready for the show, but struggles will happen. I like the veteran Longoria to get the better of the kid tonight.
Stephen Drew, SS: $3,100 – And we’re back to picking on tonight’s punching bags. Cheap catchers and cheap middle infielders tend to be my M.O. I like the smidge of pop Drew can provide. He’s kind of a forgotten man in the DFS world. I would take a peek at lineup time and see if Drew of Everth Cabrera ($3,200) are batting higher in their orders and adjust accordingly.
Erick Aybar, SS: $4,400 – If you’re a choosey chap who likes to pay a little more for your middle infidel then I would once again look to Nick Martinez and all his glory. If Kole Calhoun is out for this game Aybar may have a shot at batting leadoff which would help ease the pain of the price. Otherwise, he tends to settle in the 6 hole which should provide ample opportunities tonight.
Kole Calhoun / Matt Joyce, OF: $4,900 / $4,400 – We’re going to use the buddy system for the OF picks and continue to pound on our targeted pitchers. Hopefully Kole is back in business for tonight and back atop the lineup. Matt Joyce clobbers RHP and when said RHP is bad RHP I start to drool a little. Both of these fellas have gone yard vs. Martinez in the past and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if they did so again tonight.
Jacoby Ellsbury / Brett Gardner, OF: $4,900 / $4,300 – This is essentially like a choose your own adventure book at this point. You’ll know by now which starter you’re most comfortable targeting and you can chose one of these two pairings to complete a stack or a mini stack. If you’re not a stacker, then chose one from each group and move through the green door. Dah, zombie ate your brains, go back to page 51.
Anthony Gose, OF: $3,500 – Gose’s price almost seems like cheating given his hot start. I don’t think I’ll be able to get away from him much. Leading off for that potent lineup is a DFS gold mine. Then there’s the case of AJ Burnett. AJ Burnett allowed the 2nd most SBs in the majors last season. That was with Carlos Ruiz throwing out a league average 27% of would be base stealers. Francisco Cervelli is, well, not that good. Cervelli hovers around 22%. That my friends a recipe for a golden Gose.
Adam Jones, OF: $4,600 – For the BvP fans out there, I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on Adam. He completes a nice BAL stack if you’re so inclined and also owns a 17/56 line vs Sabathia that includes 3 HRs and 2 SBs. Regardless of your stack preference, he’s worth considering and could be argued as the top play of the evening.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
It’s spring time and April showers are hanging out in and around Atlanta. Last night’s game featured a delay and the same could happen tonight. When this type of weather is in the area you just never know. It’s better to play it safe and avoid the pitchers here.
Doing Lines In Vegas
LAA @ TEX and TB @ TOR feature the big boy lines of 9 each this evening. I didn’t even touch on the Jays, mostly because DraftKings has jacked their price up due to the match-up, but if you can fit one or two in, go nuts.
Matt Harvey himself has driven the PHI @ NYM line down from 6.5 to 6 and Vegas must peg all 6 of those runs onto Buchanan. There’s just no way they are foolish enough to think Harvey’s giving up a run tonight. He’s a ginormous -240 favorite and I can’t wait to watch this one.
I wanted to mention real quick to watch out for the silly start time in Beantown tonight. The Sawx are starting an hour earlier at 6:10 tonight, so didn’t get caught there.
