We want dingers, lots and lots of dingers. The formal definition of a ‘dinger’ has something to do with home runs, just to paint a better picture for you. We will go after dingers, dingers, and more dingers. Now remember, you don’t want your pitchers to give up dingers, so be careful to not fall too much in love with them. The first Thursday of the MLB season promises plenty of potential for the long ball; sadly, most of the pitchers possess this potential too. With a few lower priced arms, it is possible to put together a very strong hitting lineup that can compete with anyone. Without further ado, we construct Team Dingers, and more importantly a team that will prove a winner on DraftKings for you!
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Adam Conley, SP: $7,300 – Yeah, Conley instills confidence in no one… However, the Nats are cold, their best hitter bats with the same hand Conley throws with (well, really he bats with two hands, but you get it), and Conley had a sneaky good end to last year. The Marlins offense has a good chance of backing him up against Tanner Roark, and his ownership will be low. Get in on the Con-Artist!
John Lackey, SP: $8,300 – This really isn’t an inspiring slate for starting pitchers. In Lackey, you get a veteran pitcher making his debut for the best offense in the NL. You can put those win points in a bag, and as long as he can limit Mr. Goldschmidt from hitting five home runs, I think he’ll be okay even in the desert.
Kyle Schwarber, C: $4,500 – Schwarber hits the ball very hard. Rubby de la Rosa throws very hard and very straight. Schwarber is due to hit the ball very long. Was that enough very’s to convince you?
C.J. Cron, 1B: $3,200 – We are continuing with the hits the ball a long way theme from Schwarber. Homers are what are going to win you contests. A homer-prone Derek Holland is on the hill to oppose the Cron-meister… Ok, admittedly, that doesn’t have a whole lot of ring to it, but I’m sure when he goes yard for you, it’ll sound a whole lot better!
Brian Dozier, 2B: $4,600 – Anybody remember when Ubaldo Jimenez was good? It was sure a long time ago, and now he’s pretty much good at giving up long balls. You know who’s good at hitting long balls, or dingers as the youngsters call them? I’ll give you a hint, his name is on this page… I’ll tell you: Brian ‘Dingers’ Dozier! One of these nicknames is bound to catch on.
Adrian Beltre, 3B: $4,400 – This wily veteran doesn’t like getting his head touched. That has nothing to do with his spot in your lineup against Hector Santiago. Honestly, the times his head is touched probably correlate with the points he puts up; the better he does, the more head touches. Root for Elvis Andrus to have his hands full with Adrian’s head in this one!
Jimmy Rollins, SS: $4,000 – Sticking with the old guys theme for a minute, Jimmy Rollins may be revitalized in Chicago. Hitting second in the order and already with a homer, he gets to face Kendall Graveman, a guy with underwhelming stuff at his best. Youngsters often catch the eye of many DFSers, but don’t let Rollins fly under the radar just because he has been around forever. If anything, his ownership will be low enough to help you dominate the field.
Adam Eaton, OF: $4,600 – We will get a mini White Sox stack going against a weak Graveman. The boys at the top of the order will have a chance at lots of runs in this one. Just be glad I’m not recommending the pitcher of the same name!
Socrates Brito, OF: $3,200 – His name is Socrates, he has power and speed, his name is Socrates, he plays in Arizona, his name is Socrates…
Giancarlo Stanton, OF: $5,500 – Stanton has the most power in the game. In any tournament, he is a fantastic play, and he will be owned to the point that if he has a big game you will not want to miss out on him.
Mike Trout, OF: $5,400 – If you can fit the former Mike Stanton along with the current Mike Trout in your lineup, you should do it. Trout gets a lefty he is familiar with in Derek Holland and should combine with the Cron-meister from up above to put a few balls way out of the ballpark.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
The places that have proven to be the usual suspects so far this season continue to cause problems for Thursday games. The 4:05 first pitch in the Bronx could cause problem for the ‘Stros-Yanks matchup, so keep an eye on the rain there. With it being the last game of the series, they may be inclined to wait it out, but it is risky. Cleveland and Baltimore both face forecasts of rain as well, with a storm seemingly rolling into Cleveland as I type this with my window open. Both also conclude their series, but pay attention if you are playing any of the Tribe, BoSox, Orioles, or Twinkies. Outside of that, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to worry about, but as always, be wary of any late changes, and be especially wary of starting pitching in games where there might be delays.
Doing Lines In Vegas
There are 8.5 Over/Unders in both the Philadelphia-Cincinnati matchup along with the ChiSox-Oakland game. Both of these are good places to target, especially the White Sox as I suggested above. I’m wary of targeting any Phillies while being unsure of what Robert Stephenson can do, but there are no problems going after Reds bats against a weak Charlie Morton.
That is all for Thursday, April 7. Best of luck in all your contests, and may BABIP be forever in your favor!
