Ladies and gents, boys and girls, gasses and minerals, can we be serious for a moment? I have something that’s touched us all in one way or another to discuss; the cold streak. Yes they happen to DFS gods such as myself too. Hard to believe I know, but it’s true. Since last Sunday’s post my wins have been few and far between. The worst part about all this is I’m not getting blown away by the field. I’m consistently finishing just outside the money. East Coast players (where’s my furs and gators?) like myself will be all too familiar with the old going to bed a winner and waking up a loser act. Your girlfriend told me you wake up a loser a lot, so you get it. But that’s besides the point, and they make pills for that “issue”. Just blame it on the alcohol. Either way today is a new day, just as it is everyday on DraftKings and with it comes new opportunity.
After studying todays pitching roster there’s a lot of arms with good matchups, at value prices. My favorite arm of the day, and one that will be in all of my lineups (GPP’s included) is Jason Hammel. The Cubs starter has been a good under the radar play thus far this season striking out 23 batters and only walking 1 in 25 1/3 innings. That’s some old school Cliff Lee shizz. Last time out, Hammel went 8 against the Pirates, not allowing a run and striking out 7. Today he squares off against the Brewers and all American boy Jimmy Nelson. The Brew crew has not been very formidable in 2015, ranking 29th in team wOBA, while striking out at the third highest rate (23.4%) in the league. Full disclosure time, Milwaukee has played most of their games sans their best hitter Carlos Gomez, who returned to the lineup yesterday, but the numbers tell me they need a lot more than Gomez. Fuller disclosure, Vegas hates my idea because the winds be a-blowin out hard to left but at a price of $7,400 you’ll have plenty of other dollars to spend elsewhere.
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J.A. Happ, SP: $7,200 – I’m going save you so much dough on pitching you’re going to build an all-star lineup of booming bats. Sound good? Just follow along with your Uncle Ralph. I promise I’ll be less touchy than your actual Uncle. I talked about Happ last week in my two start pitchers post, and he didn’t disappoint on Tuesday against Texas. Jasper Augustine went 6 2/3, struck out 9 and allowed one earned as he got the win. 9 is a number that I wouldn’t expect Happ to repeat, but he gets deep into games and Houston and their 23.7% K% presents an opportunity for some big points. I’m predicting 6 innings, 5 K’s, with an earned run as Happ’s floor for the day. Give him a roll.
Blake Swihart, C: $3,500 – Okay so I’m from Boston, I’m a homer and all that. This is nothing that Smokey or J-FOH hasn’t said to me before, but it’s a more than that with Swihart. I always try and jump on top prospects immediately following their call-ups on DraftKings, and here’s why. First their prices are typically cheaper than their talent dictates, so you get them at a deal. Second the adrenaline of players following a call up usually gets you a few good games early on. (Think Gregory Polanco from last season.) Blake legged out a single in his first game yesterday and later scored. With a AAA pitcher in Adam Warren on the mound Swihart should be in his comfort zone. Plus according to my buddy Sully from Woburn he’s Pudge Fisk, Buster Posey, and Johnny Bench all rolled into one. It’s like sex watching Scarface, “now that’s gangsta”.
Hanley Ramirez, SS: $5,500 – I’m feeling the Sox stack today at home. Look at it this way, they’ve lost their last two at home to the Yanks, have scored a total of 4 runs in those games, and they face the weakest link of the New York rotation. If you followed my value pitching playbook you’ll easily afford Hanley and the other big Sox bats.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B: $5,000 – Quick personal story here, so skip ahead if you’re looking for actual advice, there’s more of that to come I promise. I took my 4 year old son to his first baseball game Monday, where the Sox took on the Blue Jays. The boy had a blast, the game had everything you could ask for, a walk off Red Sox win, a couple of great catches, a 10 strikeout performance from a pitcher, and he ate his weight in cotton candy. The greatest development that came from this game was my son identified his first favorite baseball player in “Panda”. I’m not sure if it was the homer he hit or the man’s nickname but needless to say the boy insisted on owning a Panda shirt. So I’m getting all sentimental and rolling out Sandoval today.
Andre Ethier, OF: $3,300 – Remember when this guy was one of the top outfielders in the game? Seems like ages ago, but so far this season Ethier is back in top form. In his last 6 starts the outfielder has games of 16, 21, and 30 points on DK. Today he faces D-Backs righty Chase Anderson, with a career batting average of .304 against righties this is a matchup that should play well. Plus at $3,300 Ethier is cheap.
Jake Marisnick, OF: $4,000 – When he’s not making unbelievable catches he’s hitting BB’s and stealing bases. Once considered a top prospect in the Marlins organization Marisnick has settled in with the upstart Astros. Over the last week Marisnick is arguably the hottest hitter in baseball. Hitting .458 with 5 XBH’s, 5 steals, and 7 runs. If you decide to go another direction besides Happ with one of your SP spots Marisnick is a good play. As we say on the Soccer site “Form Matters”.
Bryce Harper, OF: $4,200 – This is a pure BvP play, but then again it’s not like Harper is having a bad season, as he ranks squarely within the top 50 at the moment and is averaging a healthy 8.8 PPG on DraftKings. His all-time numbers against Dillon Gee are tasty, try on 7/19, with 2 homers. Fits like a glove right? Best part…he only costs $4,200.
Detroit Tigers Bats – With Jeremy Guthrie on the mound two things are bound to happen. One he’ll be wearing some fresh kicks, two he’ll get filleted by the Tigers lineup. Look at the BvP numbers for Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, V-Mart, and company. This one could get ugly.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
The only game on the slate with the threat of showers is the White Sox vs Twins at Target. So play on players…..
Doing Line In Vegas
Looks like Vegas agrees with me on the Happ start, listing Seattle as the favorite. Take the Mariners.
With the over/under listed at 8 1/2 in today’s Sox – Yankees game I’d take the over. After all Joe Kelly and Adam Warren are on the bump.
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