I’m sitting here with the 80’s classic Gung Ho on the TV. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Michael Keaton and Long Duck Dong, it tells the story of how a man tries to save a town by bringing in a Japanese car company to fill an empty car factory. In hindsight what great foreshadowing for the towns in the rust belt that became abandoned by the loss of all the manufacturing jobs. Filled with lots of people you might recognize, like George Wendt and John Turturo, it pulls at the heart strings of my childhood and all the forgotten movies we would watch. Now what does this have to do today’s DraftKings article. Absolutely nothing! I’m just sharing what I’m watching on TV……I’m kidding it has lots to do with today’s daily fantasy. In daily fantasy we have to be key on the match-ups and the value one guy has because he destroys a certain pitcher or team. Yunel Escobar is that guy for me today. Like this movie, we need to take a risk on the little guy when the stars align and use hope as a tool……and some numbers crunching helps too. He has 2HR’s, 10 RBI’s, 4 doubles, 3 BB’s and a .306 BA lifetime vs. CC Sabathia. Couple that with a small price tag and you have what I like to call my blue light special. I’m rolling him out there even if the Hitter-Tron is farting in his general direction. Someone put his dipstick back in! Given that the Stream-O-Nator isn’t that hot on CC, though, I do think there’s room for this to work.
For those of you still new to this daily fantasy thing you really need to get in on this. I don’t always have time to be on the computer throughout the day but I can find a little time in the morning to get a line-up and take on 5,000 other players for a chance to win some sweet cash. If you sign up you can play the free games until you get the hang of it. You can also play H2H against each other or me if you would like to. My handle on there is J-FOH. Now get over to DraftKings and sign up already and while you’re at it, try your hand at the Sweet Spot. This might be one of the few times in life that you are going after a sweet spot that’s not on your wife and she will not only not mind, but be happy about it. Ok, on with the picks.
James Shields, SP: $10,700 – DraftKings loves their Ks and the Astros are in the bottom ten in that department so we can expect a good return here. I don’t care that George Springer got called up. It’s the Astros and I like to use a least one ace every time out. It keeps you in the game and as I write this his ownership is the same as CC Sabathia. I don’t know about you but that’s nuckin futs.
Danny Salazar, SP: $$8,300 – He has 14K’s in only 9.1 innings and he gets a very blah Tigers line-up. Wait that’s not right. The Tigers are a juggernaut with the bat and they have Miggy(1/1/4/.225). Not this year…so far. I like this matchup because DK loves the K’s and the wind should be blowing in from dead center at 19mph. In the words of the Guru “me likey!”
Jason Castro, C: $3,600 – sports a .429 batting average vs. Shields and is the only guy I like in that lineup tomorrow. Hopefully being sandwiched between Springer and Altuve help him become that top 5 catcher we all thought he could be. Fidel Castro would be proud of his namesake.
Justin Smoak, 1B: $3,600 – He kills Scheppers (2HR in 3 AB’s) and is hitting .300 in the current series vs. the Rangers. If you need to spend elsewhere then you need to save on the deals. The Smoak Monster will return….for a day
Matt Adams, 1B: $4,000 – There is no history with Fat Adams vs. Taylor Jordan, actually there is no history with Jordan vs. any of the Cardinals. So let’s talk about Mr. NL Moobies. He’s batting .429 this year vs. right handers and .290 over his career. This is daily gambling and this is the kind of gamble I like to take. In honor of this gamble I’ll be going to the Hometown Buffett tomorrow.
Kolten Wong, 2B: $3,900 – I have a trend starting here and it’s a stack against Taylor Jordan and the Nats. I would like to say Matt Carpenter because of his eligibility at 2B but his price tag ($5,000) is a bit too high for me. I’ll take the stolen base *crosses fingers*
Dan Uggla, 2B: $4,300 – the power hitting component to my other favorite stack is mister .200. He’s been a Hot Schmotato of late and gets a pitcher who’s been DTD with a groin issue. Let’s pray Jimmy Rollins slips Ryno some Benadryl and he sleeps though the first 6 innings and leaves Burnett in too long.
Chris Johnson, 3B: $3,600 – With a .500 BA and a homer against Burnett I’ll throw him out there in this stack. Philly’s little park will hopefully nullify his not great power and the price tag makes him a Camry for your lineup.
Dee Gordon, SS: $5,100 – The Billy Hamilton of the middle infield has been stealing bases like Grey steals hearts. With 7 steals in the last 5 games you can’t sit this man. Why wait, go plug him in now, I’ll wait for you.
Carlos Gomez, OF: $5,300 – Here is another spot I would like to spend a few extra dollars at. He completely kills Volquez with a career line of 3 HR and a .353 batting average in 17 AB’s. He’s also started the season strong and I like the off day spending spree on him.
Marlon Byrd, OF: $4,200 – I know Razzicans, this is my Creeper of the Week and it may look like some self promoting, and it is. He hits .300 the last three years vs. lefties and this match-up is one of the reasons I selected him. Do the Dirty Bird with me….no pants.
I’m Only Happy When it Rains
With no rain scheduled to fall we should have all games being played. Good winds will be at Minnesota, 14 mph out to right center, and at San Francisco, 14 mph to straight away center. Bad winds for hitters is at Detroit at 19 mph blowing in from dead center.
Doing Lines in Vegas
Sea @ Tex (9) – I think this one could go over with two pitchers who have gotten lit up already this year
Tor @ Min (8 1/2) the morning game has a higher total than the second game and I have my doubts. What do you think?
KC @ Hou (8) This is a tough one. I think Shields will shut the Astros down, but Feldman is a tough call for me and Vegas feels the same. He’s a wild card.
Atl @ Phi (7 1/2) My stack attack special for the Braves. I’m predicting 10 runs in this one
