I can’t believe I’ve come to this point in the season but it’s that time, fam. Or ‘Pham’ if you’re into making things not only hip but fantasy baseball-related. This is the time of the season where you just can take that season-long ERA/WHIP of a pitcher here and there, throw them out the window, turn on your Janet Jackson album and sing ‘what have you done for me lately?’ *Singing optional…and some of you? Please don’t. Don’t look at me like that, you know why*. It’s one of the trickiest times of the year. Maybe it’s because the young arm is unknown and the vet team he’s facing didn’t scout well enough or is just plain tired from a long season? Or in the case of the vet arm, maybe they were hurt all year and are healthy and ‘fresh’ by comparison to the other team? I don’t know, I guess what I’m trying to say is this is the time of year for some truly bizarro world shizz and you gotta think about players you may not have at other times. Case in point, CC Sabathia. I mean, 4.80 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP is…well it’s…hrm, it’s…let’s just have Cleveland call it like it is. Yet he’s now had back to back 24+ point DK outings and gets a matchup against a team that currently floats near the bottom against LHP in wRC+ (29th), ISO (28th), and BB/K (28th). Am I confident enough in him to fling him out there in cash games? Ish you cray! But his $6,600 pricetag makes it easy to work in bigger bats and another big arm as needed so I’m all in on CC. Just remember when paying up today for your arms, the all important Beastie Boys words: ‘Cause what you see you might not get, And we can bet so don’t you get souped yet, You’re scheming on a thing that’s a mirage, I’m trying to tell you now it’s sabotage. But enough about my poetic license use of someone else’s poetry, let’s have at it. Here’s my Root Down hot takes for this Friday DK slate…
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Jose Fernandez, SP: $12,700 – I’m all in today…just like everyone else. But wait, I have a reason! I only avoided him due to pitch count but after throwing 69 in his first outing since returning from the DL and 95 his last time out, I could see a huge night on the horizon for Jo-Fer against the Barves. Hotlanta? More like NOTlanta, amirite? Fusing the 90s with the next generation is my goal around here and since I’m the only one typing this, I vote that I’ve achieved it.
Carlos Carrasco, SP: $10,300 – It’s the Royals and no one will play Cookie Carrasco on the road against an offense that won’t strike out…except those GPP guys. Carlos K’d 9 of these KC bats as recently as 10 days ago and had 9 K’s his last outing as well. If aces were described as 1a and 1b guys, I’d tab Carrasco in the 1b camp which means he’s always in play when others are gonna be off him. I’ll be rocking the Cookie Monster in tourneys today.
Carlos Martinez, SP: $9.800 – For his first full year in the majors as a starter, Carlos has been beyond impressive. What’s even more impressive is his current run of 20+ point DK games…which stands at 2! Sorry for the small sample size – that’s what I said…to my wife, OH *reaches around head with cig to smoke a la Andrew Dice Clay and then coughs cuz I don’t smoke*! Wait, why did I just burn myself and then ADC? I’ll blame the ending of the season for this and move on…nevertheless, I believe El Gallo is the cock of the walk today with a MIL team in town that’s sans Braun. He’s probably your safe pairing with Jo-Fer if you’re cashing today.
Jordan Zimmermann, SP: $8,600 – Seemingly safe play against the Phillies whom I’ll be avoiding. Why you say? I’ll give you that the matchup screams ‘play me’ but J-Zimm says ‘glaive me’. Sorry to get medieval on your @ss, was just pointing out that Jordan has zero upside. Pairing him with Jo-Fer will most likely be popular with the masses but just remember: you can’t say ‘masses’ without saying ‘asses’. Which is fine if you’re in a rap video but when we’re talking about logic, that’s not where you wanna be standing.
Rubby de la Rosa, SP: $7,400 – Rubby in a pitcher’s park against a right hand heavy lineup has a chance to be a gem. Was that a pun? I’m not even sure at this point, I just know the matchup says Rubby is intriguing.
Rich Hill, SP: $4,300 – I honestly don’t know what’s going on here but you’re gonna get my attention when you have a 29.6 point DK game last time out and started off with a 33.4 outing as a lefty vs the Rays. Maybe Rich is reinventing himself. Maybe it’s just dumb luck. Either way, I’m beyond intrigued given the Orioles and their penchant for Ks vs LHP on the year. A Hill/Sathathiage pairing gives you carte blanche on any bat you could ever want.
Russell Martin, C: $4,000 – Take this as your sneaky and not cheap stack suggestion of the night. For as good as Jake Odorizzi has been this year, he’s been fairly weak against righties for the year. Throw him in Rogers Centre – the 4th best home run park for righty bats – and you have yourself a chance for a bloodbath. Consider this a big thumbs up for Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and even Chris Colabello if he’s starting.
Tom Murphy, C: $2,800 – You don’t want to pay up at catcher, I get it. Well Tommy, I can hear you. He has a HR in his last three starts and if the recent pattern stands, he should be on par to start today. Oh and this is my last mention that the COL game exists. It’s fantasy wonderland so feel free to load up. Just realize you won’t be alone in doing so.
Mike Napoli, 1B: $3,100 – If you’re not paying up, Naps against Kazmir could be the way to go with his 153 wRC+ against LHP. Plus he saves you cash, which is just as good as money. That was my Yogi Berra shout out. Take it and lets move on.
Brian Dozier, 2B: $4,600 – If you can afford it, go for it. Gas Can Boyd is on the mound and the Twins are charging for a playoff spot. I’d consider Trevor Plouffe here as well or Miguel Sano if you can afford it.
Brandon Drury, 2B/3B: $2,100 – Oh he’s playing in Petco you say? DON’T CARE. Drury has been turning heads since coming up and has homered in two of his last three games. In my keeper league, I plan on picking him up when waivers clear but you don’t have to wait. Feast on his dirt-cheapness.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B: $4,500 – Not hip on paying up for Donaldson, you can look to the batter who owns the 5th highest ISO against lefties on the year and who can get you a discount at Denny’s. PS, that was another ‘A-Rod is old’ jokes which in and of themselves are getting old. Let me go look within for joining the sheeple while you carry on.
David Freese, 3B: $3,000 – Against the grain and probably a bad get, I just can’t ignore Freese as a potential HR target for this slate. With his solid .194 ISO against lefties and Vidal Nuno on the mound, you can understand my intrigue down at this price point. This is a ‘ya duh, do it’ nod to Mike Trout.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS: $3,400 – Fun fact! Any time R.A. Dickey is on the hill, I actually look at BvP information. Knuckleballers are like that three-boobed alien in Total Recall: they’re unique and very few people have the ability to handle them. So when an SS has a 1.411 OPS and 2 HRs against him in 16 career ABs, I get a little tingly thinking about it…or is that the three boobs? Nonetheless, Corey Seager is $6,400 and if I can’t afford him – hint, I can *raspberries* – I’m more than willing to go grab myself some As-Cab.
Josh Reddick, OF: $4,100 – Mike Leake gets to mute his lefty bat woes in AT&T but anytime he’s now away from there, I always look at the southpaws facing him. Reddick has been a solid contributor all year but has turned the volume up on the power output in September, smashing 5 so far. I’m taking Josh in the hopes for a 6th and a chance for just general overall production from him even without.
Michael Conforto, OF: $3,700 – This is just me gushing on a good hitter. I do believe a little in Anthony Desclafani long term but after imploding his last time out and with the Mets still in an overall groove, it’s hard not to look at a few big apple bats so with that, I look to Conforto in a hitter’s park on the cheap. On a day where many will be chasing Coors, you can enjoy GABP and the assured low ownership.
Chris Young, OF: $2,700 – A lefty is on the mound and Chris Young is prolly starting. Death, taxes, Burt and Lonnie, and Chris Young hitting lefties well. All things that just will always be.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
Weather could be a thing for the WASvsBAL tilt with a 30% chance of sprinklage in the forecast. Usually numbers like that don’t lead to rain but be sure to check in before the games get rolling.
Doing Lines In Vegas
El Gallo and his birds reign supreme in Vegas’ eyes today, holding a -240 in the STLvsMIL matchup with Jo-Fer and company claim the -200 edge in the MIAvsATL battle for apathy. Meanwhile, they’re not entirely in love with my CC take, giving him only a -143 in an 8 o/u game. They’ll see! Besides the obvious high o/u is obvious of the COLvsLAD game, we have DETvsMIN sitting at 9 and the BOSvsBAL and TORvsTB games at 8.5. And to further prove both teams are in complete DGAF mode, the Barves and the Mehlins come in at 6.5 and bring up a great philosophical question: if Atlanta or Miami score, does anyone care?
