Last week I advocated a Jacob deGrom start against the Padres. I ensured all of you that playing the sure thing ace on the day was worth the price. Any of you who played him know I was wrong, as he struggled. Guess what I’m going to do this week? Advocate playing the stud again. One guy has been in a class of his own the last few years, and his name rhymes with Blayton Jershaw. There is simply no reason to leave him out of your DraftKings lineups on Thursday, as there are enough lower priced hitters to make his high price totally workable. It’ll be a lot more regrettable to leave Blayton’s twin out of your lineup than to have him in it; this choice should be the easiest one you make on Thursday. Clayton Kershaw has basically been in a league of his own the last few years. Many people will be turned off by his exorbitant price of $13,300, but you should not be. There is no better option on this slate, and he faces a Mets lineup that isn’t exactly a powerhouse and Clayton should continue to show just how good he is.
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Jimmy Nelson, SP: $9,200 – There aren’t many better recipes for pitcher success than getting to face a weak Padres’ lineup. Nelson also fits a lot of other recipes in the good pitcher cookbook, getting a lot of groundballs and striking out a good number of batters. When you mix all those things together, you have a pitcher that you definitely want to put into your DraftKings lineup.
Brian McCann, C: $3,500 – The Yankees offense is finally starting to come alive, and McCann is a big part of that. He has gone deep a few times lately, and an uninspiring right-hander in Ian Kennedy will not cause B-Mac too many nightmares. The short porch may find itself in use a few times for the big catcher.
Kendrys Morales, 1B: $3,200 – This guy is just a major league hitter. He DH’s pretty much every game for the Royals, normally finds himself in the number five slot in the lineup, and just consistently squares the ball up from both sides of the plate. His opposing number, Nate Eovaldi, throws hard, but gets hit hard a lot of the time too, and Kendrys will be hoping to do just that today.
Wilmer Flores, 2B: $2,700 – Normally I don’t like playing a guy against a pitcher I picked, but this time is an exception. Flores should start somewhere in the Mets’ infield against the lefty Kershaw, and he has sneaky pop that most people forget about since he sits on the bench a lot. Many will see the name Kershaw and say no way for Flores; if you go against the grain, there is good profit potential. Editor’s note: Wilmer just went on the DL so not to leave Wheyen3 hanging, let me instead provide a guy at the same price who’s hitting .400 on the year against southpaws: Neil Walker.
Jake Lamb, 3B: $3,300 – This physical specimen will find himself in the top half of the DBacks lineup against the deceptive Johnny Cueto. With composed, conservative batting mechanics, any deception Cueto tries to pull shouldn’t mess with Lamb too much. Instead, he should be able to tap into his power and put on a show.
Corey Seager, SS: $3,700 – Bartolo Colon hit a homer in his last start. That won’t happen this week, as somehow I have a feeling that Blayton’s twin will look to prevent that. However, I also have a feeling that Kyle’s big little brother will find a way to homer off the big fella Bart. A lot of Bartolo’s fastballs run away, and Seager will gladly drive the ball to the opposite field, so look for some oppo pop from Corey.
Yasiel Puig, OF: $3,500 – I was shocked by this price for a guy with the upside of Puig with a comfy matchup against the 42 year old Colon. He should have ample opportunity to drive in Seager ahead of him, along with simply driving in himself. I have no doubt he will bat flip today; let’s just hope it’s on a homer and not a double or an out (well, I guess a double is okay).
Odubel Herrera, OF: $3,500 – Odubel consistently finds himself at the top of the Phillies lineup, and his ever growing leg kick has allowed him to tap into previously untapped power while still using his speed. The youngster Aaron Blair is pitching against Odubel, and there should be no doubt who will win that matchup (if you still didn’t figure it out, it’s the guy whose name doesn’t start with two a’s).
George Springer, OF: $4,100 – Springer swings very, very hard, and he gets a matchup with an on-paper ace who has been struggling in David Price. It seems that Springer is never very highly owned even though he hits second and possesses all the power in the world. Don’t be the one missing out on him as he swings out of his shoes while hitting the ball out of the park.
I’m Only Happy When it Rains
There has been a lot of stinky weather around lately, causing rainouts or delays each of the last few days. However, Thursday is supposed to bring with it plenty of sun, and not a lot of doubt in anyone’s minds about games being played. Baltimore and the Bronx have had two of the more frustrating weather seasons thus far, so they are always worth watching, but there probably is not much to worry about.
Doing Lines in Vegas
The over/under in the Detroit-Baltimore game is at 9.5, and with a weak pitching matchup, I’d be very tempted to take the over. Feel free to load up on hitters in that one in hitter-friendly Camden Yards. As expected, the Mets-Dodgers game has an over/under of 6, but that is mostly Kershaw related. Play Kershaw, maybe play a Mets’ righty, and figure five of the six runs will come for the Dodgers in that late contest.
That’s all for this week. Here’s hoping that you’re as accurate on these picks as Steph Curry is when he is in the zone from downtown.
