Most things that can be enjoyed in life are temporary and fleeting. When it comes to owning Carlos Gonzalez (OF, $4,700) in fantasy, the previous statement couldn’t be more accurate. The only thing CarGo is better at than putting up big fantasy numbers is racking up DL stints and games missed. Which is why he is the perfect player for Daily Fantasy formats like DraftKings. When he’s in the lineup and playing, he’s typically hitting and there are few players in baseball more exciting to watch. When he’s not in the lineup and he’s taking up residence in your DL spot, there are few players more infuriating to own. I typically avoid Gonzalez in drafts because the price is high and the risk is great. My approach in the first few rounds is to buy low risk/high floor players. In DFS I just want great players and great matchups. With Cargo returning to the Rockies lineup yesterday and a home matchup with punching bag Kevin Correia, he’s both! In the early set the Rockies stack is very much in play. Even better there are some great low cost pitching options on the slate to help fit those premium Colorado bats into your lineups.
We have a couple of 20 Teamers setup again today, one for the earlier set and another for the later bunch. We filled two 20 Teamers for last nights games and they’ve been filled every night for the last couple of weeks. We’ve had Razzball personalities like Sky, The Guru, J-Foh, Tehol, Schlurricane, BTXJ, and Nick Cappozzi. To extremely competitive players from our Comments section like LoneRiders, ddmcd 1974, nrk5014, Resnati, and heatster. Going forward they’re going to be a daily drop in our DraftKings blogs. So get yourself together and join DraftKings today. In case you didn’t know, DraftKings will give you a ticket for a contest just for joining with us by clicking here. So let’s review, you get to compete against your favorite Razzball personalities and fellow readers, and you get a ticket for the sweet price of Free.99. Don’t forget we have some great tools to help you optimize your lineups in the DFSBot, the Stream-o-nator, and the Hitter-tron. So use them and thank Rudy!
David Price, SP: This is strictly an FYI. He’s been scratched and now Jake Odorizzi will start in his place. I didn’t plan on starting Price against the Jays to begin with and won’t wear American flag shorts! Maybe I’m Canadian?
Mike Minor, SP: 8,000 – After putting a solid line together against the Mets earlier this week, Minor gets another cream puff matchup with the whiff happy Cubs. Minor hasn’t been great put I think he’s turning a corner. Then again he has given up 3 dongs in his last two games, and his HR/FB is double what it was last season. I’m pretty sure that’s bad. You know what else is bad? The Cubs K numbers against lefties like Minor! They have the highest K% in the majors when facing a southpaw at 25.8%. Strangely they are also top ten in wOBA vs. Left handed pitching, but that’s boosted up by the 2nd best BABIP. On DraftKings the name of the game is K’s and IP’s I think Minor will give you both.
Jimmy Nelson, SP: $7,300 – I love me some rookie pitching, especially when it’s a highly touted arm with strikeout ability. Nelson gets the Cardinals today in Milwaukee, and their dreadful road wOBA. The Red Birds are actually a bottom 5 road team in wOBA and wRC+. Their K% away from Busch is also 4 percentage points higher. This sets up well for Nelson who’s K/9 in the minors have been in the mid 9’s. Mr. Albright wrote about him yesterday in his column and gave him his seal of approval. I’m just asking you to buy for one day at a low price.
Christian Vazquez, C: $2,000 – Last night in only his second major league game Vazquez went 3/4, with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI’s. He had some solid numbers in Pawtucket and Portland the last two years, and a really nice year in A Greenville in 2011 hitting .283, with 18 homers and 84 RBI’s in 105 games. I can’t promise he’ll be in the lineup, but you can easily replace him with Christian Bethancourt or Caleb Joseph. I love me some catcher punt plays.
Freddie Freeman, 1B: $4,800 – Freeman has been his usual self this season putting up a .300/13/52/.892 slash line and leading the Braves offense. Freddy Free faces the Notorious Edwin Jackson today at Wrigley. His lifetime BvP against Mr. Jackson is downright mouthwatering. Look at these numbers, 7/14 and 4 XBH’s including 2 dongs.
Tommy La Stella, 2B: $3,400 – La Stella is a bit of punching Judy hitter. There isn’t any power to speak of and he doesn’t really steal bases, but he does make contact and get on base. Those are valuable assets at this price, and he gets the aforementioned Edwin Jackson.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS: $5,800 – Not that I should have to lobby too hard for the world’s best shortstop but Tulo’s numbers at home are sick. He sports a .429 average with 14 homers, 34 RBI’s, a .542 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 227 in the friendly confines of Coors Field. Between he and CarGo I’m hoping for some fireworks against the Twins this afternoon.
Nolan Arenado, 3B: $4,000 – It hasn’t been all smiles and sunshine since Arenado came back from the DL. I’m looking for him to break through today after a 13 point effort last night on DraftKings. Prior to getting hurt, Arenado was having a very solid season and we all know his pedigree.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF: $5,400 – Stanton has been slumping hard in July, hitting a paltry .184 with no homers. He’s going to break out of this slump sooner rather than later. After all, big homie bombs atomically. He’s got a homer in the past off Daisuke Matsuzaka and I don’t see why he couldn’t have another one (or two) off Mr. K today.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF: $4,600 – I love Ellsbury, anybody who follows me on Twitter knows that. The speed/power combo, and those dimples are just dreamy. But for serious, I love his matchup with Chris Tillman and I loved his matchup with Ubaldo Jimenez before they DL’ed him. Ellsbury is 7/23 off Tillman with a homer and a couple of doubles. I’m always looking for the valuable slam and legs ability in my DraftKings roster.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There’s a couple of games with a chance of rain this afternoon in Chicago and Denver. The good news is the probability is at 50% right now. Both of the games are early so I think they’ll get them in.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Arizona vs. San Francisco – 7 – I’ll take the over
St. Louis vs. Milwaukee – 7 – I’ll take the under
Miami vs. New York Mets – 7.5 – I’ll take the over
Minnesota vs. Colorado – 10.5 – I’ll take the ove
As always, make sure to check the lineups, give a look at the weather and I toast your team with slightly chilled Manischewitz
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