I’m starting to think there’s a conspiracy on my FanDuel Saturdays: this is the 3rd? 4th? week in a row where the pitching options are either expensive or dismal or both. But we do have an @ARI game, huzzah: the Cubs are taking on the Diamondbacks. [Sidebar: this sounds like a nature movie in which a baby bear tries gamely, vainly, to defend his wounded mother from the evil snake, while everyone in the audience cries. (Sub-sidebar: I have a friend who tells me I always take things to the dark place.)] The Brewers have a good match-up at home versus Scott Feldman, too. Thus, we DFS warriors will make do as we can on the pitching front (Hyun-Jin Ryu, $8,200: I’m looking at you) and otherwise stack like the stacking great bastards we are.
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Here’s the lineup I’m entering into FanDuel for Saturday 12 August (1:07 p.m., GPP all day):
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P: $8,200
Victor Martinez, C: $2,300
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B: $4,400
Jonathan Villar, 2B: $2,300
Kris Bryant, 3B: $3,900
Didi Gregorius, SS: $3,300
Mike Trout, OF: $5,200
Cameron Maybin, OF: $2,300
Yasiel Puig, OF: $2,900
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP: $8,200 – Ryu is Stream-o-Nator’s second-ranked starter of the day, behind Chris Archer at home versus Cleveland ($10,200). He was third, behind Max Scherzer at home versus San Francisco, but that game was postponed so Edwin Jackson seems to be starting for the Nationals instead. You would very likely be safe starting Archer, who has a 3.32 ERA at home; Cleveland is sixth worst in MLB versus RHPs. But Ryu is the guy for me today, for the slightly more reasonable price and his match-up versus the Padres, who – still! – are last in MLB in runs scored. Since coming back from the DL, Ryu’s earned a grand total of 2 runs in 3 starts.
Aaron Nola, SP: $9,500 – If he were a smidgen cheaper, I’d play him. As the season has worn on, Nola’s got stingier and stingier with the runs. His last start, AT COORS, he earned 2 runs in 7 innings. This start is at home, where he holds a 2.87 ERA. Sort of an aside, but possibly interesting because it may mean Nola won’t get a win, but I learned there’s a weird thing where the Mets keep clobbering the Phillies at home, going back 6 seasons. From here:
The Phillies are 14-37 against the Mets since 2012 … at home. That’s a .275 winning percentage. That’s a 45-117 full-season pace. That’s pathetic.
That 14-37 mark vs. the Mets since 2012 is the second-worst divisional record for any major-league team at its own park. (The Mets are 15-41 at home since 2012 against the Nationals.)
Buster Posey, C: $2,600 – I think this may have been the price FanDuel set for Posey versus Max Scherzer: it hasn’t changed since the game was postponed. Now, versus Edwin Jackson, things are looking rosier for Posey. I’m suggesting him for this price and because he’s now jumped up to Hittertron’s top-rated catcher of the day (previously rated fifth versus Scherzer). He digs hitting in Nationals Park (.314 over 3 years), and he’s been steady lately.
Victor Martinez, C: $2,300 – Still not a catcher, FanDuel! He may not play — he’s been riding the bench a fair bit lately — but if he does make it into the lineup, he’s super cheap, so why not. Another bet might be Alex Avila, also at $2,300; it’s not a great lefty-lefty matchup versus Patrick Corbin, but it is in Arizona.
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B: $4,400 – This price is fairly steep, but actually a little cheaper than I’d thought he’d be, considering it’s in Arizona; compare against Joey Votto in Milwaukee, at $5,000. Au Schizz has a 5 for 8 history versus Jon Lester, is hitting .328 at home, and .330 versus LHP. What’s not to like?
Jose Abreu, 1B: $2,800 – Historically, Cubans and Kennedys have not mixed well. Here’s another instance: Jose Abreu is 6 for 16 in his matchups versus KC’s Ian Kennedy, with 1 home run. Note: he has been cold in August, with a .219 average, but counter-note: Kennedy has never had a fun time at the White Sox park (a 4.08 ERA in 17 innings pitched there between 2014 and 2016), and last time he played the White Soxed ones on July 21, he racked up 5 earned in 4 innings. He’s earned 10 runs in 2 starts in August. So my bet’s on Cuba in this matchup. <lights cigar> If you’re not with me, though, and still want to keep the price down, you could try…
Carlos Santana, 1B: $2,800 – You know I have me some serious Chris Archer love, but here’s a…Smooth match-up I like. Santana is 6 for 14 versus the awesome-haired one, with an OPS of 1.101. Note that he’s hitting only 5 for 25 in August, however – hence the price, I’m sure. Speaking of low prices, honorable mention to Eric Thames ($2,600): Hittertron puts him 1st overall at 1B, for the righty-lefty matchup versus Scott Feldman. Other than last night (when he went 3 for 6), Thames has been chilly, though.
Daniel Murphy, 2B: $3,300 – I was originally recommending him for his match-up versus…Oh God, I’m going to have to write it out: 19 weeks of this and I still have to look up how to spell Samardzija’s name every time. Murphy is 9 for 17 against Samardzija <copy-paste>, with 1 home run. There’s some bonus content for you for Sunday’s match-up! But I thought I’d keep him in for today, as well. He’s never faced the Giants’ Chris Stratton, but he’s hitting .332 versus RHP pitching generally, and Stratton sports a 6.63 ERA, and 1.74 WHIP in his 5 games on the season.
Jonathan Villar, 2B: $2,300 – Villar has been frustrating as hell to own in roto, with all the sitting and the suckage and whatnot. However, Hittertron is all over him today for the match-up versus Scott Feldman at home in Milwaukee: he’s literally the top-rated hitter of any position today. Ya, higher than Harper and Trout. So at this price, worth a go?
Justin Turner, 3B: $3,900 – Historically, Bachman Turner Overdrive (sue me: I’m Canadian. Also: old) has gone 5 for 13 versus Jhoulys Chacin. It’s been a bit of a variable August for him, veering up and down between hitting .500 and, like, 0, but he just went on a tear in Arizona, so here’s hoping he’ll keep it going back home (where he’s .352 this year). Or, speaking of Arizona, for the same price you may as well trot out Kris Bryant versus LHP Patrick Corbin. He hasn’t been as hot as Turner lately, but I’m hoping for desert air magic, and I’m starting him.
Travis Shaw, 3B: $3,300 – For this start at home in Milwaukee versus Scott Feldman, Shaw is Hittertron’s 4th-place 3B for today. I’m-a trot out another tiny sample size, but Shaw has gone 4 for 8 against Feldman in the past, with a home run, and it’s a great lefty-righty matchup anyway.
Didi Gregorius, SS: $3,300 – The Notorious D.I.D.I. (seriously, this is still one of my favorite nicknames to come out of Razzball, ever. I wish someone would tell Gregorius so he could put it on his team nickname shirt) has gone 6 for 14 versus Drew Pomeranz in the past. Mind you, Pomeranz has been stingy with the runs lately, but Gregorius is hitting a ridiculous .412 in August so far. If you can spend a little more, though, go for Marwin Gonzalez ($3,600), Hittertron’s 2nd-rated shortstop for today, facing Texas’ RHP Kyle Lohse. Marwin switch-hits, but is a particularly effective .336 versus righties.
Ryan Goins, SS: $2,500 – Here’s your Hear Me OutTM for today. I’m just tossing him out as an alternative if you need to save some cash at this point. If he starts, R. Goins (“Groins” to his friends) is dirt cheap, has a modest 7-game hit streak going at time of writing, and has a nice lefty-righty matchup against SON’s second-lowest-ranked pitcher of the day, Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams.
Mike Trout, OF: $5,200 – All right, here’s your, my, big spend o’ the day. Trout is pretty much guaranteed to do something no matter what (uhhh, like hit .458 in the last 7 days, apparently); he’s usually worth his money. But today especially, I hope. Historically, he’s hit 8 for 20 off Seattle’s Erasmo Ramirez. I’d even be happy if he went for his usual .330 in Safeco Field (2014-2016 numbers).
Brett Gardner, OF: $3,500 – Once more unto the Pomeranz breach, my friends, in this [email protected] match-up (where the games always last 6 hours): if you can’t afford Trout, it may be worth running Gardner out versus Drew Pomeranz for their 5 for 17 history, with 1 home run.
Cameron Maybin, OF: $2,300 – Add a second Angel to the pantheon? Sure! It’s a small sample size, but Maybin’s gone 4 for 10 versus the above-mentioned Erasmo Ramirez. He’s been a little quiet since his return from the DL (.167) but possibly still worth it at this price?
Yasiel Puig, OF: $2,900 – Another day, another Dodger. This is a suggestion for Puig’s 6 for 17 record against Jhoulys Chacin. August is Puig’s best month so far, hitting .308 currently. Meanwhile, Chacin’s ERA in Dodger Stadium in 3.1 innings pitched this year: a glorious 24.30. Game on!
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There’s some chance of thunderstorm-age in Philly and Arlington and in Washington at the start of the day, and some cloudiness elsewhere, but that’s it!
Doing Lines In Vegas
Ryu and the LA Dodgers have the biggest lean over San Diego, at -189. Tampa is likely to take it from Cleveland, at -134. Detroit over Minnesota is almost too close to call at -103.
