I always remind you to check your lineups before start of play, and never more so in this most roller-coastery of weeks in the most roller-coastery of seasons, as it barrels breathlessly toward the finish line. You have teams who have clinched berths in the playoffs and others realizing that 2020 is not their year (is it anybody’s year, really?), so it’s always an interesting time for setting lineups, as things can change at the very last minute: players resting, pitchers not going deep, et cetera. But as of time of writing, Kevin Gausman ($8,300) is still projected to start at home for the Giants versus the Rockies, and it is he on whom we are pinning our hopes for our FanDuel DFS lineup, this Thursday. He’s also been great in his last 2 outings, versus the A’s and Diamondbacks, going 6.0 innings with 1 earned run on each occasion. For the rest of this, my very last post of the 2020 “regular” season (thanks for hanging out with me!), let’s take a look at some hitters to recruit around him, as well as some alternative pitching, after the jump.
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Housekeeping: 1) These suggestions are for the all-day slate on FanDuel, starting at 1:35 p.m. Eastern. 2) Check your lineups! 3) Stay safe.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP: $8,800 – The aforementioned Kevin Gausman is Streamonator’s top pitching pick today, followed by Walker Buehler ($10,400… *cough*), Patrick Corbin ($8,600) and Lance Lynn ($9,500). Corbin has made me a little nervous, but Lynn could do you right. I also wanted to look at Ryu, a little further down Streamonator’s menu: Ryu is its fifth-favourite pitcher today. This matchup versus the Yankees is somewhat terrifying, admittedly: he got knocked around by the Yankees during their last contest, to the tune of 5 earned runs. But I’ve otherwise loved Ryu for most of this year* (*when a year is 3 months) and at time of writing, he represents the ideal blend of a pitcher with a team that is still (just) in playoff contention, versus a team that has already clinched; i.e., starving-hungry versus probably just picking at the buffet to see what’s on offer.
Freddie Freeman, 1B: $4,200 – AROOGA! AROOGA! Freddie Freeman’s facing a righty (Miami’s Pablo Lopez)! Need I say more? Okay, fine, “details”: he’s hitting .383 versus RHP and he has a .345 average (bizarrely, that’s only the third-highest in the league, but that’s plenty for me).
Anthony Rizzo, 1B: $3,300 – This has not altogether been Rizzo’s year, has it. But this could be a good start for the price, he’s hit home runs 2 days in a row, and I like the match-up versus Chad Kuhl, whom Rizzo has seen well in the past: a 1.157 OPS and .318 average in 22 at-bats. Last year, Rizzo went .307 versus RHPs like Kuhl (we will avert our eyes from his .221 average this year).
DJ LeMahieu, 2B: $4,400 – Officially your “not cheap” 2B. But I’d still take a LeMahieu for the righty-lefty matchup versus Ryu—he’s hitting LHP for .321—and he just always seems to give the Jays fits.
Hanser Alberto, 2B: $2,900 – This is a Hittertron suggestion: it likes Alberto as its second-best 2B today. Hanser is not going to set the world on fire for you, but he is the lead hitter in Baltimore and he’s a huge fan of lefty pitchers like Martin Perez (.356 versus LHP this year). Or if you’d like to go super-cheap on 2B, consider Nick Madrigal: he’s Hittertron’s no. 5 2B, and a mere $2,500.
Bobby Dalbec, 3B: $3,400 – Every time I read his name, I’m reaching for a glass of Argentinean red. (Is it a problem that it’s 6 a.m. here? 2020, baby!) Anyway. He’s Hittertron’s second-overall 3B for today (number 1 is another Bostonian by the name of Rafael Devers, at a slightly steeper $3,900) and I think I agree. Dalbec is squaring off against Streamonator’s lowest-rated pitcher, poor old Alex Cobb, and is hitting .303 at home (with a decent .281 with 7 HRs on the season). Cheers!
Asdrubal Cabrera, 3B: $2,600 – But do you need to save some money, perchance? Then give Asdrubal a whirl. He had a down night last night but has been otherwise hot, and no more so than versus LHP (.314 on the season), such as the Mets’ David Peterson.
Trea Turner, SS: $4,200 – He was scratched last night for an “undisclosed” reason, so check he’s playing today, but if he is… play him, dammit! I know, I’m a broken record with him. He’s just so damn good and consistently so. And today especially, given he’s facing the Mets’ LHP David Peterson, and he has a .392 average versus lefties. I mean, is that not worth coughing up for? Come on. I’ll say it one more time this season: TreaT Yo’self.
Bo Bichette, SS: $3,600 – But all right, all right, maybe Trea is too rich for your blood. There’s Hittertron’s number 2 SS on the day, Xander Bogaerts ($3,800), or maybe we work our way down the list a little and try someone who may go unnoticed among your competitors. Boba Chette is a big fan of LHP (.333 in 2020). And the price is liveable-with. But if you’re utterly broke at this point (as I am, trying to build my lineup), try Adalberto Mondesi, at $2,900. He’s the 3rd-ranked SS today on Hittertron and has been picking it up over the last month; to wit, last night he went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and 3 runs. Fingers crossed he can do it again versus Michael Fulmer.
J.D. Martinez, OF: $3,500 – Outfield is a little tough on FanDuel today, for some reason. They’re either expensive or meh. But Just Dong, Hittertron’s top OF today, IS at a decent price. He’s not had his greatest season, but he’s been warming up in recent days. Also, in a history of 22 at-bats versus the Orioles’ Alex Cobb, he’s hit .500. Seriously.
Kyle Tucker, OF: $3,400 – Look at Kyle Tucker and his lovely hitting ways, on top of which he’s facing a righty today in the form of Lance Lynn (he’s hitting .300 versus RHP this year).
Alex Verdugo, OF: $3,000 – Ooh. Hittertron’s number-six hitter overall on the day, priced at $3,000, a lefty hitting .319 versus right-hand pitching (in this case, Alex Cobb)? Yes please.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
At time of writing, the game to keep an eye on is Marlins at Braves–some rain is forecast for Atlanta. Other than that, there’s some cloud about but generally clear.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Vegas is with me in thinking Kevin Gausman is likely to take it over Chi Chi Gonzalez and the Rockies, with -215 in favour of the Giants (68.3% projected win percentage). It’s also very keen on Walker Buehler over Mike Fiers and the A’s, at -213. The line on the Nationals-Mets game is in Washington’s favour, for Patrick Corbin to take it over David Peterson at -131 (56.7%). It’s as nervy as I am about Ryu versus the Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery: -108, barely leaning toward a Toronto win (pray for my Jays to make the playoffs, k thanks. Our magic number’s 1).
