Early season DFS is tough. DFS on the regular isn’t easy, but add in the uncertainty of playing time, crazy weather, early slumps, offseason adjustments, new teams, new teammates and there are a lot of extra factors. It’s for this reason I tend to ease myself into the DFS waters. I take it pretty slow in April while we let some data collect. When May hits we can start ramping it up and really be ripping come June. We’ve got three weeks worth of data to work with so far and Ivan Nova ($15,600) has been fantastic. The strikeouts have been a bit lacking but it’s hard to quibble with a 2.25 ERA and a sub 1.00 WHIP. If you are prone to quibbling, I’d point out that Nova is smack dab in the middle of the road for pricing today, allowing you to afford those sweet Coors bats we all crave. Plus, I mean, come on, #RevengeGame, #EnoughSaid.
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Danny Salazar, SP: $21,900 – Have you seen what the Indians pitchers have done to the White Sox lately? The Pale Hose have shown no interest in hitting the ball. They’ve tallied exactly 6 hits in 2 days and I like Salazar to keep that run going.
Yu Darvish, SP: $21,000 – There is exactly zero chance I pay up an extra $5,000 for Max Scherzer when Yu Darvish is here for the taking. That’s the difference between Charlie Blackmon and Rickie Weeks Jr. There isn’t that much of a gap between Scherzer and Darvish. Also, for what it’s worth, the Rangers are -180 favorites today and the Nats are “only” -145.
Joe Musgrove, SP: $15,000 – I was considering Michael Fulmer against the awful Twinkies, but for a $4,200 discount, Musgrove is looking mighty nice as well. The Rays are 2nd in baseball in strikeouts right now and Musgrove has shown a propensity for Ks in the past (8 K/9 last season and 9 K/9 in AAA the minors last year). He’s working through some mechanical tweaks early on and I’d rather be in on the day he gets it all figured out than watching someone else cash with him in their lineup.
Eduardo Rodriguez, SP: $12,000 – As long as we’re taking a waltz down narrative street with Ivan Nova E-Rod has a #RevengeGame today vs. the Os. In 7 games vs. the Os so far Eduardo is 2-3 with a 4.04 ERA and more importantly a 10.9 K/9. For $12K, you could do worse. E-Rod + Musgrove + Coors stack = High Risk / High Reward
Eric Thames, IF: $8,000 – Thames vs. Mike Leake for cheaper than Eric Hosmer vs. Yu Darvish? Oh… *goes to the kitchen, brews coffee, spikes coffee with Jameson* ….kay. That’s the early morning Irish coffee pause.
Corey Seager, IF: $8,800 – I despise Shelby Miller. Despise is a strong word, after all he was responsible for bringing Dansby Swanson to my Braves. None the less, I will pick on him and his gopherball-itis any chance I get. All Dodgers are in play vs. Miller but especially those that swing from the left hand side of the plate.
Justin Bour, IF: $6,600 – If you’re digging for cheap plays to finish out your roster, Bour is about the cheapest Infielder I can recommend. He’s cheap for good reason of course. That .190 average doesn’t inspire much, but there are 2 homers and he’s typically been serviceable. Luis Perdomo doesn’t have anyone shaking in their boots either. Perdomo…does that translate to “By means of Thanks”? Perhaps Bour can send a homer per domo!
Kyle Schwarber, IF/OF: $9,900 – Schwarbs is a bit pricey for a non-Coors option, but if you’re fading the masses, I’d look to the Cubbies. Bronson Arroyo is yet to trade in his spikes and glove for a guitar and stone washed jeans…for good reason it seems. Perhaps he should just take up wood working or something. Either way, he shouldn’t be pitching in Major League Baseball and today’s game could get ugly.
Joey Gallo, IF/OF: $7,600 – Gallo’s got power for DAYS and a choice match-up against all the meh-ness of Jason Hammel.
Gorkys Hernandez, OF: $7,200 – Denard Span got a booboo on his shoulder yesterday and will be unavailable today. That opens up a spot for Gorkys in a juicy R/L Coors field match-up. For an even cheaper option there’s Chris Marrero ($5,600) who is also likely to start with Span shelved. Marrero also has IF/OF eligibility for some lineup flexibility.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF: $8,800 – With 4 HRs in 3 games I’m looking for Stanton to send a couple more per domo!
Ender Inciarte, OF: $8,100 – Ender has cooled suddenly dropping his average to .219. He’s as close as a lock for a .290 as you can get so expect that to be moving back up. Take the discount while it’s there though as Ender will be batting atop the lineup per usual.
Michael Conforto, OF: $6,400 – Conforto is today’s ultimate contrarian play. He’s facing Max Scherzer, I get that. Hence why he’s contrarian. No one will be looking his way. He’s 2 for 8 vs. Mad Max though with both of those hits leaving the yard. He’s cheap and could be the difference maker in a lineup.
Andrew Toles, OF: $6,600 – See: Corey Seager and the Dodgers lefties
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
Finally, things have calmed down weather-wise on the east coast. It’s looking like a beautiful day for baseball. Mid 70s in Coors field has me drooling!
Doing Lines In Vegas
Yu Darvish and the Rangers and Danny Salazar and the Tribe are today’s biggest favorites, both checking in at -185. The highest over/under outside of the 11.5 runs in Coors is 9 runs in the LAD@ARI tilt and the CHC@CIN game. Arroyo and Shelby have been warned!
