Pineda, Polanco, let’s call the whole thing off! Actually, let’s get it on! Happy Memorial Day weekend fellow DFSers. I hope you’ll join me in BBQing, enjoying adult libations and winning some cash while sleeping it all off Monday morning. It’s Clayton Kershaw Day mixed with a Coors Day, which means we have some serious decisions to make. I’m personally fading Kershaw and instead starting a little cheaper at starting pitcher with good friend, Michael Pineda ($19,200). I’m such a sucker for Pineda and that crazy K-rate. His 61:9 K:BB is a fair impersonation of Kershaw and for $6K cheaper, I’m all in. Pineda gets a play-date with the Oakland A’s who are tied for 7th in the league in strikeouts. Fellow roation-mate Masahiro Tanaka just K’d a baker’s dozen and Pineda will be looking to duplicate that effort. So, grab a hotdog and raise a glass to the unofficial beginning of summer while hoping Pineda delivers a 12 pack. Remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice this weekend and allow us all to live in a land where (most of us) can freely wager some dough on our ability to pick the highest scoring group of fantasy baseballers. Those men and women are true heros.
New to FantasyDraft? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care!
Joe Ross, SP: $15,200 – I’ll be pairing Pineda with Joe Ross today as well as streaming him heavily in my RCLs. JB has completely ruined Joe Ross for me by the way. I can’t see his name without breaking into song. I’m a total K-junkie and the Padres, well, they give up Ks in bunches. They’ve struck out 28 times at the hands of Scherzer and Strasburg the past two days. While I don’t think Ross is quite on that level, he’s certainly good enough to end the day with 8-10 Ks in 7-8 IP.
Matt Shoemaker, SP: $18,300 – If you want to go a little cheaper than Pineda or maybe a little safer than the young righty, Ross, the Cobbler is your man. I’ve long been a fan of Shoemaker since he’s typically a guy that doesn’t walk anyone while maintaining an 8+ K/9. This year though, he’s been a bit more on the wild side. Last year he only walked 30 in 160 IP, in 2015 only 35 in 135 IP. This year however, he’s already walked 23 in 56 IP. Is this a new trend? An aberration? I’m not sure, but I’d be willing to be he returns to his career walk rate before thinking he’s suddenly doubled it.
Joe Biagini, SP: $9,600 – If I wanted to go super cheap at pitcher (and I don’t) I’d look to Mr. Biagini. I was all over Joe against Atlanta a few weeks back and got burned badly, but I’d go back to the well. Andrew Cashner is looooong overdue for an 8 ER, 2IP outing and Toronto ‘s bats have been clicking of late. Joe is cheap, favored in Vegas and should be cruising to the W on the Ivictory coast.
Miguel Cabrera, IF: $8,800 – It seems odd to me that Miggy is priced the same as Justin Bour. I know Bour has been hot and all, but Miggy is still on another level. In the bandbox that is Guaranteed Rate Field…ugh, still hate that new name…against Miguel Gonzalez and his 4.55 ERA has me drooling. Add in that Miggy is 7 for 16 with a jack against Gonzalez and you’ve got youself a winner.
Evan Longoria, IF: $7,200 – Shout out to J-FOH for dropping some knowledge on me this preseason about Longoria. Did you know he was 5th in the majors last year in extra base hits? I had no idea. A little FF for you all…Fun Fact. Anyway, I’ve been riding Longoria quite a bit the past few weeks at his oddly reduced price tag. The discount continues, this time against Kyle Gibson who is hardly even a major league pitcher. I mean, he has a job, but the 8.62 ERA and 2.01 WHIP suggest he shouldn’t. Longo has taken Gibson deep three times in his career. Stack those Rays and be sure to include Longo.
Mike Moustakas, IF: $7,200 – Chasing a hot streak? Perhaps. Who’s to say Moose can’t go deep in three straight? I’m not doubting him. The man is swinging at everything and hitting it hard. Meanwhile, Josh Tomlin is giving up hard contact like it’s his job (which it most certainly is not). Tomlin is 25th in hard hit % and 13th in LD%. Pair that with his 6.70 ERA and we’ve got something to work with.
Justin Smoak, IF: $7,500 – Apparently, I’m a corner lover. That’s why I’m so into FantasyDraft. On no other site can you play 5 cornermen in one slate. I love it. I alluded to Cashner getting rocked in my opening, but he’s really overdue. I’m all over Jays bats today and the Smoak monster has been hot fiyah.
Kendrys Morales, IF: $7,200 – Old reliable Kendrys is what seems to be very underpriced. I get he’s not winning you many tournaments with his 1 for 4s but so long as it’s 1 for 4 with a HR, I’ll have a hard time saying no.
Scott Schebler, OF: $8,700 – I was so excited to talk about Gregory Polanco vs. Matt Harvey tonight and tie in my title that I completely forgot that FantasyDraft doesn’t include the nightcap in the Sunday slate. It sorta makes sense. Not many people play the late game players since the lineup is far from being released when lineups lock. Still, it stinks to miss out on the Matt Harvey punching bag. Let’s bring this back to Schebler though. Despite no Matt Harvey, there seem to be plenty of other tomato cans on the slate; Christian Bergman (6.30 ERA), Scott Feldman (3.99 ERA), Zach Eflin (5.36 ERA), Kyle Gibson (8.62 ERA), Andrew Cashner (5.02 FIP). OK, you get the point. Schebler gets to tee off vs. Eflin and all he’s done of late is dong (4 in his last 6 games). He’s looking at the platoon in hitter friendly Citizens Bank Park, what’s not to love?
Aaron Altherr, OF: $8,100 – Speaking of Citizens Bank, let’s stay in Fluffia but flip to the other dugout where Aaron Altherr gets some Scott Feldman action. I’m not buying that Feldman is a 3.99 ERA pitcher. I mean, 3.99 isn’t great, and he’s pitching right to his FIP (4.00), but I think he’s even worse. I’d peg him for more of a 4.50+ ERA guy and I think we’re going to have a barn burner in Philly today. We knew Altherr was going to cool off eventually and he has. He hasn’t homered in two weeks and the average has fallen from .350 to .295. Still not too shabby and we know he can get molten hot for stretches. I prefer to try and be on the upswing of a hot streak, so let’s hope ol’ Scotty Feldman does us a solid today. If you’re looking for even more salary relief and a higher risk, similar reward player, Odubel Herrera and his traveling shizz show (0-5, 5Ks the other day…woof) have the platoon advantage vs. Feldman.
Tommy Pham, OF: $7,500 – Say it with me kids, “CHEAP…COORS…EXPOSURE”. It’s what every DFSer dreams of. Just me? Well, this is awkward. Moving on, Stephen Piscotty is off tending to personal matters while the team is in Colorado, leaving the OF door open for Tommy Pham. He took advantage last night and helped me win a bit with his 2 singles, HR and 24 FantasyDraft points. Sign me up for more of that today!
Josh Reddick, OF: $7,600 – I didn’t mention Alec Asher in the tomato can bit above. That’s because I’m not entirely sure what he is. He made his MLB debut for Philly two years back at 23 and started 7 games resulting in a 9+ ERA. Since then though he’s looked pretty good in the minors and has looked good so far this year for Baltimore, mostly out of the pen. He even looked OK pitching for Philly last year. Still, he is rocking a 4.53 FIP this year and the Astros have a never ending supply of bats. Reddick has the platoon advantage on the kid who owns a .340 wOBA vs. LHBs (.319 vs. RHB). He’s cheap and should be around the middle of the lineup. Also, George Springer is only $200 more. No platoon advantage, but Springer is a more talented hitter. If you’ve got the extra dough, go for it!
Ben Gamel, OF: $6,800 – I’m old enough to remember when Ben Gamel was a thing. Now, he’s just a cheap warm body. But, BUT, that warm body is hitting in Fenway Park (bonus) and has still been hitting in the two hole (double bonus). He’s facing slick Rick Porcello today, who has been a bit unlucky so far this year, (It just took the regression fairies a bit longer to track Rick down after that Cy Young award I guess) but still has a 3.73 FIP. If you’re stacking Coors bats, you might need someone good and cheap, Gamel fits the bill.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
The VictoriaB dubbed “Fat Ankle Series” (KAN-CLE) could get wet today. Also, the Tigers and the White Sox have been fighting off the rain in Chicago the past few days, looks like they’ll be dodging rain drops yet again.
Doing Lines In Vegas
I didn’t even mention the biggest favorite on the board today, Lance McCullers. He and the ‘Stros check in at -230 favorites vs. Asher and the O’s. The O’s are a middle of the road strikeout team, so I could see McCullers being solid today. He’s only $300 more than Pineda who is a -170 favorite himself. Their end of the day points will likely be similar.
Outside of Coors field (11 run over/under) the highest run tally is in Boston (10 runs). I think Vegas is pinning most of that on the Sawx, but Seattle should get theirs as well, go Gamel go! The lowest over/under is in LA where the pitching duel of Lester vs. Kershaw leads to a 6.5 run total. Should be a good one.
