So I decided to see how many Alex Cobb articles I can write this week. Considering my other writing job is writing about rare exotic red birds, it’s going to be a challenge. Ok, so I made that up, and maybe only 2-3 people in my life would get that joke. It’s funny to me OK!
Speaking of rare and exotic, daily fantasy leagues are quite the opposite, quickly growing in popularity with disgruntled fantasy owners who drafted R.A. Dickey or Giancarlo Stanton. Maybe if he changes his name back ti Mike he’ll get healthy… If you’ve gotten fed up with your team, why not try and win back your league entry with the industry leader in daily leagues, our friends at DraftKings? And if you haven’t heard yet, they’re still throwing us RAZZBALL EXCLUSIVE contests where you attempt to take down our own Rudy Gamble and Nick Capozzi with your daily line-up. As always, the contest is on Friday with the doors now open. There’s only 30 spots this time (still 2 entries per player) at only $5 per. First place will get a ticket into their huge $100K Spring Fling contest (a $100 value) and spots 2-10 get payouts as well. With the limited spots open, you’ve gotta sign up fast!
Let’s take a look at last week’s picks:
SP – Jonathan Pettibone W 6.1 IP 5 H o BB 3 Ks (19.3 Pts)
CI – Justin Morneau 1-3 1 RBI 1 R 1 BB (9 Pts)
MI – Ben Zobrist 2-4 2 2B 1 RBI 1 R 1 BB (16 Pts)
OF1 – B.J. Upton 2-4 1 2B 1 R (10 Pts)
OF2 – Nelson Cruz 2-4 1 RBI 1 BB (10 Pts)
UTIL – Yuniesky Betancourt 1-3 (3 Pts)
TOTAL – 67.3 (Previous weeks’ finishes – 92.4, 75, 83, 96)
While I didn’t hit a home run (literally!), I think it was still a solid week despite the lowest total thus far. I went with the cheapest pitcher available because I loved the matchup and value and hit a very solid start, and all my hitters did some work. Stupid Yuni B with only a single! If you’re just tuning in to DraftKings, I pick a lineup slightly smaller than the DraftKings format so there can be no accusations of total plagiarism…
Here’s who I like on Friday night:
SP – Alex Cobb ($9,500) – As I wrote about in my pitcher profile this week, I think Cobb has moved into middle of the rotation-level for fantasy teams and gets a great matchup at home against the Padres Friday night. We all know the Padres are anemic on offense and Cobb’s home ERA and WHIP so far are 1.17 and 0.96 this season. Small sample size in 3 starts, but for his career they are roughly 1.00 ERA and and 0.20 WHIP lower at home. Gotta love pitching at the Trop!
CI – Mitch Moreland ($3,100) – After a slow start hitting only .157 on April 20 (4 20!) Moreland has seen his average get “higher” for the past 2+ weeks all the way to .279 while hitting 4 of his 5 homers. On Friday night he gets 0-7 Philip Humber. That’s right, 0-7, every start has been a loss. Remember when he threw a perfect game? Yikes. Anyway, Moreland, a power lefty, should have his way with the struggling righty.
MI – Matt Carpenter ($4,400) – Playing at home in a nice park to hit in, and the Rockies are throwing out the ghost of Jon Garland out there. Carpenter, a solid lefty who is playing fantastic right now and is on pace for like, a bajillion runs, should feast on this matchup. Love him as your MI, but he can also be your 3B if you like your Carpenters that way…
OF1 – Jay Bruce ($4,200) – While it probably should pain me picking a hitter against my Brewers ace, it really doesn’t because Gallardo has been infuriating the past few seasons. Bruce, like way too many hitters, murder Gallardo and it’s in hitters haven Citizen’s Bank Park Friday night. With 2 homers and 8 RBIs and a .414 average against Gallardo in 29 ABs, I’m loving him as one of your OFs.
OF2 – Andrew McCutchen ($4,800) – More a value pick than anything else, I was shocked to see Cutch priced so low. He’s not batting in the best park (Citi Field on Friday) or has the best numbers against the pitcher he’s facing (2-14 against Shaun Marcum), but I have a feeling on this one. Marcum is a shell of his former self and I think could have a lot of trouble yet again. A great value, and it helps McCutchen went 4-4 last night and I think is about to be on a tear.
UTIL – Cody Ross ($3,400) – I feel like I’ve spent more than usual with my picks, so I’m going with a low cost option at my util with Ross. The Phillies are throwing out some guy named Tyler Cloyd on Friday night to take Halladay’s spot in the rotation. If that’s not curse enough, I don’t know what is. Hitting in the desert and on a 3-game hit streak including two multihit games, I like Ross for a possible homer and nice game here.
As usual, if you have any questions about anyone else, or for other DraftKings contests before Friday, shoot them below, thanks for checking our friends out!
