Sunday Funday is about to commence. In order to make sure the fun continues after fantasy baseball ends, DraftKings owners will need to build a balanced lineup.
While it’s always easy to find the top players to target at the top of the price sheet, finding the hidden gems is tough. That’s why we’re here, y’all. Before locking up your MLB lineups on Sunday, here’s a look at the top bargains and sleepers for August 9.
Pitcher: Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres ($6,700)
Don’t let the last two starts for Andrew Cashner fool you; the Padres pitcher is still a steal on Sunday. Cashner is not only facing a struggling Phillies team, but he is also toeing the rubber in the friendly confines of Petco Park.
Sure, the mullet-laden hurler has been less than sensational in his last two starts. But both of those came on the road. Carrying a 19.1 fantasy-points-per-game average at Petco, Cashner will be right at home—literally—against the Phillies and will make DraftKings owners very happy.
First Baseman: Logan Forsythe, Tampa Bay Rays ($3,400)
Logan Forsythe has cooled down a bit since his great series against the Chicago White Sox, but he’s still worth a roster spot to build a balanced lineup. With one swing of the bat, this first baseman is capable of changing the game for the Rays and DraftKings owners.
Forsythe has five hits in his last five games, with two doubles and a homer for a total of five runs and five RBI. Going up against an inconsistent pitcher in Bartolo Colon—who has allowed six or more earned runs in two starts since the All-Star break—look for Forsythe to put up solid numbers.
Second Baseman: Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles ($3,400)
If you don’t already know who Jonathan Schoop is, you gone learn today.
The Orioles second baseman has been on fire recently, holding a seven-game hitting streak with multiple hits in four of those performances. He’s also been outstanding this season against right-handed pitching, with a 1.021 OPS in 72 at-bats.
On Sunday, he’ll face off with a struggling righty in Jered Weaver, who has allowed four or more earned runs in his last four starts. Expect great numbers again from Schoop on Sunday, with double-digit points not out of the question.
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians ($3,300)
The rookie just keeps on hitting. Since being called up, Francisco Lindor has lived up to the hype with both his glove and his bat. Even when he’s not raising his batting average or getting on base, Lindor is helping score runs with his plate appearances.
Lindor still went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI on Saturday. He’s averaged over 10 fantasy points in his last four games. He has better power numbers against righties, with four of his five homers coming against right-handed hurlers. Lindor truly can do it all and should be rostered in every lineup on Sunday at this price.
Outfielder: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies ($3,700)
On Tuesday, Carlos Gonzalez carried a $5,400 price tag. Less than one week later, his price has dropped nearly $2,000. The reason? He’s facing off with Max Scherzer, one of the hottest names in MLB.
While Scherzer was unstoppable prior to the All-Star break, he’s been human since. Scherzer was shelled by the Pirates after allowing three homers and gave up three earned runs recently to the Diamondbacks.
Gonzalez has not only hit a homer off Scherzer in the past, but he has two in his last three games. Oh, and he’s hit 22 of his 23 home runs this season off right-handed pitching. Yeah, CarGo is certainly worth a roster spot against Scherzer at this price tag.
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