Nothing makes Father’s Day special like being able to spend a little extra dough for a gift or even a special day with the pops. But where will that extra money come from? Daily fantasy on DraftKings, that’s where.
Friday’s schedule offers several great players that come at a low budget to help owners craft an optimal lineup. Before locking in a roster for the Friday slate, here’s a look at some strategy and low-budget options to choose for June 19.
First Baseman: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles ($4,500)
He doesn’t exactly come at the lowest price on this list, but owners know they need to shell out some dollars for a slugger at first base. That’s exactly what Chris Davis offers, and he’s been hitting well recently for the Baltimore Orioles.
Davis hasn’t faced Marco Estrada much, but he has one home run in three at-bats against the Toronto Blue Jays hurler. He might only be hitting .204 against right-handed pitching this season, but he also has 11 of his 14 homers against righties. His power hitting will get back on track Friday night.
Second Baseman: Jace Peterson, Atlanta Braves ($3,400)
If you haven’t heard of Jace Peterson, that’s understandable. All he’s done since being called up by the Atlanta Braves is put up solid numbers at the top of the lineup.
Whether he’s playing against righties or lefties, Peterson has hit nearly the same average against both. However, his OPS is .122 points higher against right-handed pitchers, making him a smart option on Friday. Peterson has even excelled against Jacob deGrom with a double in four at-bats.
Since taking a two-game break in early June, Peterson has 17 hits in his last 12 games. If he gets on with the likes of Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman behind him, Peterson should put together another strong night.
Third Baseman: Brett Lawrie, Oakland Athletics ($3,500)
In his first season with the Oakland Athletics, Brett Lawrie certainly hasn’t made fans forget about Josh Donaldson. What he has done, however, is put up great stats sporadically at third base. Recent numbers prove that Lawrie is finally regaining some consistency.
Over his last six games, Lawrie has a homer and double on nine hits with five RBI, two runs and three walks. That equates to over 12 fantasy points per game during that stretch. With three hits in seven ABs against Matt Shoemaker and over $2,000 less than Miguel Cabrera, Lawrie is an ideal player to target.
Shortstop: Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs ($3,400)
Addison Russell has been somewhat overshadowed this season by all the star power on the Cubs’ roster, but he’s been a solid producer. Prior to Thursday night, Russell also had an eight-game hitting streak with two multi-hit games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He’s not a huge power hitter, but there aren’t many shortstops who are. But for owners who want to stick with a hot hand at a reasonable salary, Russell is ripe for the picking.
Outfielder: Billy Burns, Oakland Athletics ($4,100)
Sticking with young players who are streaking, Billy Burns is quickly becoming an American League Rookie of the Year candidate for his stellar play at the plate. Hitting .315 thus far, Burns has really made a difference on the basepaths.
In 16 attempts this season, Burns has stolen 13 bases and has four triples already. That ties him for fifth in triples and 12th in stolen bases in far less starts than most of the players ahead of him. He shouldn’t be the No. 1 outfielder on Friday, but he’s perfect for a second or third option at the position.
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