Kuzul

You have just a few more weeks to play daily fantasy baseball before the season comes to an end, so take advantage of the opportunity and put together a great lineup.

Friday’s contests feature a good chance to spend money on Jose Fernandez, who remains almost untouchable at home. Hot hitters like Matt Carpenter and Chris Davis represent solid options to add to your team as well. Beyond that, here is a look at some cheaper options to help fill out your lineup.

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox ($7,700)

The first year in the majors has featured ups and downs for Carlos Rodon, but he is on a roll as the season comes to a close. The lefty hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last seven starts while totaling at least six innings in each game.

This has helped him become a big factor in fantasy, as he has averaged 24.3 points per game on DraftKings in this stretch.

Although he gave up eight runs the last time he faced the New York Yankees, he is now pitching with confidence and should be able to come through with a much better performance.

Ryan Weber, SP, Atlanta Braves ($4,500)

It won’t be easy beating Jose Fernandez, but Ryan Weber can still have himself a good day in Miami. The Braves rookie has made three starts in his career and has managed a respectable 3.26 ERA. His best game was his most recent, which featured seven innings pitched and just one run and two hits allowed versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

Weber can continue his success against a struggling Miami Marlins offense in a park that doesn’t allow many home runs, via ESPN.com.

Even if he doesn’t get the win, Weber can put up good numbers for an extremely low price.

Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds ($4,100)

Consistency isn’t always there for Jay Bruce, but the outfielder can certainly hit the ball a long way. This has especially been true lately with five home runs during the Cincinnati Reds’ recent road trip.

On Friday, Bruce will have a good matchup against hard-throwing New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. The right-handed pitcher has allowed 11 home runs in his last eight appearances, which makes Bruce a good bet to keep this going.

David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,900)

Not many baseball fans outside of Arizona would guess that the Diamondbacks have three players in the top 10 in the league in batting average. Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta are all hitting above .300, with Peralta up to .310 on the year thanks to a .338 mark in September.

The outfielder has started 16 games this month and has at least one hit in 15 of them.

His price is well below the other hitters of his ability, which makes Peralta a great player to have in your daily fantasy lineup.

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants ($3,300)

Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray was one of the best pitchers in the American League for most of the season, but he has gone through a rough stretch as of late. In four September starts, the pitcher has accumulated a 7.97 ERA with at least five runs allowed in three of them.

This provides a chance to use a number of players on the San Francisco Giants roster, but Brandon Crawford represents good value at this price. Factoring in his position and knack for getting extra-base hits, this is a high-upside pick.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Thursday features four MLB games in the afternoon and eight at night.  Clayton Kershaw is an easy No. 1 choice among the eight starting pitchers available in early contests, but his $14,700 salary will likely have DraftKings daily fantasy players searching for a cheap second arm.

In the evening, a Chicago ace can be had for an unusually low price, while a Boston rookie takes the field swinging a red-hot bat.

Here is a selection of sleeper picks and bargain buys for September 24.

Afternoon

SP Chris Bassitt, Oakland A’s ($5,900) vs. Texas Rangers

A sore shoulder kept Chris Bassitt out of action for nearly a month, causing his cost to dip significantly in his return to the mound.

For his last outing before the injury, Bassitt‘s price tag peaked at a season-high $8,400.  Leading up to that, the 26-year-old tossed at least six innings while giving up three or fewer runs in seven consecutive starts, culminating in the strong performance highlighted in the above video.

Bassitt has also surrendered two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 appearances this year.  His 2.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP are spectacular numbers for a sub-$6,000 pitcher, as is his .223 batting average against.

OF Ender Inciarte, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,000) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Considering Ender Inciarte‘s average of 7.2 fantasy points per game, he’s a steal at only $3,000.  Because he’s facing Kershaw, Inciarte is available for significantly less than he normally would be.  However, the young outfielder has fared extremely well in his short history against the Dodgers superstar:

In their only previous head-to-head meeting this season, Inciarte went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Inciarte has also hit safely in five straight games, including 10 hits in 21 at-bats.

Evening

SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($11,600) at New York Yankees

Chis Sale isn’t a sleeper by any means, but compared to what he normally costs, he’s definitely a bargain.  After surrendering 14 earned runs in 23.1 innings spanning four outings, Sale’s $11,600 salary is the lowest it’s been in his past 10 starts.

Despite his recent struggles, Sale is still piling up strikeouts—he has 30 of them in that 23.1-inning stretch.  Sale’s total of 259 punchouts is second in the majors to Kershaw‘s 272 and is nearing the White Sox single-season record of 269.

Comcast SportsNet’s Chuck Garfien pointed out the historical significance of the mark Sale may soon break:

He’s not the most expensive option on the board, but Sale’s 24.9 points-per-game average is easily the highest among Thursday evening’s pitchers.

1B/3B Travis Shaw, Boston Red Sox ($3,800) vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Travis Shaw currently owns a six-game hitting streak, during which he’s 11-for-21.  The 25-year-old has also reached base in 15 consecutive contests, batting .345 with a .443 on-base percentage in that time:

Shaw has five RBI in his last four games, with double-digit fantasy points in three of them.  In addition, the rookie is hitting .365 at home this season while averaging nearly 10 fantasy points per day when he plays at Fenway Park.

Shaw comes cheaper than eight other available third basemen and should provide great bang for your buck.

C Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians ($3,300) at Minnesota Twins

Yan Gomes has six hits and four runs scored in his past four games.  As the Indians’ official Twitter account noted, Gomes has also doubled in each contest:

In total, Gomes has five two-base hits in 15 at-bats since September 19.

The Cleveland catcher also boasts an outstanding resume versus Twins starter Kyle Gibson.  Gomes is 5-for-9 with a walk in 10 plate appearances against Gibson, including a double, two homers, four RBI and three runs scored.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

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There are just two games on the docket for the early MLB DraftKings contests. That means you’ve got close to a 25 percent chance to pick the right guy at each position. The short recommendation is to stack Houston Astros hitters with a sprinkle of Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox bats. Read on for more detailed advice.

Here’s a breakdown of the best picks to make.

Attacking Tropeano

I hate to gang up on a guy, but Los Angeles Angels starter Nick Tropeano is the easiest mark among all starting pitchers on Wednesday afternoon.

Tropeano is facing a dangerous Houston Astros lineup, and he hasn’t exactly been on fire this season. He comes into the game with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. As a starting pitcher, opponents are hitting .308 against him.

Those numbers lead you to believe he’ll experience some issues when trying to contain the likes of Jose Altuve ($4,500), Carlos Correa ($4,800) and George Springer ($4,400). Correa is an especially smart pick. The rookie shortstop is having a solid first season and he’s been hot of late. 

In his last seven games, he’s hitting .308 with a home run and four RBI. I like him to produce a strong game on Wednesday.

Dynamic South Side Duo

There was a time when taking two hitters who were set to face Justin Verlander would be a bad fantasy strategy. Those days are gone. Verlander has somewhat rebounded from a tough start to the season, but he’s still a hittable guy.

Two White Sox hitters in particular have had success against him in the past. First baseman Jose Abreu ($4,800) is hitting a scorching .500 against Verlander in 16 career at-bats. Three of his hits have been for extra bases, with two leaving the premises. 

Adam Eaton ($4,100) has been almost as effective in a lead-off man sort of way. He’s 5-for-15 against Verlander in his career, with two doubles and a triple. He’s also on an 11-game hitting streak and is batting .381 in the month of September.

Eaton is a smart pick to click on Wednesday.

Mound Selections

There aren’t any real stud pitchers scheduled to go on Wednesday, but the Astros’ Mike Fiers ($9,200) seems like the most logical pick. While the Angels lineup definitely has some pop, Fiers appears to have the edge over Tropeano in the pitching matchup.

Current Angels hitters are batting just .222 against Fiers in their collective careers, and he has been a little better at home than he has on the road. In Houston, opponents are hitting just .226 against him as opposed to .255 on the road. Likewise, Fiers‘ ERA on the road is 3.80 while it’s 3.48 at home.

To put it plainly, the Astros should win on Wednesday which would give Fiers a better chance to earn the bonus fantasy points for getting the decision.

The biggest gamble in the lineup above is the tabbing of 22-year-old Frankie Montas ($4,000). The White Sox rookie hurler is making his first major league start against a veteran Tigers lineup. While Montas is light on experience, with just eight innings of work over six relief appearances under his belt, he has looked good when he’s taken the ball.

His ERA is just 1.13 and WHIP is 1.25. He’s struck out 10 in those eight innings, and opponents are hitting just .214 against him.

Walks could be an issue, as he’s given up four of them already. However, I’m predicting the lack of familiarity will benefit him, and he’ll give Chicago five strong innings with seven or eight strikeouts, a couple walks and a win.

At $4,000 in DK salary, Montas easily represents the best value on the board today.

Stats per ESPN.com.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

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All 30 MLB teams are set to play on Tuesday, which makes the selection process of picking players for your daily fantasy league team difficult. On days when there is a full array of games, it’s important to know which players have the potential to outplay their low asking prices.

Below is a table that features the top three available players at each position for Tuesday, followed by five players around whom to plan your lineup.

Value Picks

A.J. Pollock, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,900)

Pollock has been one of the biggest surprises for the Diamondbacks this season and has surged during the second half of the season. He is hitting .345 over his past 30 games played and .444 over his past seven games.

What’s been especially impressive above Pollock in 2015 has been his patience at the plate. The 27-year-old is striking out in just over 13 percent of his plate appearances, which makes him a consistent threat. He also leads Arizona in hitting with a .319 batting average this season.

Pollock and the Diamondbacks face a tough matchup against Dodgers starter Alex Wood on Tuesday. Wood has recorded shutouts in two of his past three starts. However, Pollock’s reasonable value and hot hitting make him a great pick on Tuesday.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics ($4,200)

Choo’s 2015 season as a whole has been a disappointment since signing a multi-million-dollar deal with the Rangers this past offseason. However, his recent streak at the plate makes him a great short-term fantasy option.

Choo has recorded an astounding .434 batting average over his past 15 games played and is hitting .520 over his past seven starts. He has also demonstrated his impressive power with a .585 slugging percentage over his past 15 games.

Choo hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, but he faces a great matchup against Athletics starter Sean Nolin. Though he has been impressive through his last three starts with a 3.24 ERA, he has had little playing experience this season, which boosts Choo’s value.

J.A. Happ, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies ($7,300)

Happ has been up and down this season after a fast start in 2015 with the Seattle Mariners. However, he has been electric over his past seven starts and faces a solid matchup against a lower-tier team.

Happ has recorded a 5-1 record with a 1.30 ERA over his past seven starts. He has also demonstrated great command of his pitches with just seven walks over the current span. Though the Rockies have been impressive offensively this season, they rank 23rd in MLB with a .246 team batting average against left-handed pitching this season.

Happ’s recent streak of incredible performances may be an aberration but he has a great matchup against Colorado on Tuesday. His incredibly low value gives fantasy owners great flexibility and opportunities to pick up upper-tier hitters.

David Wright, 3B, New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves ($4,300)

Wright has been a great success story while battling through an injury-riddled 2015 season. Through just 29 games played this season, Wright has recorded a .300 batting average and a .798 on-base percentage so far in 2015.

The former All-Star has also been incredibly impressive as of late. He is hitting .346 over his past seven games played and has recorded just five strikeouts during the current span. Wright faces a favorable matchup against Braves starter Matt Wisler on Tuesday, who has recorded an abysmal 5.63 ERA so far this season.

It’s safe to expect that the red-hot Mets will continue their great hitting against Wisler on Tuesday, and Wright should have a great impact during the game. Wright’s reasonable asking price makes him a low-risk, high-reward pick in daily leagues.

Ketel Marte, SS, Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals ($3,700)

Marte has been an answer for an otherwise limited Seattle offense in 2015. The rookie is hitting .284 this season with an incredibly impressive .731 on-base percentage.

The 21-year-old is in the midst of a hot streak at the plate in which he is hitting .407 over his past seven games played. The downside to the young shortstop has been his tendency to be too aggressive at the plate, as Marte strikes out in nearly 18 percent of his at-bats.

Marte and the Mariners face a solid matchup against Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie on Tuesday. Guthrie has struggled mightily this season with a 5.55 ERA so far in 2015. While he is still a developing player, Marte is a great pick for Tuesday due to his high upside at the plate.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via Fangraphs.com and MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis

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The postseason is within reach for MLB teams, but the daily fantasy baseball season is far from over. Myriad franchises are battling for a spot in the playoffs, making the pressure to perform down the stretch even more intense.

So who will rise to the occasion on Monday? We’ve broken down the numbers on some of the best players and a primer for owners looking to build the bankroll. Here’s a look at the best MLB players and strategy for September 21.

Top Pitching Target: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros ($11,400)

Sure, former teammates David Price and Chris Archer seem like home-run targets at the pitching spot, but Dallas Keuchel is our pick for Monday. Not only has Keuchel been sensational all season, but he also benefits from a favorable matchup to start the week.

Most pitchers wouldn’t consider facing Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and the Angels lineup a great matchup, but Keuchel has fared well against Los Angeles. With an average of 23.6 fantasy points against the Angels and 29.1 points at home, expect huge numbers from Keuchel on Monday.

Top Infielder: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds ($4,600)

Todd Frazier has been a great player for the Reds for a number of years, but he’s been historic in 2015. The Toddfather has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Reds with massive numbers that haven’t been seen since 1962, according to MLB.com.

Even on a downtrodden roster, Frazier has 77 total extra-base hits, 81 runs, 88 RBI and 13 stolen bases. That’s not good enough? How about the fact that he’s hitting .270/.302/.645 against left-handed pitching? Facing the St. Louis Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia on Monday, there’s no reason not to target Frazier at first or third base.

Top Outfielder: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,900)

It’s no secret that the Toronto Blue Jays have been firing on all cylinders recently to remain the top dog in the American League East. How have they done it? With Jose Bautista leading the way all season, regardless of who’s added to the lineup.

Joey Bats is torching hot right now with three homers, three doubles and eight RBI over his last nine starts. That equates to a .432 on-base percentage and 11.7 fantasy points over that stretch. Oh, and he faces the New York Yankees’ Adam Warren, a great matchup for any batter, especially after only lasting four innings in his last outing.

Strategy: Stack Up the Jays

Bautista isn’t the only Blue Jays player owners will want to target on Monday. Edwin Encarnacion is actually averaging more fantasy points over the last 10 games with 13.3. Ben Revere is a solid second option in the outfield with the matchup against Warren.

Oh, then there’s that Price guy, who is $1,000 more than Keuchel. If owners want guaranteed production, target the Jays lineup on Monday. Even with high price points, Toronto will produce great numbers for DraftKings owners who budget around it.

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It’s week two of the NFL season and you’re probably planning on plopping down on the couch for that magical seven-hour block of NFL RedZone that only happens 17 times every year. Honestly, I can’t blame you. 

But baseball season is winding down and there are precious few weeks left with all 30 teams on the schedule. We know by now that when there are more teams playing, there’s more value to be found.

So, before settling in to that you-sized indent on the futon, grab some peanuts, maybe a foam finger and set a tasty little MLB lineup on DraftKings. If you select some of these bargain buys, you probably won’t regret it.

Tim Hudson ($5,000) vs. Diamondbacks

Tim Hudson is extremely cheap for a guy who just pitched a gem against the boys from the desert. On September 8, Huddy threw six innings of one-run ball against the snakes. Oh yeah, he also tagged a ball—the eighth of nine homers by San Francisco Giant pitchers so far this season. 

Today numberFire ranks Hudson as the most valuable pitcher on DraftKings. He’ll benefit from throwing at home in the second best pitcher’s park in the league, according to ESPN’s park factor statistic. Also, his sinker-ball and consequent high ground-ball-rate (about 56 percent this season and throughout his career, according to Fangraphs) help him to avoid allowing home runs and sustain success through the heat of the summer. 

Jake Odorizzi ($8,900) vs. Orioles

According to Fangraphs, the Orioles have been the worst offensive team in the American League. They rank last in wRC+ and wOBA and lead the AL in strikeout rate.

I expect that offensive trend to continue in Tampa today with Odorizzi on the bump. The righty enters today’s bout having posted three straight strong starts. Per DraftKings, Odorizzi has not dipped below 17.9 fantasy points this month and has averaged over 20 per outing. He should easily top six innings against the slumping O’s. 

Other pitchers to target: 

Aaron Nola ($8,200) @ Braves

Julio Teheran ($7,700) vs. Phillies

Aaron Brooks ($4,300) @ Astros

Stephen Strasburg ($10,400) vs. Marlins

(OF) Bryce Harper ($6,000) vs. Marlins 

At this point, how can you build a lineup without the kid in it? Bryce Harper is on a tear! According to DraftKings, over the past six games, his worst outing yielded eight fantasy points. He hit five home runs and scored 114 fantasy points in that streak.

The trouble with the next NL MVP? He’s pricey. It’s tough to allocate one outfield spot 12 percent of your daily roster. One way to help fit him in? A cheap two-man Phillies stack…

(SS/3B) Andres Blanco ($2,100) @ Braves and (OF/1B) Darin Ruf ($2,000) @ Braves

NumberFire ranks Blanco and Ruf as the top two values amongst position players today. They’re both dirt cheap, but provide unique skills at minimal up front costs. Ruf’s bat has pop. Though he rarely gets on base, eight of Ruf’s 51 hits this season have left the yard. 

Blanco, at 31, is a better overall player. He has five homers, but also reaches base over 36 percent of the time. Though Braves starter Julio Teheran should still have a nice outing, don’t be surprised if one of these two eventually knocks him out of the game.

Other position players to target: 

(OF) Edwin Encarnacion ($5,000) vs. Red Sox

(SS) Corey Seager ($3,300) vs. Pirates

(SS) Francisco Lindor ($4,600) vs. White Sox

(OF) Matt Kemp ($5,100) @ Rockies

(OF) Justin Upton ($5,300) @ Rockies 

(OF) Tommy Pham ($3,100) @ Cubs

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Summer’s final Saturday MLB slate gets the party started early with a pair of afternoon rivalry matchups. As all 30 teams compete during the day, players will have to carefully study the DraftKings catalog for bargains.

The Toronto Blue Jays face lefty Wade Miley in the afternoon, and Clayton Kershaw takes the hill during the evening. If contestants want to pay up for those studs, they’ll need to enforce a tight budget elsewhere.

These value plays will save a buck or two in afternoon and evening lineups. After all, can you really not play Kershaw the way he’s pitching?

Afternoon

SP Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($9,200) vs. Miami

Oof. That’s the best way to describe the afternoon’s probable starting pitchers. Even if he’s overpriced based on his performance, Jordan Zimmermann is a near must-start given the situation.

Below his $9,200 price point, Mike Leake is the most acceptable choice. Given his 16.3 strikeout percentage, he’s merely a No. 2 starter investors hope pieces together a quality start and stumbles into a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Washington Nationals righty at least gets the Miami Marlins, who rank fourth-to-last in weighted on-base average (wOBA) with baseball’s second fewest homers (110) behind the Atlanta Braves.

Zimmermann‘s 2.68 fielding independent pitching (FIP) from 2014 has risen a full run this year, and his ERA has jumped accordingly from 2.66 to 3.51. His strikeout percentage has also dipped three points to 19.8, so this is all about chasing a high-floor option in a group full of risky choices. In four starts against Miami this season, he has limited the NL East opponent to seven earned runs. 

SS Ian Desmond ($3,600), Washington Nationals vs. Miami

Staying in Washington, the Nationals will tee off against lefty Justin Nicolino, who has registered a 4.86 FIP and 8.0 strikeout percentage through nine career MLB starts. Righties have already torched him for 19 extra-base hits, so stack away on Washington bats.

Bryce Harper will cost a boatload of money ($6,100), but Ian Desmond resides at a reasonable $3,600. Using the All-Star break as a convenient arbitrary endpoint, the usually superb fantasy shortstop has rebounded from a horrid start to hit .269/.329/.472 with 11 homers and seven steals over the second half.

Expanding the sample size, he boasts a career .336 wOBA against lefties. Be grateful DraftKings didn’t inflate his price due to a lack of healthy shortstop talent in the afternoon slate.

OF David Peralta ($3,100), Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco

David Peralta continues to fall out of favor for no reason. The Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder carries a .904 OPS against righties into the weekend. While his 13-game hitting streak is littered mostly with one-hit efforts, he’s certainly not slumping either.

Trading a hitter’s park for a pitcher’s palace isn’t enough to fade him at $3,100. A consistent bargain throughout the year, keep riding Peralta down the finish line, starting Saturday against an average righty in Leake.

Evening

SP Jerad Eickhoff ($7,400), Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

An unlikely pick in nearly any other circumstance, Jerad Eickhoff suddenly jumps off the page because of his opponent.

The only franchise as downtrodden as the Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves have scored an MLB-low 176 runs since the All-Star break. The Los Angeles Angels rank No. 29 with 218 runs. Atlanta also places last in slugging percentage, home runs and wOBA over that stretch.

If he were a disaster in his own right, Eickhoff wouldn’t get the nod. Yet he has registered a satisfactory 3.90 ERA, 24 strikeouts and nine walks over 30 innings. After getting roughed up by the red-hot Boston Red Sox, he allowed four baserunners and one run against the Chicago Cubs, weaving eight strikeouts through seven frames.

Throw in two starts against the raging New York Mets and his only favorable matchup came in his MLB debut, when he fired six scoreless innings against Miami. As a 25-year-old fringe prospect, he isn’t getting coddled like most rookies, and his 45.6 fly-ball percentage poses less of a problem against baseball’s least powerful lineup.

C/1B Wilin Rosario ($3,100), Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego

Wilin Rosario is 6-for-40 with no home runs since the All-Star break. Receiving five starts over the Colorado Rockies’ last eight games, he has reached base three times.

Silver lining: He’s playing more. An injured Nick Hundley has cleared real estate behind the plate, and the slumping slugger has also logged some games at first base. Before cowering from someone with a .276 on-base percentage and five homers in 78 games, remember that he lives for days like these.

The 26-year-old has milked Coors Field for all it’s worth, and he generally crushes lefties despite faltering against pitchers of all varieties this year:

As noted by MLB.com, Robbie Erlin is the first southpaw to start for the San Diego Padres this season. He’ll make his 2015 debut back from elbow injury at the worst possible time, so capitalize on Rosario’s slump and play the low-risk, high-reward catcher, assuming he plays.

1B Mike Napoli ($3,500), Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners

Mike Napoli has caught fire back with the Texas Rangers, hitting .286/.385/.518 over 25 games. Reuniting with Globe Life Park in Arlington, the first baseman has homered twice over the past week.

The big bopper has authored vast splits, tallying a .614 OPS against righties and .936 OPS against lefties. While an overexaggeration of his career norms, he has crushed southpaws over his career:

Before falling for Vidal Nuno’s 2.94 ERA, exclaimed by a one-hit masterpiece over Texas, he has also registered a 4.41 FIP. Bullpen work has also greatly embellished his stats; he holds a less flattering 4.13 ERA and .545 opposing slugging percentage through six starts.

First base is usually a spot to pay for premium power, but less so on a night where most contestants will use $15,100 of their $50,000 budget on Kershaw. Besides, why pass up a great deal?

Note: All advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs. Pricing info via DraftKings.com.

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There are just a few more weeks left in the 2015 MLB season, which means you have to take advantage of your remaining opportunities to win in daily fantasy baseball.

Aces like Zack Greinke and Chris Sale are still top options, while Bryce Harper and Prince Fielder have been red-hot at the plate. However, here is a deeper look at some names that might have been overlooked to this point in the season.

Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays ($7,000)

Nobody really expected Marcus Stroman to pitch this season after tearing an ACL, but he was exciting in his first game back last week, via Ariel Helwani of Fox Sports:

Although he did allow three runs in his first start, all of them came on one swing: a three-run homer by Brett Gardner. Despite the mistake, Stroman still looked like the great young pitcher he was last season. With the Blue Jays offense likely to give him plenty of run support, the starter can get a win and post some good numbers for a reasonable price.

Tyler Wilson, SP, Baltimore Orioles ($4,500)

If you are looking for a real bargain for Friday’s contests, you can find one in Tyler Wilson. The Orioles rookie has fared well in his short time in the league, posting a 2.19 ERA in six appearances (two starts).

The 25-year-old pitcher is coming off a strong performance against the Oakland Athletics, allowing just two runs in 7.2 innings. He doesn’t strike out a lot of people—even in the minors—but he is economical with his pitches and can once again go deep into the game against a poor Tampa Bay Rays lineup.

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox ($4,200)

This is a name you know well but might not have realized he was playing. Dustin Pedroia has missed almost two months of the season due to injury but has been as good as the Red Sox could have imagined upon returning.

After hitting two home runs Wednesday, Pedroia is now hitting .379 in six games with three home runs, eight RBI and an OPS of 1.212. Boston probably wished he was able to do this all year, but all you need to care about is putting him in your lineup now.

Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,400)

There was a lot of hype surrounding Corey Seager as a prospect, and it turns out he has no problem hitting at the major league level. While pitchers will probably catch up to him eventually, the shortstop is off to a great start with a .426 batting average in 13 games.

After going 6-for-13 against the Colorado Rockies last week (at home, not at hitter-friendly Coors Field), Seager is one of the best fantasy options in the league at the position.

Angel Pagan, OF, San Francisco Giants ($3,000)

Another hot hitter who can provide value to fantasy lineups is Angel Pagan, who returned to the Giants when rosters expanded on September 1. Since then, the outfielder is hitting .311 in 15 games with nine runs. 

Hitting at the top of a deep lineup gives him plenty of good pitches and opportunities to score. With the extra threat of stolen bases (he had three in a game earlier in the week), Pagan is a high-upside bet for cheap.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and nonstop sports.

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With only nine games on the MLB schedule Thursday, many of the league’s biggest stars are not in action.

This adds to the challenge for DraftKings daily fantasy players, who must rely heavily on scoring points from unlikely sources.  The lack of big names is particularly evident on the mound, where Corey Kluber is the only pitcher priced above $11,000.  

Here are five inexpensive sleeper picks for September 17.

Afternoon

SP Sean Nolin, Oakland A’s ($6,800) at Chicago White Sox

In early contests, consisting of just two games, the pitching prospects are not enticing.  Rather than spend $8,900 or more on Charlie Morton, Kyle Hendricks or Jose Quintana, why not save over $2,000 and go with Sean Nolin instead?

The 25-year-old has made two starts for Oakland this year after being called up from Triple-A.  Nolin allowed three runs over six innings in a mediocre first appearance, but his second outing was quite good.  The above video features highlights of Nolin’s victory over the Texas Rangers on September 12, in which he yielded one run in 5.2 innings while striking out five.

Also working in Nolin’s favor, the White Sox’s .648 OPS when facing left-handed pitchers is the worst in the American League. 

SS Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs ($3,000) at Pittsburgh Pirates

Starlin Castro went hitless on Wednesday, but as ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers noted, the Cubs shortstop did drive in a run on a rare suicide squeeze:

Before the 0-for-4 showing, Castro had 11 hits in the seven previous games he started this month.  In addition to his hot September, Castro has an excellent track record against Morton.  Over 27 at-bats versus the Pirates righty, Castro has a .444 batting average and an .815 slugging percentage.

In more than 3,700 plate appearances spanning the course of his five-year career, Castro has a total of just 59 home runs.  However, he slugged three of them off of Morton in 12 at-bats last season. 

Evening

SP Jarred Cosart, Miami Marlins ($4,900) at Washington Nationals

Jarred Cosart recently returned from an extended stint on the disabled list, which is reflected in his sub-$5,000 salary.  Through two turns back in Miami’s rotation, his stats are highly encouraging:

Cosart faced Washington in his last start, striking out five batters in five scoreless innings of the Marlins’ 2-1 win.

The 25-year-old averaged 14 fantasy points per game in his two outings this month.  It’s nothing special for a pitcher, but it is a great number for a player at his price.

2B/3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals ($3,900) vs. Miami Marlins

The Nationals infielder may not qualify as a sleeper, but with what he’s done lately, Anthony Rendon is a bargain at $3,900.  After being moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order, Rendon has scored six runs in Washington’s last four contests.

Rendon currently owns an eight-game hitting streak, including multiple hits in four of five.  He’s also reached base safely in 11 straight games and 23 of 24 since August 22.  In that time, Rendon has raised his season batting average from .250 to .289, going 36-for-99 in the process.

He’s only 2-for-11 in his career against Cosart, but one of Rendon’s hits was a home run. 

C Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles ($2,500) at Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Wieters is a part-time player, but he’s a good bet to be in the Orioles lineup after getting Wednesday off—not to mention because of his outstanding success when facing Rays starter Matt Moore.  Wieters has eight hits in 14 at-bats versus the Tampa Bay lefty:

The veteran backstop is averaging 5.3 fantasy points per game for the season, but he’s totaled 42 over his past six starts.

Wieters costs less than 21 catchers available in evening contests, a rather startling number considering there are only 14 teams playing.  At a position where quality scoring options are hard to come by, Wieters should provide solid production at a bargain-basement price.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

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You go against Jake Arrieta ($14,000) these days, you lose. It’s just that simple.

His DraftKings salary is astronomical, but Arrieta gives your lineup the best chance to win on most nights he takes the bump. Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a huge divisional matchup on Wednesday night, and you’ve got to get him on your team.

ESPN Stats & Info put Arrieta‘s amazing post-All-Star break run into perspective:

He’s 8-1 in his last 10 starts and has averaged 29 fantasy points per game (FPPG) in that time. The Pirates are arguably playing the best baseball in the league, but because of the roll Arrieta is on, he’s the right choice to anchor your lineup.

More Cubs

The Pirates are sending A.J. Burnett to the mound to oppose Arrieta. Burnett has had a good season, but he’s struggled mightily over the last 30 days. In five straight starts, he’s allowed three or more earned runs. When that happens, the ERA obviously suffers. Burnett’s has grown from 2.11 to 3.14 over that stretch.

He will also have two of his nemeses ready to do damage against him. What’s even better for DK owners is both men represent a low-cost, high-reward pick. Translation: It makes paying $14,000 for Arrieta easier to absorb.

Catcher Miguel Montero ($3,100) has faced Burnett nine times in his career, and he’s hitting .556 against him with a double. Starlin Castro ($2,800) is a natural shortstop, but he’s been playing second base of late. He’s tattooed Burnett for a .471 batting average with 16 hits in 34 at-bats.

The Cubs benched Castro earlier this season, but he has responded well when given the opportunity this month. He’s hitting a red-hot .396 in September with a couple of home runs. You can drop him in at shortstop for what could be the highest-value position-player pick of the day.

Bryce Is on Fire

When a player such as Bryce Harper ($5,900) gets hot, you ride him like the thoroughbred he’s proved to be. On Tuesday night, the Washington Nationals star hit his 38th and 39th home runs of the season, drove in four, singled and drew a walk. When the dust settled, he’d produced 37 fantasy points.

Over his last 10 games, Harper is averaging an insane 14.9 FPPG. Who’s going to slow him down? It probably won’t be Alec Asher.

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Phillies will send the 23-year-old rookie right-hander to the mound, and things could get ugly. Asher’s ERA is 10.67 in three starts. He’s already allowed five home runs in just 14.1 innings pitched.

Did I mention that 32 of Harper’s 39 home runs have come against right-handed pitching? The price is steep, but you need Harper in your DraftKings life.

Cheap Colon

When you splurge on a guy like Arrieta, you’re going to need a productive low-cost second pitcher. The New York Mets’ Bartolo Colon is your guy ($8,100). The 42-year-old veteran is 14-11 this season. He’s allowed just two earned runs in his last five starts. He’s pitched into the seventh inning or further in all but one of those games.

The Mets host the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, and that should only help Colon’s DK value. This season, he’s 4-1 against the Fish with an ERA of 2.33 and a WHIP of 0.99.

Stats per MLB.com. Pricing and scoring info per DraftKings.com.

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