Kuzul

Assuming Zack Greinke misses his start Monday night due to injury, for the first time in my daily fantasy career I selected the two highest-priced pitchers. Give me a second, I might shed a tear because this is a big deal.

It’s a strategy I rarely employ because it often cripples the remaining roster. However, there’s enough value on this small-ish 10-game slate for me to still slip in a minor Blue Jays stack. 

Here’s Monday’s lineup:

Corey Kluber ($11,300) vs. Twins

Kluber has not looked great since he returned from injury on September 17. But he’s out for revenge against a Twins lineup that roughed him up in Minneapolis less than a week ago. He’s also slightly more valuable now because of his lesser price tag. Kluber‘s down $1,600 from $12,900 way back on August 29, according to DraftKings. 

ESPN’s batter vs. pitcher page rarely yields a large enough sample size to show a pitcher’s true success rate against a group of guys. In Kluber‘s case against the division rival Twins, I believe it does. In 264 plate appearances against the Indians ace, Twin position players are hitting just .202 with a .250 OBP. Kluber has struck out nearly 31 percent of Twins in his career. 

Though Minnesota isn’t hanging with the absolute bottom-dwellers in terms of offensive production, it’s not a particularly frightening lineup. This season, the Twins rank 23rd in wRC+ and 24th in wOBA, according to FanGraphs. 

Max Scherzer ($12,000) vs. Reds

The Reds are a bad offensive ballclub masquerading as a solid offensive ballclub because their home park is extremely hitter-friendly. On the road, they show their true colors. According to FanGraphs, the Reds rank 21st in the league in road batting average and 26th in runs scored. 

Though Scherzer hasn’t been as dominating as he was to start the season, he’s the safest pick on the board. Per DraftKings, Scherzer has posted at least 19 fantasy points in five of his past six starts. 

Scherzer is near the top of the league in most major pitching measures. According to FanGraphs, he’s fifth in strikeouts per nine, seventh in innings pitched, ninth in WAR and 13th in xFIP.  

Crooked Numbers in Baltimore

Baltimore’s starter tonight, Chris Tillman, is not having a great year. His ERA of 5.16 is the highest for any Oriole pitcher who’s started more than 15 games. Monday night he has the unfortunate task of dealing with the best offensive club in the league.

Just for the heck of it, let’s run through the major offensive categories in which the Blue Jays are atop the league. According to FanGraphs, Toronto ranks first in home runs, runs, isolated power, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, wOBA, wRC+ and offensive WAR. In most of those categories, no other team is close. 

Every day, numberFire.com uses a complex algorithm to project every player’s expected point total for that day. Its top three projected point totals for position players Monday are Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. What do those three have in common? They play for the Blue Jays. 

If I could fit more Blue Jays into my lineup, I would. But, as I mentioned earlier, I felt like experimenting with two high-priced starting pitchers.  

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In this column yesterday I went on and on about how exciting it was to see former Athletic greats Barry Zito and Tim Hudson take the mound for opposing sides in Oakland. I thought Zito would get shelled and Hudson would guide his team to victory with a quality start. 

Whoops!

The Giants beat the A’s 14-10, and both Zito and Hudson were on ice by the start of the third inning.

However, I clearly haven’t learned my lesson, because I again went with a former Oakland Athletic starter in today’s lineup. Here it is:

James Shields ($9,000) vs. Diamondbacks and Gio Gonzalez ($8,300) vs. Phillies

Let’s start with Big Game James Shields. The former Royal, Ray (and Devil Ray) is enjoying a quality season with San Diego. According to Baseball Reference, he’s currently striking out 9.6 batters per nine innings. That’s well above his career average of 7.8 whiffs per nine innings. Unfortunately, he’s walking 3.5 hitters per nine, a full walk more than his career average.

A higher strikeout and walk rate indicate a higher total pitch count per batter. However, per Baseball Reference, Shields has gone five or more innings in all but one game this season. He’s not piling up the complete games like he did in 2011, but he’s a safe start. 

The Diamondbacks are a quality hitting team. According to Fan Graphs, they rank between 10th and 15th in the league in several offensive categories. However, if Shields can keep the ball in the yard, he should have success. According to ESPN, in 114 career at-bats against Shields, these Diamondbacks have hit just .228, but with eight dingers. 

Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals host the Phillies today. Per DraftKings, the last time Gonzalez pitched against Philadelphia he went seven innings, allowed two runs, and struck out 12 for a 35.6 point fantasy day. That was less than two weeks ago. 

I’m not saying he’ll strike out a dozen more from the City of Brotherly Love, but he should thrive at home against a weak offensive club. The Phillies rank in the bottom five in the league in road OBP, wOBA, and wRC+ according to Fan Graphs. He’s also the second most likely starter to get a win (which nets four fantasy points) by number Fire’s daily MLB projections.

Mike Trout ($4,900) vs. Mariners

Isn’t daily fantasy fun! How cool is it that I get to put together a lineup with Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Yoenis Cespedes as the starting outfield? It’s too bad arm strength isn’t a category. 

Anyway, Trout has been on a roll lately. Per DraftKings, the reigning AL MVP is averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game over his last 10 games. He’s relatively cheap considering he’s still the consensus best player in the world. My only issue with Trout is that he makes insane plays like this robbed home run from last night look routine.  

No Lineup Stack Today?

This is a rare occasion where I spread my offensive players around the league. This lineup is more suited for a DraftKings 50/50, H2H or Double Up than a Guaranteed Prize Pool. If I were to stack any lineup, it’d probably be the Dodgers. Though the division is all but wrapped up (the magic number is currently two), they should try to win one more game before playing a four game series in San Francisco. 

Los Angeles is in Denver where the air is thin and routine fly balls are commonly mistaken for home runs. Chris Rusin, the Rockies’ starter, is 5-9 with a 5.39 season ERA. Last night, the Rockies won 8-6 on a walk-off home run. I’d expect a similar offensive output from both of these rosters.

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It’s unfortunate that both the A’s and Giants have played themselves out of the playoff race. Not because both teams began last season at torrid paces, then cooled off, then snuck into the playoffs. Not because the Giants won’t be a validated as a dynasty until they make the tournament in an odd year. 

No, the real reason I’d like to see this game mean something is for the comedy in today’s pitching matchup. 

Barry Zito ($5,100) versus Tim Hudson ($5,500)

In 2002, the Oakland Athletics won 103 games. They were a dominant club that at one point down the stretch won 20 games in a row (I know, I know, I just spoiled the climax of Moneyball.) But what gets lost in the movie (and the book, really) is the pitching staff. The A’s were built around three dominant young dominant starters. Zito, Hudson, and Mark Mulder.

That year, according to Baseball Reference, Hudson went 15-9 with a 2.98 ERA. Zito went 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA and won the AL Cy Young. Hudson had many more quality years in Atlanta and eventually San Francisco.

Zito, however, did not. After four good, but not great seasons in the East Bay, he signed a monster deal to pitch in AT&T Park. In seven years pitching for the Giants in a pitcher’s park, Zito never finished with an ERA under four. 

Today I expect a lopsided game in front of a (rare) sellout crowd in Oakland. Hudson is making his last career start in the building where his career began. He’ll pitch within himself, get groundouts, and likely go six or more innings. 

Zito might get shelled. Though the two are similar in cost on Draft Kings, they’re not equally effective. Zito allowed two earned runs in just one inning the last time he took the hill. It was his only appearance in 2015. He’s entirely dependent on his big curveball and if it hangs; batting practice for the Giants hitters. 

Hudson already announced his impending retirement. Zito refuses to. 

Other pitching options: Adam Warren ($4,500) vs. White Sox, Stephen Strasburg ($10,700) vs. Phillies, Justin Nicolino ($4,300) vs. Braves, Jeremy Hellickson ($6,200) @ Padres

This lineup is a pretty even mix of talented players from around the league. But if you’re playing in a guaranteed prize pool on Draft Kings, and you want to stack a lineup, there are a few solid options today.

The Dodgers’ magic number is two. They could clinch the NL West today with a win and a Giants loss in Oakland. That means they’ll send all their regular starters out against Kyle Kendrick and his 6.37 ERA. I’m playing Andre Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez, but second baseman Howie Kendrick and outfielder Carl Crawford also make strong plays. 

I already mentioned that I believe the Giants will tee-off against their old 126 million dollar man. I’ve got Buster Posey in my lineup. I could easily toss third basemen Matt Duffy and designated hitter Marlon Byrd in as well. They’ve all got a legitimate shot at rounding the bases against the old lefty with an ERA of 18. 

Other lineups to stack: Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies

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Nobody wants to dump a big-name fantasy baseball star. Along with owners fearing the move coming back to haunt them, the decision is an admission to making a mistake months ago.

Not all of these players have hurt drafters all year. A few have actually provided a positive return on investment, but a recent slump and/or injury deflated their worth entering the season’s final week.

As for the others, it’s past time to part ways. These underwhelming players haven’t performed all year, and their owners now have reasonable excuses to waive them. From health concerns to unrelenting slumps, none are in position to sway a championship matchup—at least not for the better.

It may hurt to cut the cord on a high draftee, but redraft gamers need to think exclusively in terms of the lone remaining week. These six players are expendable in standard mixed leagues.  

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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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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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Heading into MLB‘s penultimate week, the top fantasy baseball adds are about to get weird.

In June, everyone would probably ignore most of these guys, fully expecting them to fall off by the All-Star break. With only two weeks left on the schedule, gamers might as well go for the ride.

This list features a few highly regarded veterans catching a second wind during a down year. Others are unlikely rookies heating up and two journeyman veterans suddenly becoming relevant for the first time in years. Three pitchers come from a team whose staff became a punchline for most of the year.

Keep an open mind with these waiver-wire suggestions. All available in over half of Yahoo Sports leagues, most remain unclaimed in significantly more. If they can keep the magic going for a tad longer, they’ll sway some championships.

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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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