Kuzul

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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If a player can’t help immediately, he’s no longer important to own in fantasy baseball leagues.

Late in the season, several fantasy managers are sleeping on the job. There’s no other way to explain injured players remaining owned in more than half of Yahoo Sports league. It may look nice to roster an inactive star, but some no-name getting September playing time will prove more useful.

Then there are also breakout players who have fallen back to earth. After enjoying the ride for months, anyone who missed a buy-low opportunity should admit the magic is over and locate the latest hot hand. Nobody can afford to wait out a slump when only two weeks remain to the 2015 campaign.

These players have either provided massive dividends this season or in prior years, but they won’t help any fantasy players cement a championship run. For our purposes, nothing but the next two weeks matter.

Begin Slideshow

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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All 30 MLB teams are playing on Tuesday, which means there are plenty of daily fantasy baseball options to choose from. However, you rarely can have a fantasy team full of superstars, so it’s best to figure out which players have the opportunity to outplay their value.

Below is a table featuring the top three players at each position for Tuesday, followed by a list of five players to consider when balancing your fantasy baseball budget.

Value Picks

Carlos Martinez, SP, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($9,300)

Martinez has been incredible for the Cardinals this season, and he has the opportunity to have a great outing against one of the worst teams in MLB.

While Martinez’s season as a whole has been impressive, he has struggled as of late. He has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his past four starts. However, he dominated against the Brewers in his last start against the team in a four-hit shutout on April 24.

Martinez hasn’t been himself in his past few starts but has a great opportunity to get back on track against the struggling Brewers. His reasonable value makes him a great pick given his previous start against Milwaukee earlier in the season.

Jonathan Schoop, 2B/3B, Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox ($4,000)

Schoop has been a solid player for the Orioles since returning from injury on July 5. He has recorded a career-high .291 batting average this season and has flourished over the past week.

The 23-year-old has demonstrated great patience at the plate with a .321 batting average over his past seven games. He has also showed off his impressive power with a .679 slugging percentage during that span.

Schoop and the Orioles will face Red Sox starter Joe Kelly, who has been dominant with a 7-0 record over his past seven outings. However, Schoop is a low-risk, high-reward pick given his recent streak of games and his improved hitting overall.

Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies ($3,600)

Seager is the No. 1 prospect in the Dodgers organization for a reason and has performed admirably since being called up to the big leagues on September 3. He is hitting .412 this season with an astounding 1.171 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Seager and the Dodgers will face struggling Rockies left-hander Chris Rusin on Tuesday. Through 18 starts this season, Rusin has recorded a 5-8 record with an abysmal 5.14 ERA. Seager is hitting .417 against left-handed pitching this season, which sets up a favorable matchup against Rusin.

While Seager is just 21 years old, he is producing at a high level despite his limited amount of professional experience. However, fantasy owners should take advantage of his low value while they can before he emerges as a top-tier shortstop option.

Rajai Davis, OF, Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins ($3,200)

The veteran Davis has performed well recently, which makes him a steal of an outfielder pick for daily fantasy baseball.

The 34-year-old is hitting .320 over his past seven games and has recorded an astonishing .760 slugging percentage during that span. He has hit safely in seven of his past nine games with three multihit games during his streak.

Davis will face Twins starter Phil Hughes on Tuesday, who has struggled with his command over his past few starts. Hughes has recorded a 5.08 ERA over his past seven starts, which presents an opportunity for Davis and the Tigers to have a great day at the plate.

Trevor Plouffe, 3B, Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers ($4,100)

Plouffe has had an up-and-down season with a .250 batting average and a .444 slugging percentage. However, his recent streak makes him a great fantasy option for Tuesday’s MLB action.

Plouffe is hitting .375 over his past seven games with a solid .464 on-base percentage during that span. Plouffe and the Twins will face Tigers starter Alfredo Simon on Tuesday, a pitcher who has recorded an atrocious 7.10 ERA over his past 15 outings.

Plouffe isn’t a great long-term option in fantasy baseball, but he has a great matchup against Simon on Tuesday. He should be able to keep up his hot hitting and outplay his depleted fantasy value.

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

Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis

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The regular season has less than three weeks left before the postseason begins, but there is still plenty of time left for daily fantasy baseball. Whether owners have already found success or finally build up a bankroll before the season ends, Monday night has options for any strategy.

Only a handful of top players can be targeted in order to build a balanced lineup. But with so many options at the top of the price sheet, here’s a look at the ones that are worth the price on DraftKings, along with a strategy for owners to thrive.

Top Pitching Target: Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers ($10,500)

Welcome back to Texas, Cole Hamels. Over his last two starts, the new ace for the Rangers has not been sensational, allowing a total of seven earned runs with 11 strikeouts. But both of those games were away from Globe Life Park.

Now with an extra day of rest, Hamels can resume his superb season against a huge hit-or-miss team. The Houston Astros may be 11 games over .500, but they are also second in MLB in strikeouts (1,248) as a team. With Hamels getting closer to another 200-strikeout season, he’s a smart start on Monday with the price truly matching the production owners should expect.

Top Infielder: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks ($5,000)

Paul Goldschmidt was going through a slight slump last week before facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Let’s just say Goldy got right against the Blue Crew, finishing with an average of 11.3 fantasy points per game with a homer and two doubles in the three-game series.

Now the Diamondbacks stay home against James Shields and the Padres. Sure, Shields might be an imposing starter, but Goldschmidt has enjoyed success against him. With three hits in five at-bats, including a homer, look for Goldschmidt to keep streaking for fantasy owners.

Top Outfielder: Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets ($5,600)

Since being traded to the Mets, it’s hard to think of another player who has been as consistently hot as Yoenis Cespedes. The key trade piece in multiple deals over the last two seasons, Cespedes possibly landed in a perfect situation with New York.

Over his last 10 games, Cespedes has an average of 15.8 fantasy points per game. That also includes Sunday, when Cespedes got just one at-bat. Going with the hot hand seems like a wise option. When you consider he’s going up against a struggling starter on the mound and that he’s finally returning home, Cespedes should be the top option for any owner.

Strategy: Mashing Mets

Speaking of the Mets, Cespedes isn’t the only hot bat in that lineup. New York has pummeled starting pitching recently, averaging seven runs per game over its seven-game winning streak.

The aforementioned starter whom Cespedes and the Mets will be facing is the Miami Marlins’ Justin Nicolino, who surrendered five runs over 4.1 innings in his last outing. His first start against the new-look Mets should end in similar fashion if New York brings out the same lumber it did in the sweep of the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves.

With Cespedes coming at such a high price, David Wright ($4,300), Daniel Murphy ($3,500) or Curtis Granderson ($4,400) all seem like reasonable options. The Mets may have a 9.5-game advantage over the Nats, but this team isn’t slowing down before the playoffs.

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The dog days of summer mark the most important time of year for fantasy baseball managers.

At this stage of the MLB season, several squads are exploring the depths of their expanded rosters. While fantasy gamers compete for a championship, some real teams are playing out the year with players auditioning for 2016 gigs.

The NFL’s return has sent several fantasy players instead searching their football waiver-wire pool. While breakout candidates present themselves early in the season, everyone has already ransacked baseball’s waiver wire. In an active, competitive league, no more studs are waiting around.

Keep that in mind before feeling underwhelmed by this week’s batch of free-agent recommendations. Rather than playing the long game, these adds center around hot hands and matchup plays who can provide short-term value.

These guys are all available in over half of Yahoo leagues, and only three are owned in more than a quarter of them. Few of them offer high upside, but every tick matters.

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Before the NFL distracts everyone on Sunday, DraftKings savants can devote Saturday to a full MLB slate.

Eliminated from the postseason or too far down the standings to mount a comeback, many traditional fantasy baseball players have lost interest. Worn down and defeated by the grueling season, they’ll shift their attention to the gridiron, where a shiny new toy with a shorter schedule awaits.

This is usually where “But not in daily!” follows. Well, not necessarily. Filling out a lineup gets cumbersome in a six-month sport with no days off. Anyone who hasn’t profited from MLB action now sees a chance for redemption elsewhere.

But hey, the only way to get better is to keep working. Those players tapping out will miss a slate featuring several bargains. As Madison Bumgarner faces the San Diego Padres, surround the $12,200 ace with these discount plays. 

SP Yordano Ventura ($8,500), Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles

According to MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan, the Kansas City Royals have transposed their weekend rotation plans:

While the batted-ball gods have recently turned a cold shoulder to Johnny Cueto after years of friendship, Yordano Ventura has flourished. Even including his recent roadblock against the Minnesota Twins, the 24-year-old righty has allowed eight runs over his past six starts while significantly upping his strikeout game.

Despite his ERA increasing from 3.20 to 4.34, his expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP) has fallen from 3.74 to 3.67 due to a rise in strikeouts and ground balls. A day earlier than scheduled, the streaking hurler gets the struggling Baltimore Orioles, who rank No. 24 in weighted on-base average (wOBA) and No. 27 in strikeout percentage after the All-Star break.

Cheaper than Rick Porcello, Anthony DeSclafani and Ian Kennedy, Ventura is a strong value on Saturday.

SP Roenis Elias ($6,300), Seattle Mariners vs. Colorado Rockies

Roenis Elias isn’t very good. Saddled with a 4.30 ERA and 4.38 xFIP, there’s a reason the Seattle Mariners southpaw only costs $6,300.

The matchup, however, keeps him in consideration as a dirt-cheap hurler, best utilized as a contrarian tournament play. Scary on paper, the Colorado Rockies shrink into an exploitable offense when facing a lefty on the road. This weakness is reflected by their MLB-worst weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against lefties, a measure of offensive efficiency that takes ballparks into consideration:

Elias faced a similar situation on Monday, when Seattle hosted the Texas Rangers away from their hitter-friendly stadium. He allowed two runs and recorded six strikeouts during 5.1 solid innings, earning him 15.2 DraftKings points. Players will take that result on Saturday, and he’s in better shape to earn a victory with Yohan Flande pitching for Colorado.

C Miguel Montero ($3,400) and 2B/OF Chris Coghlan ($3,300), Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies 

One of several Philadelphia Phillies hurlers getting demolished, Jerad Eickhoff has yielded a 47.3 fly-ball percentage and 40.3 hard-hit percentage through four starts. Starting with the pricier corner-infield tandem of Anthony Rizzo ($5,300) and Kris Bryant ($4,900), the Chicago Cubs will make a popular stack.

Going the cheaper route, Miguel Montero is slugging .520 since the All-Star break and boasts a career .793 OPS against righties. Chris Coghlan holds an .822 OPS with all of his 15 homers and 11 steals versus righties, numbers that look much better with second-base eligibility.

Take a look at Chicago’s lineup card before locking into anybody. Javier Baez’s presence and Starlin Castro’s existence crowd the middle infield, but Coghlan hasn’t yet lost any playing time on his strong end of the platoon. 

OF Josh Reddick ($3,400), Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

The bad news about Josh Reddick taking hacks in Texas? He won’t have “Careless Whisper” as his walk-up music. After returning to the ’80s ballad on Wednesday, the slumping outfielder snapped an 0-for-10 skid with a two-run homer. The Oakland Athletics’ Twitter page captured the triumphant return (of the song, not the homer):

He’ll sacrifice the smooth sax for a much better offensive park. He’s slugging .476 on the road, and Globe Life Park in Arlington rates No. 5 on ESPN’s Park Factors in terms of runs produced. More importantly, he holds an .823 OPS against righties compared to a .644 clip against lefties. 

Yovani Gallardo’s 3.16 ERA looks great. His 4.35 xFIP and career-low 15.0 strikeout percentage? Not so much. Look for Reddick to produce sweet music in the batter’s box.

OF Ryan Raburn ($2,500), Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers

Are the Cleveland Indians facing a lefty? Check. Are they facing a bad lefty? Sees Randy Wolf’s 6.55 ERA through four starts and 1.006 OPS against righties last year. Check.

A must-start in this situation, Ryan Raburn is hitting .314/.395/.584 against southpaws. He homered twice off Chris Sale on Monday, and Wolf is no Chris Sale. Lock Raburn in at a criminally cheap $2,500. 

Note: All advanced stats, updated as of Friday night, courtesy of FanGraphs. Pricing and scoring info via DraftKings.com.

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Although the NFL will now start taking away a lot of our attention, there is still money to be made in daily fantasy baseball. 

Friday’s contests feature some players to avoid, such as Dallas Keuchel ($13,400 is too much for a pitcher who often struggles on the road), as well as red-hot superstars to pounce on, such as Yoenis Cespedes ($5,100). Beyond that, here is a look at a few options you might have overlooked heading into the weekend.

Steven Matz, SP, New York Mets ($8,400)

While the New York Mets and their fans aren’t exactly excited to see Matt Harvey limited going forward, the return of Steven Matz certainly eases concerns. The rookie returned from the disabled list last week and produced 5.1 innings of two-run ball before coming out with a blister.

Fortunately, ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin reported this won’t affect the pitcher going forward:

In three career starts, Matz has a 1.90 ERA, .172 opponent batting average and an average of 23.8 fantasy points per game on DraftKings. Against an Atlanta Braves team that has struggled mightily down the stretch, the 24-year-old lefty should be able to keep up the good production.

Cody Anderson, SP, Cleveland Indians ($5,900)

With the exception of a few hiccups, Cody Anderson has had a strong rookie season with the Cleveland Indians. He doesn’t post high strikeout totals, but he has allowed only two runs or fewer in seven of his 11 starts.

In his last appearance, the right-handed pitcher amassed seven scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. His opponent in that win was the Detroit Tigers, and he faces them again Friday.

It’s possible the veteran hitters will learn from their mistakes, but the cost makes it a worthwhile bet that we see more of the same. 

Mark Canha, 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics ($4,200)

The middle of the year wasn’t great for Mark Canha, but the 26-year-old player is ending his rookie year on a high note. His .309 batting average in August led to a .313 mark so far in September, including a 10-for-24 stretch with three home runs during his current six-game hitting streak.

Playing in a hitter’s park against the Texas Rangers with a struggling Colby Lewis on the mound (11 earned runs and 17 hits allowed in his past two starts), Canha could be in for more success.

Brandon Moss, 1B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals ($3,600)

Although the consistency isn’t always there, Brandon Moss is always a threat to go deep.

Everyone on the St. Louis roster will have a strong chance of posting good numbers against Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Lorenzen, who has fallen apart as of late. After posting a 3.53 ERA in 14 appearances heading into the All-Star break, the youngster has accumulated a 10.43 ERA in seven starts since.

Stacking the lineup with Cardinals is a good plan, but in any case, you should start with a value play like what you can get from Moss.

Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B, San Diego Padres ($2,800)

The San Diego Padres have been praying for Jedd Gyorko‘s power to return to what it was in his rookie season, and it seems the calls have finally been answered. The third-year player has been on an extra-base tear as of late to go with a consistent approach at the plate. He enters Friday with at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games.

Even going on the road for a series against the San Francisco Giants shouldn’t stop you from taking advantage of this great value in your lineup.

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

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For many fantasy baseball players, this is the end. Most head-to-head leagues start the playoffs on Monday, and rotisserie gamers tucked down the standings will need a miracle to climb into first place. Don’t hold back now.

Patience is a virtue, except when big-name players are stinking up the joint with three weeks left in the season. Many decisions that would be irresponsible in June are conversely necessary in September.

As the clock ticks on 2015, standard mixed-leagues participants must juggle injuries with the looming threat of innings limit sending young starting pitchers home early. In some cases, such as the six highlighted here, it’s best to cut bait now in shallow formats.

Along with last week’s cuts, consider pulling the plug on these guys. 

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