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In a day with a lot of high-priced talent for both hitters and pitchers, it’s important to find value across the board as well.

Daily fantasy baseball competitors will remain in good shape drafting guys like Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw, Paul Goldschmidt and Mike Trout, but here is a look at cheaper options who could give you some value on May 4.

Pitchers

Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros ($8,000)

The Houston Astros are the hottest team in baseball with 10 wins in a row, a streak that could continue against the Texas Rangers and one of the worst records in the league. They certainly will be in good shape with Dallas Keuchel on the mound, who has been incredibly consistent lately, according to Richard Justice of MLB.com:

Although he isn’t likely to keep up his 0.73 ERA for the entire season, the value is there to keep betting on the red-hot player and team for as long as this lasts.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($7,600)

It seems Carlos Martinez is going to be sticking around in the Cardinals rotation. In four starts, the former reliever has gone at least six innings while giving up two or fewer runs each time out.

The 23-year-old pitcher clearly has a lot of talent, and St. Louis is going to keep taking advantage of it. Look for Martinez to try to lower his current 1.73 ERA while going for his fourth victory in a row.

Hitters

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees ($3,800)

You might not like him, but that has nothing to do with making money in daily fantasy. The fact remains that Alex Rodriguez has done a good job getting big hits this year and can be extremely productive with a home run or two.

Monday will represent a good opportunity for the veteran hitter, as he faces R.A. Dickey, a struggling pitcher who has allowed Rodriguez to go 8-for-24 against him in his career. Even the knuckleball shouldn’t prevent a big game from the talented veteran.

Dee Gordon, 2B, Miami Marlins ($4,500)

Second base is usually a spot to save some money, especially with players like Devon Travis and D.J. LeMahieu available. However, Dee Gordon has been simply unstoppable this year and even better over the past week.

In his last eight games, Gordon has gone an incredible 20-for-31 (.645 batting average) with four stolen bases. With Jordan Zimmermann not quite pitching to his ability yet this season, Gordon can keep up his ridiculous run.

Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,300)

Not only has Joc Pederson been absolutely crushing the ball lately, but he will now get more chances to contribute at the top of the order for the Dodgers. Just as importantly, he is focused on keeping up his recent success.

“I still need to put together quality at-bats,” Pederson told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. “It’s a long season. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

With his recent power surge and a favorable matchup against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse, this could be a good chance for another big day.

Team to Stack: Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley was solid in his first start of the year, holding the Tampa Bay Rays to just one run in five innings. However, his 5.23 ERA from last season shows he is unlikely to keep it up.

This could be big for the Toronto Blue Jays, who have had arguably the best offense in baseball. With power-hitting threats like Jose Bautista ($5,500), Josh Donaldson ($5,100), Russell Martin ($4,700), Devon Travis ($4,000) and others, you could end up getting a lot of points if these players go deep.

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

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As we get deeper into the MLB regular season, it becomes easier to tell which players will be consistent performers and which were flukes. This is important to consider when filling out your daily fantasy team.

The players who succeeded in a small sample size are starting to fall back to earth, which means it might be time to avoid them. However, those who have kept up their play to this point might now be able to be trusted, especially if they are still cheap.

Value is the most important thing if you want to win, so here is a look at the best and worst picks for May 2.

Top Pitchers to Draft

Collin McHugh, Houston Astros ($7,900)

After a breakout season last year, Collin McHugh is proving he is for real this time around. In four starts he has a 3-0 record and a 2.92 ERA thanks in part to his 23 strikeouts to just four walks.

As good as Nelson Cruz has been to start the year, the Seattle Mariners lineup isn’t all that scary. McHugh should be able to take care of business at home.

Dan Haren, Miami Marlins ($6,900)

It seems this season you will be in good shape most nights picking the pitcher facing the Philadelphia Phillies. The struggling squad is averaging just 2.8 runs per game and is in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

Considering Dan Haren is off to a solid start to the year with a 3.38 ERA in four games, this should be a good chance for another quality start.

Pitchers to Avoid

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies ($10,000)

For this price, a starter better be a sure thing to give you a lot of points. Cole Hamels simply can’t guarantee that at this stage of his career.

The 31-year-old pitcher has allowed at least four runs in two of his five starts, allowing a total of seven home runs in this stretch. Add this to the fact he is unlikely to get many wins with the Phillies this year, and this is a bet you shouldn’t make.

Miguel Gonzalez, Baltimore Orioles ($9,000)

The Orioles are likely satisfied with what Miguel Gonzalez has provided in his four starts, especially his 10-strikeout performance against the New York Yankees in early April. However, this is the only start where he has been a true breakout fantasy player.

This makes his jump in price insane considering he hadn’t cost more than $6,400 in any start to this point in the year. He would be a solid value pick in most situations, but this isn’t one of them.

Top Hitters to Draft

DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Colorado Rockies ($3,200)

Although DJ LeMahieu probably won’t bat .400 for the season, the fact he is still flirting with this average is pretty impressive. The young second baseman has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2015 season, and you should continue to ride the hot hand as long as possible.

For a ridiculously cheap price, this is worth the bet.

Jake Marisnick, OF, Houston Astros ($3,900)

If you don’t have LeMahieu as your biggest surprise, Jake Marisnick might have that distinction. With a home run Friday, the outfielder now has a nine-game hitting streak that includes both power and speed as he racks up extra-base hits and stolen bases.

Even if opposing pitcher Taijuan Walker continues to pitch well, Marisnick should continue to put up good numbers.

Hitters to Avoid

Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,800)

With three doubles in the last two games, Jose Bautista is finally coming alive for the season. However, he still has just a .188 batting average for the season. You pretty much need a home run from him to justify his cost, and that will not be easy against Corey Kluber.

Alex Gordon, OF, Kansas City Royals ($4,200)

You usually want to draft a hot hitter, and Alex Gordon is as hot as they come with multi-hit games in five of his last eight starts. However, he has struggled this season against lefties and will face one of the toughest in the game in David Price.

Waiting for another day might be a better option.

Team to Stack

New York Yankees

Red Sox pitcher Wade Miley has struggled immensely this season, failing to make it out of the third inning in two of his four starts. He comes into Saturday with an 8.62 ERA, allowing seven earned runs in his only home start.

This is good news for the Yankees, who will get a chance to light up Miley in the hitter-friendly Fenway Park.

While you might be concerned about the amount of lefties in New York’s lineup going against the southpaw, Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury are a combined 18-for-44 (.409) against lefties this year, while Chris Young has absolutely crushed them to the tune of .476 with three home runs.

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

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What good is a fantasy owner who lacks a sense of timing?

Fantasy baseball—just like the real thing—is a game of skill, luck and timing. That last trait in particular comes in handy in regard to getting value in the trading game.

Knowing which player(s) to trade away and which to deal for—and knowing just the right time to do so—can make all the difference.

After all, it doesn’t get much better than making a move to unload a hot flavor-of-the-week type who’s about to cool off in exchange for a slumping stud who’s ready to take off.

Now, speaking of timing, let’s get to some players to sell high and buy low.

Begin Slideshow

It isn’t a full-house day of daily fantasy baseball aces Friday night, but whenever Matt Harvey and Max Scherzer are toeing the slab on a full MLB slate, you have to consider them among the best DraftKings pitcher picks. You might not be able to afford both, unless you’re really clever with your hitters, so we weigh the best alternatives behind them for May 1.

No-Brainer Aces

Matt Harvey, New York Mets ($11,200)

Harvey has been every bit the ace he was before surgery, and the Mets even showed an interest in pushing him in an important early series, going 8.2 innings and 107 pitches against the New York Yankees last time out. He has had an extra day of rest because of a temporary six-man Mets rotation, so he should be a full go against New York’s key NL East rivals Friday night, the Washington Nationals. The only drawback here is his opposing pitcher.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals ($12,000)

Scherzer‘s thumb injury is fine to make the start, according to Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. The price should have you more worried. He costs the premium of three solid hitters, with the similar production of Harvey. He has mostly been untouchable, though. The Mets lineup shouldn’t scare you, so if you can find bargain hitters to start these two aces, go for it.

The Good

Scott Kazmir, Oakland Athletics ($7,400)

DraftKings prices are heavily impacted by what park the pitcher is pitching in. There is no other way to explain the fact Kazmir (2-0, 0.99 ERA) is $1,100 cheaper than his past start. Kazmir allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings against the Texas Rangers in his first start of the season, striking out 10.

That Rangers offense is not productive, ranking 30th in hits, average and slugging percentage and 26th in runs, home runs and RBI. Kazmir should be your first choice if you cannot afford those top two aces.

Anthony Desclafani, Cincinnati Reds ($7,700)

He was touched up for five runs last time out, but four of those were unearned and he has a 1.04 ERA on the season. His price has jumped on those numbers, but we still believe he’s the third-best play on the board, especially against a middlin‘ Atlanta Braves lineup to face in a pitcher’s park.

Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox ($7,200)

He has run hot and cold alternately in starts this season. It is his turn to get beat up again, but we just cannot see that happening against the Minnesota Twins. That lineup should not scare anyone. They rank 29th with just 12 homers, which is just a few more than Nelson Cruz and Hanley Ramirez have themselves (10). Quintana looks like a pretty safe play.

Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals ($8,300)

We love Lynn, but we have to move him down the list a bit here because of his sketchy history against the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bats. His career 4.71 ERA in 15 games against the Pirates is higher than any other opponent he has made more than three starts against, per Baseball-Reference.com. He is pitching at home and coming off a bad outing, so we figure he will overcome and perform well for us here.

Top Bargain Arms

Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles ($6,100)

Take out Tillman’s two starts against the mashing Toronto Blue Jays (0-2, 18.00), he has pitched fairly well (2-0). One of those victories came at the expense of the Tampa Bay Rays, too. He held them to just a solo homer in his first start of the season. Tillman is a strikeout pitcher who just needs to manage his walks to turn his season around. We figure he will be good for a quality start victory here.

Justin Masterson, Boston Red Sox ($6,000)

Masterson has just one bad start and three fairly good ones thus far in his return to the Red Sox. Sure, it is the New York Yankees he is facing, but the start is at home and these are not the Yankees of the Derek Jeter era. Masterson‘s price is intriguing, especially if you slot Harvey or Scherzer and need a cheaper second arm.

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Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.

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The Dark Knight of Gotham, aka Matt Harvey, has been on fire all season, and he should be your top choice for a pitcher in DraftKings lineups Friday. Harvey and the surprising New York Mets host the Washington Nationals in what figures to be a pitchers’ duel.

Opposing Harvey for the Nats will be Max Scherzer. We’re likely looking at two candidates for the National League Cy Young Award if they maintain their current pace. Harvey is 4-0 with an ERA of 3.04 and an 0.94 WHIP. Scherzer has been even better, though his record doesn’t show it.

He’s 1-2 with a 1.26 ERA and an 0.84 WHIP. 

Even beyond the season-long numbers Harvey has enjoyed, he has had sustained success against some of the Nats’ biggest offensive threats. Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Denard Span are hitting a combined .190 against Harvey in their careers.

Harvey has rebounded from last year’s injury and has shown no ill effects. ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin noted Harvey’s velocity in the ninth inning of his last start against the New York Yankees:

Harvey should continue to shine against Washington and overall. 

The same goes for Scherzer. He’s had solid success against the Mets lineup as well. The current Mets roster is hitting just .200 against him. Because you know both men cannot get the win, and because Harvey ($11,200) and Scherzer ($12,000) represent the largest salaries for any pitcher starting Friday, you’ll need some other alternatives.

Scott Kazmir ($7,400) at Texas Rangers

The Oakland Athletics’ Scott Kazmir is another red-hot pitcher. He’s 2-0 with an ERA of 0.99 and a WHIP of 0.88. Kazmir faces the Texas Rangers Friday, and he catches a break with newly re-acquired Josh Hamilton still out rehabbing his injured shoulder, per Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News.

Hamilton is hitting .368 against Kazmir in his career with two home runs. 

Kazmir has had the strikeout pitch working in his four starts leading up to Friday’s outing. He’s recorded 30 strikeouts in just 27.1 innings pitched. What’s more, Kazmir hasn’t generated less than 17.7 fantasy points in any of his starts this season. He’s a solid second choice if you don’t want to splurge on Harvey and Scherzer.

Alex Colome ($5,500) at Baltimore Orioles

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, 26-year-old Dominican Alex Colome will make his 2015 debut Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. The game was originally supposed to be played in Baltimore, but because of the unrest in the city due to the riots, it has been moved to Tropicana Field.

Colome had pneumonia earlier in the season that kept him off the mound.

When he’s right, he can be dominant. While it’s a small sample size, Colome’s success against the Orioles must be noted. Of the seven Baltimore players to face Colome, only Manny Machado and Chris Davis have been able to reach base. Machado is the only one of the two to reach base via a base hit.

Collectively, the aforementioned Orioles group is hitting .071 against Colome. He likely won’t pitch longer than five innings, but for $5,500, Colome is a huge potential value.

Roenis Elias ($6,800) at Houston Astros

In his first start of the season, the Seattle Mariners’ Roenis Elias went 5.2 innings, striking out six, but he had to settle for a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins on April 26. He’ll get his second start Friday on the road against the Houston Astros.

Elias has had an opportunity to face several of the Astros dating back to last season. He’s held the current lineup of Astros to a batting average of .211. If you look at the pitching matchup, the Mariners seemingly have the edge there as well.

Samuel Deduno is scheduled to be on the bump for Houston. He’s a reliever getting a spot start. He hasn’t pitched more than 2.1 innings in any outing this year. Look for Elias to outlast him and to put up decent fantasy numbers considering his relatively low salary.

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Have a great start to the week on Monday in MLB daily fantasy? Time to get right back at it. Things didn’t go so well to kick off this series? Nothing heals those wounds like winning the next day with a brand-new lineup.

Regardless of the current situation, Tuesday night provides plenty of opportunities to come away with a victory. Before the first pitch is thrown, take a look at these strategic picks to create a perfect lineup and take down any opponent.

Pitcher: Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds ($10,400)

This season, Johnny Cueto has already been sensational every time he’s taken the mound. One of his best starts came against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. On Tuesday, he takes on the same club in the friendly confines of the Great American Ball Park.

With the Brewers falling further and further into the National League Central cellar, Cueto will be dominant again. Even at such a high asking price, missing out on Cueto will be the difference between pulling out a win and coming up just short.

First Baseman: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees ($4,500)

Monday was not a good showing for Mark Teixeira, but he’ll rebound on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Playing at home against a right-handed pitcher, Teixeira will be driving into the short porch of Yankee Stadium looking for his ninth home run of the season.

His opponent on the mound will be Jake Odorizzi, who’s had a phenomenal season thus far. However, he’s given up two extra-base hits—a triple and a homer—to Teixeira in seven plate appearances. Already ripping six of his four-baggers against right-handers, look for a big night from the Yankees first baseman.

Second Baseman: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros ($4,200)

Knock on Jose Altuve all you want for being the shortest player in the MLB, but the man can rake. The Houston Astros second baseman is guiding the way for the upstart ‘Stros and having another stellar season at the plate.

Eno Sarris of Fox Sports recently chronicled how a simple leg kick for Altuve has improved his approach at the plate. As his contact rate continues to climb, owners need to target the second baseman for consistent production.

Even against Tyson Ross, Altuve will keep producing and build off his five straight multihit games. He’s just that good.

Third Baseman: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs ($4,600)

Everyone expected Kris Bryant to be sensational at the MLB level. It just wasn’t supposed to look this easy.

Bryant has crushed his way to a .351 average with nine RBI and a remarkable .931 OPS. Surprisingly enough, he hasn’t hit a single home run since his call-up, but he hit enough in spring training to let fantasy owners know they’re eventually coming.

Facing a left-handed pitcher in Jeff Locke on Tuesday night, Bryant gets a somewhat favorable matchup. Still at a reasonable price for a third baseman, Bryant will outperform his salary against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Outfielder: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins ($5,300)

After getting off to a slow start by his own standards, Giancarlo Stanton has heated up over the last 10 games. Over that span, his OBP is up to .400, and he hit all five of his home runs on the season. Oh, and he also hit a mammoth triple that would have been a home run in nearly every other MLB ballpark.

Even with a matchup against a right-handed pitcher in Rafael Montero, Stanton should put up huge numbers on Tuesday. After all, each of his homers so far have come against righties, and Montero is just being called up for a cameo appearance in the rotation, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.

He’ll get a sample of just what Stanton brings to the plate on Tuesday night. For fantasy owners who start the mashing Marlin, inching closer toward a win seems predetermined.

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With few aces in action on Saturday, we could be in for some high-scoring baseball games and a wild day in daily fantasy.

This type of schedule creates an even bigger necessity of picking the right pitcher, while there are also plenty of opportunities to stack your lineup against a weaker one. Here is a complete look at advice of who to pick and who to avoid for April 24.

Pitchers to Draft

Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians ($7,800)

Although Trevor Bauer had a few disappointing seasons after coming into the league as a highly regarded prospect, he is finally showing that potential this season, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted:

There are still issues with control, but he has been racking up strikeouts at a high rate and keeping runs off the board—two things that lead to a big fantasy day.

With the Detroit Tigers coming back to earth after an impressive start, this is a good chance to get a huge day for a reasonable price.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($7,300)

It’s easy to gain fans in a new location when you pitch like Shelby Miller. The former St. Louis Cardinals starter has allowed three runs in his first three starts for the Braves, earning victories in two of them.

Although his inability to go deep into games remains an issue, he still has an impressive 1.69 ERA and a .211 batting average against. Going up against the hapless Philadelphia Phillies lineup should allow him to continue his recent success.

Pitchers to Avoid

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees ($8,400)

Although CC Sabathia might not deserve his 0-3 record, he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in his first three starts. Even his most recent performance where he allowed just two runs in eight innings still featured seven hits and three walks allowed.

His ability to pitch deep into games allows him to remain a safe bet in fantasy lineups, although he is unlikely to put together huge efforts anymore. This is especially true against the red-hot New York Mets.

For his price, it might be best to avoid the former All-Star.

Ian Kennedy, San Diego Padres ($8,000)

After missing the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, Ian Kennedy will return to the Padres rotation against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The problem is he will be difficult to trust right out of the gate, especially against a quality team like the Dodgers.

Look for Kennedy to be on a limited pitch count and struggle to put up big fantasy numbers in a shortened outing.

Hitters to Draft

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants ($4,600)

Jorge De La Rosa has only made one start this year for the Colorado Rockies, and it was simply awful. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) in just two innings before being removed. Whether his groin injury is still an issue or not, it’s clear he is not quite ready to compete at a high level.

With Buster Posey just getting out of his mediocre start, he could be in for a big day against the left-handed starter, especially in the batter-friendly Coors Field.

Devon Travis, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays ($3,600)

The price hasn’t gone up too much for Devon Travis, but it’s time to get on the bandwagon. The second baseman has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season and should continue to rake over the weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays’ shuffled rotation.

While some might question Travis’ start as a fluke, ESPN’s Mark Simon notes the balls he is hitting into play have been hit hard:

He isn’t likely to flirt with a .400 batting average all season, but there is no reason to expect an immediate decline anytime soon.

Hitters to Avoid

Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($4,400)

The Milwaukee Brewers did finally snap the eight-game losing streak, and Ryan Braun has had a few multi-hit games this year. However, the all-around struggles of the lineup will limit opportunities for both runs and RBI, especially without hitting many home runs this year.

Most importantly, betting against Adam Wainwright is usually not a smart move.

Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals ($4,700)

His work at the plate has been much better than in the field this year, and he remains one of the more consistent hitters in the league. The problem is the cost as the most expensive shortstop in the early contests.

Fantasy owners could use this position to save in their budget and grab some players who have been even more successful this year like Zack Cozart or Jose Iglesias.

Team to Stack

Atlanta Braves

David Buchanan has improved each start this season, but that is a low bar considering he currently has a 9.22 ERA through three games. He is yet to make it out of the sixth inning and is simply struggling to keep runners off the bases.

This is good news for the Atlanta Braves, who have the opportunity to put up big numbers in a hitter’s ballpark.

Fantasy owners can have a big day if they especially focus on lefties like Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski and others.

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

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What good is a fantasy owner who lacks a sense of timing?

Fantasy baseball—just like the real thing—is a game of skill, luck and timing. That last trait in particular comes in handy in regard to getting value in the trading game.

Knowing which player(s) to trade away and which to deal for—and knowing just the right time to do so—can make all the difference.

After all, it doesn’t get much better than making a move to unload a hot flavor-of-the-week type who’s about to cool off in exchange for a slumping stud who’s ready to take off.

Now, speaking of timing, let’s get to some players to sell high and buy low.

Begin Slideshow

Baseball games might be won with great pitching in MLB, but daily fantasy tournaments are won by having the right hitters against those pitchers. Anyone can score fantasy points with their starting pitchers, especially if you are slotting Friday night’s aces like Felix Hernandez ($11,300) or Zack Greinke ($10,100).

The trick is finding the hits—specifically the home runs. We give you the best position-player picks for April 24.

Infielders

C Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins ($3,400)

Sure, he is not a homer threat—power is what you should be looking for in your daily fantasy baseball hitters—but Mauer is an elite hitter you can get as a serious bargain. Sure, Mauer’s low price is a function of facing stingy Seattle Mariners ace Hernandez, who is the No. 1-priced pitcher on the board.

But Mauer doesn’t have the historical numbers most hitters have against one of baseball’s elite aces. He is Ted Williams against King Felix, hitting .378 (14-for-37) with two homers, four doubles and seven RBI. This is a sneaky good play.

• Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals ($3,700)
• Kurt Suzuki, Minnesota Twins ($2,800)

1B Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,300)

This is just stealing money. “A-Gone” had a little mini-slump that has dropped his price, but he homered Thursday night, and our famed mantra in daily fantasy baseball is sluggers do “50 percent of their damage in 25 percent of the season.” Meaning: They are streaky.

Gonzalez is ready to streak back to hot, especially when you consider the slugger leads all of Friday night’s hitters against their opposing pitcher with four career homers off him, per BaseballSavant.com. Gonzalez is 9-for-25 off Andrew Cashner ($8,100). This is a no-brainer play at that price.

• Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles ($4,400)
• Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs ($4,800)

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

Pedroia is not off to particularly great start in terms of his average, but the power has been there. He already has four homers on the season. There are not a lot of second basemen we truly love Friday night, so we will go with one of the tried and true at a reasonable price.

• Jose Altuve, Houston Astros ($4,800)
• Asdrubal Cabrera, Tampa Bay Rays ($3,300)
• Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers ($3,900)

3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,200)

We cannot understand the value in Donaldson. Not only is he one of the best fantasy players at third base, if not in all of baseball at any position, but he is also off to a great start this season, hitting .349 with a .400 OBP and a .635 SLG. Oh, and he just happens to have four homers in his past six games and hit one Thursday. Um, yeah, play this guy in all lineups.

What is dragging his price down? Drew Smyly ($7,800) making a start in his return from the DL? Donaldson is 4-for-6 with two doubles, a homer and a steal off the lefty. The only reason he does not show up in the Tableau data visualization above is because he has too few at-bats in his career against his opposing pitcher (we took eight as a minimum).

DraftKings‘ game-makers have Donaldson’s price way, way wrong here.

• Chris Johnson, Atlanta Braves ($4,200)
• Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers ($5,000)

SS Clint Barmes, San Diego Padres ($2,600)

He is not the Padres’ regular starting shortstop, Alexi Amarista ($2,700) is, but Barmes would be a great play—and a great way to squeeze King Felix ($11,300) into your lineup. You will have to wait until the West Coast lineup to come out, though, to make sure Barmes is even starting. If he does, you get a hitter who is hitting .438 (7-for-16) against Los Angeles Dodgers starter Greinke. 

Barmes, who homered as a pinch-hitter in his last appearance in a game earlier this week, is a nice contrarian play against that ace, because of his bargain price and his matchup history.

• Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs ($3,900)
• Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,000)
• Asdrubal Cabrera, Tampa Bay Rays ($3,300)

Outfielders

Justin Upton, San Diego Padres ($4,100)

Here is a rare $1,400 cost shave one series later. Upton was priced at $5,500 in Colorado’s Coors Field. Against Greinke in Dodger Stadium, he is a huge bargain. That price doesn’t account for the fact Upton has owned the veteran right-handed ace to the tune of .471 (8-for-17) with a homer, triple and two doubles. We will take it.

Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins ($4,800)

He might be tough to afford if you’re going with Hernandez and/or Greinke, but he is the premium hitter play of the night. Stanton is on one of his power tears, hitting all four of his season’s homers in his past seven games, including two in the past three. Stanton also has three career homers off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann ($8,300), who is not off to a great start this season.

Chris Carter, Houston Astros ($4,100)

If you believe us when we say sluggers are streaky, you have to get on board with Carter here. He is certainly due, having hit .122 in his first 14 games. In the past two games, though, he is 3-for-7 with his first homer of the season. He is ready to erupt, and just in time to face a left-hander. Perfect!

It is not just any left-hander either. It is Scott Kazmir ($8,500), against which he is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a pair of doubles and five walks to just one strikeout.

• Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals ($4,400)
• Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,400)
• Jorge Soler, Chicago Cubs ($4,400)
• Curtis Granderson, New York Mets ($3,900)

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A loaded list of probable pitchers on Friday will make for some tough decisions when it comes to your daily fantasy baseball lineup.

The two starting pitcher spots can make or break your team, so you have to make sure to get the right players on the right night. However, a few aces and other big names create some questions about whether you want to spend big or find value.

No matter what you want to do with your team, here is a look at the top options at various price ranges for April 24.

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners ($11,300)

This certainly qualifies as an obvious pick, but you don’t have to be sneaky to win money. Sometimes the best answer is right in front of you the whole time.

After a quad issue limited him in his April 12 start, Felix Hernandez bounced back with an impressive performance against the Texas Rangers, allowing just two hits in seven innings while striking out 12. Pitching at home against a Minnesota Twins lineup that has struggled all year should present another opportunity for a huge day.

Just be ready to save money elsewhere in your lineup.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($8,300)

The last two games have been very uncharacteristic for Jordan Zimmermann.

First, he was rocked by the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park, allowing eight runs in 2.1 innings. In his most recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies, he only allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings but walked four in a loss.

The good news is that control has never been a real issue for Zimmermann, and it shouldn’t be a lingering problem. Additionally, his next start will be against the Miami Marlins in a ballpark that doesn’t allow many home runs. 

Zimmermann is too talented to let these poor starts pile up, so you can expect a turnaround for a decent price.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres ($8,100)

After a 1-2 start, Andrew Cashner should have plenty of issues with the defense behind him. Out of the 12 runs allowed in 17 innings, seven of them have been unearned.

On the plus side, the pitcher still has a solid 2.65 ERA and 20 strikeouts through three starts. Most importantly, he will return home to spacious Petco Park, where he has a career ERA of 2.01, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

It won’t be easy outdueling Zack Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Cashner has the tools to put together a strong outing, win or lose.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($7,200)

The St. Louis Cardinals have a habit of finding quality pitchers seemingly out of nowhere. Well, they did it again with Carlos Martinez, who moved from the bullpen to become an effective starter so far.

Martinez has gone six innings in each of his first two starts while allowing a combined seven hits and three runs. Although it might not always be smooth sailing as a member of the rotation, don’t expect much trouble in his next start against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Considering Milwaukee comes into the series with just three wins and an average of 2.9 runs per game, Martinez should be just fine on Friday.

Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers ($7,100)

DraftKings is finally starting to raise the price for Shane Greene (he cost $6,000 in his last start), but he still remains a bargain if he continues to pitch at his current level.

ESPN’s Buster Olney noted how well the 26-year-old pitcher has fared to start the season:

In three starts, Greene has totaled 23 innings with just one earned run. While you can wait for him to fall back to earth if you want, don’t be afraid to ride the hot streak for as long as it lasts. With the Detroit Tigers providing plenty of run support, he should be a solid bet to earn his fourth win.

Chris Heston, San Francisco Giants ($4,900)

If you are really looking to save money Friday and want a bargain at pitcher, it makes sense to take a chance on Chris Heston.

The 27-year-old rookie currently ranks second in the National League with a 0.87 ERA through three starts, and he will face a Colorado Rockies offense that has slowed down significantly since the first week of the season.

Although it is always a risk betting on a pitcher at Coors Field, the extremely low price might make it worth the chance.

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

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