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There’s nothing better than starting the week with a win. For DraftKings players, hopefully Monday was kind enough to provide just that. Tuesday offers an equally promising opportunity with a wealth of games to choose from when setting a lineup.

With 15 games on tap, whittling a roster down to just 10 players can be an ambitious project. Luckily, we’re here to help. Before the late games get underway on Tuesday, here’s a look at five players to target to complete lineups on DraftKings.

Pitcher: Brandon Morrow, San Diego Padres ($6,500)

Through two starts this season, Brandon Morrow is averaging 21.3 fantasy points per game in DraftKings. Those stellar numbers have all been accomplished without winning a game, as the San Diego Padres offense hasn’t backed him up.

Pitching at Coors Field might not be a perfect situation for Morrow, but the Padres lineup should finally do a solid job of scoring behind him. If he can limit the damage, Morrow should come away with a win and produce a decent amount of strikeouts for owners needing a No. 2 pitcher at a good value.

Catcher: Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays ($3,900)

One player thriving recently on Morrow’s former team is Russell Martin. The Toronto Blue Jays catcher got off to a shaky start with his new team, but he has looked much more consistent since his two-homer game against the Atlanta Braves.

MCA Agency, which represents Martin, noted just how well Martin performed over the weekend:

A patient batter who draws walks along with providing pop in a lineup, expect more of the same from Martin on Tuesday night. Going up against Bud Norris, who has allowed 11 earned runs over just eight innings pitched in his first two starts, Martin will be a perfect addition to any roster.

First Baseman: Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,300)

One unfortunate outing caused Adrian Gonzalez’s price to plummet from $5,600 on Sunday down to $4,300. He may have gone 0-for-5 against the Colorado Rockies, but his start to the season has been anything but rocky.

Still averaging over 15 fantasy points per game, A-Gone should get back on track against Tim Lincecum. The San Francisco Giants have won just four games this season, so look for Gonzalez to feast on the struggling team with a big night for fantasy owners.

Third Baseman: Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks ($4,300)

Anyone hoping for Jake Lamb to slow down this season has been sorely disappointed. The Arizona Diamondbacks infielder boasts a .414 average with a 1.204 OPS in the early portion of the season.

Ryan P. Morrison of InsidetheZona.com notes just how difficult those numbers have been for Lamb:

While the D-Backs have still shown loyalty to Aaron Hill at times, there’s no denying that Lamb is deserving of an everyday gig. Considering his numbers are still high and his price is still low, input Lamb into your lineup before his value and salary skyrocket.

Outfielder: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles ($5,400)

Well, this one is clearly the most obvious choice.

Adam Jones is one of the hottest hitters on the planet right now heading into Toronto. His nine-game hitting streak may have come to an end on Monday, but Jones has still reached safely in his last 10 outings.

Jones will get back on track against the Blue Jays and Mark Buehrle. Considering the fact that he’s torching hot against the veteran pitcher during his career, leaving Jones out of the lineup would be insane, even at such a high asking price.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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Around the country, it’s starting to feel like baseball season as MLB teams begin rounding into form. Daily fantasy players can finally see trends beginning at the plate and on the mound in DraftKings leagues.

Heading into Monday night, owners have to pick through myriad lineups to find the best players in every matchup. Prior to the long slate of games getting underway, here’s a look at the top studs and duds for April 20.

Studs

Pitcher: Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians ($7,100)

Looking for a starting pitcher at a low price who produces a lot of strikeouts and doesn’t give up many hits or earned runs? Seems impossible, right? Wrong. Trevor Bauer is all of those things and goes against a familiar lineup on Monday night.

The third overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2011 MLB draft is now lighting it up for the Cleveland Indians. Bauer Outage got off to a historically great start, as Fox Sports: MLB notes:

In his third start of the season, Bauer faces the most recent team he victimized in the Chicago White Sox. The 24-year-old pitcher allowed just two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings. Look for similar numbers against the lowly White Sox and potentially his third win of the season.

First Baseman: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds ($5,200)

This one kind of feels like cheating.

In fantasy baseball, every daily owner wants consistency out of his or her lineup. By placing Joey Votto in said lineup, players will get one of the most solid batters at the plate on any given night.

On Monday, Votto matches up with Wily Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers. Peralta has already had his struggles this season—we’ll get to that later—and Votto has typically fared well against the right-hander. With a .409 on-base percentage against Peralta, Votto will post another solid game on Monday.

Outfielder: Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners ($4,900)

It appears Nelson Cruz is enjoying the Pacific Northwest. The veteran slugger has thrived thus far with the Seattle Mariners to start the season.

Over his last eight games, Cruz has put together several ridiculous stat lines along with his eight home runs. His multihomer game on Sunday gave Cruz the lead in the entire MLB, as Mariners’ play-by-play announcer Gary Hill notes:

Not to mention Cruz will also be facing a rookie pitcher in Asher Wojciechowski. Roll out the welcoming mat for the 26-year-old pitcher before Cruz lifts off again for fantasy owners in his next start.

Duds

Pitcher: Wily Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers ($7,000)

The aforementioned Peralta has not been able to build off a strong 2014 season thus far. After winning 17 games last year and boasting a 3.53 ERA, Peralta has been shelled this season. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gives an in-depth look at Peralta’s most recent horrid outing:

With the Brewers scuffling at 2-10 to start the year, banking on Peralta doesn’t seem like the best decision. Even against a Reds offense that hasn’t been clicking recently, don’t rely on this starter until he shows consistency on the mound.

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals ($4,400)

Don’t start Salvador Perez on Monday night. Yes, the same Salvador Perez who has gotten off to a blazing-hot start this season.

During his career, Perez has struggled against Kyle Gibson, the Minnesota Twins starter on Monday. Perez has just one hit over 12 plate appearances against Gibson with four strikeouts and one walk. He may be going through a career year so far, but Perez will cool down against Gibson.

Outfielder: Brandon Moss, Cleveland Indians ($4,700)

Brandon Moss finally seems to have gotten his act together for the Indians, but Monday night will not bring more of the same.

Cleveland’s offseason acquisition is going up against John Danks, a left-handed pitcher. Taking into account his early struggles and the fact that he’s a lefty facing a lefty, stay away from putting Moss in the lineup until he completely settles in with the Indians.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Every selection in daily fantasy baseball requires careful consideration for a number of factors. You only get one day to make your mark, so you don’t want to waste a pick at any position.

With a full set of games Saturday, the key will be to take advantage of the best matchups both at the plate and on the mound. It’s tough to predict the future, but you can give yourself a great chance of having success by following this strategy.

Also, remember to check lineups before the game to ensure each player is set to play.

Top Pitcher Picks

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($8,700)

If you had Jordan Zimmermann in your lineup in his last start, you likely won’t ever pick him again. The right-hander allowed eight runs (seven earned) in just 2.1 innings against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park.

However, the All-Star is too good to get rocked two games in a row, especially with the next start coming against the struggling Philadelphia Phillies. Returning to his comfort zone in Nationals Park (plus no more designated hitters) will allow him to bounce back for a quality start.

Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays ($7,600)

While grabbing a stud pitcher like Felix Hernandez always makes sense, you can save some of your budget by instead going after a lesser-known pitcher like Jake Odorizzi.

The 25-year-old starter is off to an outstanding start with just one run allowed in 14.2 innings pitched. Going up against a New York Yankees lineup that has been very inconsistent this year should allow him to keep up his momentum.

Pitchers to Avoid

Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees ($10,200)

Although Masahiro Tanaka got the win in his last start, he was far from his old self. He has now allowed nine runs (seven earned) in nine total innings over two games. Zach Braziller of the New York Post summed it up:

Tanaka has a decreased velocity on his fastball and simply can’t get swinging strikes at the same rate he was last season. Until he fixes his problems, it might be best to avoid the Japanese star.

Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($10,500)

This is not a slight against Chris Sale, who is one of the top pitchers in baseball. However, when you spend big money you want a guarantee the starter will come through with a dominant performance. You simply cannot do that against the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers are currently 9-1 and have a loaded lineup full of right-handed hitters who could be tough on Sale. While he might still have a strong game, you might be better off picking a safer option for cheaper.

Top Hitter Picks

Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves ($4,200)

Going up against a knuckleballer like R.A. Dickey is usually a scary proposition, especially if you have never seen him pitch before. However, Freddie Freeman has plenty of experience against the former New York Mets pitcher.

The first baseman is 10-for-21 in his career against Dickey with two home runs and four doubles. Look for more of the same on Saturday.

Adam Jones, OF, Baltimore Orioles ($5,100)

Stick with the hot streak. Adam Jones has been one of the top hitters in baseball over the past couple of weeks and there is no reason to expect this to stop in his trip to Fenway Park.

The outfielder is always a threat for home runs, which also brings in runs and RBI at a high rate. If he gets the opportunity, he could be in line for a huge day at the plate.

Hitters to Avoid

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers ($3,700)

Although he still has the price of one of the top hitters at his position, Adrian Beltre has not performed at this level so far in 2015. Going up against Felix Hernandez usually isn’t the way to cure a cold streak either.

He actually has had moderate success against the former Cy Young award winner (.294 in 34 at bats), but this doesn’t seem like a smart bet at this time.

Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies ($4,500)

Tulowitzki is clearly one of the best shortstops in baseball, but he has struggled lately to provide fantasy players with much besides singles. Playing away from Coors Field against a solid starter in Zach Greinke does not indicate he will have much more success in his next game.

For the price, you might be better off finding someone else at the position.

Team to Stack

New York Mets

Miami Marlins pitcher Mat Latos has been awful to begin the year. You really can’t sugarcoat it any better when a pitcher has just 4.2 innings pitched in two starts. He probably will improve upon his current 17.36 ERA, but he isn’t all of a sudden going to turn into an ace.

With the New York Mets having plenty of lefties like Daniel Murphy, Curtis Granderson and the red-hot Lucas Duda, fantasy players could get a lot of production from this lineup.

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

Daily fantasy baseball is going strong at DraftKings! Get FREE entry into a $10,000 MLB contest today!

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and various sports-related nonsense.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

MLB daily fantasy owners are finally getting into a groove, but there’s always room for improvement. Each day brings a new opportunity for DraftKings players to thrive in myriad games, but only if they know how to set up a winning lineup.

Before Tuesday’s slate gets underway, here’s a look at the full strategy for MLB daily fantasy with the top value players to target.

Top Value Players

Pitcher: Daniel Norris, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,600)

Putting stock in young pitchers isn’t always wise for daily fantasy owners. However, Daniel Norris is a special hurler going against a porous lineup on Tuesday.

In his first start with the Toronto Blue Jays, Norris was touched up a bit by the Yankees for three runs over 5.2 innings. During his second start, the 21-year-old pitcher will face a Tampa Bay Rays offense that has been limited to two or less runs in three of the last five games.

Outside of Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay doesn’t really offer many impressive bats. Look for Norris to have a great first outing against the division rivals and post impressive fantasy numbers in his second start.

First Baseman: Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,200)

Well, this is obvious. Even after a slightly down weekend—if you call four hits over three games unimpressive—Gonzalez is still the hottest hitter in the game.

Just how hot has A-Gone been thus far? The Dodgers slugger was historically hot through the first three games, per Bleacher Report:

Somehow priced at his lowest salary hit of the season, Gonzalez can be had for a reasonable price on Tuesday night. Punch him into your lineup and expect solid numbers even against Hisashi Iwakuma.

Third Baseman: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies ($4,100)

Through seven games this season, Nolan Arenado already has six extra-base hits. Even with two games where he’s been stifled at the plate, Arenado still has the plate presence to do damage against good pitching.

Facing Tim Hudson, Arenado has a chance to get back on track. Hudson is a veteran on the mound, but he doesn’t have overpowering stuff at 39 years old. This young third baseman has the potential for another stellar night in San Francisco.

Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves ($3,500)

Known for his stellar defensive play, Andrelton Simmons has been great at the plate so far this season. Simba had an off night on Monday, but his average of 11 fantasy points per game over the weekend is certainly welcomed by daily owners.

Given his consistency to start the season, Simmons should be plugged into nearly any fantasy lineup. If he comes away with numbers similar to the ones he posted over the weekend, spending low for him will pay off in this matchup.

Outfielder: Steve Pearce, Baltimore Orioles ($4,000)

Even at a position with so much depth, picking a perfect outfielder can still be an arduous task. Luckily, Steve Pearce has been blazing hot to start the year for the Orioles.

In fact, he started the year with similar numbers to two other memorable Orioles over the last several years, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Despite cooling down some since those first two games, Pearce is still slotted just ahead of Chris Davis. With pitchers all but forced to throw to him, look for Pearce to light up CC Sabathia to help daily owners thrive on Tuesday.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A full day of action creates a lot of opportunity to make some money in daily fantasy baseball, but you have to make sure you grab the right players for your team.

With so many top pitchers available, you shouldn’t be afraid of spending a high percentage of your budget on the big names while saving money elsewhere. Just make sure you don’t end up wasting it on the wrong options.

Here is a look at the best and worst picks available for Saturday.

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

Pitchers

Top Picks

David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,600)

Did you see how in control he was on Opening Day? David Price finished his first start one out away from a complete game shutout, instead totaling 8.2 scoreless innings in a winning effort.

His teammate Joba Chamberlain summed it up after the game:

While the Cleveland Indians have a few more intimidating hitters than the Minnesota Twins, Price has a good chance to put together another stellar performance and carry fantasy teams in the process.

Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels ($8,000)

Although Jered Weaver didn’t have a great showing in his first start with four runs allowed in six innings, he should be able to bounce back Saturday.

Returning home to Anaheim will be a blessing for Weaver, who has fared much better in his own ballpark throughout his career. His 2.66 ERA at home compared to just a 3.94 mark on the road is a massive difference, and it was even bigger in 2014 (2.68 home ERA vs. 4.70 road ERA).

No matter what the issue, all you have to worry about is him getting back to his dominant form against the Kansas City Royals.

Avoid

Doug Fister, Washington Nationals ($7,800)

For most of the season, you will be in good shape grabbing Washington Nationals pitchers as the group has the best rotation in baseball. When the team is healthy, there should be a lot of wins up for grabs.

Unfortunately, the lineup is missing a few key hitters and until players like Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth return from injury, the Nats will struggle to score. Against Cole Hamels, you can’t expect much run support.

To make things worse, Doug Fister does not add too many strikeouts with just 98 in 164 innings last season. This makes him a weak fantasy option going forward.

Hitters

Top Picks

Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals ($4,100)

Most are quick to avoid lefty vs. lefty matchups for hitters, but a deeper look shows why Bryce Harper can still succeed. Primarily, opposing pitcher Cole Hamels has never been especially hard on lefties as his fastball-changeup approach hurts both types of hitters equally.

Additionally, Harper has fared well against Hamels in his career, hitting .320 in 25 at-bats. The two also have some bad blood between each other, making every at-bat interesting.

With Harper showing his ability against just about every pitcher in baseball, he remains a solid pick for your team.

Travis d’Arnaud, C, New York Mets ($3,600)

Julio Teheran is a pretty tough matchup for opposing hitters, but Travis d’Arnaud has fared well against all comers so far this year.

The young hitter already has RBI hits against ace-level pitchers in Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg, so the Atlanta Braves starter shouldn’t be any scarier on the mound.

Finding a good catcher is difficult in fantasy baseball, but d’Arnaud could provide some quality production without breaking the bank.

Avoid

Robinson Cano, 2B, Seattle Mariners ($4,200)

While the lack of top second-base options makes Robinson Cano so valuable at the position, this is not the time to splurge on the Seattle Mariners star. He is going up against Sonny Gray, who is coming off a spectacular outing in his first start where he allowed just one hit in eight innings.

With Cano still not showing the power stroke he had with the New York Yankees, a lack of upside makes this pricey hitter a poor bet.

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Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Picking the right pitcher can either save your daily fantasy team or put it over the top in search of big money.

While there is a lot of uncertainty at this early part of the season, these players should exceed their value with big games Friday.

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals ($9,100)

It’s always difficult to trust a pitcher like Gio Gonzalez, who has put together some outstanding seasons in his career but is always capable of exploding on the mound. Last year, he had four starts where he allowed five earned runs or more.

On the plus side, he can make up for it with a high strikeout rate. If he had pitched enough innings to qualify, Gonzalez would have ranked 12th in the majors last year with 9.19 strikeouts per nine innings.

Against an inferior Philadelphia Phillies lineup, the Nationals star should put together a solid outing with plenty of strikeouts. If things go well, he should also come through with a win.

Jonathon Niese, New York Mets ($7,500)

The Atlanta Braves are off to a better start than many anticipated thanks to a series sweep against the Miami Marlins. However, they are going to come back down to earth eventually, and that could happen Friday against Jonathon Niese. 

Niese finished last season with a 3.40 ERA, which matched his career best. Most importantly, the southpaw should have plenty of success against a lineup which relies heavily on left-handed hitters.

Between Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Jace Peterson and others, the Braves will have to either adjust the lineup or end up with tough matchups as Niese gets the advantage.

Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners ($7,300)

Spring training doesn’t necessarily mean much, and the statistics that come out of it count for literally nothing. However, it’s hard to ignore what Taijuan Walker did during the exhibition season, as noted by Baseball Tonight: 

The 22-year-old pitcher is extremely talented and possesses the pure stuff that will allow him to shut down opposing lineups at this level. Although he has just eight starts in his career, the upside is too great to ignore.

In reality, there might not be too many chances to get Walker into your lineup for so cheap.

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants ($7,600)

Although Tim Lincecum is not quite the pitcher he was earlier in his career, the 30-year-old starter is still a quality pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He can also be extremely valuable when he faces the San Diego Padres.

Throughout his career, the former Cy Young winner has dominated the division rival, posting an 18-6 record with a 2.27 ERA. Last season, he finished with a 5-0 mark and a 1.40 ERA in six appearances against the Padres.

Petco Park is one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in the majors, and Lincecum should take advantage of it once again on Friday.

Jeff Locke, Pittsburgh Pirates ($5,700)

The Milwaukee Brewers have a solid lineup on paper, but it has struggled to start the season, producing just six runs in three games. This is a major reason why the club is 0-3 after the first series.

Although Jeff Locke isn’t going to blow people away with his pitches, he knows how to take advantage of matchups and keep opponents off base. Fantasy players should expect six or seven solid innings and a good chance of bringing home a win, which will be just fine for this price.

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

Daily fantasy baseball is going strong at DraftKings! Get FREE entry into a $10,000 MLB contest today!

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and various sports-related nonsense.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The second full day of the MLB season doesn’t exactly have the same luster as Opening Day. Half of the franchises are 0-1, while the other half are undefeated. It does mean that daily fantasy owners already have a better perspective on which stars to choose.

DraftKings players won’t be able to identify trends with pitchers, but some hitters are already torching hot. Not every batter will continue those trends, but some will face far less impressive starters. Leading up to Tuesday’s slate, here’s a look at some strategy for Game 2 of 162 for most MLB teams.

Top Players to Target

Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers ($8,800)

Sure, the San Diego Padres are completely retooled with Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and others added to the lineup. Going against Zack Greinke, however, could potentially expose some weaknesses in the offense.

Greinke has been phenomenal during his career at Dodger Stadium, as author Joel Luckhaupt notes:

The right-hander faces a reloaded Padres lineup that relies on right-handed batters for strength. If Greinke can keep up his masterful performances at home against San Diego, he’ll be the clear No. 1 starter for daily owners.

First Baseman: Matt Adams, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,200)

This is one of those predictions we’re not entirely basing on the season opener. Matt Adams went hitless in the first game against the Chicago Cubs, but he is still typically a Cub-crusher.

Facing right-handed hurler Jake Arrieta, Adams was set to get going on Tuesday for daily fantasy owners. In 11 at-bats against Arrieta, Adams has five hits with a double and three RBI. Though he doesn’t have a home run against the Cubs’ No. 2 starter, Adams’ 15 home runs from last year prove he has pop in his bat.

However, the game has been postponed, the Cubs announced on Tuesday.

Second Baseman: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners ($4,200)

He seems like the obvious choice on Tuesday night, so why steer clear of Robinson Cano? Even against a left-hander like C.J. Wilson, Cano has still enjoyed some success against the Angels’ No. 2 starter.

Though he’s never hit one over the wall against Wilson, Cano has been productive against him. After getting a hit and an RBI in the season opener, expect Cano to go off on Tuesday and warrant the high price owners will be paying for him.

Outfielder: Carl Crawford, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,900)

Starting off the season with a double and an RBI against the San Diego Padres, Crawford already gave daily owners great value. Now he faces pitcher Tyson Ross, whom he has destroyed in a short sample size during his career.

Crawford won’t always be a great choice with his inconsistencies at the plate, but he’s a great option at a reasonable price for owners on Tuesday. Slot the Dodgers outfielder in a No. 2 or No. 3 spot and look for solid production.

Outfielder: Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners ($4,100)

The season got off to a silent start for Nelson Cruz, but he’s ready to break out with his new team. Cruz got off to a torrid pace last April, belting six home runs and 24 RBI with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s bound to reach those levels again soon on the West Coast.

Hitting behind Cano, both batters should see strikes from Wilson. Already having a homer against him with just 10 at-bats and a .314/.407/.569 against left-handed pitchers, there will be plenty of pop from Cruz’s bat.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Whether you’ve played before, won a million dollars or have never even heard of DraftKings before now, MLB daily fantasy is for you. Anyone who loves the sport and knows how the game works can succeed with a little time and effort.

Daily fantasy is a huge deviation from regular fantasy baseball in several aspects. Filling out a roster is based on a fixed salary cap of $50,000 per 10-man roster. Each owner chooses two pitchers, a first-baseman or designated hitter and all eight other positions to make a complete lineup.

Once an applicable lineup is set, owners can enter myriad different contests including head-to-head, 50/50 and multipliers on a daily basis. Hence the name daily fantasy, where no day is the same and lineups are constantly changing.

Now that the standard rules are out of the way, here’s a look at some advice to dominate in DraftKings MLB leagues this year.

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Two weeks from now, MLB will return in all its glory, leaving precious time for fantasy baseball players to draft a winning squad.

Let’s hope you didn’t jump the gun on draft day. If so, most of your starting pitchers are already headed to the disabled list, or worse—undergoing Tommy John surgery. 

For those holding court this week or next, mock drafts offer indispensable practice before the real thing. Think of it as your PSAT, only without the registration and waking up to spend a Saturday morning trapped inside school.

Using FantasyPros‘ Draft Wizard, I completed a simulated mock draft on Saturday night. Here are the results from the 12-team trial run, done under the assumption of a five-by-five rotisserie league using standard ESPN.com roster sizes.

Consensus expert rankings and average draft positions (ADP) from multiple sites guide the other teams’ automated selections. I randomly drew the No. 5 pick.

Analysis

The program projects my team to finish 10th with 34 points in hitting and 30 in pitching. I, however, feel much better about the results.

I certainly took some risks throughout the draft, gambling on the health of Hanley Ramirez and Michael Wacha while anticipating breakouts from Jason Heyward, Kolten Wong, Gregory Polanco and Yasmani Grandal.

Yasiel Puig is no lock, either. His .366 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) over two years is puzzlingly high for someone with a 51.1 percent ground-ball rate. He’ll also need to exceed last season’s 16 home runs to justify the Round 2 nod. 

Batting average won’t be a strength, but I’d rather fill my plate with speed and power. Wong, Polanco and Adam Eaton can each swipe 25-30 bags, but Leonys Martin is the real moneymaker on the basepaths. 

According to The Dallas Morning News‘ Gerry Fraley, the Texas Rangers will insert the center fielder into the leadoff role.

“There is a consistency to having Leonys at the top of the lineup on a daily basis,” manager Jeff Banister said. “My mindset, the coaching staff’s mindset, is let’s give this kid every opportunity to have all those at-bats.”

In 40 games batting first last year, Martin hit .298 with 12 steals and 22 runs scored. The extra plate appearances make him a candidate to steal 35-40 bases while scoring around 85 runs, a huge coup for a mid-round outfielder.

Everyone else seems grim on Cole Hamels because the Philadelphia Phillies won’t offer run support, but wins are too random to accurately forecast. I’ll take a reliable ace and worry about the fluky stat later.

The starting staff isn’t loaded, but I’m loving the relief corps. While I’m usually adverse to paying for top closers, Cody Allen came at a reasonable price given his stellar 11.76 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9). Taking his 1.49 ERA and 10.60 K/9 rate into the ninth inning, Joaquin Benoit is not receiving enough respect as a fantasy closer.

Combine Andrew Miller and Brad Boxberger‘s 2014 stats, and you get a 2.20 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 207 strikeouts over 127 innings. Oh yeah, saves aren’t out of the question for either dominant reliever.

Joe Girardi is taking his time announcing whether Dellin Betances or Miller will close for the New York Yankees. With Jake McGee targeting a late-April return from arthroscopic elbow surgery, Boxberger can secure the Tampa Bay Rays’ ninth-inning gig and never let it go.

This team isn’t perfect, but I’d finish better than 10th if this were an actual league played to fruition. Now let’s give a special look at two values from this mock who always seem available for the taking as late discounts.

Sleepers

Collin McHugh, SP, Houston Astros

I understand the skepticism on Collin McHugh. During 47.1 prior MLB innings spread from 2012 and 2013, he allowed 47 earned runs while notching 28 strikeouts. Then he went to the Houston Astros, where the righty transformed from subpar organization depth to bona fide ace.

McHugh posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 157 strikeouts through 154.2 innings. He also brandished great control, issuing just 41 walks. While a .259 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) suggests some good fortune, he didn’t pitch astronomically over his head with a 3.11 fielding independent pitching (FIP).  

For comparison’s sake, Johnny Cueto registered a 3.30 FIP during his breakout campaign. There’s no doubting McHugh had a sensational season, one that would easily make him a top-20 hurler if repeated.

Of course, justifiable fears of regression keep him from rising that far up the draft board. In this mock, 160 players went ahead of a pitcher who punched out over a batter per inning. Per FantasyPros‘ data, he is on average the No. 52 starting pitcher off the board, although a few pitchers ahead of him are now out of commission.

As a No. 4 or 5 fantasy starter, it’s worth the gamble to see if his adjustments stick. If not, dump him for this year’s version of McHugh. If he doesn’t fall off a cliff, he’s a tremendous value pick.

Jhonny Peralta, SS, St. Louis Cardinals

Jhonny Peralta is a shortstop who hit 21 home runs last season, but he turns into a ghost in draft rooms.

Nobody wants a boring 32-year-old without major upside in any category. Most gamers also need speed from the position, and Peralta won’t provide any more than some loose change in that department. But if you’re searching for a steady veteran with pop, he’s your man.

Only Ian Desmond offered more homers at short (24) last year. Hanley Ramirez was the only qualified shortstop with a higher slugging percentage (.448) than Peralta’s .443. 

Last year’s power probably represents his peak, with 15 marking a more realistic baseline. Even if he hits .265 with 15 dingers and decent counting numbers, Peralta makes a great middle infielder for drafters who located enough speed elsewhere.

In my mock, he went a round after Javier Baez, who may start in the minors due to a dreadful spring. Getting a borderline top-10 shortstop after Round 15 works for me.

Note: All advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs.

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