A new week presents us with just seven games to work with, and the lack of pitching depth is going to make this a tricky one to attack. Let’s take a look at a lineup for DraftKings.
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Pitcher
Brandon McCarthy (LAD): $9,100 @ SF
The Giants rank 30th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching, and while they don’t strike out a ton (19.4%), it’s tough sledding at starting pitching tonight. McCarthy is set to return from a shoulder issue tonight, and while he doesn’t possess a ton of upside, he will get a good park to pitch in against an anemic offense.
Jesse Chavez (LAA): $7,800 vs. CWS
Pitching is full of landmines tonight, so I am going to shift down in terms of pricing and target Chavez in a plus matchup. Make no mistake, Chavez is not something to write home about, as you get average strikeouts (7.5 K/9) and questionable control (3.21 BB/9). The bright spot for Chavez’s stock tonight is that he faces a White Sox team ranked 28th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching, who also strikes out 23.3% of the time. Chavez also gets to pitch at home, where he’s currently a -167 favorite, with the White Sox having an implied run total of 3.68. Saving here at a tough position will allow us to spend on bats tonight.
Other Notables
- Sean Manaea (OAK): $8,300 @ SEA (GPP)
- Chase Anderson (MIL): $6,800 @ SD (GPP)
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,500 @ SF
Grandal has been on a tear of late, and with the Dodgers’ hitters coming off of the Coors Field pricing juice, I think this is a strong play. Matt Cain has been bad this year, and his peripheral statistics don’t point to a turnaround anytime soon. While the park won’t do Grandal and the Dodgers any favors, this is too good of a spot to pass up on, especially on a short slate.
Other Notables
- Brian McCann (HOU): $3,200 @ MIA
- Stephen Vogt (OAK): $3,100 @ SEA
First Base
Freddie Freeman (ATL): $4,900 @ TOR
Freeman will hold the platoon advantage over Mike Bolsinger in a prime hitting environment tonight, and despite having zero discount in his salary, he’s the top play on the board at the position. Freeman is off to a great start to the 2017 season, but I think he gets underappreciated for what he’s been able to achieve, and not just over the last six weeks. Since a year ago today (160 games), Freeman has posted a .316 AVG to go with 40 home runs, a .418 OBP and a .623 SLG. He truly is blossoming into a star, and this is a phenomenal spot to target him across all game formats.
Other Notables
- Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $5,200 vs. NYM (GPP)
- Eric Thames (MIL): $4,800 @ SD (GPP)
- Wil Myers (SD): $4,600 vs. MIL
- Yonder Alonso (SD): $4,100 @ SEA
- Justin Smoak (TOR): $3,900 vs. ATL/Kendrys Morales (TOR): $3,600 vs. ATL
Second Base
Jed Lowrie (OAK): $3,600 @ SEA
Lowrie isn’t an exciting pick, but he provides cheap exposure to Yovani Gallardo in the heart of the Oakland batting order. Gallardo has been average at best this season, as he’s not striking out many hitters (6.18 K/9), while posting an xFIP of 4.23. Lowrie is a decent source of salary relief at a tough position, and he allows us to spend up at other positions.
Other Notables
- Jose Altuve (HOU): $5,000 @ MIA (GPP)
- Jonathan Villar (MIL): $4,500 @ SD (GPP)
- Neil Walker (NYM): $4,200 @ ARI
Third Base
Justin Turner (LAD): $4,100 @ SF
Turner is a better hitter against same-handed pitching, and he will face a pitcher in Matt Cain who is on the downside of his career. I like the Dodgers a lot tonight, and Turner should be an integral part of their success.
Other Notables
- Jake Lamb (ARI): $4,700 vs. NYM
- Adonis Garcia (ATL): $3,300 @ TOR (GPP)
Shortstop
Corey Seager (LAD): $4,600 @ SF
I already picked on Cain above and noted the favorable position the Dodgers are in tonight, so targeting Seager at a fair asking price seems to make sense. Seager has excellent overall skills against right-handed pitching, and he should see plenty of opportunities to produce in the heart of this lineup.
Other Notables
- Carlos Correa (HOU): $4,900 @ MIA (GPP)
- Jean Segura (SEA): $4,400 vs. OAK (GPP)
- Chris Owings (ARI): $3,900 vs. NYM
Outfielders
Mike Trout (LAA): $5,400 vs. CWS
Trout is scorching hot right now, as he’s homered in three straight games while collecting four hits, two stolen bases and five RBIs over that span. He will face an awful pitcher in Mike Pelfrey tonight, so there is absolutely no reason not to roster the best player in baseball at home this evening.
Kole Calhoun (LAA): $3,800 vs. CWS
Mike Pelfrey alert! Pelfrey continues to stick in the rotation, despite striking out just 2.84 batters per nine innings, while sporting an xFIP of 5.91. Calhoun was recently shifted to fifth in the order, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the worst thing, as he could see more opportunities to drive in runs from that spot. It’s no secret he’s been struggling, but a date with Pelfrey could cure what ails him.
Gregor Blanco (ARI): $3,000 vs. NYM
The key to the Diamondbacks’ success this season has been their ability to stay healthy, but the weekend appears to have derailed that train for now. With A.J. Pollock and David Peralta both uncertain to play, Blanco could find himself in the lineup tonight. If that’s the case, he’d be a fine source of salary relief for a team with a high total at home against Zack Wheeler.
Other Notables
- Jay Bruce (NYM): $4,700 @ ARI/Michael Conforto (NYM): $4,600 @ ARI
- Nelson Cruz (SEA): $4,500 vs. OAK (GPP)
- Jose Bautista (TOR): $4,400 vs. ATL (GPP)
- Joc Pederson (LAD): $4,000 @ SF
- Matt Kemp (ATL): $3,900 @ TOR/Ender Inciarte (ATL): $3,600 @ TOR
- Matt Joyce (OAK): $3,200 @ SEA
My Lineup
- SP – Brandon McCarthy (LAD): $9,100 @ SF
- SP – Jesse Chavez (LAA): $7,800 vs. CWS
- C – Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,500 @ SF
- 1B – Freddie Freeman (ATL): $4,900 @ TOR
- 2B – Jed Lowrie (OAK): $3,600 @ SEA
- 3B – Justin Turner (LAD): $4,100 @ SF
- SS – Corey Seager (LAD): $4,600 @ SF
- OF – Mike Trout (LAA): $5,400 vs. CWS
- OF – Kole Calhoun (LAA): $3,800 vs. CWS
- OF – Gregor Blanco (ARI): $3,000 vs. NYM
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.
