Memorial Day is near and dear to my heart, and it is a special day of remembrance for many across our beautiful country. In between your relaxing day of cookouts and other fun activities, take a moment to remember those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy ours in freedom.
There are nine games on the early slate today, and it’s a tricky one as there’s a new series kicking off at Coors Field as well as a couple of high priced pitching options. Let’s take a look at a lineup for FanDuel.
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Pitcher
Carlos Carrasco (CLE): $10,300 vs. OAK
Carrasco is the top option on this slate, as he faces an Oakland team that strikes out fifth most against right-handed pitching. The concern lies within the fact that the Athletics rank ninth in terms of wRC+ and first in ISO against right-handed pitchers.
The lack of other viable top plays with strikeout potential (other than Kyle Hendricks) pushes us towards Carrasco today. He possesses solid strikeout upside (8.95 K/9) to go along with a decent groundball rate (46.2%), but there’s certainly some risk involved here.
Other Notables
- Kyle Hendricks (CHC): $9,400 @ SD
- Rich Hill (LAD): $8,400 @ STL (GPP)
- Robert Gsellman (NYM): $6,500 vs. MIL (GPP)
- Brad Peacock (HOU): $5,700 @ MIN (risky GPP)
Catcher
Christian Vazquez (BOS): $2,400 @ CWS
We don’t have much of a track record with David Holmberg, but with an implied team total over five runs, I think it’s safe to say Vegas doesn’t have much faith in the lefty. Vazquez is a cheap way to get exposure to this lineup, but just be sure he’s in there today, as his playing time has been sporadic.
Other Notables
- Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,400 @ STL
- Francisco Cervelli (PIT): $3,300 vs. ARI (GPP)
- Willson Contreras (CHC): $2,800 @ SD/Miguel Montero (CHC): $2,300 @ SD (GPP; whoever starts)
First Base
Hanley Ramirez (BOS): $3,400 @ CWS
Ramirez has good skills against lefties, and as I noted above, the Red Sox are pegged for a big game today. David Holmberg hasn’t shown big strikeout ability in his career, and that could spell disaster against an offense like this. This is also a great park for right-handed power, which is just another plus for the Boston hitters this afternoon.
Other Notables
- Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $4,800 @ PIT (GPP)
- Jose Abreu (CWS): $4,000 vs. BOS (GPP)
- Mark Reynolds (COL): $3,800 vs. SEA
- Eric Thames (MIL): $3,100 @ NYM (GPP)
Second Base
Logan Forsythe (LAD): $2,800 @ STL
There’s nothing special about this matchup, but it’s more about gaining access to a good lineup with a cheaper hitter that should be atop the batting order. I’d expect Forsythe to be low owned, as he is nothing more than a tournament lineup filler, or a piece of a Dodgers’ stack.
Other Notables
- Robinson Cano (SEA): $4,300 @ COL
- Dustin Pedroia (BOS): $3,500 @ CWS (GPP)
- Jason Kipnis (CLE): $3,400 vs. OAK
Third Base
Kyle Seager (SEA): $4,000 @ COL
The Mariners get the Coors Field boost today, and this puts Seager squarely in play this afternoon. He has great skills against right-handed pitching, and Tyler Chatwood continues to struggle with retiring hitters at home. Seager will no doubt be highly owned, but sometimes playing the chalk isn’t the worst thing.
Other Notables
- Nolan Arenado (COL): $4,500 vs. SEA
- Jake Lamb (ARI): $4,000 @ PIT (GPP)
- Josh Harrison (PIT): $3,300 vs. ARI (GPP)
Shortstop
Deven Marrero (BOS): $2,400 @ CWS
Marrero is batting ninth today, and while that’s less than ideal, he’s a decent punt play as part of a Boston stack. I won’t belabor the fact that the Red Sox have a high total against an uninspiring pitcher, but just be sure to get some exposure to them where you can today.
Other Notables
- Jean Segura (SEA): $4,100 @ COL (GPP)
- Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,900 @ CWS
- Corey Seager (LAD): $3,400 @ STL (GPP)
Outfielders
Carlos Gonzalez (COL): $3,700 vs. SEA
Sam Gaviglio is a low strikeout pitcher who does generate a fair amount of ground balls, but there’s no reason to avoid picking on him at Coors Field. Gonzalez went without a hit over the weekend, so his price has remained favorable. He’s a phenomenal way to get access to Colorado’s offense without spending a premium.
David Peralta (ARI): $3,300 @ PIT
The park is less than ideal as it represents a big negative shift for the Diamondbacks, but Peralta remains a solid buy in the middle tier. Trevor Williams looked better in his last start, but we need to see more before forming some a basis. With a lot of attention focused in Denver, Peralta and the Diamondbacks could go overlooked today.
The Diamondbacks are strong against right-handed pitching, which has led to them having an implied team total in the mid-4s despite being in a tough park for hitters. Peralta is a great way to obtain access to this offense without spending too much.
Chris Young (BOS): $2,600 @ CWS
Young is a lefty specialist, and he’s in there batting fifth today for the Red Sox. He rounds out my fourth Boston hitter as part of a full stack, and he has solid power upside on his own, especially in a favorable park.
Other Notables
- Charlie Blackmon (COL): $4,700 vs. SEA
- Nelson Cruz (SEA): $4,600 @ COL
- Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,500 @ CWS (GPP)
- Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,600 @ STL
- Ben Gamel (SEA): $3,400 @ COL
My Lineup
SP – Carlos Carrasco (CLE): $10,300 vs. OAK
C – Christian Vazquez (BOS): $2,400 @ CWS
1B – Hanley Ramirez (BOS): $3,400 @ CWS
2B – Logan Forsythe (LAD): $2,800 @ STL
3B – Kyle Seager (SEA): $4,000 @ COL
SS – Deven Marrero (BOS): $2,400 @ CWS
OF – Carlos Gonzalez (COL): $3,700 vs. SEA
OF – David Peralta (ARI): $3,300 @ PIT
OF – Chris Young (BOS): $2,600 @ CWS
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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.