When deciding which DRAFT contest to join, I try to avoid significant gaps between my first and final game. So, when we have a PIT/CHC game at 2:20 pm ET and the last game is at 10:10 pm ET, I’ll likely pass on the early matchup. The rankings and player pool for this post will reflect that decision.
Four games have an over/under of at least nine total runs, and ARI/COL leads the way with 10.5 projected runs. Four teams are heavy favorites, with Boston leading the way (-320).
This article is posted well before lineups are released by the managers. If you have a question, feel free to reach me on Twitter @CharlieSideHstl.
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Pitchers
1. Chris Sale, BOS (vs. CWS)
2. Stephen Strasburg, WSH (vs. SF)
3. Justin Verlander, HOU (@ TEX)
4. Trevor Bauer, CLE (@ DET)
5. Jacob deGrom, NYM (vs. NYY)
6. Masahiro Tanaka, NYY (@ NYM)
7. Marco Gonzales, SEA (@ TB)
8. Walker Buehler, LAD (vs. ATL)
9. Luke Weaver, STL (@ CIN)
10. Caleb Smith, MIA (vs. SD)
You know it’s a loaded slate when Zack Greinke can’t even crack the top 10 (blame Coors Field). It’s hard to go wrong with any arm in the top three, so let’s take a look at the rest of the field.
I give a slight edge to Bauer over deGrom/Tanaka. Mainly, due to the fact that Bauer has an easier road to the four points for earning a win. The Tigers are 24th in team wOBA (.305) against right-handed pitchers this season. Also, Bauer has owned the Tigers twice this season: 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings of work.
After my top six, I gave the nod to Seattle’s Gonzales. Vegas loves this matchup for the Mariners. In one of the lowest over/unders of the slate (7.5 total runs), Seattle is -130 favorites.
He’s allowed only one earned run in the past four outings. One! Gonzales has struck out 18 batters during that span. Also, Gonzales faced the Rays in his last outing: 6.2 IP, 1 ER, and 6 K.
Infielders
1. Jose Ramirez, CLE (@ DET)
2. Nolan Arenado, COL (vs. ARI)
3. J.D. Martinez, BOS (vs. CWS)
4. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI (@ COL)
5. Manny Machado, BAL (@ TOR)
6. Jose Altuve, HOU (@ TEX)
7. Francisco Lindor, CLE (@ DET)
8. Jake Lamb, ARI (@ COL)
9. Edwin Encarnacion, CLE (@ DET)
10. Scooter Gennett, CIN (vs. STL)
11. Matt Carpenter, STL (@ CIN)
12. Alex Bregman, HOU (@ TEX)
13. Carlos Correa, HOU (@ TEX)
14. Khris Davis, OAK (vs. KC)
15. Jose Martinez, STL (@ CIN)
16. Freddie Freeman, ATL (@ LAD)
17. Ozzie Albies, ATL (@ LAD)
18. Xander Bogaerts, BOS (vs. CWS)
19. Trea Turner, WSH (vs. SF)
20. Brian Dozier, MIN (vs. LAA)
We have the luxury of multiple games having high over/unders, and even a game at Coors Field, but I went a reliable option as my top infielder for Friday. Ramirez’s team is projected to scored the seventh-most runs, but he’s performed well against Detroit. Ramirez is 10-for-25 (.400) with two doubles and three home runs against the Tigers this season and is 4-for-10 (.400), with two home runs, lifetime against Michael Fulmer. Ramirez also has at least one hit in nine of the past 10 games and nine extra-base hits during that span.
Finally, Goldschmidt is in the top four for infield rankings. He’s 10-for-23 (.435) with four doubles and one home run in the past week, and he’s performed better on the road (.301 AVG). Also, in his career against German Marquez, he’s 6-for-13 (.462) with one double and two home runs (four walks). Goldy has gathered seven total hits in the past two games, as well (four doubles).
Outfielders
1. Mike Trout, LAA (@ MIN)
2. Andrew Benintendi, BOS (vs. CWS)
3. Charlie Blackmon, COL (vs. ARI)
4. Bryce Harper, WSH (vs. SF)
5. George Springer, HOU (@ TEX)
6. Michael Brantley, CLE (@ DET)
7. Tommy Pham, STL (@ CIN)
8. Curtis Granderson, TOR (vs. BAL)
9. David Peralta, ARI (@ COL)
10. Justin Upton, LAA (@ MIN)
11. Aaron Judge, NYY (@ NYM)
12. Carlos Gonzalez, COL (vs. ARI)
13. Teoscar Hernandez, TOR (vs. BAL)
14. Christian Yelich, MIL (@ PHI)
15. Brandon Nimmo, NYM (vs. NYY)
16. Mitch Haniger, SEA (@ TB)
17. Joc Pederson, LAD (vs. ATL)
18. Cody Bellinger, LAD (vs. ATL)
19. Matt Kemp, LAD (vs. ATL)
20. Marcell Ozuna, STL (@ CIN)
Well, the perennial MVP tops the list of outfielders. So, let’s take a look at the second OF in the rankings. Benintendi has homered in four of the past five games and has notched multiple hits in three of the past four starts. It’s also a perk to plug in the leadoff hitter for a Red Sox team projected to score the fifth-most runs on Friday with an implied run total of 5.2 (four teams are tied at 5.3).
Coors Field is generally a great place to find offense for your DFS rosters. However, we have tough decisions to make on Friday. First of all, Vegas has this game as a virtual coin flip, but Colorado was the early lean.
Secondly, it’s not like the Diamondbacks have a horrible pitcher starting. Greinke is on the hill for Arizona. So, do we continue to add players from Colorado, even though a decent pitcher is starting? Yes.
Here’s the good news. CarGo is 15-for-45 (.333) with seven extra-base hits against Greinke (five home runs). Gonzalez is also 8-for-24 (.333) with two doubles, one triple, and one home run in the past week.
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Adam Meyer is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Adam, check out his archive and follow him @CharlieSideHstl.
