Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings, DraftDay and StarStreet 7/30/14 - Early Slate

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Pitchers

Zack Wheeler - FD 7500 DK 8400 DD 14050 SS 24000
I think I’m steering clear of Price in the early slate simply because he’s so expensive and I see some other value lurking out there. Wheeler is one of those guys. He’s posted some solid numbers this season, especially in the K’s where he puts down a batter an inning. The walks are a little high, but the xFIP sits in the low threes and the Phillies are a bottom-feeding offense for sure. They rank 28th in the league against righty pitching. Citi Field is a pitcher’s park and I’m all over the upside here.

Jason Hammel - FD 6600 DK 7700 DD 13200 SS NA
Hammel makes another interesting play considering some of his returns this season and the matchup. He’s dialed up the strikeouts this season and is limiting the walks to under three per nine. The xFIP is 3.47 between his tenures on the Cubs and A’s. The Astros rank near the bottom of the league in team wOBA against righties and they K almost 25% of the time. Hammel’s price is crazy advantageous and on two pitcher sites he makes a perfect pairing.

Consider Wade Miley

Catchers

Miguel Montero - FD 2700 DK 3900 DD 8450 SS 5700
I’m definitely interested in some lefty D-Backs today against Alfredo Simon in Cincy. Montero can’t be considered at all against lefties, but he’s serviceable/ good in the righty side of the platoon. A slightly better deal on FanDuel, but in play everywhere, Montero’s .354 wOBA is fine enough for a cheap catcher.

Devin Mesoraco - FD 3400 DK 4200 DD 8700 SS 7400
Tougher matchup against Miley, but he’s much better against lefties so it starts to even out. The power is for sure there and the ballpark helps. I just wish Miley was much worse.

First Basemen

Lucas Duda - FD 3700 DK 4300 DD 9300 SS 8000
He’s having an unreal season against righties, mashing to the tune of a .944 OPS and 166 wRC+ on that side of the split. It’s remarkable and he makes a solid play (considering his walk rate is around 12% and the K’s have come down) against Kyle Kendrick who’s about the very definition of average.

Paul Goldschmidt - FD 4600 DK 5600 DD 11850 SS 9400
This is kind of a default pick simply because our system hates just about every single first baseman on the early slate. It is as barren a wasteland as you’ll find from this position. Goldschmidt is on here mostly because he’s the best (only?) dude and even at his prices you are taking a suboptimal play simply for the chance to get a name in there. I don’t love it and fitting his salary will be tougher, but where else are you going to go?

Second Basemen

Anthony Rendon - FD 3900 DK 4500 DD 10100 SS 8200
Kills lefties and with limited offensive options going in the early slate, I’m inclined to overpay for some of the Nats against Brad Hand. Rendon has continued along his career arc of dreaming about facing southpaw pitching. This season is right in line with his (somewhat limited) career numbers. The OPS is hovering around .900 with a little help from the Babip and little knock from the Hr/FB%. It’s evening out to a n awesome season in this split.

Danny Espinosa - FD 2600 DK 3400 DD 7050 SS 4500
Rare getting a chance to recommend teammates at the same infield position, but Rendon actually plays third. Since he qualifies in both spots Espinosa can be had on the cheap. Espinosa, like many of his Nats teammates, is much better against lefty pitching and this season he’s had particular success with a .360 wOBA. Brad Hand could be in for it today.

Shortstops

Ian Desmond - FD 3700 DK 4500 DD 9050 SS 6300
And the Nationals train continues. I can’t get enough of these guys in the lineup today and the only thing tempering me even a little is the reduction of power expectation that comes from playing in Miami. Otherwise, it’s all systems go. Desmond, drum roll please, better against lefties. And everyone is good against Brad Hand.

Jimmy Rollins - FD 3000 DK 4200 DD 8650 SS 7800
Kind of here by default as shortstop is kind of gross in the early slate. I don’t love him against Wheeler, but you don’t need to break the bank and he has some skill. How’s that for an endorsement?

Third Basemen

David Wright - FD 3000 DK 4400 DD 8550 SS 6900
I don’t typically take him in a righty-righty matchup, but I think you can swing it against Kyle Kendrick. Wright’s had a horrible time in both Babip and Hr/FB% this season against lefties. Both of which can start (but not fully) explain his dip in production. But Kendrick isn’t very good and the Mets should put some runs up today. I’m willing to play Wright at these prices even with the disadvantageous platoon.

Todd Frazier - FD 3100 DK 4300 DD 8800 SS 7600
The two things going for him today are the platoon splits and the park. Frazier, for his career is significantly better in the lefty platoon and Great American Ballpark boosts power to all fields. The downside is that Wade Miley’s been pretty good this season with a nice K rate and an xFIP in the low threes.

Consider Josh Donaldson

Outfielders

Jayson Werth - FD 4100 DK 4600 DD 10250 SS 8600
Going to have to pay up for the chance. But man, what’s not to love about Werth’s success against lefties. It’s been a career-long binge for the guy and this season’s been no different. The .968 OPS against lefties picks right up where he left off last season and he’s got extreme upside today. I’m fitting him into early slate cash and GPP games without hesitation.

Curtis Granderson - FD 3200 DK 4200 DD 8300 SS 6800
He’s got a solid walk rate against righties on the season and the wRC+ is above average in that side of the split. He’s not exactly cheap, but you’ll be scrounging a bit for plays in this early slate. I like pairing him with some other Mets in a stack against Kendrick. Again, this isn’t bargain basement value. You’ll have to overpay slightly. But Granderson’s big issue is the strikeout and Kendrick doesn’t do those things.

Ender Inciarte - FD 2400 DK 2700 DD 5000 SS 3700
Gerardo Parra - FD 2400 DK 3700 DD 7000 SS 4500
Go cheap my friends, go cheap. And go there against Alfredo Simon.

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