Houston Astros' Carlos Correa hits a home run during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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TGIF! Welcome back to another full day of baseball action and in this article, I will be looking at my top plays at each position for both the early and main slates. Let's get started.
Early
Opponent - WSH (Joe Ross) Park - LAD
FD - 38.5 DK - 22.4
We have a small three-game slate today with limited pitching options so I was a bit surprised to see Buehler in the sub $10K range. Sign me up! His first start came in Coors Field last Saturday and he was good, not great going six innings allowing just four hits but gave up two earned and while he only struck out four, he didn't walk anyone. I am not at all worried seeing as he is coming off four straight seasons recording a K rate of 27% or higher and has a career 3.39 xFIP. The matchup is a bit scary against the Nats but like I said in the beginning, the options are very limited.
Main
Opponent - DET (Julio Teheran) Park - CLE
FD - 37.62 DK - 19.54
Like Buehler, Plesac was good, not great in his 2021 debut going six innings on just 84 pitches(58 strikes) giving up six hits and two earned runs but was only able to tally for strikeouts on a 5% swinging-strike rate. I am not concerned about the K's as he is coming off a season where he tallied a 14% swinging strike rate 28% K rate. He faces the Tigers for a second time in a week and although it appeared they may surprise some early on, they have now lost three of their last four scoring 15 runs, and have also struck out a collective 25 times over the past two games. Plesac is in play in all formats today.
Early
Opponent - WSH (Joe Ross) Park - LAD
FD - 13.29 DK - 9.79
The Dodgers prices are very fair on this smaller slate, especially Muncy who is under $5K on DraftKings and in the low $3K range on FanDuel. With Bellinger expected to miss another game on Friday, Muncy is likely back in the cleanup spot and has been red-hot to start the year with hits in five of seven games with three extra-base hits, five runs and five RBI. He is my top at the position in all formats on the early slate.
Main
Opponent - OAK (Sean Manaea) Park - HOU
FD - 10.36 DK - 7.95
The main slate gives us another excellent value in Yuli Gurriel who is always on my radar facing left-handed pitching tallying a .367 wOBA, 136 wRC+, and .229 ISO since the start of 2018. He has also having a nice start to this year with hits in four of six games going into Thursday night including three multi-hit efforts. Gurriel and the red-hot Astros also get a plus matchup vs. Sean Manaea who struggled mightily in his first start and was average-at-best in 2020. The Astros are my top team to stack and Gurriel is one of, if not my favorite PTS/$ on the slate.
Early
Opponent - SF (Johnny Cueto) Park - SF
FD - 8.76 DK - 6.83
Despite hitting at the top of the lineup, Hampson has been underpriced all season. The Rockies now head out on the road for the first time this season which doesn't make the value stand out as much but he has been very consistent recording a hit in six of seven games, scoring eight runs, and already stealing three bases. He will face Johnny Cueto who showed some nice K stuff in his first start but as usual, had trouble finding the strike zone which eventually led to three earned runs. At these prices, Hampson is in play in all formats and a top PTS/$ play overall.
Main
Opponent - LAA (Andrew Heaney) Park - TOR
FD - 10.49 DK - 7.95
Semien is a two-position eligible player on both sites and with second being a minefield tonight, this is where I will be playing him. He came over to the Jays in the offseason and is getting the opportunity to lead off with George Springer yet to make his Jays regular-season debut. He has been up and down from game to game but has three multi-hit efforts and has a ton of talent hitting behind him should he get on base. The price is getting up there but the opportunity is too much to pass up against Andrew Heaney who has posted a 4+ ERA in four straight seasons and got beat up in his first start this year.
Early
Opponent - WSH (Joe Ross) Park - LAD
FD - 14.78 DK - 11.15
Back to another Dodgers' bat on the early slate but this time there is no discount price tag. It makes sense, however, as Seager hits second in this all-star-like lineup and has been now of the hottest hitters in the league to start the year with hits in five of six games including four mutli-hit efforts, three doubles, seven RBI good for an average of 12.2 DK/16.2 FD points per game. He and the Dodgers now get a plus matchup vs. Joe Ross who has posted a 5+ ERA and 4+ xFIP in three straight seasons. He is expensive but the position is lacking value at this time so fire him up and grave value elsewhere.
Main
Opponent - OAK (Sean Manaea) Park - HOU
FD - 11.85 DK - 8.92
The price on Carlos Correa always seems to stay in the second tier and it comes down to the Astros continually hitting him in the 5/6 spot in the order. Either way, I am on board once again as he has been a huge reason the team has started out hot offensively as he comes into tonight with hits in six of seven games including three multi-hit efforts and home runs in two straight. He is also a much more dangerous hitter vs. southpaws so fire him up in all formats tonight.
Early
Opponent - COL (Austin Gomber) Park - SF
FD - 9.54 DK - 7.27
Longoria is out there making all us old guys proud to start the season earning himself a spot in my article Friday. Seriously though, it has been a terrific start to the season for 2008 Rookie of the Year(wow that is a long time ago) as he has tallied a hit in four of six games with three home runs. What stands out the most is the continued southpaw thrashings he lays down as all three homers have come off a lefty and he faces another one tonight. Austin Gomber is a highly-touted prospect but the price on Longoria is just too much to pass up right now.
Main
Opponent - ARI (Taylor Widener) Park - ARI
FD - 11.73 DK - 8.8
Let's keep the veteran narrative rolling at third base as the Moose has been a huge reason the Reds sit atop the National League Central division. He struggled in the shortened 2020 season which was also his first with Reds but looks much more comfortable in 2021 and he not only passes the eye test but the stats back it up as he has reached base in all six games with three multi-hit efforts, two doubles, a home run, and eight runs scored. He is in play in all formats on both sites but his best value comes on DraftKings in the low $4K range.
Early
Opponent - TB (Rich Hill) Park - TB
FD - 11.46 DK - 8.52
It has not been the start to the season Hicks or his fantasy owners had hoped for but I am not ready to give up on him just yet. First of all, he comes at a bargain price considering the small slate and the fact he hits 3rd in the Yankees very powerful lineup. He is a switch-hitter that has been slightly better vs. lefties and faces 41-year-old Rich Hill who likely won't be in this rotation by the all-star break at this rate. Fire up Hicks in all formats if you need value in the outfield.
Main
Opponent - ARI (Taylor Widener) Park - ARI
FD - 11.22 DK - 8.6
Get it while it's hit! That is the case with Tyler Naquin early in the season as he comes into tonight with hits in four of his last five games including four home runs and 13 RBI. While it may seem like chasing points a bit, the price has yet to be adjusted on DraftKings where he is easily a top PTS/$ and adding the cherry to the cake is the fact he is the Reds leadoff hitter.
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