FRIDAY'S MLB VALUE PLAYS - FANTASY BASEBALL PICKS
Friday's plays are in the forum comments below.
We have a full week of baseball ahead and with 14 games on top tonight let's look at today's value plays in Daily Fantasy Baseball.
If you aren't playing daily fantasy baseball sign up for free here.
MONDAY'S VALUE PLAYS
BATTERS
Studs to Start
Hunter Pence, Giants vs. Reds ($70,304)
Pence continues to be a player teams covet as we approach the trading deadline but he is likely to stay put. Good for the Giants since he is 12 for 37 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 5 RBI against Bronson Arroyo. Play him as an OF1 today.
Chris Davis, Orioles vs. Royals ($109,616)
Davis has not homered since the break. What is wrong with him? I think that means he is due and with a home run and 3 RBI already against Wade Davis in his career, tonight is the night he goes yard again.
Value Plays
Trevor Plouffe, Twins vs. Angels ($66,560)
When looking for a real bargain, snag the Twins third basemen. Joe Blanton has been terrible in 2013 and Plouffe is 3 for 7 with 2 home runs and 2 RBI against him. Hopefully he adds to the home run total tonight.
Andre Ethier, Dodgers vs. Blue Jays ($52,000)
Ethier is another player that may be moved by the Dodgers given their outfield depth, but he is swinging the bat better and with Matt Kemp rolling his ankle late Sunday and Yasiel Puig banged up a bit, he should be in the lineup tonight against the Jays. Toss in that he is 8 for 15 with 2 doubles, 3 RBI and a stolen base against Josh Johnson and he is a solid OF3 play.
Bench
Alex Rios, White Sox vs. Tigers ($68,432)
Rios and Jake Peavy are the most likely White Sox to be traded before the deadline. Rios wont help his case for a team looking to acquire him tonight as he is just 3 for 24 with 8 strikeouts against Max Scherzer during his career. Yuck, stay away.
Prince Fielder, Tigers vs. White Sox ($65,312)
Across the diamond, Prince is another slugger that needs to be avoided and with good reason. The Tiger is 2 for 12 with 4 strikeouts against Chris Sale who is very tough to hit, let alone if you are a lefty hitter. Avoid Fielder today.
PITCHERS
Studs to Start
Matt Garza, Cubs vs. Diamondbacks ($127,360)
Big caveat here. Use Garza if he is not traded before his start by the Cubs. If he does pitch, expect another gem. Not only does he have a sub 3 ERA and a 3-1 record during his career against Arizona, he has 6 straight quality starts and has dominated some very good offensive teams like the Cardinals. Solid play for today.
Value Plays
Tom Milone, Athletics vs. Astros ($82,080)
Milone has faced the Astros twice in 2013 already with mixed results. In both outings he pitched deep into the game but gave up some earned runs. With the A’s still playing solid baseball and the Stros still struggling, I like this matchup for the lefty. There are not too many safe plays tonight and with him facing one of the weaker offenses, I will give him a shot.
Bench
Tim Lincecum, Giants vs. Reds ($100,160)
Yes Lincecum is coming off an electric performance in his no-hitter during his last start, but something tells me that may be the apex of his career moving forward. Not only did he throw a ton of pitches he now faces a Reds team that hits him well. He is 0-2 with an ERA close to 7. Not the type of guy I want to rely on tonight.
Chris Sale, White Sox vs. Tigers ($119,360)
Sale has been amazing in 2013 given his non win-loss numbers, but I will never recommend a pitcher against the Tigers, not even my boy Matt Harvey. Toss in that Sale is 2-3 with an ERA over 4 against the Tigers, and I will reluctantly bench the stud lefty in all formats.
Good luck tonight!
FF-Justin
BATTERS
Studs to Start
Hunter Pence, Giants vs. Reds ($70,304)
Pence continues to be a player teams covet as we approach the trading deadline but he is likely to stay put. Good for the Giants since he is 12 for 37 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 5 RBI against Bronson Arroyo. Play him as an OF1 today.
Chris Davis, Orioles vs. Royals ($109,616)
Davis has not homered since the break. What is wrong with him? I think that means he is due and with a home run and 3 RBI already against Wade Davis in his career, tonight is the night he goes yard again.
Value Plays
Trevor Plouffe, Twins vs. Angels ($66,560)
When looking for a real bargain, snag the Twins third basemen. Joe Blanton has been terrible in 2013 and Plouffe is 3 for 7 with 2 home runs and 2 RBI against him. Hopefully he adds to the home run total tonight.
Andre Ethier, Dodgers vs. Blue Jays ($52,000)
Ethier is another player that may be moved by the Dodgers given their outfield depth, but he is swinging the bat better and with Matt Kemp rolling his ankle late Sunday and Yasiel Puig banged up a bit, he should be in the lineup tonight against the Jays. Toss in that he is 8 for 15 with 2 doubles, 3 RBI and a stolen base against Josh Johnson and he is a solid OF3 play.
Bench
Alex Rios, White Sox vs. Tigers ($68,432)
Rios and Jake Peavy are the most likely White Sox to be traded before the deadline. Rios wont help his case for a team looking to acquire him tonight as he is just 3 for 24 with 8 strikeouts against Max Scherzer during his career. Yuck, stay away.
Prince Fielder, Tigers vs. White Sox ($65,312)
Across the diamond, Prince is another slugger that needs to be avoided and with good reason. The Tiger is 2 for 12 with 4 strikeouts against Chris Sale who is very tough to hit, let alone if you are a lefty hitter. Avoid Fielder today.
PITCHERS
Studs to Start
Matt Garza, Cubs vs. Diamondbacks ($127,360)
Big caveat here. Use Garza if he is not traded before his start by the Cubs. If he does pitch, expect another gem. Not only does he have a sub 3 ERA and a 3-1 record during his career against Arizona, he has 6 straight quality starts and has dominated some very good offensive teams like the Cardinals. Solid play for today.
Value Plays
Tom Milone, Athletics vs. Astros ($82,080)
Milone has faced the Astros twice in 2013 already with mixed results. In both outings he pitched deep into the game but gave up some earned runs. With the A’s still playing solid baseball and the Stros still struggling, I like this matchup for the lefty. There are not too many safe plays tonight and with him facing one of the weaker offenses, I will give him a shot.
Bench
Tim Lincecum, Giants vs. Reds ($100,160)
Yes Lincecum is coming off an electric performance in his no-hitter during his last start, but something tells me that may be the apex of his career moving forward. Not only did he throw a ton of pitches he now faces a Reds team that hits him well. He is 0-2 with an ERA close to 7. Not the type of guy I want to rely on tonight.
Chris Sale, White Sox vs. Tigers ($119,360)
Sale has been amazing in 2013 given his non win-loss numbers, but I will never recommend a pitcher against the Tigers, not even my boy Matt Harvey. Toss in that Sale is 2-3 with an ERA over 4 against the Tigers, and I will reluctantly bench the stud lefty in all formats.