RADIO
We got our first taste of ALDS action yesterday with the Rangers and Astros each stealing a game on the road. Our MLB Hitter Streamers Tool had Robinson Chirinos as a sleeper which paid off for those you who followed along.
Today we're treated to a quartet of all-day baseball starting with the Rangers-Blue Jays starting at 12:30 and wrapping up with a tasty deGrom-Kershaw duel in LA. Will today be the day a home team wins a postseason game? Let's get to the picks.
Offenses to Target for FanDuel Stacking
Houston Astros versus Johnny Cueto
Let the record stand that I'm not a big fan of stacking offenses in the postseason. Games tend to be lower scoring events which puts the emphasis on finding the hot hands for each respective team. But if you're inclined to make a stack, the Astros are my choice. These young guns have proven they won't shy away from the big moment and don't know what it means to fail yet. That's a scary concotion. Just ask the 2014 Royals.
Cueto pitched well to end the year (3.24 ERA last four starts), but has not been an ace in the postseason (3.1 K/9). It's the righties who have had the most success versus Cueto in 2015, so I'm aiming for Carlos Correa, George Springer, and Evan Gattis.
Honorable Mention: Cardinals versus Jon Lester (Has Lester shaken those blues from his last postseason appearance?)
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel
Marcus Stroman (SP, TOR) - $8,300
Little surprised to see Stroman as the cheapest pitcher today. He has been excellent since rejoining the Blue Jays rotation with a 4-0 record and 1.67 ERA in four starts. He gives you the strikeout potential along with a great chance for a win. I expect Toronto to even this series up considering Hamels struggles with the Blue Jays (6.97 ERA).
Honorable Mention: Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) - $12,700 (Something tells me Kershaw is ready to prove the October-doubters wrong)
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel
Miguel Montero (C, CHC) - $2,300
Looking for cheap power at the catcher position. Yesterday it was Chorinos, today we'll try out Montero. He hit .308 in September, and the only risk is if David Ross gets the call with Jon Lester on the mound.
Edwin Encarnacion (1B, KC) - $4,800
Gotta support the troops if you're using Stroman! EE is 5-for-14 versus Cole Hamels.
Rougned Odor (2B, TEX) - $2,900
Odor sure does love playing Toronto. He's hit .571 versus them in 2015 and has already started off the ALDS on the right foot.
Luis Valbuena (3B, HOU) - $3,000
I'm not going to beat around the bush here: Today will be a rough day for third basemen. They all have difficult matchups aside from Carpenter, but he's too expensive to fit our team. Valbuena has not had great success versus Cueto, but we're looking to save coin. He still provides some potential pop and is the cheapest starting 3B on the board. If Jed Lowrie ($2,300) gets the start, I approve of the switch.
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) - $4,000
What were you doing when you were 21 years old? Not hitting third in an ALDS? Yeah, me neither. Pay up for the phenom.
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
Kyle Schwarber (OF, CHC) - $3,400
Has that home run landed in the Allegheny River yet? Schwarber has a .953 OPS versus RHP and has a crazy home/road split which has him batting .281 away from Wrigley.
Kevin Pillar (OF, TOR) - $3,200
Pillar has a 10-game hitting streak and has been a much better hitter at home in 2015. He's a great mid-range buy. Now if only Web Gems counted in FanDuel..
Dexter Fowler (OF, HOU) - $2,800
Have to rep the Milton High School product here. Fowler didn't let the pressure overwhelm him in a terrific Wild Card performance (3-for-4, 3 R, HR, SB). Look for Fowler to set the tone for the Cubs offense in Game 1.
