RADIO
Strong Lineup Options for July 31, 2013:
P Jeremy Hellickson - Since a slow start to the season, Hellickson has really turned it up, going 6 - 0 in his last seven starts. His K rate is up and the Rays are 10 - 1 in interleague play, averaging six runs per game in those 10 games-- best in the majors. This should be an easy win with a solid amount of strikeout potential.
C Johnathan Lucroy - Not only is Lucroy hot (seven homers in July), but he is also facing Edwin Jackson, he of the nearly .300 batting average allowed to right-handed hitters on the year. Lucroy is also slugging .500 on the road this year, so this is a prime spot to spend a little extra on the catcher position tonight and reap the rewards when other catchers are going 1-4. The BVP is also positive, with Lucroy notching a .350 average against Jackson for his career.
1B Justin Morneau - He's been swinging a hot stick lately (trying to play his way out of Minnesota? ) and also has crushed Guthrie in the past for a .364 average and .818 slugging percentage. Just make sure that he isn't dealt before the game starts.
3B Evan Longoria - Versus left-handed pitching: .345 BA, .584 SLG. No need to think about this any further.
SS Yunel Escobar - I liked him last night, but I chickened out at the last moment because I would have been leaving almost $2K on the table to go with the cheap option. (Note to self: Don't be afraid to leave money on the table.) I'm not making the same mistake again tonight with Escobar facing a lefty. He also will likely be batting atop the lineup for a team I expect to put up some major runs.
OF Ben Zobrist - Big Ben might be one of the most underrated players in daily fantasy, probably because he plays in Tampa and is outshined by teammate Evan Longoria. Or it could be that since he lost his middle infielder eligibility he doesn't stand out as much? Whatever the case, he's a streaky hitter who is getting hot and facing a lefty while hitting in front of Longoria. I think you can conservatively pencil Zobrist in for a couple of hits and a couple of runs, but in the best case, he might notch you hits a couple of homers and score 15+ FP tonight.
OF Adam Jones - Bedard is terrible on the road and he has allowed 12 of his 14 homers to right-handed hitters. Adam Jones is at home (check) and he is a righty (check). Seems like a no-brainer! 🙂
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As always, remember to check your MLB daily lineups before they lock and make sure you are doing your own research, too, for optimal performance! The most successful daily leaguers are grinders who are constantly tweaking their lineups as the day goes on and fantasy news gets released. Good luck today, RotoBallers!
