RADIO
Monday, July 22 brings us a full plate of fantasy baseball daily league options, with only two teams getting the day off and the other 28 all in action under the lights in 14 games across the country. Everyday here on rotoballer.com you can find plenty of fantasy baseball advice, and check out my daily picks each day at SportsReelBoston.com where you'll also find a sweet deal for a registration bonus at DraftKings.com.
With a full night of baseball, there are plenty of options on the board, but here are some of the best high-price and low-budget options at each position:
Starting Pitcher
High Price: Max Scherzer-Detroit Tigers: Scherzer looks to bounce back from his first loss of the season against the White Sox at the Cell tonight. He hasn't faced Chicago this season, but last year went 2-1 with 39 K in 31 innings with a 2.90 ERA against the White Sox. Scherzer's home/road splits are virtually even, so get him in your lineups as he faces a Chicago offense that has outscored only the Marlins this season.
High Price: Matt Garza-Chicago Cubs: Garza has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last six starts in a row and won five in a row, lowering his ERA from 6.26 to 3.17. He got his first win of the season back on May 31 against the D-Backs limiting them to two runs on six hits in seven innings at Wrigley. He makes for a solid option as he continues his in-season audition against a D-Backs team that scored just six runs in a three-game set with the Giants.
Budget Bargain: Julio Teheran-Atlanta Braves: Teheran got knocked around in his last start before the break, but has flashed tons of potential in the first half. He faces the Mets at Citi Field for the second time this season. In his previous outing he went 6 2/3 while allowing five hits and one run on his way to a no-decision. He's had a few nice strikeout games on his way to a 7-5 record, and he looks to put up another quality outing tonight against the anemic Mets.
Budget Bargain: Bronson Arroyo-Cincinnati Reds: Arroyo has been excellent in his last eight starts, excepting his last trip to the Bay Area when the A's lit him up. He'll look to perform better tonight as he takes on the Giants at AT&T Park. He faced the Giants on the first of the month, allowing just two hits in six innings in a win in Cincinnati. Away from Great American Ballpark, Arroyo has struggled this season, but he did have a great road outing his last time, allowing just three hits and a run in seven innings in Atlanta. He's high-risk, but has been a great bargain lately. In July, he has a 0.68 WHIP and a 2.37 ERA while going 2-1.
Catcher
High Price: Joe Mauer-Minnesota Twins: Mauer lost his eight-game hitting streak yesterday but will look to get back on track tonight against Joe Blanton and the Angels. In his career, Mauer is 9-25 (.360) with a home run and two doubles against Blanton.
Budget Bargain: Victor Martinez-Detroit Tigers: Martinez and the Tigers are in a tough matchup against Chris Sale, but V-Mart is still a good value pick. He has a history of success against Sale with a pair of doubles as part of his 4-8 in his career. Recently, Martinez has been hitting very well, going 27-68 so far this month (.397) with seven doubles and a pair of homers. He's gone 5-9 in his last two games, making him a good option at 1B or C depending on your roster needs.
First Baseman
High Price: David Ortiz-Boston Red Sox: Ortiz has battered Rays' scheduled starter Matt Moore in the past, going 5-10 with a pair of doubles and a home run. He continues to hit well over .300 and has been great at Fenway this year. Ortiz is worth the salary if you can work your lineup around him.
Budget Bargain: Kendrys Morales-Seattle Mariners: Morales has found his power stroke with five homers this month and 13 RBI. He went 2-4 on Sunday in Houston to close that series, and will look to continue his success at home this season. He's hitting .310 at Safeco compared to just .243 on the road.
Second Baseman
High Price: Ian Kinsler-Texas Rangers: Kinsler had a pair of hits Sunday night to finish the Baltimore series 4-12 with three doubles. He's had a solid start to the month and is 2-6 with a home run against Yankees starter Ivan Nova in his career.
Budget Bargain: Brandon Phillips-Cincinnati Reds: Phillips looks to have been rejuvenated by the All-Star break, as he went 3-12 with a double, a run scored and four RBI in the series against the Pirates. Cincy heads west to take on the Giants tonight, and Phillips will face Tim Lincecum, whom he is 4-12 with a home run against in his career. He's surprisingly cheap on DraftKings, so take advantage before his price rises.
Third Baseman
High Price: Adrian Beltre-Texas Rangers: Beltre is having a great July, hitting almost .400 with eight HR and 14 RBI. Tonight he and the Rangers take on the Yankees and their beleaguered bullpen after Sunday night's marathon. He's homered off Yankees starter Ivan Nova in the past but has only gone 2-11. He's hot enough right now, though, to overlook the 2-11 and spend to get him in your lineup.
Budget Bargain: Trevor Plouffe-Minnesota Twins: Plouffe and the Twins take on the Angels tonight in Anaheim. Plouffe has hit three of his ten home runs this month and has a pair of long balls against tonight's starter Joe Blanton in his career. Blanton has been struggling lately, making Plouffe a solid value play tonight.
Shortstop
High Price: Jose Reyes-Toronto Blue Jays: Reyes has hit in six straight with four multi-hit games in that span. He's stolen three bases in his last four games and has a pair of doubles in his last five. Reyes will look to erase an injury-riddled first half by continuing his roll tonight against the Dodgers and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Reyes has hit lefties well so far this season, and makes a good play tonight.
Budget Bargain: Brad Miller-Seattle Mariners: Miller has emerged as a cheap but solid option for daily fantasy play as he regularly leads off for the Mariners. In his first series of the second half he went 5-13 with four runs scored, seven RBI, three walks, and a pair of home runs. He and the M's return home to face Ubaldo Jimenez and the Indians tonight at Safeco.
Outfield
High Price: Mike Trout-Los Angles Angels: Trout has hit in 12 straight games and is tearing up July, going 17-46 with four doubles, two triples and three home runs. The Angels' struggles this season haven't been because of a down year from Trout, so get him in your lineup as the the Angels face the Twins tonight in Anaheim.
High Price: Dexter Fowler-Colorado Rockies: Fowler had a rough Sunday (0-4), but before that had gone 3-6 with a triple, homer and stolen base in the first two games after the All-Star break. Fowler, now back from the DL, is a good play if you have the salary space, as he and the Rockies welcome the Marlins to Coors Field and he faces Tom Koehler (1-5, 4.70 ERA). This game should be a high-scoring one, so grabbing Fowler could pay off big time.
High Price: Alex Gordon: Gordon has gone 6-15 with a double and a triple off Feldman in his career, and he's 5-12 against the O's this year with three homers. Gordon has picked things up in a big way in July, and the Royals need him to be the catalyst for their offense going forward.
Budget Bargain: Jason Heyward-Atlanta Braves: Heyward has been hampered by a hamstring injury, but is expected to return at Citi Field tonight. If he is in the lineup, he makes a solid play against Dillon Gee whom he is 8-19 with a homer and five walks against in his career.
Budget Bargain: Jonny Gomes-Boston Red Sox: Gomes continued his hot July, hit a pair of homers in the weekend series against the Yankees. He especially brings the heavy lumber against southpaws, so expect him to get another start tonight as Boston faces Matt Moore. Moore is pitching well, but Gomes is still a solid budget play since he's been mashing.
Budget Bargain: Chris Heisey-Cincinnati Reds: Heisey started all three games this weekend against the Pirates and reached base in each game going 3-10 with three runs scored, a homer, two RBI and three walks. Heisey is hitting over .300 for the month and has a hit in six of his last seven. He's hit three of his five homers this month and gets a chance tonight against Tim Lincecum coming off about a million pitches in his no-hitter.
As always, remember to check your daily MLB 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!
