RADIO
DISCLAIMER: Please check the starting lineups before selecting the recommended players. These picks were made before official lineups were posted.
SP: Yu Darvish vs. HOU ($9800)
I’m not going to try to get cute here. Darvish is the most expensive player on FanDuel, but it’s more than warranted. He has a fair chance to rack up double-digit strikeouts while going 7+ innings and collecting a win against the overachieving Astros. It seems like an obvious pick, but I think it’s the right play. That said, if you are playing in a larger pool and you’re looking for a less obvious play, I’d consider Rick Porcello against the Padres. He’s been improving over the last few years, and his biggest weaknesses are left-handed hitters and giving up home runs. The left-handed bats on the Padres aren’t scary, and Petco has been a pitcher’s dream park. Moreover, the Padres have the lowest OBP, SLG and wOBA in this young season-- they’ve only accumulated 20 runs. Porcello is a solid pick for his price.
C: Buster Posey vs. COL (Jorge De La Rosa) ($4000)
Like Darvish, Posey is the most expensive player at his position. Also like Darvish, Posey is worth the extra money. Over the last two years, Posey has the third-highest OPS and wOBA in baseball (trailing only Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Braun). Obviously, that means he has hit LHP better than most all-world sluggers like Miguel Cabrera and Paul Goldschmidt. This is especially valuable because Posey plays a position where it’s harder to find viable cheap alternatives. If you need any more convincing, consider that De La Rosa has been much less effective against right-handed hitting in his career and also less effective on the road. Save your money at 1B and OF today and add Posey to your squad.
1B: Adam Lind @ BAL (Bud Norris) ($3200)
Lind is a guy that’s almost always undervalued in DFS. He doesn’t put up gaudy counting stats, but his inability to hit lefties and lack of at-bats are the main culprits. He’s a well-above-average hitter against RHP, and he benefits from playing in the left-handed friendly Oriole Park. Bud Norris gives up his fair share of HR, too, further boosting Lind’s expected production.
3B: Marcus Semien vs. CLE (Carlos Carrasco) ($3000)
Semien has been hitting second in a surprisingly productive White Sox offense. Carrasco has shown flashes, but overall he’s a fifth starter at best on most teams. Carrasco also faces the extra challenge tonight of playing in ballpark that's much smaller than his home digs at Progressive Field. Aside from Cody Allen, the Indians bullpen isn’t very impressive either, making an early exit from Carrasco less troublesome.
OF: Jonny Gomes, @ NYY (C.C. Sabathia) ($2700)
Sabathia’s velocity decline and recent control issues make the Red Sox a good team to stack for Friday. However, most of their good right-handed hitters will come at a steep price. Gomes can be had for a meager $2700. There’s a good chance he’ll hit leadoff in front of that juggernaut of an offense, and he’s been an above-average hitter against left-handed pitching throughout his career. Make sure he’s in the lineup before finalizing your roster, but he should be playing, and I suspect he’ll lead off again.
