PITCHERS:
-Top Tier-
- Danny Duffy (Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland A’s) – If you have been reading this column or listening to the podcast all season, you know that Duffy has a spot reserved on the top branch of my family tree. This guy has some of the most electric stuff in MLB, but he’s not getting the proper recognition since he started the season in the bullpen. 11-2 with a 3.13 ERA and 1.09 WHIP this season isn’t too bad, right? I will say, though, the A’s are pesky fellas surrendering to the strikeout but Duffy’s grooving lately with 18 Ks in his last two starts. Use him on FanDuel where the hits/walks don’t matter as much since he’s given up 17 hits in those last two starts.
- Drew Pomeranz (Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles) – It has got to be the best day ever since my favorite two southpaws are taking the mound on the same clock. The Orioles, with all their mighty righties, are terrible against southpaws and this has to rank up there with some of the world’s most devious unsolved mysteries: Who shot JFK? Is Area 51 really just a hospital for super weird people? Why can’t Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Mark Trumbo (especially Mark Trumbo- hitting .179 against LHP this season…c’mon maaan) & Co. go B-A-N-A-N-A-S against left-handed pitching? Don’t mess with science…
- Noah Syndergaard (New York Mets @ Washington Nationals) – I’m not comfortable putting Thor on this list against the Nats, but when you give up three earned runs in your last 27 innings someone has to flash the goods. Syndergaard hasn’t reached double-digit strikeouts since June 15th but with the Mets season hanging in the balance, I wouldn’t be shocked if he has one of his best starts of 2016 tonight. The Nats went nuts on a terrible pitcher in Rafael Montero last night, but keep in mind, before the Mets came to town the Nats struggled mightily against a few inexperienced Phillies pitchers over the weekend. Also, Syndergaard is the most expensive pitcher across the board tonight- you know my style, there has to be something good about those high prices.
-Middle Tier-
- Robbie Ray (Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies) – It’s all about the strikeouts in this matchup. Statistically, the Rockies do not fare well on the road against lefties, but Ray does have a 5.02 ERA in Arizona this season. Look to see if the Rockies sit guys like Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez, because that’ll give Ray a massive boost. Again, we’re just looking for a massive strikeout total from him, not a gem.
-Value Tier-
- Alec Asher (Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates) – While on his 80-game suspension hiatus for PED use, Asher was able to do a whole variety of things in his spare time. The biggest, though, was develop a new pitch- the sinker. The Pirates have struggled on offense lately and if you find the right combination of elite hitters, take a chance on Asher for SP2 sites; he did just post a 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER stat line against the Nats in his last start. Asher was part of the Cole Hamels deal but he didn’t live up to his end of the bargain last season as he went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA. If his last start was the beginning of the healing process, I think we’re onto something.
- C.C. Sabathia (New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) – I can’t help it, but I’m so fascinated with the reemergence CC has shown at times this season. The Dodgers have been downright awful against lefties this year, but give them some sympathy since they have an all-lefty lineup; when they go against lefties they put guys like Kike Hernandez out there, and I’m still convinced FanDuel really meant to price him at $200 that one day. I really don’t mind CC as my SP2 tonight. Let’s get weird with it!
HITTERS:
-Top Tier-
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. Drew Smyly – Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Russell Martin and Troy Tulowitzki…do it, do it! It’s affordable.
- Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners) – He’s 9-for-11 with three dongs against tonight’s starter for the Mariners, Taijuan Walker. For all you non-BVP folks, good luck.
- Brian Dozier (Minnesota Twins @ Detroit Tigers) – It’s becoming a ritual- Dozier against a lefty, automatically in the lineuo.
-Middle Tier-
- Curtis Granderson (New York Mets @ Washington Nationals) – It’s a small thing, but to me, it means a lot. The odds-makers in Vegas elevated tonight’s NYM/WSH over/under to 8 from 7.5, and I know damn well that has nothing to do with the Nationals’ hitters against Thor. A.J. Cole, going for the Nationals tonight, isn’t that great of a pitcher. He’s certainly capable of giving up a long ball or two, so for this slightly elevated price (and lower ownership), I’m going to put my Vegas knowledge to the test and roll with Grandy batting cleanup.
-Value Tier-
- Roman Quinn (Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates) – Unfortunately, you can’t play him on FanDuel because their roster updates have the same originality as a Drake freestyle. Oh no, I did. Last night, yours truly and 2% of the field rostered RQ on FD2 at the generous price tag of $5100 for 21 points. Tonight, he’s dropped a tad to $4800 and batting second in the Phils lineup. Be advised, you’re not getting 21 points tonight, but double-digits are certainly up for discussion. If you don’t know about RQ, get to know him because he’ll be a fixture in the Phils lineup for years to come.
- Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees) – Yes, I did recommend CC, but for a ridiculous discount on FANDUEL ONLY let him take one shot at the fences batting cleanup. Even better, I guess he could do it against the bullpen.
- Dee Gordon (Miami Marlins @ Atlanta Braves) – On FANDUEL ONLY, you basically have a free space at second base- what up, Dr. Suess? All he has to do is fall ass backwards into getting on base at $2100.