Welcome back to our Chalkies and Cheapies article. This is where you find the most obvious plays of the slate, and where you find the cheapest viable plays of the slate. Finding the chalk (popular) plays is helpful in knowing where the crowd is going. In cash games, you don’t mind these popular guys being on your rosters. In tourneys, you might consider intentionally going another direction to set yourself apart. Of course, you can’t set yourself apart from the crowd if you don’t know where the crowd is going. You will hear me say “know the chalk to get off the chalk.”
Baseball is perhaps the hardest sport to nail the chalk. There are several options each day. I will give you a couple. Then, I will give you the best cheap play in a decent matchup to start your roster construction. In the Army, we promote a “bottom up” lineup construction. VIP members can access several videos on the subject here —–> Dinks and Dunks. Look for “Bottom Up” and “Process” videos. Essentially, start with the “cheapies” and start upgrading later. It’s actually a very fun way to build a lineup as well.
Quick Notes:
- The chalk focus should be on Chicago Cubs today. They have a solid pitcher rolling and the bats draw one of the worst pitchers on the slate. This should be easy for everyone to spot.
- Profor is both chalk and cheap due to how hot he is. I couldn’t find anyone significantly cheaper that I’d rather play w/o just upgrading. He should be so highly owned, too, that you almost have to roster him. If he puts up 30 pts, you take serious damage if you don’t have him. And, if he put’s up a zero, you can still beat your opponents in other spots. I’d only fade him in deeper GPP formats.
- Baez and Alvarez may not start due to the lefty/lefty matchups they face today. Double check the lineups as they are released.
- The price gap between FD and DK for Rickard is stupid. DK seems to think he’s in a phenomenal spot. I agree that BAL is in a good spot vs Danny Duffy based on recent trends, but you might want to look into these numbers before just tossing him out there on DK. On FD, I’d just throw him to the wolves, especially if batting 2nd.
- Markakis is usually a great cash play. He is way too cheap at this price. He also draws a less than stellar pitcher. He has no power, but in that spacious outfield, doubles and even a triple are not out of the question if he finds his stroke. I’d look for him the entire series if looking for a cheap source of points. Just don’t overdo it with these types of plays. OF is a spot of production. I wouldn’t punt more than one spot here on most slates.
That should be enough to get you rolling. Look for Boomer’s Bombers to come out later today along with our stat compilations and ratings……….HOOAH!!
Boomer’s Bombers ——> Cheatsheets
