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Pitchers are only one-third of your roster in daily leagues — two SP spots and one P — but it seems like at least half the strategy revolves around them.
How much of the $100,000 salary cap you spend on pitching dictates what’s left for hitters. Many people go as high as 40% or more on arms and plug in the best bats they can afford.
It’s always free to join DraftStreet and they have free leagues to get started. Once you’re ready, make a deposit — use the code SHHOOP to get a 30% bonus — and choose your level of play, anywhere from $2 entry fees up to $420, then start winning cash. Last night one of my teams was 22nd in a 330-team contest to win $5 and another finished second in a 20-team league, returning $9.52 on a $2 investment. Those consolation prizes really add up; you don’t have to come first to win big.
Best Bets (Pitchers)
The only thing ‘wrong’ with Clayton Kershaw ($19,086) is his enormous salary. He has a complete-game win under his belt already and faces the slumping Pirates.
Felix Hernandez ($16,578) was also sharp in his 2013 debut and he’s priced accordingly. If you use both the King and Kershaw, you will probably need a reliever as your third pitcher
Until the Yankees start hitting, we plan to keep using their mound opponents. It worked OK with Doug Fister last night; today Max Scherzer ($13,765) is a good candidate for a W and a bunch of strikeouts.
Best Bets (Hitters)
There is nobody hotter than Baltimore 1B Chris Davis ($11,598) who has homered in all four games while driving in 16 runs. We loved him yesterday at $7,356 and might pay the higher price as he has yet another good matchup.
Off a 2-homer game last night, Todd Frazier ($7,880) remains a decent price against Nationals lefty Ross Detwiler. All the Reds’ bats were hot, pounding out 15 runs, and deserve consideration again today. That game is an early start, so you won’t be able to use them in 7:00 leagues.
Ride the hot hand, reminds our analyst Robert Dudek. “Jose Reyes had a monster game — hitting laser beams all over the park. He will take on veteran John Lackey, who is returning from a serious arm injury. Reyes is a must start at $7,636.”
Live Longshots (Hitters)
Our #1 pick in this category yesterday was Angels C Chris Iannetta ($3,676) who came through with a homer and 9.5 fantasy points. His price hasn’t changed, so he’s a great play again, as long as he isn’t rested in this late-afternoon game.
We also are partial to a star player whose price drops to an “irresistible” level. The very talented Joey Votto ($6,396) had three singles last night and a power barrage could be coming soon.
Dudek likes Matt Kemp ($5,755) on the same angle, and sooner or later B.J. Upton ($4,036) will break out with homers and steals.