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Consider the entire MLB schedule before picking players. Sunday is getaway day for teams (and umpires) so scoring is sometimes suppressed. It also happens that a lot of aces are on the mound today for their second starts of the young season. There aren’t many opportunities for hitters.
Use as many Colorado Rockies bats as you can; the limit is four. They should knock Edinson Volquez out early. Don’t be surprised if Jordan Pacheco gives Todd Helton a rest and Yorvit Torrealba is behind the plate.
The Orioles, off to a great start, face a rookie lefty and we will mention several of their hitters below. Another one-sided matchup is the Dodgers against Jeff Locke. RH batters like Mark Ellis and Luis Cruz might benefit.
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Best Bets (Pitchers)
There is often a difference between “most likely” and “best value” and today features a lot of stud pitchers who should put up impressive numbers. They don’t come cheap, however. Justin Verlander ($18,103) gets what’s left of the Yankees and David Price ($17,897) takes on the Indians.
Some of the aces go head-to-head, with Stephen Strasburg ($17,897) against Johnny Cueto ($14,062) in a very tough game to call. Adam Wainwright ($13,820) vs. Matt Cain ($14,907) is another potential duel; I generally want to be more confident of a W before spending that much on a starter.
The Astros aren’t very good, making southpaw Brett Anderson ($13,407) a solid play. Houston batters have struck out ten or more times in three of their last four games.
Best Bets (Hitters)
If anyone is capable of a 2-HR outburst, it’s Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton ($8,314) against a soft-tossing lefty like Aaron Laffey.
Baltimore CF Adam Jones ($10,163) is off to a great start, at home and has a favorable matchup. He should stay on this roll.
Last year’s Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera ($6,656) will never be a better price and is 10-26 off C.C. Sabathia with a couple of dingers.
Live Longshots (Hitters)
Robert Dudek calls Orioles 3B Manny Machado, “everything I look for in a value pick.” He has the platoon edge, hits in the top half of the batting order in a good hitters park, is on a run of decent games, faces an inexperienced hurler (Pedro Hernandez) and has a low price tag ($5,647).
Among established stars whose prices are dropping, Josh Hamilton ($6,529) is particularly tempting. He loves hitting in Arlington at night.
David Murphy ($5,608) is good value, as Robert points out. “Jered Weaver prefers his home park and Arlington is probably his least favorite road park. Murphy has the platoon edge here — a crucial factor against the cross-body throwing ace.”