Playing Hardball: Reds & Giants Bats Look Good Tonight

Best Bets (Hitters)

Officially hot now, Buster Posey ($8,651) has homered in consecutive games and has the platoon advantage tonight. His teammate Pablo Sandoval ($7,062) is a switch-hitter who also matches up well against lefty Patrick Corbin, who seems overpriced at $13,099.

Joey Votto ($10,125) has an OBP of .500 and has homered before off Carlos Villanueva ($12,886), who has been surprisingly stingy this year (1.29 ERA in 21 IP) but can’t afford mistakes in the “Smallpark.”

Votto’s teammate Jay Bruce ($7,689) went deep last night off a lefty, then doubled in the tying runs and scored the winner in the 13th. We could have listed him in the bargain bin at that low salary; he’s in all my lineups.

Live Longshots (Hitters)

When a player has walked six times in three games, he’s seeing the ball well. Adam Lind ($6,940) faces a lefty in Camden Yards and seems ready to launch one if they will just throw it over the plate.

White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers ($3,846) got yesterday off, making only a pinch-hitting appearance. He should start vs. less-than-scary Zach McAllister ($10,824) tonight and is capable of a couple of extra-base hits at a rock-bottom cost. His lefty-swinging teammate Conor Gillaspie ($3,434) went deep off the more talented Justin Masterson on Monday and is another extreme bargain tonight.

A.J. Ellis ($4,482) is also tempting; the Dodgers C doesn’t have a ton of power but loves hitting off lefties and walks often enough to have a .443 OBP.

With a SB in each of his last four games, Jean Segura ($6,256) is racking up points. With the platoon edge over Clayton Richard ($7,514) the Brewers’ SS could stay hot.

Players to Avoid

Mike Minor ($12,769) is available to draft, but slated to start the early game.

The unlucky Jason Heyward ($8,805) had an emergency appendectomy yesterday and will be out for a while.  For someone hitting .121, he was way overpriced anyway.

Kevin Youkilis ($7,817) was a late scratch with a sore back. Even if he returns, you wonder if he’ll be 100% against the hard-throwing David Price ($14,165).

Some of the high-ticket SP this evening are a bit too risky. Clayton Kershaw ($18,695) has lost his last two starts, allowing 13 hits and seven walks in 12.2 innings. Obviously he’s capable of turning it around, but we’ll pass.

Kent Williams is on Twitter @SheridanFantasy and be sure to follow Rob Dudek for updates when our morning picks change during the day.