Best Bets (Hitters)
Mighty Miguel Cabrera ($11,730) is red hot and faces a lefty nobody has ever compared to Sandy Koufax. Other Tigers RH bats worth considering include Torii Hunter ($8,762) and Jhonny Peralta ($7,542).
Only diehard Baltimore fans seem to give the playoff-contending Orioles the respect they deserve. Nate McLouth ($10,066) had an April like this back in 2008 (his career year) and shows no sign of slowing down. Teammate Chris Davis ($9,742) also matches up well against Aaron Harang ($7,799), a less-than-intimidating righty.
One of the hottest streaks in the stellar career of David Ortiz ($9,561) continued last night, and just because he faces a lefty is no reason to shy away. Big Papi has battled Mark Buehrle ($8,677) through 62 AB and boasts a 1.039 OPS against the fast-working, slow-throwing southpaw. Dustin Pedroia ($10,246) might also be worth the money.
Live Longshots (Hitters)
Let’s stay with the Red Sox here. Jonny Gomes ($5,624) had a pinch-hit HR last night and is 6-for-13 off Buehrle, so I expect him to be in the lineup. It’s also a good day for backup C David Ross ($5,609) to get a start.
Oakland’s Jed Lowrie was given last night off after playing all 19 innings on Monday. The switch-hitter seems to prefer lefty pitching and could earn a lot more than his $6,266 salary suggests. He was a $10K player most of April until a stiff neck slowed him down.
Until Brandon McCarthy ($8,948) pitches a good game, it makes sense to play hitters against him, especially in Phoenix. Brandon Belt ($6,582) is excellent value for someone with that much power, and Hunter Pence ($7,158) hits righties well enough to consider.
Players to Avoid
It’s tempting to list all Cincinnati hitters here. Obviously Joey Votto ($9,855) and Shin-Soo Choo ($10,027) are going to bust out eventually, but it’s a team-wide slump. Until Jay Bruce ($6,613) and Todd Frazier ($6,513) start hitting, R and RBI opportunities drop for everyone.
In a keeper league, prospect Trevor Bauer ($11,983) has some long-term value. Tonight he’s just an inexperienced spot starter, called up from the minors. Others in that price range are much safer plays.
With too many banged-up players to mention, check the Rotoworld injury page before submitting your final lineups.
Follow Kent Williams on Twitter @SheridanFantasy.