Tonight features “only” 11 MLB games, starting at 7:05 ET. With a handful of aces taking the mound, the big DFS decision is to spend a lot on pitching and try to find bargain bats, or look for second-tier arms who can outperform their salaries.
Clayton Kershaw $10700 has allowed 11 runs (9 earned) in two recent meetings with the Rockies, so we’ll wait for his next start. Felix Hernandez $11600 is very expensive and it’s quite possible that former Mariner Michael Pineda $8800 will be nearly as good. That’s an eagerly-anticipated duel that could result in no-decisions for both.
Jacob DeGrom $9700 vs. Andrew Cashner $8000 is another great matchup for fans, not so much for hitters on either team or daily fantasy investors.
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Most probable winner might be Gerrit Cole $9900 in San Francisco; I also like Garrett Richards $9500 at home, where he has a 2.30 ERA and has held opponents to a .177 AVG. Jordan Zimmermann $8600 should get plenty of run support and a W, but the Jays can really hit and others are more likely to spin shutouts.
Because knuckleballer R.A. Dickey $7200 is on the bump for Toronto, his personal catcher Josh Thole $2200 is expected to start, with Russell Martin $3800 reduced to pinch-hitting. Miguel Montero $3500 and Francisco Cervelli $3200 are safer plays at C, but the price is right on Thole and we have to save somewhere.
Perhaps the hottest hitter in the galaxy, Paul Goldschmidt $5300 reached base SEVEN times in a 17-inning loss yesterday and racked up a ludicrous 80 FPTS over the three games in Milwaukee. Anthony Rizzo $5200 and all the Cubs should feast on Marlins rookie Jose Urena $4000, and Adrian Gonzalez $5000 has a great matchup vs. a mediocre righty at Coors Field. Freddie Freeman $4300 is a relative bargain at 1B; he got yesterday off until delivering a game-winning, pinch-hit homer.
I love the Cubs-Marlins game for hitters. Dee Gordon $4600 will get more AB than Addison Russell $3900 but either is a solid play at 2B. For the budget-conscious, Johnny Giavotella $2700 is now batting leadoff for the Angels.
If you can afford super-rookie Kris Bryant $5000 at third, go for it. Josh Harrison $4100 is hitting .327 over his last 10 (he’s also worth considering at OF) but I’ll stick with Manny Machado $4000, who slugged 2 HR yesterday.
Jhonny Peralta $4200 is quietly having a great season at short, Starlin Castro $4000 could be in the middle of multiple rallies and SS-eligible Ruben Tejada $2300 has recently become the everyday 3B for the Mets.
In the outfield, if you have been using Joey Butler $2100 on my recommendation, you’re welcome. After a homer on Saturday and four hits yesterday, his salary has actually gone down. However, it’s a tough matchup tonight. The premium-priced guys to consider include Andrew McCutchen $5100 and long-overdue Giancarlo Stanton $5000. Cubs’ OF Jorge Soler $4500 and Dexter Fowler $4400 are excellent value, while A.J Pollock $4200 has never faced Alex Wood $8200 but generally mashes lefties. So does teammate Mark Trumbo $3900.
Today’s sample lineup and Short list are based on the full schedule. There’s also Turbo action at DK on just three games, closing at 8:10 Eastern, and Late contests at 9:30 that span the five very interesting games out West.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Felix Hernandez $11600 | Gerrit Cole $9900 |
| SP2 | Jacob DeGrom $9700 | Garrett Richards $9500 |
| C | Miguel Montero $3500 | Josh Thole $2200 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt $5300 | Freddie Freeman $4300 |
| 2B | Dee Gordon $4600 | Johnny Giavotella $2700 |
| 3B | Kris Bryant $5000 | Manny Machado $4000 |
| SS | Jhonny Peralta $4200 | Ruben Tejada $2300 |
| OF1 | Andrew McCutchen $5100 | Josh Harrison $4100 |
| OF2 | Giancarlo Stanton $5000 | Mark Trumbo $3900 |
| OF3 | A.J Pollock $4200 | Joey Butler $2100 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season and we’re turning out attention to baseball for the summer. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.