It’s hard to match the NBA Finals for drama. For DFS action, we’re all baseball for the summer. Friday is often the best day of the MLB week, as 15 weekend series begin, large crowds are well lubricated and home teams are psyched.
There is one game at 4:05 (Reds at Cubs) that’s playable in All-Day contests. Johnny Cueto $9700 was dazzling at home last start and Jason Hammel $9000 is having a career year at age 32. It’s an apparent pitchers’ duel, but you never know at Wrigley and there are several terrific arms to choose from.
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David Price $10700 is my #1 SP but he’ll need the Tigers to score a couple off Danny Salazar $9400. Let’s call Madison Bumgarner $10200 #1A, at home in terrific form. Felix Hernandez $11300 is a decent bet to strike out a dozen or more in Houston and Clayton Kershaw $12800 completes a full hand of high-priced aces.
Of the next group, Michael Pineda $8900 has ridiculous numbers against the Orioles, striking out 25 in just 13.1 IP over two previous starts. Alex Wood $8600 might baffle the Mets and Jaime Garcia $8200 has turned in three straight gems.
The most obvious game to target for bats is the Blue Jays facing Joe Kelly $5000 in Boston. Unfortunately, except for Chris Colabello $3500 and Justin Smoak $3200, they are all expensive. Drew Hutchison $7100 has not fared well on the road, including an April 28 shelling at Fenway. Dustin Pedroia $4100, Mookie Betts $4000, Pablo Sandoval $3700, Xander Bogaerts $3600 and either Mike Napoli $3700 or David Ortiz $3900 are more affordable. Let’s hope it’s a slugfest.
Rockies at Marlins and White Sox at Rays are other matchups of mediocre pitchers. Twins at Rangers is another possible source of runs, especially from RH bats on both teams. I like the Pirates to stay hot against journeyman Kevin Correia $4000.
At catcher Russell Martin $4600 and Buster Posey $4600 deserve their salaries, but we simply can’t afford any premium hitters without finding an ultra-cheap guy. Salvador Perez $3700 is hot and Josh Phegley $2800 often starts against (and hits) lefties.
If you can’t afford Edwin Encarnacion $5,000, Smoak is the stealth play at 1B after a homer and a double yesterday. I’m going with Napoli, even though Big Papi ended a long homerless drought last night, plus Red Sox at 2B, 3B, SS and one OF spot.
With Colabello plugged in at OF2 and $4100 left to spend, Steven Souza Jr. $4100 was a perfect fit against a not-too-scary southpaw. Sure, it would be nice to use even one expensive superstar hitter, if you feel confident about any of the lowest-priced bats.
One potential bargain is 2B/SS Ivan De Jesus Jr. $2300, now batting leadoff for the Reds while Brandon Phillips (groin) recovers. 3B Kyle Kubitza $2000 has hits in both games since being called up, so David Freese (hamstring) might rest again. OF Clint Robinson $2300 is suddenly the big half of a 1B platoon and had two hits on Thursday including his first career HR.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | David Price $10700 | Jaime Garcia $8200 |
| SP2 | Madison Bumgarner $10200 | Michael Pineda $8900 |
| C | Russell Martin $4600 | Salvador Perez $3700 |
| 1B | Edwin Encarnacion $5000 | Mike Napoli $3700 |
| 2B | Dee Gordon $4600 | Dustin Pedroia $4100 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $5200 | Pablo Sandoval $3700 |
| SS | Troy Tulowitzki $5300 | Xander Bogaerts $3600 |
| OF1 | Giancarlo Stanton $5700 | Mookie Betts $4000 |
| OF2 | Bryce Harper $5300 | Chris Colabello $3500 |
| OF3 | Andrew McCutchen $5200 | Steven Souza Jr. $4100 |
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.