Wednesday is very interesting in MLB. It’s Interleague week, with everyone playing 2-game sets at home and on the road. The same teams meet for the third straight day, in new venues. One of those location changes means more than the others.
After losing both games to hard-throwing righties in the Mets’ pitcher’s haven, the Jays return home, where they lead the majors with an OPS of .835 — yes, better than the Rockies at Coors — to face hittable lefty Jonathan Niese $6300. Toronto’s team slash line against southpaws is a ridiculous .313/.372/.504, the equivalent of facing an entire lineup of all-stars. Oh, and they get the DH back.
Seven other AL teams are returning home after their pitchers had to bat the last two days. Seven are hitting the road. While that’s not the only factor to consider, it’s unfair for Clayton Kershaw $12900 or Madison Bumgarner $10700 to face pitchers who “never” bat.
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Last night featured so many runs, I wondered if the official Rawlings baseballs had been replaced with Titleists. There were football scores — Baltimore 19, Philadelphia 3; Washington 16, Tampa 4 — and position players mopping up on the mound. Tonight will be different, with a full hand of aces. King Felix Hernandez $10300 takes on MadBum, and David Price $113000 vs. Johnny Cueto $10000 is another terrific duel.
To fit in the Blue Jays RH mashers, I must compromise on pitching. The Twins have never seen the talented Carlos Martinez $8400. After skipping a start, Michael Pineda $8600 disappointed, but he’s back on regular rest. Drew Hutchison $6200 figures to get plenty of run support and is the rare SP who prefers Rogers Centre to the road. Toss out his latest. Odrisamer Despaigne $5800 will be a mystery to the Athletics and Shaun Marcum $5100 is also playable.
The rules prohibit using more than six hitters from one team. Russell Martin $4600 is my choice at C over Matt Wieters $4300; if you do spend big bucks on arms try Hank Conger $3400 behind the plate.
Paul Goldschmidt $5800 is at home against a lefty but we’re in stack mode so Edwin Encarnacion $4800 gets the nod at 1B, where Mike Napoli $3300 is a decent risk for bargain-hunters. (I don’t expect David Ortiz $4000 to start vs. a lefty in a National League park.)
2B is one spot to use someone other than a Blue Jay. We touted Anthony Rendon $4500 last night and he produced 18 FPTS. Howie Kendrick $4200 and the revitalized Scooter Gennett $3400 have good matchups.
Josh Donaldson $4700 should cost at least $1000 more. Sizzling Manny Machado $4800 is the other slugging 3B to consider, unless you want to save money with Mike Moustakas $3600.
Gotta love Troy Tulowitzki $5000 at home against a lefty if you can afford him. Rookie Francisco Lindor $3600, the new Cleveland SS, has three hits in his first two big-league games.
We’re completing the stack with an all-Toronto outfield. Jose Bautista $5100 is worth the money and the other two are potential bargains. Chris Colabello $3400 is hitting .342 on the season and Danny Valencia $3000 starts only vs. southpaws, because his OPS is 200-300 points higher off them. If you don’t like the Jays, Bryce Harper $5700 or Andrew McCutchen $5100 could replace Joey Bats as the #1 OF, with rookie Domingo Santana $3500 and a sharp Travis Snider $3300 among the less-expensive possibilities. 3B/OF Brock Holt $2900 hit for the cycle yesterday (at home vs. RHP) so that’s an intriguing salary cut.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Clayton Kershaw $12900 | Carlos Martinez $8400 |
| SP2 | Madison Bumgarner $10700 | Drew Hutchison $6200 |
| C | Russell Martin $4600 | Matt Wieters $4300 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt $5800 | Edwin Encarnacion $4800 |
| 2B | Anthony Rendon $4500 | Scooter Gennett $3400 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $4700 | Mike Moustakas $3600 |
| SS | Troy Tulowitzki $5000 | Francisco Lindor $3600 |
| OF1 | Jose Bautista $5100 | Travis Snider $3300 |
| OF2 | Bryce Harper $5700 | Danny Valencia $3000 |
| OF3 | Andrew McCutchen | Chris Colabello $3400 |
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.