Tonight in Chicago, Chris Sale $12700 goes for a record ninth straight start with double-digit strikeouts. Though the Blue Jays ordinarily hit lefties well, Sale is extraordinary. Deciding whether to pay that high (but fair) salary is Step One toward a winning DFS lineup at DraftKings.
The 11-game MLB schedule begins at 7:05 with other fine SP options: Carlos Carrasco $10200 and Dallas Keuchel $9700 are expected to stage quite a duel in Cleveland. A.J. Burnett $9400 is a solid play at home. Pick two or follow me, with Sale and a bargain.
Chris Heston $6300 pitched a no-hitter against these punchless Mets on June 9; that’s a great price. Doug Fister $5900 scored 24.4 PTS two starts ago, when he cost $1200 more. Matt Wisler $6100 is a third possibility but the Brewers have been on an offensive roll.
DK matches your first deposit 100% (up to $600) with bonus funds that convert to cash. You also get a FREE entry into the Late $20K Moonshot, with 1,540 guaranteed prizes — $2,000 for first — and a maximum of 7,666 teams. It’s a smaller player pool with only three games. I like Hisashi Iwakuma $8300 fresh off the DL, Heston and hitters from the Phillies-Dodgers tilt.
Tonight’s sample lineup and Short List is for the full card. The Nationals just swept the Giants, allowing five runs in three games, so I’m giving Fister the edge as #2 starter. Sale is so expensive that we still have to compromise on hitting.
1B/C Buster Posey $4500 at home vs. a southpaw is hard to ignore, but Yasmani Grandal $4200 is also worth the money and Andrew Susac $2800 is playable when Posey starts at first.
Amid trade rumors, 1B Adam Lind $4500 keeps driving up his own price every day. He’s now .348/.498/.692 for his last ten. Adam LaRoche $3600 has been successful vs. Mark Buehrle $6800, an atypical lefty who is tougher on RH batters.
Brian Dozier $4500 is one of several Twins who match up well against Wei-Yin Chen $7700. Hot 2B/3B Cesar Hernandez $3100 should be used somewhere.
Manny Machado $3900 is one of the best 3B in baseball. That’s an irresistible price; he was our top choice yesterday for $800 more. 2B/3B Matt Duffy $3500 is another possible bargain.
At SS, rookie Carlos Correa $4200 faces a tough righty and there will be easier spots. Jean Segura $3800 has been profitable all week; no reason to change.
If you don’t commit to Sale, you can afford a stud OF like Bryce Harper $5700 or Ryan Braun $5300. I’m looking for value with Lorenzo Cain $4500 and Yasiel Puig $4300. The latter has been subject to a lot of anonymous griping from teammates and might make a statement with his bat. 2B/OF Odubel Herrera $3000 is thriving in the leadoff spot for the Phils. In addition to a .913 OPS over 10 games, Melky Cabrera $3800 has scalded a few “atom balls” for outs. He’s a ridiculous 17-for-30 lifetime against Buehrle; at what point does sample size begin to matter?
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Chris Sale $12700 | Chris Heston $6300 |
| SP2 | A.J. Burnett $9400 | Doug Fister $5900 |
| C | Yasmani Grandal $4200 | Andrew Susac $2800 |
| 1B | Adam Lind $4500 | Adam LaRoche $3600 |
| 2B | Brian Dozier $4500 | Cesar Hernandez $3100 |
| 3B | Manny Machado $3900 | Matt Duffy $3500 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $4200 | Jean Segura $3800 |
| OF1 | Ryan Braun $5300 | Odubel Herrera $3000 |
| OF2 | Bryce Harper $5700 | Yasiel Puig $4300 |
| OF3 | Lorenzo Cain $4500 | Melky Cabrera $3800 |
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.