Hope you’re alive in the PGA Millionaire Maker. All my golfers should make the cut, although none of them is high on the leaderboard. Today the Spin returns to baseball as the “second half” begins.
That’s merely a figure of speech, as every team is at least five games past the actual midway point, and some have played ten times since game #81. The break gives minor injuries a chance to heal and rotations get re-set. Every team is energized for this weekend’s 15 series.
There’s one matinee; Jeff Samardzija $9000 and possibly the White Sox bats are playable in All-Day contests at DraftKings that close at 2:10 Eastern. There are also Turbo offerings at 8:10 (4 games) and Late action (4 games; 9:40) where Sonny Gray $9600 is the key.
Our focus is on the 14-game evening slate at 7:05, with Jose Fernandez $10200 as the standout pitching selection. Gray and Masahiro Tanaka $9500 are both capable of matching him. Although run support from the anemic Mets can be problematic, rookie Noah Syndergaard $9300 is coming off his best game yet (8 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 13 K.)
Plays of the Day
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For more affordable arms, consider Mike Montgomery $6400 to bounce back from his worst start in a promising first eight. Kyle Hendricks $7600 seems underrated (do people confuse him with Kyle Kendrick?) and the control artist has a decent chance to outpitch Julio Teheran $8100 in Atlanta. Lefties Wade Miley $6300 and Robbie Ray $5900 must navigate tough lineups.
Hitting can be “solved” a thousand ways. Stacking a team or game, stars-and-scrubs, relying on projection systems. I also try to catch a hot bat at a low price and use that player often until he cools off. John Jaso $3900 is my C of the moment — he’s DH-ing at or near the top of the order — and Francisco Cervelli $3300 has been profitable all year.
At 1B you want Paul Goldschmidt $5500 if money’s no object. Adam Lind $4500 is decent value and I’m going even cheaper with Chris Davis $3700, an all-or-nothing power threat.
Jason Kipnis $4200 is a great price after a slump before the break. The all-star with an .888 OPS usually costs hundreds more and might be rejuvenated. Keep an eye on Rob Refsnyder $3400, who has a chance to become the everyday 2B for the Yankees.
Does 1B/3B Todd Frazier $4500 have an encore left after his Home Run Derby heroics? That’s quite an attractive price and the Cincinnati fans understandably love him. Manny Machado $3900 is a bargain too; .298 with 19 HR and 48 RBI so far in a breakout season for the 22-year-old leadoff man.
After a few days to catch his breath, rookie SS Carlos Correa $4100 will resume dazzling us. I’m also on the Francisco Lindor $3000 bandwagon, expecting his bat to catch up soon to some amazing glove work.
Mike Trout $5300 took a 10-game 1.363 OPS to the All-Star Game, led off with a bomb and won MVP. He belongs in a higher league. Using him or Bryce Harper $5400 means compromising in the other OF spots; even medium-salaried values like Hunter Pence $4100 and Michael Brantley $4100 become tough to squeeze in under the cap. If the All-Star experience boosted his confidence, Joc Pederson $3600 might go on another tear. Journeyman Cole Gillespie $3400 had five hits including a homer in the last two games and has become a Marlins regular. David DeJesus $3000 almost made the Short List and sample lineup; he recently hit #2 behind Jaso vs. a righty and is ultra-cheap.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Jose Fernandez $10200 | Mike Montgomery $6400 |
| SP2 | Sonny Gray $9600 | Kyle Hendricks $7600 |
| C | John Jaso $3900 | Francisco Cervelli $3300 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt $5500 | Chris Davis $3700 |
| 2B | Jason Kipnis $4200 | Rob Refsnyder $3400 |
| 3B | Todd Frazier $4500 | Manny Machado $3900 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $4100 | Francisco Lindor $3000 |
| OF1 | Mike Trout $5300 | Hunter Pence $4100 |
| OF2 | Bryce Harper $5400 | Joc Pederson $3600 |
| OF3 | Michael Brantley $4100 | Cole Gillespie $3400 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season and we’re turning our attention to baseball for the summer. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.