Happy Labor Day to our American friends and Labour Day to my fellow Canucks. Some very high-paid employees have to work; there are 15 MLB games, beginning at 1:05 Eastern. With four full weeks remaining in the regular season, very few teams are on cruise control.
Early and All-Day contests at DraftKings offer the largest player pools and payouts, with two different Turbo offerings (2:10; 2 games and 4:05; 3 games) followed by Late (6:40; 4 games) and Later (8:10; 2 games) action. Zack Greinke $14000 and Yordano Ventura $10100 are the standout SP in the evening.
Our focus is on the 11 afternoon ballgames. Max Scherzer $12400 and the Nationals are four games back of the Mets as they open a crucial three-game set in DC. Jonathan Niese $5700 could be in trouble — Washington’s RH batters have been heating up and Bryce Harper $5500 can hit anyone.
Chris Sale $13100 and Mike Fiers $10000 deserve the other 5-digit salaries; we’re trying to save a few dollars on two guys who were terrific in their latest. Michael Pineda $8400 was tentative in his first start off the DL (forearm) then brilliant on Tuesday in Boston. The Yankees are very much in the AL East and wild card races while Baltimore has dropped eight of ten.
Plays of the Day
The $90K Moonshot is a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors) that pays the top 7,000 finishers from up to 34,500 teams, with multiple entries permitted. First place wins $5,000. Deadline is 1:05, with lineup changes allowed until each player’s game begins.
Drew Smyly $9000 needed three starts off a long layoff (shoulder) before completely dominating the Orioles (4 H, 1 BB, 10 K in 7 IP) last time. Strangely, the lefty has never faced the Tigers, who seem quite content with last place.
The cheaper SP are much riskier. Maybe Justin Nicolino $5100 at home, although the Brewers can hit. Rick Porcello $6300 is a different pitcher in his last two (18 K, 1 BB) but why bet against the potent Toronto lineup in a hitter’s haven?
1B/C Buster Posey $4300 has an ideal matchup. The Rays have been using J.P. Arencibia $3400 fairly often; he might punish any mistakes by Randy Wolf $4500 if he doesn’t earn the Golden Sombrero.
1B/3B Ryan Zimmerman $4500 should be in the lineup at one of his positions. I’ve settled on five Nats in the sample lineup. David Ortiz $4700 “owns” Mark Buerhle $6200 in 82 career AB but Papi left yesterday’s game with a strained calf. Billy Butler $3200 has nine hits in his last five and went deep on Sunday.
Dee Gordon $4600 is the top 2B at home facing a raw rookie. I also like Kolten Wong $3700 and the Cardinals at home against a divisional rival. 2B/3B Anthony Rendon $3500 can be used in either spot.
3B Nolan Arenado $4500 went 0-for-3 yesterday after homering in six consecutive games. Kris Bryant $4400 clouted a mammoth home run (his 23rd) and his August/September OPS is 400 points higher than July. Rendon is the value play.
I’d like to pay up for Carlos Correa $4800 at SS but can’t find cheaper pitching and have to compromise. 3B/SS Xander Bogaerts $3800 and all the young Red Sox are hot and affordable. If my hunch on the Nationals is correct, Ian Desmond $3500 might be part of a couple of rallies.
Harper and Jayson Werth $3600 complete our mini-stack. Ryan Braun $5100 would be my top OF pick with a different approach, and 1B/OF Chris Davis $4700 has been crushing innocent baseballs. Slightly more affordable, Adam Eaton $4000 and the White Sox might attack the inconsistent Trevor Bauer $7500 early and often, making Melky Cabrera $3400 another possible bargain.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Max Scherzer $12400 | Drew Smyly $9000 |
| SP2 | Chris Sale $13100 | Michael Pineda $8400 |
| C | Buster Posey $4300 | J.P. Arencibia $3400 |
| 1B | Ryan Zimmerman $4500 | Kendrys Morales $4300 |
| 2B | Dee Gordon $4600 | Kolten Wong $3700 |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado $4500 | Anthony Rendon $3500 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $4800 | Ian Desmond $3500 |
| OF1 | Bryce Harper $5500 | Melky Cabrera $3400 |
| OF2 | Ryan Braun $5100 | Jayson Werth $3600 |
| OF3 | Chris Davis $4700 | Adam Eaton $4000 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Until basketball returns, we’re offering baseball tips on weekdays. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.