Congratulations to the Astros and Dallas Keuchel for shutting out the Yankees to reach the ALDS. My Tuesday-Wednesday lineups are toast, as I was doubtful that Kid Keuchy would pitch so well on short rest.
We turn the page to Wed-Thu contests at DraftKings, which close tonight at 8:08 Eastern and conclude tomorrow. Three games are involved; we said yesterday that Jake Arrieta $14200 vs. Gerrit Cole $10600 has the potential to be an extra-inning thriller in tonight’s must-watch NL Wild Card battle.
Tomorrow afternoon, David Price $11700 deserves to be a heavy favorite at home against the Rangers and Yovani Gallardo $7200. The Blue Jays are also the best source of hitting points, especially at the Rogers Centre. With a sunny 60-degree (F) day forecast, the roof should be open and the stadium will be packed.
Yordano Ventura $8600 leads the Royals against Houston. Collin McHugh is the likely mound opponent, though he isn’t in the DK pool yet. Past performances for Ventura are misleading; the 24-year-old flamethrower suffered arm and hand numbness in June, then wasn’t 100% when he returned. Those last two brilliant starts suggest he’s in peak form again. There is a risk of rain in Kansas City on Thursday evening.
The Price-Ventura combo leaves an average of $3712 per bat. By comparison, using Arrieta-Price leaves $700 less for each of the eight positions.
My next lineup-building step was to consider all eight Jays, before deciding which ones to stack. Troy Tulowitzki $4700 is not fully healed from a left shoulder injury and mysteriously, Jose Bautista $5400 is just 1-for-12 off Gallardo. After some experimentation, it seems that five Jays is the most we can use, while four provides the most flexibility.
Replacing top choice Russell Martin $3700 with Salvador Perez $3400 at C saves $300 that can be put to use elsewhere. It’s a tossup for me.
Edwin Encarnacion $5200 is a must-start if you agree that the Jays are targets. Kendrys Morales $4200 is more affordable and it won’t be a complete surprise if Mike Napoli $2900 reaches base against Price.
Jose Altuve $5100 deserves that salary, and Ben Zobrist $4100 is next-best on my list. Cheap and with position flexibility, 2B/SS Ryan Goins $2600 can fill either spot and get a hit or two. He went 5-for-5 in Baltimore a week ago.
Josh Donaldson $5500 would be useful if you can afford him. Adrian Beltre $4000 has a .909 OPS with 2 HR in 33 AB vs. Price and has been terrific in the second half.
Carlos Correa $5000 is expensive and Tulo may not have any power, so Alcides Escobar $3500 is a possibility at SS. That’s where I’m using Goins.
Lorenzo Cain $4900 would be my top OF selection if cap room wasn’t so tight. Teammate Alex Gordon $3700 is also playable. Having ruled out Bautista, I prefer leadoff man Ben Revere $3900 to Kevin Pillar $4000 as my last Toronto player. Colby Rasmus $3200 ambushed Masahiro Tanaka last night with a first-pitch bomb and may do the same if Ventura makes a mistake. Inexpensive options with even a little upside include Alex Rios $2900 and Jarrod Dyson $2900, but the pickings are slim.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Jake Arrieta $14200 | Yordano Ventura $8600 |
| SP2 | David Price $11700 | Gerrit Cole $10600 |
| C | Russell Martin $3700 | Salvador Perez $3400 |
| 1B | Edwin Encarnacion $5200 | Kendrys Morales $4200 |
| 2B | Jose Altuve $5100 | Ben Zobrist $4100 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $5500 | Adrian Beltre $4000 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $5000 | Ryan Goins $2600 |
| OF1 | Lorenzo Cain $4900 | Colby Rasmus $3200 |
| OF2 | Ben Revere $3900 | Alex Gordon $3700 |
| OF3 | Kevin Pillar $4000 | Alex Rios $2900 |
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.