Road warriors are the story so far in the MLB playoffs. Both home teams lost in the Wild Card games and both home teams dropped their ALDS openers yesterday. There is tremendous pressure on Marcus Stroman $8600 this afternoon (12:45 Eastern) to reverse that trend. Speaking for most of my city and much of my country, we are nervously optimistic.
While Cole Hamels $10000 definitely has more big-game experience, both are in terrific form and both are affordable at DraftKings in All-Day contests. There’s additional DFS action at 3:45 (3 games) and 6:45 (2 games) which means three different opportunities to use — or try to beat — Clayton Kershaw $15000.
The Dodgers’ co-ace is determined to atone for last year’s playoff disaster, when he lost twice to the Cardinals and gave up 11 earned runs in 12.2 innings. He will need some run support against Jacob DeGrom $11400 in the most likely low-scoring duel of the day.
Although Johnny Cueto $8900 has not been the dominant force the Royals wanted, perhaps he can rise to this occasion. Scott Kazmir $7400 has steadily regressed since being acquired by Houston; he beat the Royals impressively on July 24 but failed to last 5 IP in four of six September starts. I’ll predict this game to be higher-scoring than TEX @ TOR.
Jon Lester $10500 vs. John Lackey $9700 is a wonderful opener between teams that already dislike each other. My heart is with the Cubs; my head says it can go either way and might be decided by the bullpens.
Plays of the Day
The $85K Moonshot is a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 6,530 finishers from up to 32,578 teams, with multiple entries permitted. First place wins $6,000. Enter before 12:45 and you can make lineup changes until each player’s game begins.
C/OF Kyle Schwarber $3900 has never faced Lackey but is dangerous against all righties. Russell Martin $3800 and Salvador Perez $3300 are the alternatives if you want to use the rookie as an outfielder.
Edwin Encarnacion $5100 is the healthiest of Toronto’s sluggers. We liked Kendrys Morales $4000 yesterday and he went deep twice. Mitch Moreland $3300 (like many Rangers) has never seen Stroman.
2B is loaded. Jose Altuve $5000 is playing like an MVP, 2B/OF Ben Zobrist $3900 is also sharp and Rougned Odor $3300 was the Game 1 hero with a homer and three runs scored. Using Zobrist in the outfield and Odor is my plan.
Josh Donaldson $5500 took a knee to the head and left Thursday’s game. He did pass the concussion protocol but may not bring much rain indoors today. Matt Carpenter $4400 and Kris Bryant $4200 are healthier and capable. The longshot is 2B/3B Luis Valbuena $2900, one of several Astros who swings as hard as he can, just in case he hits it.
Not since A-Rod, Nomar and Jeter were young have we seen brilliant SS like Corey Seager $4700 and Carlos Correa $4500 burst on the scene simultaneously. Troy Tulowitzki $3500 is cheap mostly because he’s playing with a fractured left shoulder blade; Jhonny Peralta $3200 is a better bargain play.
Jose Bautista $4900 homered in the losing cause before leaving early with “cramps and dehydration” in his hamstring. He’ll play, and he’s always a threat. Lorenzo Cain $4800 is a threat vs. the struggling southpaw. If any of the Texas LHB can solve Stroman, Shin-Soo Choo $4200 might. We told you Colby Rasmus $3100 might go deep again, and Alex Rios $2800 matches up well with Kazmir. If Joe Maddon considers batter-vs.-pitcher numbers, 2B/OF Chris Coghlan $3000 (8-for-17 off Lackey) will start tonight.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Clayton Kershaw $15000 | Marcus Stroman $8600 |
| SP2 | Jacob DeGrom $11400 | Johnny Cueto $8900 |
| C | Kyle Schwarber $3900 | Salvador Perez $3300 |
| 1B | Edwin Encarnacion $5100 | Kendrys Morales $4000 |
| 2B | Jose Altuve $5100 | Rougned Odor $3300 |
| 3B | Matt Carpenter $4400 | Luis Valbuena $2900 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $4500 | Jhonny Peralta $3200 |
| OF1 | Lorenzo Cain $4900 | Colby Rasmus $3200 |
| OF2 | Jose Bautista $5400 | Ben Zobrist $3900 |
| OF3 | Shin-Soo Choo $4200 | Chris Coghlan $3000 |
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.