It’s a quadruple-header in the MLB postseason. All-day contests at DraftKings close at 1:07 Eastern, when the Royals and Yordano Ventura $8500 face elimination in Houston against rookie Lance McCullers $8800.
Three-game Turbo contests close at 4:07, with the Blue Jays sending R.A. Dickey to the mound in a do-or-die game. The knuckleballer will be on a very short leash. Texas counters with Derek Holland, but neither scheduled SP is in the DK player pool. The bats and bullpens will decide this one.
At 6:07, there’s Late action spanning the final two ballgames, with Jake Arrieta $14000 — the world’s best pitcher for the last four months — an overwhelming choice against Michael Wacha $8000, who has not been himself for several starts.
In the nightcap at 8:37, the Mets’ Matt Harvey $11100 should get enough run support to beat Brett Anderson $6500 and the visiting Dodgers.
Plays of the Day
The $65K Moonshot is a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 5,150 finishers from up to 24,916 teams, with multiple entries permitted. First place wins $5,000. Enter before 1:07 and you can make lineup changes until each player’s game begins.
It’s not the easiest lineup puzzle to solve. My sample lineup spends more than 50% on pitching — it seems ridiculous, but Arrieta and Harvey are that good and I don’t have much confidence in the other starters. McCullers is a distant third choice for $2300 less than the Dark Knight.
Russell Martin $4400 rested yesterday and is the top C if you are going against the chalk SP. Miguel Montero $3000 and Jason Castro $2500 are affordable options.
Anthony Rizzo $4600 has fared well vs. Wacha (10-for-22, 2 HR) but is way out of our price range. Since making an adjustment to his stance, Chris Carter $3200 is on a tear, with two more extra-base hits yesterday.
Jose Altuve $4400 tops the wish list at 2B, Rougned Odor $3700 has had a great series and 2B/SS Hanser Alberto $2000 is temporarily starting at 3B for the Rangersin place of Adrian Beltre $4600.
David Wright $4000 is our premium 3B, as Beltre (back) is again likely to bat just once, if that. 2B/3B Luis Valbuena $3400 walked and scored yesterday before being replaced by a RH pinch-hitter.
Troy Tulowitzki $3900 snapped a long hitless streak with a single and a clinched the must-win with a 3-run homer. Cheaper, sharp and successful vs. Wacha, Starlin Castro $3000 is my SS pick; he’s been playing second for two months but still isn’t eligible there.
Lorenzo Cain $4900 wasn’t a bad choice yesterday and George Springer $4700 is on a hitting streak. Yoenis Cespedes $4500 would be my top OF pick if I hadn’t committed to pitching. Even Colby Rasmus $3600 (suddenly a dangerous cleanup man) is tough to squeeze in. Other possibilities include Alex Gordon $3700 and Josh Hamilton $3400, who woke up on Sunday in the losing cause. If he starts, 1B/OF Michael Cuddyer $2900 is a veteran lefty-masher.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Jake Arrieta $14000 | Lance McCullers $8800 |
| SP2 | Matt Harvey $11100 | Yordano Ventura $8500 |
| C | Miguel Montero $3000 | Jason Castro $2500 |
| 1B | Anthony Rizzo $4600 | Chris Carter $3200 |
| 2B | Rougned Odor $3700 | Hanser Alberto $2000 |
| 3B | David Wright $4000 | Luis Valbuena $3200 |
| SS | Troy Tulowitzki $3900 | Starlin Castro $3000 |
| OF1 | Yoenis Cespedes $4500 | Josh Hamilton $3400 |
| OF2 | Lorenzo Cain $4900 | Alex Gordon $3700 |
| OF3 | George Springer $4700 | Colby Rasmus $3600 |
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.