This was baseball’s greatest season, so why should the playoffs be any different? Yesterday the Blue Jays advanced to the ALCS after a 53-minute 7th inning that was beyond dramatic. It was truly bizarre. The Royals also won Game 5 at home to eliminate the Astros. Toronto visits Kansas City tomorrow night to complete 2-day contests at DraftKings that close at 8:07 ET tonight.
That’s when Zack Greinke $12700 and Jacob DeGrom $11900 will start carving up hitters. DeGrom was brilliant in Game 1 in L.A. (13 K in 7 scoreless IP) and Greinke squared the series the following night, despite allowing two solo homers.
We must pick one, at most. For some reason, DK has not put Marco Estrada in the player pool yet. He’s on normal rest after a terrific start in a must-win game. Estrada “pitches backwards” and spots his mediocre fastball well. If he’s priced similarly to Edinson Volquez $8400 I’ll consider using both.
For now, the sample lineup uses DeGrom and plugs Volquez, who will probably be replaced by Estrada because I’m a fanboy. Other adjustments will depend on Marco’s salary.
Plays of the Day
The $60K Moonshot is a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 4,625 finishers from up to 22,988 teams, with multiple entries permitted. First place wins $4,000. Enter by 8:07 and can make lineup changes on TOR and KC players until that time tomorrow.
The rules are, we must use one hitter from tonight’s game. In a possible 2-1 game, take your pick of Mets outfielders. Yoenis Cespedes $4100 and Michael Conforto $3200 each homered in Game 2; Curtis Granderson $4000 had two singles and a walk. 2B/3B Daniel Murphy $3600 is also having a great series.
Russell Martin $4300 costs more but Salvador Perez $3400 would be my preferred catcher at any salary.
Likewise, we called Kendrys Morales $4200 for another homer last night and he still costs less than Eric Hosmer $4500. Edwin Encarnacion $5200 is also a strong play if you can fit him in.
2B/OF Ben Zobrist $3900 is a placeholder until we know Estrada’s cost. 2B/SS Ryan Goins $2600 has low cost and flexibility goin’ for him. If you’re going with Greinke tonight, 2B/SS Kiké Hernandez $2600 could be the mandatory Dodger.
Josh Donaldson $5100 and Mike Moustakas $4100 are priced about right. The choice depends on what you decide elsewhere. I’m using Murphy in this lineup.
Troy Tulowitzki $4600 is too pricey compared to Alcides Escobar $3400. Obviously the cheap 2B are possibilities here as well.
Jose Bautista $5100 just hit the biggest homer of his life. Lorenzo Cain $4800 is also dangerous. Alex Gordon $3700 and Alex Rios $2800 are the bargain Royals, with Kevin Pillar $3800 and Ben Revere $4000 more affordable Jays. It’s also a good spot to use Cespedes, Granderson or Conforto.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Jacob DeGrom $11900 | Edinson Volquez $8400 |
| SP2 | Zack Greinke $12700 | Marco Estrada $TBA |
| C | Russell Martin $4300 | Salvador Perez $3300 |
| 1B | Edwin Encarnacion $5200 | Kendrys Morales $4200 |
| 2B | Ben Zobrist $3900 | Kiké Hernandez $2600 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $51800 | Daniel Murphy $3600 |
| SS | Alcides Escobar $3400 | Ryan Goins $2600 |
| OF1 | Jose Bautista $5100 | Kevin Pillar $3800 |
| OF2 | Lorenzo Cain $4800 | Alex Gordon $3700 |
| OF3 | George Springer $4500 | Alex Rios $2800 |
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