Congratulations to the Mets for a thrilling victory in L.A. last night and thanks to Jake DeGrom and Daniel Murphy for keeping me alive in Thursday-Friday DFS contests. Our friends at DraftKings are offering Friday-Saturday play at 8:07 ET tonight, spanning Game 1 of both the ALCS and NLCS.
There will also be Saturday-only action at 4:07 that covers Game 2 of TOR @ KC and the Cubs at Mets game in the evening.
That’s two opportunities to use Matt Harvey $11200 and/or Jon Lester $10800 on the mound. It’s extremely difficult to choose between them; selecting both leaves a mere $3500 per bat. A slight concern about fatigue and effectiveness for Harvey at the 200 IP point in his first year back from surgery tips the scales for me.
The AL game is less likely to be a pitchers’ duel. Take your pick between Marco Estrada $8300 for the Jays and Edinson Volquez $8400 for the Royals. Either could last five or six innings but both teams can hit and the bullpens are sure to be a factor.
Yesterday I was leaning to Estrada. After sleeping on it, perhaps the Jays are emotionally drained by that wacky Game 5 of the Division Series, a subsequent celebration and having to travel. Let’s see if we can use neither.
Plays of the Day
The $25K Moonshot is a $3 buy-in (FREE to new depositors at DK) that pays the top 1,920 finishers from up to 9,683 teams. First place wins $2,000. Enter by 8:07 and you can make lineup changes on CHC and NYM players until that time tomorrow.
If we are betting on both Harvey and Lester, we want as few hitters from that game as possible. The minimum is one. C/OF Kyle Schwarber $3600 has never faced the Dark Knight but couldn’t be much hotter. Salvador Perez $3400 is the safest play at C once again.
Kendrys Morales $4200 remains the 1B value play over teammate Eric Hosmer $4500 and Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion $5200, who is too expensive. Note that Justin Smoak $2700 may see more action than 1B/OF Chris Colabello $3800 in this series after sitting against the Texas southpaws.
2B/OF Ben Zobrist $3900 is playable in one of his positions. The same applies to 2B/SS Ryan Goins $2600, who may hit better against RHP than he did vs. the lefty-dominant Rangers.
Josh Donaldson $5100 and Mike Moustakas $4100 are worth the money if you can afford them. Mostly on a hunch and to save a few dollars, I like Kris Bryant $3700 to turn on a mistake.
Troy Tulowitzki $4600 hit a huge 3-run HR in Game 3 when Chi Chi Gonzalez threw him four consecutive breaking balls and left the last one up. He also was 0-for the other four games. 2B/SS Wilmer Flores $3000, Starlin Castro $2600 and 2B/SS Javier Baez $2000 (if he starts) are better value.
Jose Bautista $5100 is another powerful Toronto bat we can’t afford with this commitment to pitching. Lorenzo Cain $4800 and Yoenis Cespedes $4300 are my other premium OF. Any or all of Zobrist, Alex Gordon $3700 and Alex Rios $2800 might earn their salaries, with Kevin Pillar $3800 and Ben Revere $4000 of Toronto are worth considering.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Jon Lester $10800 | Edinson Volquez $8400 |
| SP2 | Matt Harvey $11200 | Marco Estrada $8300 |
| C | Kyle Schwarber $3600 | Salvador Perez $3300 |
| 1B | Edwin Encarnacion $5200 | Kendrys Morales $4200 |
| 2B | Ben Zobrist $3900 | Ryan Goins $2600 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $5100 | Kris Bryant $3700 |
| SS | Troy Tulowitzki $4600 | Starlin Castro $2600 |
| OF1 | Jose Bautista $5100 | Kevin Pillar $3800 |
| OF2 | Lorenzo Cain $4800 | Alex Gordon $3700 |
| OF3 | Yoenis Cespedes $4300 | Alex Rios $2800 |
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.