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Welcome to today's daily fantasy post! Remember that you can find our posts on the DFS home page, as well as the fantasy page. Bookmark those sites now!
Also, please scroll to the bottom of this article to see the latest tweets from Ryan Fowler (@FOXSportsFowler), D.J. Foster (@FOXSportsFoster), Adam Meyer (@FOXSportsMeyer) and me (@jhalpin37). That way, if information surfaces for any last minute changes, you can see our thoughts instantly.
Let's get to today's interesting facts, using DraftKings prices. We'll cover all players, but remember that five of today's 12 games are in the afternoon, starting with with Royals-Rays and Twins-Indians at 12:10 p.m. ET. Please note that much of the information in this post is being published several hours prior to game times, so check MLB lineups later to confirm that any recommended players are included.
5 Things to Watch:
1. The slate doesn't include big favorites today, with the largest ones being Mike Leake ($6,900) and Cleveland's Mike Clevinger ($4,000) at minus-150 in games that have projected run totals of nine (only Dodgers-Rockies is higher at 10.5). The lowest projected run total is Royals-Rays at 7.5.
2. There's rain in the forecast for Cards-Reds, Pirates-Braves and Dodgers-Rockies, with the latter two looking more uncertain.
3. Injuries: Carlos Gonzalez left Wednesday's game with a twisted ankle, and should be considered day-to-day. ... Yoenis Cespedes is headed for the DL after re-injuring his quad. ... Hanley Ramirez is expected to miss a few games with his sprained wrist. ... Troy Tulowitzki (finger) is expected to be back in the Jays' lineup today.
4. Yo, BvPers: If Alex Rodriguez ($3,100) is ever going to play, it might be tonight, as he's 13-for-26 with six homers and a 1.308 slugging percentage vs. Bartolo Colon. ... Mark Teixeira ($3,000) has three homers in 42 at bats vs. Colon. ... Freddie Freeman ($4,900) is 7-for-17 with two homers vs. Ryan Vogelsong. ... Miguel Cabrera ($4,400, .351 BA) and Victor Martinez ($3,400, .417 BA) have both had success against Jose Quintana. ... The interesting thing about BvP today is that all the good history is among first basemen, and you can only pick one.
5. Drew Smyly ($7,600) has a 5.29 ERA and allows too many home runs, but he whiffs more than a batter per inning. Tonight, Smyly faces the Royals, whose hitters have a collective .693 OPS against him, and have been baseball's worst-hitting team (.620 OPS) over the last 30 days.
Our recommendations for the day are below!
Yesterday's recap:
D.J. Foster's must-start call worked out well, as Max Scherzer whiffed 11 D-backs and racked up 35 DK points. Michael Wacha (13.05 DK points was a less effective deal of the day, while Brewer stacks may have helped if restricted to Scooter Gennett and Ryan Braun.
Must Start of the day: Stephen Piscotty, STL
Really? Yep, even for $4,900. Piscotty has destroyed LHP this season, with a .465 wOBA and an 1.114 OPS in 114 plate appearances. Only Brian Dozier ranks higher in OPS, with Dozier and Martin Prado outpacing Piscotty in wOBA.
Today, Piscotty faces Reds lefty Brandon Finnegan, who has a 4.68 ERA with 22 homers allowed in 117 1/3 innings, has given up five or more runs in three of his last five starts, and has already entered uncharted workload territory. Piscotty is the 11th-highest priced outfielder today, but he might be the best bet to succeed.
(Note: If you read this too late to start Piscotty, pivot to Nelson Cruz.)
Deal of the day: David Dahl, COL
The price is up to $3,800, but Dahl keeps hitting, with three double-digit DK games in his last four. He batted fifth on both Tuesday and Wednesday. At Coors Field, you won't find a better bargain.
Avoid of the day: J.A. Happ, TOR
Happ has been really good lately, averaging 28.5 DK points over his last five starts. However, at $11,600 he's $1,800 more than any other starter. No, thanks.
Stack of the day: Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been MLB's best lineup by a lot over the last 30 days, posting a .362 wOBA with an .855 OPS. Today they'll face Indians rookie Mike Clevinger, who has allowed 14 runs in 14 1/3 innings in three starts in the majors this season. The top four hitters in the Twins' Wednesday lineup were Dozier/Mauer/Kepler/Sano, and we might see Kennys Vargas back in there today. Warning: None of these guys are cheap, with the salaries reflecting the matchup.
Starting pitchers:
Drew Pomeranz, BOS: The Mariners struggle vs. LHP and haven't been hitting all that well lately. At $9,400, Pomeranz is near the top of the salary list, but still a solid option.
Drew Smyly, TB: See "5 Things" note above.
Jordan Zimmermann, DET: $7,100, comes off the DL to face the scuffling White Sox.
Catchers:
Brian McCann, NYY: Got Wednesday off, and faces the very hittable Colon. $3,700.
Cameron Rupp, PHI: $3,400, has homered in two straight games, and owns a .421 wOBA vs. LHP in 49 PA this season.
First basemen:
Joe Mauer, MIN: $5,000, part of Twins' stack. Has 84 DK points in his last three games.
Freddie Freeman, ATL: $4,900, nice home matchup.
Kennys Vargas, MIN: $4,400, part of Twins' stack. Only if you need to save money and can't/won't use the more expensive Mauer.
Miguel Cabrera, DET: Five homers in his last seven games. Good price, too.
Second basemen:
Brian Dozier, MIN: $5,100, and killing it with 127 DK points over his last seven games. Part of your Twins' stack.
Jose Altuve, HOU: $4,800, always strong vs. LHP.
Aaron Hill, BOS: $2,800, probably gets the start at 3B vs. LHP Ariel Miranda.
Third basemen:
Miguel Sano, MIN: $4,500, part of your Twins' stack. Can also be used at OF.
Maikel Franco, PHI: For $3,600, worth a look at home vs. Matt Moore.
Shortstops:
Carlos Correa, HOU: Hasn't been terribly impressive lately, but for $3,500 at home vs. Happ, worth considering. Weird stat: Correa has a .638 OPS vs. LHP this season, and .890 vs. RHP.
Marcus Semien, OAK: Ricky Nolasco is always down for giving up a homer or two, and Semien ($3,100) ranks second among shortstops with 22 of them. Really like him today.
Outfielders:
Mookie Betts, BOS: You can pay for any number of Red Sox vs. Miranda, but if I had to pick one, it would be Mookie.
Stephen Piscotty, STL: "Must Start of the Day."
Nelson Cruz, SEA: $4,500, lefty masher.
David Dahl, COL: "Deal of the day."
Franklin Gutierrez, SEA: $3,100, but only if you don't use Pomeranz.
