It’s Friday and Mother’s Day is two days away. I wanted to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there. For everyone else, make sure to call your moms on Sunday. With that in mind, it is time for my 5-8-15 Daily Fantasy Picks. These picks are based off of the contest starting at 7:05 PM EST/4:05 PM PST. Values listed are based off of DraftKings.
Disclaimer: These picks are subject to change based on last minute line-up changes and weather.
Starting Pitcher
Matt Harvey, SP, New York Mets, $11,000
While there are other high-level starters available for slightly less (Price, Hamels, Gray, etc.), I decided to take the plunge and invest 22% of my salary cap towards Harvey. So far this season, he has won all 5 of his starts, his pitched well enough where he is earning all of those wins he is racking up (2.41 ERA/2.81 FIP) and most importantly he is accumulating plenty of strikeouts (9.09 K/9) in the process. On top of all that, he has a very strong match-up advantage tonight as the Mets are playing a very weak Phillies team.
Trevor Bauer, SP, Cleveland Indians, $7,000
Bauer is coming off a couple of rough starts which have caused his DraftKings salary to go from $8,000 as recently as April 28 to his current $7,000 value. Bauer is a solid buy low candidate. Even with recent struggles his numbers this season are not terrible (3.38 ERA/ 3.79 FIP). While there is risk of him continuing to struggle, one thing I like about Bauer is the strikeout based upside as he comes into tonight’s action with a 8.9 K/9 this season.
Catcher
Brian McCann, C, New York Yankees, $4,000
Nick Hundley & Even Gattis are also available at the same price. Picking Hundley was tempting due to the Rockies playing at home. However, I did not pick him because the Dodgers are starting Brett Anderson and Hundley has struggled against lefties. Gattis was also not picked as he hits better against Lefites than Righties (Angels are starting Jered Weaver).
This leaves us with McCann. In addition to playing at Yankee Stadium where he has hit .333 in 9 games this season, the Orioles are starting Miguel Gonzalez which is helpful as McCann has hit better against Righties in his career.
First Base
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves, $4,300
Freeman comes into this game on a hot streak as he has racked up double-digit points on DraftKings 3 times in his last 4 games. Tonight, he has a shot to continue this streak as he will be facing Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals. In his career, Freeman is hitting .292 with 2 HR in 28 PA against Gonzalez.
Second Base
Martin Prado, 2B, Miami Marlins, $3,500
Prado is off to a solid but not spectacular start this season, as he is hitting .295 with a .736 OPS over his first 27 games. Tonight the Marlins will be facing Tim Lincecum and the Giants. Prado is a good value play tonight as he has hit .333 in 33 career PA against Lincecum.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals
Moustakas is showing some evidence that he could be the hitter that people expected him to be this year as he is hitting .312 with a .825 OPS over his first 27 games. With the Royals playing the Tigers, Moustakas does have some match-up advantages despite having to go up against David Price. This season, he has hit equally as well against Lefties than he has against Righties. Also, he is hitting .440 on the road so far this season.
Shortstop
Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers, $4,000
This season, Segura has improved upon his performance from last season as he is hitting .282 in his first 27 games. So far this season, Segura has performed equally as well whether he is playing at Miller Park or if the Brewers are on the road.
Outfield
Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, $5,400
Right now, Pederson is arguably has one of the hottest bats in baseball and has hit 9 HR in 105 PA overall this season. Also, the Dodgers are playing at Coors Field and facing Eddie Butler who has a 4.87 FIP this season. If that is not enough, Pederson has hit all 9 of his HR against righties in only 71 AB.
Seth Smith, OF, Seattle Mariners, $3,800
Even though the Mariners have a tough match-up as they are going up against Sonny Gray, Smith is a much better hitter against Righties than Lefties. Smith is a good value play whenever his team is going up against a RHP (even a good one), he can typically be added to your roster at a very reasonable price.
Ender Inciarte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, $3,500
In the 19-team LWOS Fantasy League I’m playing in, I drafted Inciarte towards the back end of the draft hoping to at least get some SB. Inciarte has been a pleasant surprise for me as he has hit .320 over his first 26 games. Even though the Diamondbacks have a tough match-up with James Shields taking the hill for the Padres, the combination of Inciarte’s strong start and this game being at Chase Field makes Inciarte a good value at $3,500.
All statistics found on fangraphs.com
All statistics through 5/6/15
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