Welcome to my Daily Plays article for Tuesday May 19, 2015. The weather in Denver could be an issue, and might affect the players in the game at Coors Field. Picking players in that game is risky due to the potential postponement, but could provide some nice value plays if the game is played. Keep an eye out for weather updates before finalizing your lineups. Tuesday has a full slate of games on the schedule, so let’s get on to the picks.
5-19-15 Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks
Pitcher
James Shields, SP, San Diego Padres, $8,800 – Shields is near the top of the National League lead in strikeouts in his first year in San Diego, and has won five of his eight starts as a Padre. He also is pitching in Petco Park on Tuesday night, and faces the strikeout-prone Cubs. Shields has an incredible 64 strikeouts in just 48 innings in 2015, and is thus the top pitching option available. Shields faced the Cubs earlier in the year in Wrigley, and finished with nine strikeouts and a win in six innings. Pitching at home with double-digit strikeout potential, confidently fire up Shields as the top pitcher regardless of salary.
Mike Foltynewicz, SP, Atlanta Braves, $7,000 – Foltynewicz is a nice value option for those looking to save some cap space at pitcher. Foltynewicz is pitching at home versus the offensively-challenged Rays, and their mediocre pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (6.66 ERA). The Braves are heavily favored according to Vegas odds, and Foltynewicz has the ability to rack up strikeouts in a hurry with his electric fastball. In his first start, Foltynewicz struck out two batters, but has racked up seven strikeouts in each of his past two starts. He has also won both games that he started in Turner Field, and has great upside for the price. If you’re looking for a value pitcher, Foltynewicz is your guy.
Catcher
Russell Martin, C, Toronto Blue Jays, $3,600 – There are very few appealing cheap options at catcher, so it is a good idea to spend on a stud like Martin. Martin is batting .364 versus left-handed pitching, and is batting .356 at home, including a .733 slugging % at Rogers Center. He is also batting in the middle of the potent Jays lineup, and has a solid matchup versus the left-handed Hector Santiago. The other expensive option is Stephen Vogt, $3,800, who is demolishing right-handed pitching in 2015 (.341 batting average, eight home runs) and faces Roberto Hernandez in hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park.
First Base
Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies, $3,400 – Howard has been hitting lately, and gets the benefit of facing the worst pitcher of the day, Chad Bettis, in Coors Field. Howard is batting .257 with seven home runs versus right-handed pitching entering Monday night, and had a solid game on Monday in Denver. Bettis has a 7.20 ERA, and the Phillies offense should score plenty of runs, so get Howard in your lineup at a very attractive price.
Second Base
Robinson Cano, 2B, Seattle Mariners, $3,000 – Cano is normally priced around $4K, so he makes an excellent value play at his currently depressed salary. Cano also gets a ballpark boost as he faces Miguel Gonzalez in Camden Yards. Gonzalez has been great so far in 2015, but historically is prone to the long ball. Cano is batting a respectable .283 versus right-handed pitching, and is a nice value play batting third for the Mariners. Dee Gordon, $3,800, is also a strong play as he faces Jeremy Hellickson at home. Gordon has multi-run and multi-steal potential and leads the league in hits.
Third Base
Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers, $3,200 – Beltre has been on a tear lately, and will look to continue his hot streak against Wade Miley in Fenway Park. Miley has struggled so far in his first year in Boston, and owns a 5.60 ERA on the season. Beltre has been hot so far in May, batting .319 with three home runs this month. He also enjoys facing left-handed pitching, with a .591 slugging percentage and three home runs in just 44 at-bats.
Shortstop
Brad Miller, SS, Seattle Mariners, $3,000 – Miller is arguably the hottest hitter in the American League and is one of the few shortstops with home run power. Miller has four home runs in the last seven days, and is batting .299 and slugging .586 versus right-handed pitching. Similar to Cano above, he also gets a ballpark boost playing in Camden Yards. With multi-home run upside at a moderate price tag, Miller makes an excellent value play at a difficult position.
Outfield
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies, $3,200 – Gonzalez has started to heat up in the past few games, and his price is still depressed due to his poor start in 2015. Gonzalez has two home runs and five RBI in his past five games, and is batting in the heart of the Rockies lineup. He faces Aaron Harang who has been great so far in 2015, but the game is in Coors Field where runs can be scored in bunches. Fire up Gonzalez at this attractive price while you can. For those that want to spend at outfield, Bryce Harper, $6,200, has been on an incredible run lately, and has a nice matchup at home versus Nathan Eovaldi.
Kole Calhoun, OF, Los Angeles Angels, $2,900 – Calhoun is now batting cleanup for the Angels, and is a very nice value at under $3K. Facing Aaron Sanchez in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, Calhoun has a very good matchup and ballpark boost in his favor. Sanchez is prone to walking hitters, so Calhoun may have ample opportunities with men on base. With tremendous upside at an attractive price, Calhoun makes an excellent value play in the outfield in what could be a very high scoring game.
Chris Colabello, Toronto Blue Jays, $2,300 – Colabello has had a very strong 2015 with Toronto after tearing up minor league pitching to start the year. Since being called up, Colabello is batting .413 and slugging .565 for the Jays. He also feasts off of left-handed pitching, with a .583 batting average and a home run in 12 at-bats. His price is not reflective of his production, and similar to Russell Martin above, he has a nice matchup at home versus a left-hander. Colabello is a tremendous value play at a near-minimum salary in the outfield.
(Picks courtesy of Ronny Mor/Rotowire.com)
