DFS PLAYS OF THE DAY

Here are some of the best plays of the day if you're looking to set your daily lineup, or if you're playing the daily game. Be sure to look out for the DFS MLB Playbook for some other daily plays (see link below).
 
C: Brian McCann faces David Price who has been on fire this year. Still, McCann has serious ownage on Price with seven hits in 14 at-bats. That effort includes three homers and six RBIs. McCann has hit .254 with 18 homers and 72 RBIs against lefties the last three years in under 400 at-bats. 
 
1B: Once more into the breach… Joe Mauer versus Jeremy Guthrie has been a mismatch and then some for Mauer in his career as he’s hit .360 with a 1.204 OPS over 31 plate appearances. He’s even gone deep three times as well. 
 
2B: Eric Sogard gets to face the struggling Jered Weaver in a matchup that has long favored the hitter as Eric has ripped out nine hits in 25 at-bats leading to a .360 batting average. Gotta love the fact he wears glasses too. Cheap play. 
 
3B: Martin Prado hit .366 last season against left-handed pitching with a .978 OPS. He gets to face struggling lefty Cole Hamels Wednesday. He’s also had success in the matchup hitting .295 with a homer over 61 at-bats. Oh, and he’s in an even better spot in the batting order as well (see below). 
 
SS: Let’s double-down on Marlins versus Hamels. Adeiny Hechavarria hit .321 last year against lefties and he’s gone 8-for-22 (.364) against Cole Hamels.
 
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury has hit .327 against David Price in 49 at-bats. He’s also hit four doubles, two triples and a home run. Even swiped five bases in six tries. He hit an even .300 last year with a .827 OPS against lefties. 
 
OF: Torii Hunter is old, boring and lame (I just wrote that). He faces a younger version of everything I just wrote – Jeremy Guthrie. Hunter has a long track record of success against the righty batting .327 with a homer and eight RBIs over 49 at-bats. 
 
OF: Nelson Cruz cannot be stopped. Seems like he is always hitting a home run, doesn’t it? He faces Roberto Hernandez, a sinker baller who can get crushed if he elevates the ball. In 18 at-bats against Roberto Cruz has taken him deep three times. 
 
SP: Sonny Gray, Athletics
Gray gets to face the Angels who are starting Jered Weaver who is currently not on his game. Gray hasn’t been producing strikeouts (5.06 per nine), but overall can you really complain about his efforts (2.11 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 4.0 K/BB)? The Angels have hit .211 with a .271 OBP and .332 SLG against righties this year. Woof. 
 
SP: Jimmy Nelson, Brewers
Faces the Reds after back-to-back starts against the Pirates in which he allowed two runs and walked a mere two batters. That’s the key – limiting the walks. The Reds walk rate against righties is 7.9 percent, 14th best, so they haven’t exactly been elite (other than Joey Votto) at working the free pass. 
 
SP: John Lackey, Cardinals
Walked just three batters in two starts and last time out he shut out the struggling Brewers over seven innings. He’s not a sexy play against the Nationals but with all the obvious plays (Cole Hamels, Madison Bumgarner, David Price, Johnny Cueto and Clayton Kershaw) he was a nice guy to touch on in this piece if you don’t want to go big at the position. The Nationals are just 21st in OPS against righties at this point (.644).

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INJURIES

Jake McGee (elbow) was supposed to be back at the start of May. Maybe it still happens, but for now his body is sore so his rehab assignment has been delayed. His elbow us said to be fine, but this is still discouraging news. Doesn’t sound like Brad Boxberger is going to be losing 9th inning time soon – as long as he cuts down the walks.
 
Anthony Rendon (knee) is ready to start a rehab assignment Friday. He hopes to be back by the start of May. He has no pain in his knee, but he’s still a bit stiff moving side to side. “The pain is not an issue, but beyond that is getting in shape. Anything that has to do with your legs and not being able to do much, then you’re not in baseball shape,” manager Matt Williams said. From missing a few days to a whole month. His owners will love to see Rendon return to the field, but will he run at all or will he merely be Howie Kendrick with that bat?
 
Michael Saunders (knee & hamstring) hopes to be able to return Friday, at least that’s what his manager thinks is possible. A potential 20/20 type of talent, your expectations have to be much lower than that at this point. Even 15/15 would be stretching things (maybe 15/10?). Jose Bautista plays daily for this club in the outfield so them it will be a mix of Dalton Pompey, Kevin Pillar and Saunders. Once healthy, Saunders will likely steal a lot of work from Pillar. 
 
Drew Smyly (shoulder) only threw 3.2 innings in his last outing at Double-A, but he thinks he should be good to go Friday against the Blue Jays. Certainly could happen.
 

LINEUP CHANGES

Mark Melancon had another rough outing Tuesday as he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks to the Cubs as he was saddled with his first loss and first blown save of the year. I would suggest adding Tony Watson if he’s available, but it’s far from certain the Pirates will make a move. Jared Hughes is around as well, but all three men gave up a run Tuesday. 
 
Carlos Rodon was called up to the big leagues and made his first official appearance Tuesday against the Indians. It didn’t go well, not at all. Rodon recorded seven outs in relief but he allowed three walks, three hits and two runs with only one strikeout. Better times lay ahead, but he’s still nothing more than a middle reliever at the moment, one albeit with gobs of talent. 
 
Yasmany Tomas cannot play third base. Yet there he was, starting at third base for the D’backs Tuesday night. He looked awful in Spring Training at third, and didn’t play the position during his time in the minor leagues. All Jake Lamb had done was hit .393 with nine RBIs in 28 at-bats against righties entering the game but… wait for it… he’s now on the DL with a foot injury. The club hopes he won’t be out more than three weeks. Look for Tomas to see sporadic work at third though Aaron Hill might start to see more work at the hot corner. Tomas is still a dicey addition at the moment, not someone I would be rushing out to add in a 10/12 team mixed league.
 
Christian Yelich has been dropped from the number two hole to fifth in the batting order as Martin Prado moved up to the second spot. The Marlins have to do something to get Christian going. Too bad he wasn’t able to take a shot in that spot as he was pulled, late, from the lineup with back woes. That back has been causing issues for him and it might be an ongoing issue.
 

JUST A THOUGHT

Bud Norris allowed nine runs and recorded seven outs Tuesday night. That outing pushed his ERA to 17.42 and his WHIP to 2.32. We were all looking for Ubaldo Jimenez to fail and for Kevin Gausman to replace him. Perhaps we had Gausman replacing the wrong righty? Norris figures to get some rope, but how long can they run him out there pitching like this?