With the early Cubs game, we have 14 games in play for tonight’s DFS MLB action. It’s definitely an interesting slate to say the least. We have a number of big name aces in Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, Cole Hamels, and Chris Archer, but they all have far from ideal situations for a number of different reasons.
There are a few trouble spots in terms of weather as well in Cincinnati and Kansas City, but both games should be safe for hitting (though, I am saying that at 7:30 AM ET, so you absolutely should keep an eye on the weather as it gets closer to roster lock).
| CATCHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Derek Norris | SD | R | COL | Tyler Chatwood | 386 | 71 | 13 | 48 | 39 | 34 | 8 | .184 | .582 | .142 | .234 | .252 | 21.1% | 34.9% | 85.9% | $3,400 | $3,900 | $4,350 |
| Victor Martinez | DET | S | CLE | Corey Kluber | 517 | 150 | 24 | 58 | 76 | 43 | 0 | .290 | .817 | .182 | .306 | .345 | 24.1% | 39.2% | 91.5% | $3,100 | $3,000 | $4,750 |
| Tom Murphy | COL | R | SD | Christian Friedrich | 20 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .300 | .964 | .300 | .364 | .405 | 23.1% | 30.8% | 80.8% | $3,000 | $2,900 | $3,400 |
| Alex Avila | CHW | S | KC | Ian Kennedy | 149 | 33 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 30 | 0 | .221 | .736 | .161 | .338 | .328 | 25.6% | 32.6% | 73.1% | $2,400 | $2,800 | $3,300 |
Derek Norris’s 2016 has been relatively awful if we want to be honest, but he’s been showing more plate discipline with a .357 OBP over the last week. He also has a big of pop so playing at Coors tonight definitely makes him a viable option.
Victor Martinez is still a catcher eligible option on FanDuel, and tonight may be the night to pull the trigger. He is batting .312/.371/.594 with three homers, lifetime, against Corey Kluber of the Indians.
Tom Murphy has been able to get a hold of a few balls when he’s been in the lineup, but unfortunately, Colorado’s catching situation has him in the middle of a three-headed monster with Nick Hundley and Tony Wolters. If he does get the nod tonight, he could be an affordable way to get some exposure to Coors.
Alex Avila kicks off an interesting list of hitters who have taken their opposing pitchers deep at least two times in 2016. Earlier this season, Avila indeed went 2-for-3 with two homers and two walks for a .800 OBP and 2.667 SLG against Ian Kennedy.
| FIRST BASE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Edwin Encarnacion | TOR | R | LAA | Jered Weaver | 541 | 143 | 39 | 91 | 116 | 75 | 2 | .264 | .893 | .274 | .270 | .375 | 20.5% | 37.7% | 85.6% | $4,200 | $4,600 | $5,300 |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | R | CLE | Corey Kluber | 541 | 143 | 39 | 91 | 116 | 75 | 2 | .264 | .893 | .274 | .270 | .375 | 20.5% | 37.7% | 85.6% | $3,400 | $4,400 | $5,150 |
| Eric Hosmer | KC | L | CHW | Chris Sale | 551 | 151 | 23 | 75 | 91 | 55 | 5 | .274 | .785 | .172 | .309 | .336 | 16.8% | 35.0% | 87.3% | $3,100 | $3,500 | $4,650 |
| Josh Bell | PIT | S | CIN | Robert Stephenson | 73 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 0 | .301 | .877 | .164 | .308 | .379 | 20.9% | 34.3% | 88.3% | $2,700 | $3,100 | $3,800 |
Edwin Encarnacion is batting .308/.438/.615 with a homer and three RBIs throughout his career against Jered Weaver of the Angels.
Miguel Cabrera owns Corey Kluber in every way imaginable. He is an extremely impressive 21-for-42 (.500 AVG) with five homers, two doubles, and 10 RBIs against the Indians ace.
Eric Hosmer will probably be ignored in the majority of lineups thanks to a tough matchup against the southpaw, Chris Sale. Ignoring him would be a mistake though. He is 8-for-12 (.667 AVG) with THREE dongs this season against Sale.
Josh Bell has gone 4-for-7 (.571 AVG) with a homer against Robert Stephenson in the Minors and actually went 2-for-2 against him last week in the Majors.
| SECOND BASE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Logan Forsythe | TB | R | BAL | Ubaldo Jimenez | 449 | 126 | 19 | 71 | 51 | 43 | 6 | .281 | .823 | .192 | .329 | .354 | 24.4% | 36.3% | 84.9% | $3,700 | $4,200 | $4,750 |
| Jean Segura | ARI | R | LAD | Kenta Maeda | 577 | 182 | 16 | 90 | 56 | 32 | 30 | .315 | .844 | .166 | .352 | .362 | 19.0% | 29.3% | 92.6% | $3,500 | $5,200 | $4,750 |
| Robinson Cano | SEA | L | LAA | Jered Weaver | 590 | 176 | 33 | 95 | 87 | 42 | 0 | .298 | .870 | .222 | .302 | .367 | 18.8% | 35.4% | 93.4% | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,350 |
| Dee Gordon | MIA | L | PHI | Adam Morgan | 269 | 69 | 0 | 40 | 10 | 14 | 20 | .257 | .608 | .059 | .308 | .266 | 17.5% | 18.3% | 91.7% | $2,500 | $4,200 | $4,950 |
Logan Forsythe has been batting .323/.425/.500 with three homers and nine RBIs over this last 15 games.
Jean Segura broke his double double dong streak last night, but it’d be foolish to say he’s done with the fireworks. He has been sensational this season and has been especially good at home at Chase Field.
Robinson Cano is batting .333/.375/.633 with two homers, a triple, and a double throughout his career against Collin McHugh of the Astros.
Dee Gordon hasn’t been right since coming back from his long suspension, but you have to give him a little bit of credit now considering he has hits in each of his last seven games and is coming off of a three steal outing against the Braves.
| THIRD BASE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Manny Machado | BAL | R | TB | Chris Archer | 579 | 177 | 35 | 100 | 91 | 45 | 0 | .306 | .914 | .252 | .321 | .381 | 20.8% | 36.1% | 87.6% | $3,800 | $4,100 | $5,100 |
| Jake Lamb | ARI | L | LAD | Kenta Maeda | 472 | 122 | 28 | 77 | 88 | 55 | 6 | .258 | .871 | .275 | .303 | .363 | 18.6% | 40.8% | 83.8% | $3,500 | $4,600 | $4,350 |
| Jung-Ho Kang | PIT | R | CIN | Robert Stephenson | 269 | 72 | 18 | 40 | 52 | 26 | 3 | .268 | .882 | .260 | .287 | .373 | 21.4% | 40.8% | 88.4% | $3,500 | $5,000 | $4,550 |
| Yulieski Gurriel | HOU | R | SEA | Felix Hernandez | 71 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | .338 | .881 | .183 | .350 | .373 | 20.6% | 36.5% | 90.1% | $3,000 | $2,500 | $4,200 |
Manny Machado has gone 10-for-29 (.345 AVG) with a homer, double, three walks, five runs, and three RBIs against Chris Archer throughout his career. His salary on DraftKings, like most of the O’s, is a bit deflated thanks to the matchup against Archer.
Jake Lamb has pulverized Kenta Maeda this season, going 7-for-13 (.538 AVG) with a homer and three doubles against the right-hander.
Jung-Ho Kang doesn’t come cheap, but he’s swinging a hot bat, and tore apart Robert Stevenson in the youngster’s last start on 9/10, going 2-for-2 with a homer and three RBIs.
Yulieski Gurriel has hits in 10 of his last 11 games and is a great value throughout the industry. Of course, his bed value is on DraftKings where he is just $2500.
| SHORTSTOP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Corey Seager | LAD | L | ARI | Zack Greinke | 566 | 179 | 25 | 96 | 69 | 49 | 2 | .316 | .902 | .212 | .361 | .381 | 25.3% | 40.3% | 88.5% | $4,100 | $5,100 | $5,150 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | TOR | R | LAA | Jered Weaver | 429 | 110 | 23 | 50 | 71 | 39 | 1 | .256 | .775 | .196 | .274 | .332 | 19.7% | 34.1% | 85.2% | $3,000 | $4,100 | $4,800 |
| Chris Owings | ARI | R | LAD | Kenta Maeda | 372 | 106 | 3 | 44 | 38 | 19 | 17 | .285 | .748 | .134 | .348 | .319 | 22.7% | 29.6% | 89.1% | $2,600 | $3,700 | $3,950 |
| Andrelton Simmons | LAA | R | TOR | R.A. Dickey | 392 | 113 | 4 | 41 | 38 | 22 | 7 | .288 | .706 | .092 | .305 | .307 | 19.9% | 24.6% | 93.7% | $2,200 | $3,500 | $4,000 |
Corey Seager has absolutely owned his former teammate, Zack Greinke, this season. The younger Seager is 5-for-6 (.833 AVG) with two homers, a double, and four RBIs against Greinke this year.
Troy Tulowitzki has done the majority of his damage in 2016 against offspeed pitches, which is the only thing that Jered Weaver throws nowadays.
Chris Owings is batting .328/.348/.500 with a homer and seven RBIs over his last 15 games.
Andrelton Simmons made his return to the lineup last night and smacked another home run in his first game back since going double dong on Sunday. He’s 5-for-9 (.556 AVG), lifetime, against R.A. Dickey.
| OUTFIELD | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Bats | Opp | Opp Pitch | AB | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | wOBA | LD% | Hard% | Z-Cont% | FD | DK | Aces |
| Mike Trout | LAA | R | TOR | R.A. Dickey | 497 | 157 | 27 | 110 | 89 | 100 | 25 | .316 | .990 | .239 | .372 | .417 | 21.8% | 42.3% | 86.4% | $4,200 | $5,500 | $5,500 |
| Alex Dickerson | SD | L | COL | Tyler Chatwood | 219 | 54 | 9 | 35 | 31 | 19 | 5 | .247 | .758 | .196 | .256 | .324 | 21.2% | 34.1% | 90.0% | $3,800 | $4,300 | $4,800 |
| Jayson Werth | WSH | R | ATL | John Gant | 480 | 118 | 20 | 77 | 62 | 65 | 5 | .246 | .761 | .179 | .289 | .330 | 17.3% | 36.5% | 86.7% | $3,800 | $3,100 | $4,850 |
| Nelson Cruz | SEA | R | HOU | Collin McHugh | 530 | 152 | 37 | 86 | 92 | 55 | 0 | .287 | .907 | .260 | .325 | .379 | 17.6% | 35.8% | 83.4% | $3,700 | $4,100 | $5,400 |
| Adam Eaton | CHW | L | KC | Ian Kennedy | 569 | 162 | 13 | 84 | 55 | 61 | 12 | .285 | .797 | .146 | .333 | .346 | 20.1% | 31.0% | 90.1% | $3,600 | $4,300 | $4,650 |
| Khris Davis | OAK | R | TEX | Cole Hamels | 509 | 127 | 37 | 78 | 94 | 33 | 1 | .250 | .819 | .267 | .276 | .344 | 17.4% | 38.6% | 75.6% | $3,500 | $4,700 | $5,150 |
| Hunter Pence | SF | R | STL | Luke Weaver | 335 | 99 | 12 | 50 | 52 | 37 | 1 | .296 | .836 | .176 | .352 | .359 | 16.6% | 32.1% | 82.8% | $3,300 | $4,200 | $5,000 |
| Scott Schebler | CIN | L | PIT | Ryan Vogelsong | 204 | 51 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 18 | 2 | .250 | .730 | .157 | .295 | .315 | 17.5% | 35.3% | 81.7% | $3,100 | $3,500 | $3,600 |
| Ender Inciarte | ATL | L | WSH | Max Scherzer | 465 | 134 | 3 | 71 | 27 | 38 | 15 | .288 | .726 | .092 | .322 | .315 | 23.7% | 23.0% | 94.8% | $2,900 | $3,100 | $3,900 |
| Oswaldo Arcia | SD | L | COL | Tyler Chatwood | 198 | 41 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 1 | .207 | .649 | .167 | .292 | .282 | 25.0% | 31.4% | 78.0% | $2,500 | $3,800 | $3,900 |
| Sean Rodriguez | PIT | R | CLE | Robert Stephenson | 243 | 63 | 14 | 40 | 47 | 28 | 2 | .259 | .841 | .239 | .329 | .355 | 21.5% | 43.3% | 77.1% | $2,400 | $3,700 | $3,800 |
| Brett Eibner | OAK | R | TEX | Cole Hamels | 143 | 31 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 0 | .217 | .681 | .175 | .263 | .292 | 21.2% | 22.9% | 75.8% | $2,000 | $3,400 | $3,700 |
Mike Trout has been ice cold over the last week, but a date with R.A. Dickey might just be what he needs to get back to his usual self. Trout is 6-for-13 (.462 AVG) with a triple, two doubles, and four runs scored against the knuckleballer.
Alex Dickerson homered against Tyler Chatwood earlier this season and gets an opportunity to repeat it tonight in the friendly confines of Coors Field.
Jayson Werth is too cheap to ignore on DraftKings where he is only $3100. Yes, Bryce Harper is probably more popular and Trea Turner has a good shot at swiping a bag, and they are both good options, but Werth is your best bang for your buck.
Nelson Cruz was flexing his muscles homering the Angels to death in Anaheim and it wouldn’t be a shock if his surge continues against Collin McHugh tonight. Cruz is 6-for-15 (.400 AVG) with two homers, lifetime, against McHugh.
Adam Eaton has an 8-game hitting streak where he has gone 14-for-33 (.424 AVG) with a homer, triple, five doubles, four walks, eight runs, and five RBIs.
Khris Davis doesn’t come cheap, but he’s the epitome of upside, which is something you want in your GPP lineups. Plus, he actually went 2-for-3 with a couple home runs earlier this season against Cole Hamels.
Hunter Pence has missed out on most of the season, but he statistically, he has still been the best hitter in the Giants lineup. Pence has hits in each of his last nine games, going 17-for-35 (.486 AVG) with two homers, five doubles, five walks, 10 runs, and seven RBIs.
Scott Schebler does not have a ton of experience against Ryan Vogelsong, but he did go 2-for-3 with a couple doubles earlier this season against the veteran right-hander.
Ender Inciarte has held his own against Max Scherzer throughout his career, and has batted .319/.365/.391 over his last 15 games.
Oswaldo Arcia hasn’t been hot or anything, but he is $2500 on FanDuel tonight and has a big opportunity for production playing in Coors Field tonight.
Sean Rodriguez is getting a deep, deep look thanks to the injuries to Starling Marte and Josh Harrison. He has appeared in each of the last four games, going 6-for-12 (.500 AVG) with two homers and eight RBIs.
Brett Eibner is someone who I am willing to roster if I’m looking to completely punt one of my outfield spots. He seems to be at his best with consistent playing time, and has started in four of the last five games for the A’s, going 4-for-13 (.307 AVG) with a triple, double, four walks, and four runs scored.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Fantasy Alarm Daily Lineups page to confirm that your players are starting.
If you guys have any questions, you can always reach me on Twitter @kle18. Good luck!