DFS PLAYS
Normally there’s a big old section of players listed here. But not today or moving forward.
‘Ray – you’re abandoning DFS?!’
No. Quite the opposite in fact.
Instead of just listing a guy at each spot as I’ve been doing thus far in the Daily Trends piece I’m taking this thing global, making it huge if you will. Taking over the world while I’m at it. Small goals.
I’m moving into a new position with the Alarm’s daily coverage – and you’re going to like it.
Yours truly has a new title – THE DFS MLB HITTING COACH.
Instead of one guy a position I’m going to be profiling 5-8 times as many players at each position. That’s right, not just one guy tossed out there but 5+ hitters at each position will be reviewed. Yeah, right? Pretty exciting. We’re positive you will like the change.
Blast off has occurred. Give the first DFS MLB Hitting Coach a read.
ALEX GUERRERO LOVE – OUT OF CONTROL?
I really like Alex Guerrero and the game he brings. All he has done is hit since he came to major league baseball. In 77 games last season at Rookie ball, 
High-A and Triple-A (65 games were at Triple-A) he hit .333 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs and 47 runs scored (.994 OPS). Crushed it. In 33 at-bats in the big leagues, this year and last he’s hit .313 with a 1.053 OPS. Crushed It again. So he’s a must add in all fantasy leagues. NO HE IS NOT. Here is why.
The Dodgers brought in Howie Kendrick to play second and Jimmy Rollins to play short. The plan is for both men to play 145+ games this season. That basically relegates Guerrero to the backup spot at second base. ‘But Ray, the Dodgers can just play him at third base.’ Is that accurate?
Juan Uribe isn’t very good. I get it. He’s also been in the big leagues for 15 years. That matters. He hit .311 last season. That matters. He has a reputation as a “big” or “clutch” hitter. That matters. He’s going to see the field at the hot corner.
Justin Turner plays everywhere, including third base, but so many folks just dismiss him like he’s useless. I know, I know, he’s nowhere near a star, but do you think the Dodgers have forgotten that Turner hit .340 last year with a .404 OBP over 322 plate appearances? No way Don Mattingly has forgotten that. Over his last 512 at-bats Turner has hit .314 with a .368 OBP, 60 RBIs and 59 runs scored. That’s pretty solid work ain’t it?
Corey Seager has been seeing some time at third base at Double-A Tulsa. A shortstop by trade, odds are that he sticks at the shortstop position for at least a little while longer, but Seager could see time at third base later this season if he keeps hitting (he has a .423/.436/.654 line through 13 games at Double-A). If you don’t know the names know this – Baseball America ranked him as the 5th best prospect in all of baseball.
I’m not saying you can’t add Guerrero. Injuries happen. Players force their way into the lineup. Things change. But note that the Dodgers have three valid options at third base right now, have one of the best prospects in baseball waiting in the wings, and through 15 games they have found all of 20 plate appearances for Alex Guerrero.
For more on the matter see this MLB.com report.
ON THE BUMP
Homer Bailey looked better in his second start allowing two runs over 5.2 innings to the Brewers Thursday. He’s only struck out three batters over two starts but he walked just one batter last night. Have to think the pace of homers allowed will recede greatly as well as he’s already allowed three homers in two starts. A good time to buy low since he looks healthy.
Clay Buchholz had 10 strikeouts and allowed one run over six innings to the Rays. I could care less. To be fair, he allowed nine runs on April 10th and in his other three starts he’s allowed a total of three runs to cross the plate. The 4.84 ERA and 1.43 WHIP he owns aren’t that far off what my expectations would be.
Drew Hutchison finally found his game with eight innings of two run ball against the Orioles. Most encouraging was the fact he didn’t walk anyone. If he’s on waivers… he shouldn’t be.
Jake Odorizzi is killing it right now. Last night one runs allowed in 6.2 innings against the Red Sox. Since the start of last season no pitcher in baseball has thrown more games of six innings, three or fewer hits and one or fewer runs allowed. Odorizzi has done it 11 times while Felix Hernandez, Madison Bumgarner and Jake Arrieta have all done it eight times. For more on Odorizzi see his Player Profile.
David Phelps shut out the Phillies over seven innings Thursday night. Doesn’t matter. He’s only worth a look in NL-only leagues.
Masahiro Tanaka tossed 6.1 innings of one run ball against the Tigers to lower his ratios to strong levels (3.22 ERA, 0.94 WHIP). Still think his arm flies off at some point.
Yordano Ventura was part of it all last night. Here’s what his line looks like through four starts: left two games with cramps, has been ejected twice. What an arm, but as Ted Schuster recently said – ‘gosh does Ventura remind me of Carlos Zambrano.’
I’M A HITTER AGAIN
Eric Hosmer is batting .339 with a .444 OBP through 16 games reminding everyone just how talented he is. Only has one homer thus far, the power may never reach the levels that some people hoped it would, but his approach right now is totally on point.
DL NEWS
James Loney is back for the Rays as Allan Dykstra has been sent down. Sure Loney is boring, but the last two years he’s hit .295 with an average of 73 RBIs. In a lot of leagues there’s value in that.
Drew Smyly will make his first start of the season for the Rays against the Blue Jays. He will be on a pitch count having gone just 3.2 innings in his last start. There’s also this. The Jays mash lefties with an .820 team OPS, the fourth best mark in all of baseball. They are also batting .306 against lefties, the second best mark in baseball.