An overflowing baseball schedule on Tuesday — 17 games, thanks to a pair of doubleheaders — gives us ample opportunity to win some cash in daily fantasy. Max Scherzer $14200 is by far the highest-salaried player at DraftKings and every other aspect of lineup building flows from the decision to use (or avoid) him.
Early pools at 1:20 Eastern cover only the two matinees. DK appears to have the Cardinals SP reversed; according to MLB.com, Tim Cooney $4400 is pitching the nightcap but he’s listed in the opener. Jake Arrieta $10400 and whoever you like between Matt Moore $7000 and Chris Young $5000 is the way to go.
In All-Day contests, the TAM @ KC first game and the second of STL @CHC are off the board, and there’s Turbo action at 8:05 covering 7 games. A busy DFS card winds up Late (10:10; 3 games.) That’s a lot of ways to win; our focus is on the richest contests at 7:05, spanning everything except the first halves of the twin bills. Rain is a factor in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, maybe Denver.
DK matches your first deposit 100% (up to $600) with bonus funds that convert to cash. You also get a FREE entry into the Early $10K Moonshot, with 780 guaranteed prizes — $800 for first — and a maximum of 3,833 teams. That one closes at 1:20 and is filling up, so enter ASAP.
You don’t have to use Scherzer; he’s up against Johnny Cueto $10100 and it’s tough to predict a winner. Corey Kluber $11200, Francisco Liriano $10300 and Sonny Gray $9600 are all quite capable of great performances.
Rather quietly after a slow start, Taijuan Walker $8200 has tossed seven straight gems; he’s fanned 30 and walked nobody in the last four. Manny Banuelos $5900 is the best bargain. Brilliant in his MLB debut, the 24-year-old lefty had to leave in the sixth inning because of dehydration and cramps. Fully recovered from elbow surgery, he could go 7 IP (or more) tonight. Andrew Heaney $6300 has looked great in his first two starts but the Coors Field Effect adds risk. Don’t use Tyler Lyons $6000 if he has already pitched.
Last night the Blue Jays hit two homers in a losing cause off Chris Sale; tonight they face an easier lefty in Jose Quintana $7400. Eight Toronto hitters are playable (Jose Reyes $4300 prefers RHP) and I’m stacking five in the sample lineup.
1B/C Buster Posey $4400 at home vs. a southpaw is hard to ignore, but Russell Martin $3800 is also worth the money.
It could be a South Side slugfest, as Felix Doubront starts for the Jays. 1B Jose Abreu $5500 and all the RH bats for the White Sox can take advantage. Edwin Encarnacion $4400 is a relative bargain and I like several Red Sox including David Ortiz $4200 at home vs. Dan Haren $6200.
Jason Kipnis $5100 deserves top billing at 2B, Devon Travis $3700 is our choice and as we told you 24 hours ago, “Cesar Hernandez $3100 should be used somewhere.” The 2B/SS went 2-for-5 with a SB and his price hasn’t changed.
The dream season continues for Josh Donaldson $5400, who got more All-Star votes than anyone, ever, and celebrated by taking Sale deep. Nolan Arenado $4800 and Kris Bryant $4800 are also stellar at a loaded position. 3B/OF Danny Valencia $3500 is a possible bargain if you can’t afford JD.
At SS, gotta like Troy Tulowitzki $4800 back home against a southpaw. Alexei Ramirez $3500 had a good game last night and Hernandez is cheap.
Jose Bautista $5300 is my #1 OF play but a couple of Angels may warrant their lofty salaries. Mike Trout $6200 and Kole Calhoun $5100 might feast on Chad Bettis $5300 at high altitude. Chris Colabello $3300 just hit a bomb off Sale and will start again at 1B. Valencia fits if you didn’t use him at third. I liked Yasiel Puig $3500 for $800 more last night (12 PTS) so he makes the Short List and 3B/OF Brock Holt $3300 has to be the lowest-priced All-Star.
Pos | Premium | Bargain |
SP1 | Max Scherzer $14200 | Manny Banuelos $5900 |
SP2 | Taijuan Walker $8200 | Andrew Heaney $6300 |
C | Buster Posey $4400 | Russell Martin $3800 |
1B | Jose Abreu $5500 | Edwin Encarnacion $4400 |
2B | Jason Kipnis $5100 | Devon Travis $3700 |
3B | Josh Donaldson $5400 | Danny Valencia $3500 |
SS | Troy Tulowitzki $4800 | Cesar Hernandez $3100 |
OF1 | Jose Bautista $5300 | Brock Holt $3300 |
OF2 | Mike Trout $6200 | Yasiel Puig $3500 |
OF3 | Kole Calhoun $5100 | Chris Colabello $3300 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season and we’re turning out attention to baseball for the summer. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.