Daily Fantasy Baseball: Top Plays for Monday, March 31st
By John Hillier
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Starting Nine:
Daily Fantasy Baseball is certainly no can of corn! Don’t worry though, we’ve got all your bases covered. Each day, we put the “ducks on the pond” for you by presenting you with “The Natural” plays at each position, as well as a few “Savoy Specials” for good measure. Detroit Tigers’ first baseman Miguel Cabrera swings for the fences as Monday’s top play.
Let’s play ball!!
Pitcher: Sonny Gray, OAK ($7,100): What’s not to love about Gray here? For starters, he’s pitching at home and is the favorite to pick up the all-important W versus a mediocre Cleveland Indians’ offense. Last year at home, Gray tuned up offenses on his way to a sub-2.00 ERA, by being nearly unhittable, as evidenced by his 0.93 WHIP. On top of that, he should be able to rack up the Ks, having posted a K-rate of 9.4 during last year’s terrific rookie campaign. Most importantly, he offers all this top-tier upside at a discount of nearly $2,000 as compared to the more established aces such as Chris Sale, CWS ($8,900) and Jose Fernandez, MIA ($8,900).
To be fair, though I do love the discount, Gray is a slightly risky option. If you’re looking to play it safer, the previously mentioned Chris Sale and Jose Fernandez, both make excellent options.
Savoy Special: Tanner Scheppers, TEX ($5,200): Cheap and heavily favored for the win at home vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.
Catcher: Matt Wieters, BAL ($3,400): Normally, it’s not advisable to spend up on catcher, but if you must, Wieters isn’t a bad spot to do it. He owns a .341 BA vs. John Lester over 44 ABs.
Savoy Special: John Jaso, OAK ($2,700): Jaso is the route I’ll be going at catcher for today’s games. Jaso is an OBP machine vs. RHPs, posting .405 mark last year. That’s enough for me.
First Base: Miguel Cabrera, DET ($5,200): Nobody needs to be told that Miguel Cabrera is a beast. The guy nearly won his second consecutive Triple Crown last year, and should compete for one again this year. In DFS though, it’s all about today. On Monday, Miggy will face RHP James Shields, whom he’s had great success against. In 40 career ABs vs. Shields, Cabrera is batting .425 with seven RBIs. That’s a large enough sample size that we need to take it into account. If you’re spending top-tier money on a hitter today, Cabrera is as good a choice as any.
Freddie Freeman, ATL ($4,200), is also worth a look. Freeman crushed RHPs last year, batting over .330 and faces one of the weakest opening day pitchers in Yovani Gallardo.
Savoy Special: Billy Butler, KC ($3,200): .441 BA in 68 career ABs vs. Justin Verlander.
Second Base: Matt Carpenter, STL ($3,800): Carpenter should occupy some prime real estate within the Cardinals lineup when they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds. Yes, Cueto is a tough matchup, but on a day full of aces, there are lots of tough matchups out there. What I like about Carpenter is his ability to get on base vs. RHP. Last year, he posted a .410 OBP vs. RHP overall, including a mark of .372 vs. RHP on the road. Also to his favor is an excellent .392 wOBA vs. RHP. Hopefully, some of that translates to success today vs. Cueto.
Savoy Special: Dan Uggla, ATL ($2,900)/Kolten Wong, STL ($3,900): I’m thinking that the Braves get ahold of Gallardo and that Uggla can be a part of that. Meanwhile, Wong is the Cardinals actual second baseman and will be batting second in their lineup behind Carpenter and could make a nice GPP play.
Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Third Base: Chris Johnson, ATL ($3,100): As stated earlier, I think the Braves get ahold of Gallardo today and I expect their cleanup hitter Chris Johnson to be a part of that. Though better vs LHPs, Johnson did post an above average .341 wOBA versus righties on the road last year, in addition to a .302 BA and .337 OBP. You could spend up here, but I think Johnson can offer excellent value at his price, and is worth a roster spot.
Shortstop: Jean Segura, MIL ($4,000)/Elvis Andrus, TEX ($3,900): Both these players have shown a decent ability to get on base and will be batting second, in front of some of the bigger bats in the game. They also both like to steal bases, as evidenced by the 40+ SBs they each got last year.
Savoy Special: Brad Miller, SEA ($2,900)
Outfielders: Jason Heyward, ATL ($3,600): Love the left-handed bats for Atlanta vs. Gallardo, who struggled against lefties last year. Heyward should be leading off and is swinging the hot bat coming out of spring training.
Marcell Ozuna, MIA ($2,900): Ozuna batted .318 vs. LHPs last year, in addition to having .362 wOBA against them. With Jorge De LA Rosa being one of the worst SPs going today, I like my chances with the young center fielder.
Jayson Werth, WAS ($3,700): Mets’ SP Dillon Gee struggled vs. left handed hitters last year, giving up a .288 BA and Werth had considerable success against RHPs, with a .316 BA and 16 HRs. In addition to those fine numbers, he also posted a .382 OBP and a stellar .385 wOBA versus them.
Savoy Special: Daniel Nava, BOS ($3,000): Nava should be primed for success atop the Boston Red Sox lineup vs. Baltimore in what should be a high scoring game.
Thank you and good luck !!!
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