By Daniel Dobish on April 17, 2012
There are nine games on tap Monday night in Major League Baseball. The annual Patriots Day game in Boston between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox isn’t available for selection. There are some big-time pitchers working Monday night, including three of the past four National League Cy Young award winners, and the defending American League Cy Young winner.
Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees 7:05pm ET
Yankees SS Derek Jeter ($99K) looks like he has turned back to the clock. On Sunday, he went 2-for-5 with a double and three-run home run, posting 18 fantasy points. He has hit safely in six straight games, and is averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game during the impressive span. 2B Robinson Cano ($110K) entered Sunday’s game with a total of five fantasy points in his three previous games, but he set a season-high with 15 fantasy points Sunday night. Twins SP Carl Pavano ($185K) is likely to get a chilly reception in New York, as usual. He has managed just 13 fantasy points over his first two starts, and is not a recommended option for this difficult matchup against his former team.
Houston Astros at Washington Nationals 7:05pm ET
Astros LF J.D. Martinez ($92K) has hit safely in each of his first nine games this season, posting six or more fantasy points in each of his past four. CF Jordan Schafer (head) left Sunday’s game after taking a knee to the head. He is considered day to day, and not worth the $74K risk. 3B Chris Johnson has hit safely in each of his past eight games, but will cost you just $62K. Nationals SS Ian Desmond entered Sunday’s game with just one total fantasy point in his previous two games, but he posted three hits with two RBIs to turn things around. He’ll set you back $78K.
New York Mets at Atlanta Braves 7:10pm ET
Mets SP Dillon Gee ($178K) makes the road start in Atlanta. 1B Freddie Freeman ($77K) has struggled this season, and he is just 1-for-11 (.091) in his career against Gee. C Brian McCann ($92K) has been equally inept against the Mets SP, going just 2-for-11 with no RBIs. 2B Dan Uggla ($84K) also struggles against Gee, going just 3-for-16 (.188) lifetime. Braves SP Tommy Hanson ($258K) has had his way against the Mets over his career, but C Josh Thole ($62K) is 8-for-18 (.444) with a homers and three RBIs lifetime against Hanson.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals 8:10pm ET
Despite the late-inning heroics of Tigers C Gerald Laird ($50K) Sunday, C Alex Avila ($90K) is expected to be back in the starting lineup for this one. The Royals aren’t likely to provide much resistance against Tigers SP Justin Verlander ($354K), although DH Billy Butler ($97K) might be a solid option. Butler is 14-for-39 (.359) with two homers and five RBIs in his career against the 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young award winner. LF Alex Gordon ($92K) is just 4-for-30 (.133) with 11 strikeouts in his career against Verlander.
Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox 8:10pm ET
Orioles C Matt Wieters ($84K) was rested Sunday, but he is expected to be back in the lineup for this one. SS J.J. Hardy ($83K) was also rested Sunday, but there is no way manager Buck Showalter sits him against White Sox SP Philip Humber ($176K). Hardy is a perfect 4-for-4 with a solo home run in his career against Humber. White Sox 1B Paul Konerko ($107K) has hit safely in each of his first eight games.
San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies 8:40pm ET
Padres RF Chris Denorfia ($66K) had a pair of doubles, a walk and RBI in Sunday’s game against the Dodgers. He has been fairly useful at times this season when given the chance, but he is a part-time starter, so be careful. SP Cory Luebke ($263K) was a big-time sleeper entering the season, but he has amassed just 11 total fantasy points over two starts, giving up 13 hits and five walks in 10 innings. Padres SS Jason Bartlett ($71K) is 5-for-24 (.208) in his career against Rockies SP Jeremy Guthrie ($191K), so avoid him.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Arizona Diamondbacks 9:40pm ET
Pirates C Rod Barajas ($64K) has been terrible this season, posting zero total fantasy points in seven games this season. If he is going to break out, it could be against Diamondbacks SP Joe Saunders ($203K). Barajas is 6-for-19 (.316) with a homer and three RBIs against Saunders. However, it takes a huge leap of faith to use him in this one. Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill ($82K) is 6-for-20 (.300) with four RBIs in his career against Pirates SP Erik Bedard ($235K). Meanwhile, LF Jason Kubel ($79K) is 1-for-7 with two strikeouts against Bedard.
Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 10:05pm ET
Athletics 3B Eric Sogard ($55K) cracked a three-run homer Sunday in Seattle, and is expected to draw another start. He has one hit in three career at-bats against Angels SP Jered Weaver ($331K). SS Cliff Pennington ($64K) was hitless in four at-bats Sunday, snapping a two-game streak of multi-hit games. He is just 6-for-34 (.176) with eight strikeouts in his career against Weaver. C Kurt Suzuki ($71K) has hit well against Weaver, going 14-for-43 (.326) with a homer and five RBIs in his career against the Angels SP. Angels C Chris Iannetta ($73K) has homered in back-to-back games and he has four RBIs during the stretch.
Philadelphia Phillies at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm ET
At first glance, SP Roy Halladay ($358K) against SP Tim Lincecum ($275K) looks like a great matchup, but the Giants starter has struggled mightily this season, totaling minus-6 fantasy points over two outings. Most Phillies have struggled against Lincecum, but LF Juan Pierre ($74K) has actually been effective in his career against the long-haired ace. Pierre is 6-for-12 (.500) with three RBIs lifetime against Lincecum. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval ($106K) has hit safely in each of his nine games this season, but he is averaging just 3.8 fantasy points per game over his past four.
Posted in Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball |
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