Daily Dime: Alex Wood, some Jays, some Astros
As always when playing Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball, be sure to check the final lineups and the weather.
SP: Alex Wood at Atlanta, $40
Wood isn’t anywhere close to the ace class, but a matchup against Atlanta is lovely work if you can get it. The Braves had the worst offense in the majors last year, and it’s probably worse this season (.208/.300/.279, three piddly homers). Wood is the highest favorite on the card, and the cost is reasonable. Sure, I’m giving up some strikeout upside, but he’s a -185 choice.
SP: Michael Pineda vs. Oakland, $42
Oakland isn’t a big strikeout team (just 25th in K-percentage), but the A’s are 27th in scoring and 27th in weighted on-base average. No one is afraid of this offense. Pineda is the second-highest favorite on the evening card, and I’m able to double up on heavy favorites without paying a prohibitive cost.
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C: Yasmani Grandal at Atlanta, $12
I thought about Devin Mesoraco but I’d like to see him do something first.
1B: Justin Smoak at Baltimore, $7
I wanted to stream against Mike Wright on the weekend, but rain got in the way. Smoak is lower in the lineup than you’d like — sixth — but it’s acceptable as a punt play in a plus lineup, especially when you consider the opposing pitcher and the Camden Yards backdrop. Heads up on Eutaw Street.
2B: Jose Altuve at Texas, $22
He always gets some extra consideration against a left-hander: .353/.397/.598 career slash. Derek Holland has been ordinary for most of his career.
SS: Andres Blanco vs. New York Mets, $7
Punt plays always look more interesting when they’re tied to a premium batting slot — Blanco is batting third Tuesday night, and he’s not facing one of the Mets name-brand pitchers.
3B: Nolan Arenado at Cincinnati, $24
Five homers and a 1.282 slash over his last eight games, and he was a monster all spring, too, if that matters to you. What matters to me is he’s facing Robert Stephenson, in Cincinnati.
OF: George Springer at Texas, $19
His career OPS rises 105 points against lefties, and now I have some Astros juice going along with Altuve. Runs are in the forecast at Texas.
OF: Aaron Hicks vs. Oakland, $11
I hope the Yankees at some point let Hicks take a shot at regular time, see what he can do. In the meantime, here comes Eric Surkamp, a gettable lefty. Hicks was a .307/.375/.495 man against southpaws last year, with six homers in 101 at-bats.
OF: Michael Saunders at Baltimore, $15
Location, location, location — at the top of the best offense in baseball (on paper, anyway), in a cozy park, against a pitcher we expect to exploit.
Good luck in your Tuesday night plays.
