Advertisement

Daily Dime: Freddie Freeman, Will Venable, and a bunch of Athletics

Daily Dime: Freddie Freeman, Will Venable, and a bunch of Athletics

The second game of the Baltimore-Chicago doubleheader is too funky to consider - teams do odd things with their nightcap lineups (perhaps that's a Mike Wright endorsement, from the side door). With that in mind, let’s focus on the evening shade, which offers an 8 pm ET start and five late games on the coast. Do your lineup and weather homework, then assemble your winning team.

Players to Buy 

Freddie Freeman, 1B, at SF (Heston), $3300: Although we’re still in the early stages of Chris Heston’s career, take note of his jagged splits with respect to handedness. Righties haven’t figured him out (.214/.275/.298), but lefties sure have (.356/.398/.567). Freeman is an obvious play, especially when you consider that he’s merely the No. 7 first baseman, in price, on this abbreviated card. If you want to go with a cheaper Atlanta lefty, you could consider Jace Peterson, Nick Markakis, or (if he plays) A.J. Pierzynski.

Billy Butler, 1B, vs. NYY (Sabathia), $2500: If you want to go corner on a budget, Country Breakfast might be your play (okay, it’s a late game, so just order Breakfast Anytime). Sabathia’s allowing a .908 OPS when in the platoon disadvantage, and Butler has a .404 OBP against southpaws. Butler hasn’t crushed in this head-to-head series, but he does have a .788 OPS against Sabathia. And most of that stats came when Sabathia was pitching at a different level.

[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football is back: Sign up for a league today!]

Marcus Semien, SS, vs. NYY (Sabathia), $2800: Ah, the soft pricing. Come on, Fan Duel, make your game harder. Semien is currently the No. 3 hitter in shortstop 5x5 value, and here comes a lefty who’s giving it away. Ben Zobrist is another Oakland righty (well, a switcher) who should do well against Sabathia.

Adrian Beltre, 3B. vs. BOS (Rodriguez), $3000: Maybe Boston’s shiny new prospect will save the team, save the whales, save Ferris Bueller, save the world. But when I see a kid with no MLB experience headed into Texas and facing a player of Beltre’s magnitude, you better believe I’m riding with the veteran. The price and the platoon edge make it easier, of course.

Derek Norris, C, vs. PIT (Burnett), $2700: Although Norris is the No. 5 catcher in 5x5 seasonal value, for some reason his Fan Duel price lays in the weeds, $2700. Dial it up. Although Burnett’s career splits show the usual biases, righties are actually batting .256 against him this year.

Will Venable, OF, vs. PIT (Burnett), $2600: Here’s hoping the Padres keep him in the lineup, and don’t overreact to one collar in Orange County. Venable has feasted on Burnett in the past (8-for-19, a couple of homers), and a stolen base is always in play, mostly because Burnett is one of those pitchers who doesn’t seem to care if you run on him. Justin Upton also has a couple of Burnett homers (on 14 at-bats), if that matters to you.

Rajai Davis, OF, at ANA (Wilson), $3100: Davis is a funky DFS play because he owns lefties but they generally hold down the steal opportunities. Lefty rabbits easier to buy. Nonetheless, with Davis consistently crushing southpaws and holding good history against Wilson, buy him for the bat. Any running is gravy.

Corey Kluber, SP, at SEA (Paxton), $10500: I am not a chase-the-ace guy in Daily, not if I like the secondary options. Alas, on this limited Thursday card, I’m not in love with the Tier 2 options. Seattle is just 22nd in team OPS against right-handed pitching, Safeco Field is a friendly backdrop, and Kluber has been in ridiculous form over his last three turns (2 ER, 1 BB, 37 K). This is one instance where I will pay up for the top tier, no hesitation.

Pablo Sandoval, 3B, at TEX (Martinez), $2700: Did Boston really pay all that money for a platoon guy? Maybe so, but at least Sandoval is raking against righties (.327/.400/.514). The highest over-under of the night is found in the Boston-Texas matchup. Happy Panda.

Player to Fade

Robinson Cano, 2B, vs. CLE (Kluber), $2700: Do not be fooled by the tantalizing price, amigos. It’s a trap. All Cano has done since he joined the Mariners is hit ground balls, and those rarely turn into much for fantasy purposes. He’s slugging .295 this month, with four piddly extra-base hits.

Of course it’s a lot easier to pan Cano against an elite pitcher like Kluber, but I can’t think of when I’d want to use Cano. Until he shows a significant sign of a breakthrough, he will not be part of my daily chase.