Daily Dime: Kershaw, Blanks, Pujols, Davis and more
Here’s a look at 10 DFS options for Friday but be sure to double-check the weather and lineups before first pitch approaches.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, vs. Col (Butler), $11000 at FanDuel: As usual, I’m recommending my favorite SP option of the day, regardless of price, before digging for some hitting bargains. Kershaw’s current ERA (4.26) and WHIP (1.26) are both his highest since his rookie campaign way back in 2008. But his average FB velocity (93.6 mph) is his highest since 2009, and both his GB/FB ratio (2.44) and SwStr% (14.2) are career highs, the latter ranking No. 2 in MLB this season. Start Kershaw with confidence.
Kyle Blanks, OF, vs. Cle (Chen), $2700: He’s cheap, in a hitter’s park and owns a 1.333 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. Bruce Chen has been getting destroyed versus RHB, so this matchup looks worth taking advantage of.
Albert Pujols, 1B, at Bal (Chen), $2900: It’s possible Pujols is done, but this is a hitter with a career 1.021 OPS versus southpaws over nearly 2,000 at bats. There are 18 first basemen priced higher Friday.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, at Sea (Happ), $3000: He has a .373 OBP on the year and a .913 OPS against LHP. There are a dozen second basemen with more expensive price tags Friday.
Ryan Raburn, OF, at Tex (Rodriguez), $2300: He’s nearly the cheapest hitter available on FD despite having a .429/.457/.714 line when facing lefties this season and playing in a favorable hitter’s park Friday. Raburn won’t hit high in the lineup, but he remains one of the better bargains out there.
Elvis Andrus, SS, vs. Cle (Chen), $2600: His OPS has dropped in each of the past three seasons, as the young shortstop’s career hasn’t gone as hoped. Still, Andrus remains the No. 2 hitter in Texas’ lineup, and he’s batting .314 against LHP this year. He’s cheap too.
David Freese, 3B, at Bal (Chen), $2700: Call this the stacking against pitchers with the surname Chen day. Freese isn’t costly because he’s batting .219 on the year, but he also owns a 1.066 OPS versus southpaws and typically hits cleanup. Baltimore is a good hitter’s park as well.
Russell Martin, C, at Hou (Keuchel), $3600: He’s not cheap, but Martin is batting .444/.565/.778 against LHP this season, and he has four homers over the past 10 games. He was also rested Thursday, so he should be in the lineup Friday. Catcher is obviously thin, and only Stephen Vogt (who faces a LHP Friday) has averaged more FPPG than Martin this year.
Andre Ethier, OF, vs. Col (Butler), $3100: If you prorated his numbers over 550 at bats, you’d get .321-118-33-85. Ethier owns a .314/.442/.614 line against RHP with more walks than strikeouts. He’s probably not going to continue to hit like this, but his FD price already is factoring in major regression.
Chris Davis, 1B, vs. LAA (Weaver), $3600: He owns a measly .441 OPS in his career against Jered Weaver, who just tossed a shutout during his last outing. But I’d still use Davis on Friday, as he has seven homers over 89 ABs against RHP this season, and Weaver has averaged 83.6 mph with his fastball. He’s also served up six long balls over 23.2 innings versus LHB (as well as six homers over 24.0 innings on the road). Moreover, Orioles Park has increased home runs for left-handed batters by 33 percent over the past three seasons, which is the most in the American League.
