Daily Dime: Shields, Howard, Burns and seven other strong plays
Another day, another nice price on Billy Burns. Let's set a good lineup today, friends. As always, please check the pregame weather forecasts and scan today's MLB lineups as they're released.
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James Shields, P, vs. NYM (Gee), $9300 at FanDuel: Shields vs. Gee seems like an unfair fight, which of course is the reason that San Diego is such a heavy favorite on Wednesday night (-150). In 11 starts so far this season, Shields has struck out seven or more batters nine times and he's reached double-digit Ks twice. He's also 6-0, if you're into winning. Five pitchers are priced higher than Shields on Monday, but I like his setup as much as anyone's.
Ryan Howard, 1B, vs. Cin (Leake), $3000 : If you're into batter-vs.pitcher stats, then you'll really like Howard here. He's 6-for-15 with two homers and two walks in his career against Leake. Also, we should probably mention the fact that Leake has been ineffective in back-to-back-to-back starts: 14.0 IP, 27 H, 20 ER, 6 HR, 8 BB, 6 Ks.
Billy Burns, OF, at Det (Sanchez), $3300: I love Billy Burns like my own sweet child. He is the greatest. Burns has five straight multi-hit games, and he's scored at least one run in each. Play him, cherish him.
Neil Walker, 2B, at SF (Hudson), $2800: At this price, I'm definitely on board. Walker has a decent history against Tim Hudson (5-for-16, double, triple), plus he's hit safely in six straight.
David Ortiz, 1B, vs. Min (Hughes, May), $2600
: I'd be willing to roll with Ortiz in either game in Wednesday's double-dip, but particularly like him against May, a flyball-ish, low-90s right-hander with poor ratios (5.07 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). Ortiz is also 10-for-32 against Hughes in his career with three doubles, two homers and four walks, so that works, too.
Kolten Wong, 2B, vs. Mil (Nelson), $3200: Wong is slashing .307/.360/.464, hitting at the top of the Cards' lineup, offering power and respectable speed. Nelson has owned right-handed hitters so far this season, but LHBs have posted an OPS of .882 against him. Eleven of the 14 homers Nelson has allowed in his career have been hit by lefties, in fact, including one by Wong.
John Lackey, P, vs. Mil (Nelson), $8700: Lackey hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven starts, and he's facing a team with a .340 winning percentage. So yeah, I like his chances. Lackey gave us seven scoreless innings in his last start, striking out nine.
Ender Inciarte, OF, vs. Atl (Foltynewicz), $2900: Inciarte reached base three times on Tuesday, scoring two runs and swiping two bags, plus the guy has reached base safely in eight of nine games.
Yan Gomes, C, at KC (Vargas), $2500: It's rare for me to play a pricey catcher, so I'm often shopping in the $2800-and-under bin. Gomes has done little of note this year, but at least he's again playing in back-to-back games. Vargas has been a friendly matchup this season (1.45 WHIP) and Gomes has hammered him in the past (4-for-10, HR, BB).
Andre Ethier, OF, at Col (Bettis), $3300: Ethier is serving as a placeholder for all Dodgers regulars. This is your last chance before the break to catch any of these guys at Coors Field. Grandal, Howie, Joc & Co. are very much in play.
