Daily Dime: Greinke, Votto, Cano, Escobar and more
Here’s a look at 10 DFS options for Saturday but be sure to double-check the weather and the lineups before first pitch approaches.
Zack Greinke, SP, vs. Col (De La Rosa), $10100 at FanDuel: He’s the fourth most costly SP despite the Dodgers being by far the most favored team (-240) during Saturday’s slate. Despite decreased velocity, Greinke has been as good as ever, is at home and benefits from Los Angeles having the best offense in baseball by a mile (they lead MLB with 130 wRC+. Next highest is 115).
Joey Votto, 1B, vs. SF :(Vogelsong), $3900: He has a 1.017 OPS with seven homers and five steals over 84 at-bats versus right-handed pitchers this season, and he plays in a home park that’s increased home runs by 52 percent for LHB over the past three seasons, which is easily the most in MLB. $3900 seems like a bargain (there are six first basemen priced at least $400 higher).
A.J. Pierzynski, C, vs. Mia (Latos), $2400: He’s hitting .338 against righties, and Mat Latos is allowing a whopping .370 BAA versus LHB. This seems like a nice match for a day with very few attractive options at catcher.
Robinson Cano, 2B, vs. Bos (Porcello), $3300: He’s been a fantasy bust, but that’s why he’s no longer priced as an elite option, and second base remains rather thin. Cano is still batting .301 against RHP this season and owns a 1.145 career OPS versus Rick Porcello.
Luis Valbuena, 3B, vs. Tor (Estrada), $3000: He has seven homers over 91 at-bats when facing RHP this season, averaging more FPPG than more prominent third basemen such as Adrian Beltre, Pablo Sandoval and Kyle Seager. Valbuena also owns a career 1.189 OPS against HR-prone Marco Estrada.
Alcides Escobar, SS, vs. NYY (Sabathia), $2800: Seems like a low price for a shortstop batting leadoff and hitting .310 on the year. Moreover, CC Sabathia has allowed a .333 BAA and seven homers over 37.0 innings against RHB this year.
Chris Young, OF, at KC (Duffy), $2600: He has just three hits since May 2, which helps explain the dirt cheap price, but Young still possesses a .433/.541/.933 line versus southpaws this season, so he’s not a bad target Saturday.
Colby Rasmus, OF, vs. Tor (Estrada), $2700: He has six home runs over 79 at-bats against right-handed pitchers this season, and he’s facing one Saturday who yielded 29 bombs over 150.2 innings last year.
Seth Smith, OF, vs. Bos (Porcello), $2200: He bats atop the lineup versus right-handed pitchers and is 6-for-10 in his career against Rick Porcello. Smith’s $2200 price tag is as cheap as it gets at FanDuel.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, vs. Mia (Latos), $3700: He’s the 10th most expensive first baseman despite sporting an elite .323/.389/.546 line and has gone 10-for-18 against Mat Latos during his career. As mentioned above, Latos has been getting killed by LHB this season.
