Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: Best MLB Position Player Picks for May 22 – Bleacher Report

Coming off a light schedule with only six games on Thursday night, the final weekday features a full slate of matchups to pick apart. Given the amount of choices at every position, we’ve gone through and narrowed down the best MLB position players for Friday at nearly every slot.

Before setting your lineup, consider these options for an ideal roster of superstars on Friday.

Catcher: Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays ($3,900)

Following a routine off day for the Toronto Blue Jays’ everyday catcher, Russell Martin will return on Friday. Also returning to the lineup for the Jays will be Martin’s scorching-hot bat.

Over his last five games, Martin is batting .400 (8-for-20) with four RBI and two doubles. Already hitting seven home runs this year, it’s unlikely that he’ll come away with another against Felix Hernandez. But with his consistency at the plate recently, expect more of the same at a great value.

First Baseman: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox ($4,600)

The only thing capable of stopping Jose Abreu from registering at least one hit in the last 17 games has been the bench. Of those games, Abreu has played 16 and came away with a hit in every single one.

During that streak of 16 straight with a hit, Abreu has just one homer, but also seven RBI and six walks. As Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune notes, stretches like this for Abreu are nothing new:

From White Sox notes, Jose Abreu is only player in baseball to record 4 hitting streaks of 14 or more games over last two seasons.

— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) May 20, 2015

Abreu’s career numbers against Phil Hughes—6-for-13, three XBH, three RBI, .533 OBP—also make him a potent option. Suffice to say, leaving Abreu out of your Friday lineup, well, it just isn’t smart.

Second Baseman: Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins ($4,600)

Dee Gordon doesn’t hit homers. The Miami Marlins second baseman doesn’t register many RBI. But what Gordon does do is hit and hit often.

In his first year with Miami, Gordon is hitting .386 with a .422 OBP along with 10 doubles and 12 stolen bases. He’s cooled off slightly in recent weeks, but Gordon is still hitting in a spacious Marlins Park against right-handed Ubaldo Jimenez. Expect more production from a player who averages nearly 10 fantasy points per game at home this season.

Third Baseman: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs ($5,000)

The hype, as they say, is real. Kris Bryant has more than lived up to it in 2015, and he continued to baffle with the bat on Thursday night. His two-run shot against the San Diego Padres marked his fourth in the last 10 games along with 11 RBI and seven walks.

Despite being called up in mid-April, Bryant still ranks eighth in the National League in RBI (27) and fifth in the NL in walks (24). His patience combined with the Cubbies’ patience has clearly paid off. Going up against Josh Collmenter, who has been shelled in his last three starts, Bryant will thrive again.

Outfielder: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals ($5,500)

What can be said about Bryce Harper that hasn’t already been said. His fiery personality can be costly for fantasy owners—like it was on Wednesday when he was tossed—but leaving him out of a lineup just doesn’t seem like an option.

.@BHarper3407 is already crushing last year’s numbers. Is the record book next? http://t.co/Xa1c90XUC7 pic.twitter.com/TvKO4je6TM

— MLB (@MLB) May 20, 2015

Even with that incredulous tossing from Marvin Hudson, Harper is still averaging 16 points over his last 10 starts. I repeat: That includes a game in which he had one at-bat and was promptly ejected.

Here’s why fantasy owners should pay the high price tag: Harper has 10 of his 15 homers and averages 13 fantasy points at home. Oh, and he also has two four-baggers and a 2.100 OPS (!) against Phillies starter Sean O’Sullivan in five at-bats. Harper is the one must-have outfielder on Friday.