Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: MLB DraftKings Strategy, Primer for July 10 … – Bleacher Report
Ah, the last series before the All-Star Game is finally here. DraftKings owners will want to get in on the fun before MLB takes a four-day hiatus.
Before the long drought without DraftKings begins, make sure to get in on the action this Friday. With a full slate of 15 games scheduled for Friday, here’s a look at the best players to target at a variety of price points for July 10.
First Baseman: Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers ($4,100)
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
In terms of numbers this season, Victor Martinez hardly looks like a player to target on DraftKings. But so much of daily fantasy relies on the question, “What have you done for me lately?”
What Martinez has done lately is slug his way into the hearts of DFS players.
The Detroit Tigers first baseman and designated hitter has a slash line of .385/.418/.590 over his last 10 games. That has equated to an average of 10 fantasy points per game during that stretch. At 8-for-22 against Ervin Santana with a homer and a walk, there’s no reason not to have Martinez in lineups.
Second Baseman: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds ($3,800)
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Last week, I pointed out that Brandon Phillips was a smart start for owners at second base. Considering the fact that he hasn’t slowed down, he hasn’t been knocked off the list.
After hitting safely in the last four games and scoring runs for the Reds, Phillips seems to have his swag back. Playing in the spacious Marlins Park against a scuffling Jarred Cosart, expect solid production from Dat Dude at $1,000 less than the top second baseman on Friday.
Third Baseman: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees ($4,300)
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Call it a hunch, but this seems like the night that Alex Rodriguez gets his groove back. The soon-to-be 40-year-old designated hitter has gone through a power outage over the last few weeks. But after a night off on Thursday, A-Rod has a great matchup on Friday.
Going up against Clay Buchholz, Rodriguez has a .407 average with two homers, a double and 10 RBI in his career. Considering the fact that he’s boasting a .290 average with 13 homers this season against right-handed pitchers, don’t expect him to slow down against the Red Sox.
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox ($3,700)
Elise Amendola/Associated Press
On the other side of Fenway Park on Friday, Xander Bogaerts knows how important this series is to his club. Boston is still four games under .500, but it has won its last four series and eight of the last 10 games.
A huge part of that has been thanks to Bogaerts reaching base safely over that stretch. His average has raised 10 points, while he’s scored an average of 10 fantasy points per game. And he’s done all that without a homer. Even with a tough matchup against Michael Pineda, look for more of the same from Bogaerts.
Outfielder: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles ($3,900)
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Adam Jones…at this salary?! OK, I’m already sold.
The reasoning for the ridiculously low price for an All-Star starter makes sense. He has just five hits over his last 28 at-bats and just one home run in his last 10 games. Those sound like the numbers of an outfielder for less than $4,000.
Congrats to Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10) who will now start in the outfield during the 2015 #ASG, replacing the injured Alex Gordon.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 9, 2015
But recent numbers tell a different story. Jones has five hits in his last four games; four were doubles and the other was a homer. He may have gone 0-for-4 on Wednesday, but Jones should shine as a No. 2 outfielder against Gio Gonzalez at Camden Yards.
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