Adrian Gonzalez has already slugged 5 home runs for the Dodgers. (Getty)
We’re not even a handful of games into the season, so if you’re fantasy team is slumping, don’t fret. There are close to 160 to go.
The first weekend of the baseball season brings us to a new set of series.
Remember, pitching staffs are getting toward the back end of the rotations right now, so that could mean great offensive production if you take advantage of the right pitcher. And by that, of course, I mean the weakest hurler out there.
Don’t worry, we’ll help you identify them.
FanDuel uses the following parameters: You get a $35,000 cap to spend on 9 players – 1 pitcher, 1 catcher, 1 first baseman, 1 second baseman, 1 shortstop, 1 third baseman and 3 outfielders.
Hitters Scoring:
Single = +1 points
Double = +2 points
Triple = +3 points
Home Run = +4 points
Run Batted In = +1 points
Run = +1 points
Base on Balls = +1 points
Hit By Pitch = +1 points
Stolen Base = +2 points
Out = -.25 points
Pitchers Scoring:
Inning Pitched = +1 points (fractional scoring per out)
Strike Out = +1 points
Win = +4 points
Earned Run Allowed = -1 points
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Here are the best FanDuel lineup picks for April 10:
Pitchers
(Getty)
Tim Lincecum, Giants, $6,400, at Padres
Typing Lincecum in this spot makes me nervous. Except for the fact – despite all of his troubles the past few seasons – he has still dominated at Petco Park. And if you watched the Giants-Padres Thursday, you noticed they scored 1 total run combined in 12 innings. I feel confident about a good Lincecum outing.
Catcher
Jason Castro, Astros, $2,600, at Rangers
Castro should be rested and ready to go from his day off Thursday. While Castro isn’t exactly locked in at the plate right now, but that could change Friday when he faces the Rangers’ Derek Holland. Castro is 4-for-6 with a homer vs. the Texas lefty.
First Base
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers, $5,300, at Diamondbacks
Hottest hitter in the league, which he can’t possibly sustain. But use until he proves he can’t sustain. Seriously, 5 home runs already? And now a trip to a field I could homer in. Roll with Ad-Gon.
Second Base
(Getty)
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox, $3,600, at Yankees
Pedroia might have seen a dip in production in the past few seasons. But not when he’s playing the Yankees. Pedroia is .301 overall vs. the Bombers and .292 in the Bronx in the past 3 seasons. Pedroia is a definite bounceback candidate.
Shortstop
Alcides Escobar, Royals, $3,100, at Angels
Escobar has cut down on his strikeouts in each of his past 3 seasons and hasn’t whiffed in 12 at-bats in 2015. As long as he keeps getting on base, Escobar will be an asset to your lineup.
Third Base
(Getty)
David Freese, Angels, $2,900, vs. Royals
Freese is off to a rather warm start, unlike what he’s shown over the past few seasons. And in limited action vs. Royals starter Jason Vargas, Freese has 4 hits in 8 at-bats. The price is right, too.
Outfield
(Getty)
Bryce Harper, Nationals, $4,300, at Phillies
Harper had a tough go last game out against the Mets and Matt Harvey. All the Nats did, though. But that’s over now and Washington faces the Phillies’ Jerome Williams, who in his 10-year career has spent time with 8 different teams. That might tell you something about his effectiveness.
Lorenzo Cain, Royals, $3,500, at Angels
Lorenzo Cain, RBI machine. He’s on pace for over 200. OK, not happening. But he is off to a scorching start, so ride it for another day. Finally getting a chance to play every day, he could really bust out.
Mark Trumbo, Diamondbacks, $3,300, vs. Dodgers
Somehow Trumbo has 2 triples in 3 games. Well, don’t get used to that. And a plus with this guy is FanDuel doesn’t take points away for strikeouts – Trumbo looooves to do that. But he has legitimate power and at that price could be a steal.
Total Lineup Salary: $35,000 of an allotted $35,000
Each day, we’ll give you the rundown of who to pick for a winning lineup, so stay with us the entire season.
Interested in playing daily fantasy baseball?
Click here to sign up for FanDuel.
Click here to sign up for DraftKings.
is a sportswriter for Heavy.com. He formerly worked in the college football hot bed of Alabama for The Birmingham News. There he wore many hats, including columnist, editor and resident stat and research guy. You can reach him at craig.bennett@heavy.com. Follow him on his new Twitter account @craig_speak
April 10, 2015 11:52 am
