Matt Kemp is the Dodgers best hitter, but if you’re looking for a bargain, look no further than James Loney.
Value plays:
James Loney – In what could be a pitchers duel, Loney could be the difference when the Dodgers face Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals. He owns a .400 career batting average against the St. Louis ace with half of his hits going for extra bases. His success against Wainwright is nice, and when you combine it with the righties struggles at home, you’ve got the makings of a daily fantasy baseball sleeper. Wainwright’s ERA jumps 1.2 runs at home and he has surrendered 72.7% of his HR’s at the Busch Stadium.
Detroit Tigers – This offense is beginning to click, and a matchup with Ubaldo Jimenez isn’t likely to cool them off. Current Tigers are batting .308 against the righty, lead by Delmon Young’s .450. Oddly enough, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have hit for average (.378) but no power (0 homers) against Jimenez. I think that changes tonight, as Jimenez has given up a HR in 5 straight starts and the Cabrera/Fielder combination is heating up. Brennan Boesch’s recent power surge is something to watch as well, as Jimenez will be forced to go after him in an effort to keep the bases clear for the big bats of Detroit.
Carlos Lee – From a fantasy baseball perspective, the shift of scenery can only be a good thing for El Ciabo, especially when facing Tim Hudson as he is tonight. Lee is batting .375 against the veteran righty and has recorded a RBI once every 3.2 at bats. Runners figure to be on base for Lee, as the Marlins are batting .279 as a team against Hudson. He is a cheap option that will return big time value on your investment.
Players to avoid:
Curtis Granderson – Good pitching beats good hitting these days, and Granderson figures to be a victim when facing King Felix Hernandez. He owns a respectable batting average against the M’s ace (.271) but his 18:1 strikeout to walk ratio scares me away from Granderson in daily fantasy baseball games. The Yankees center fielder has more HR’s in less at bats at home, yet another reason to expect very little from him at Seattle.
Carlos Santana – He was a popular pick to click at Catcher to begin the season, but against Doug Fister, he has no value and is sure to return pennies on the dollar. Fister has held Santana to 1 hit in 14 career at bats (.071 batting average) and has struck him out 4 times. The Indians struggle to protect Santana (team batting average of .228 against Fister), making it easier for the righty to lock in on Santana. In his last 2 starts, Fister has struck out 18 and walked 2, indicating to me that he has finally found the rhythm that made him so successful last year,
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