Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings, DraftDay and Draftster 9/20/14

Carlos Ruiz - FD 2700 DK 3200 DD 7950 DFSTR 3000
Pretty tough choices in the catcher department in the early slate. Ruiz and his solid on base percentage make him a solid double up play, but it's tough to get excited about him in Oakland against a decent pitcher in Pomeranz.

Late Games
Evan Gattis - FD 2600 DK 3800 DD 8250 DFSTR 4000
I write this every single time Gattis is facing a lefty, but the guy is pretty much in a league of his own against southpaws. For frame of reference, Gattis' 1.044 OPS is just about the same as Jose Abreu's. I'm playing Gattis when he faces a lefty, and the decent offerings of Jon Niese aren't scaring me.

Wilson Ramos - FD 2600 DK 3800 DD 8950 DFSTR 7600
To be clear, I'm playing Gattis. But if you want to go against the grain, Cosart has significantly outperformed his peripherals this year, and Ramos is a fairly solid option. Like Ruiz, it's tough to get excited about the upside.

First Basemen

Early Games
Edwin Encarnacion - FD 3800 DK 5100 DD 11000 DFSTR 6500
Love E5 today against Chris Capuano. While Capuano has done his best league average pitcher impersonation this year, Encarnacion has gotten a .23 point wOBA bump against left handed pitching, and hitting in Yankee Stadium is a great spot for any hitter. With another bomb last night, Encarnacion looks fairly locked in.

Mark Teixeira - FD 2400 DK 3300 DD 8250 DFSTR 3000
Fairly rough sledding in the early slate. It's easy to forget about Teixeira since he's been so boring recently, but he still hits in the middle of a Yankee lineup that has decent run scoring upside. I'm playing Encarnacion, but there's a case here if you want to go cheap.

Late Games
David Ortiz - FD 3700 DK 4400 DD 9600 DFSTR 3000
We gave you Ortiz in yesterday's picks and he paid handsomely. Well, tonight he'll face another young Baltimore right hander that is still more promise than perfection. Tillman should be around the plate today, and if he is, Ortiz could add to his gaudy homer total.

Albert Pujols - FD 3800 DK 4300 DD 9950 DFSTR 3000
Pujols is far from who he used to be, but he still has 26 homers and 5 steals this year, making him a fine upside play. And the thing about aging MVP types is that they rarely lose it against crappy pitchers, they just stop being able to keep up with great stuff. Lewis does not possess that.

Second Basemen

Early Games
Stephen Drew - FD 2300 DK 2400 DD 5450 DFSTR 3000
I just threw up in my mouth a little. Honestly, I don't recall a worse assortment of players at any position in a given time slot all season. My case for Drew? Uh, he's gotten some hits recently, he plays, and he's super cheap. There you have it.

Ian Kinsler - FD 3400 DK 4400 DD 8600 DFSTR 5300
Kinsler is at least a real player, but this is an awfully big investment to take a guy who is facing a good pitcher who throws from the side of the rubber that Kinsler doesn't prefer. Kinsler is basically the play if you just don't want to take one of the bargain guys. I'm going bargain.

Late Games
Brian Dozier - FD 3300 DK 4200 DD 9350 DFSTR 5800
With 20 homers and 21 steals, Dozier remains one of the best upside plays at his position, in spite of recent struggles. TJ House should be around the plate, and Dozier could definitely put some hard hit balls out there.

Ben Zobrist - FD 2700 DK 4100 DD 8450 DFSTR 5500
The Hetor Noesi effect. His 117 Ks and 51 BBs in 160 IP are unimpressive, and the 4.77 ERA is reflective of that. I love taking Zobrist at home against this less than mediocre righty.

Shortstops

Early Games
Jose Reyes - FD 3100 DK 4900 DD 9200 DFSTR 6600
Gave you Reyes in last night's picks, and he crushed it for you. It's basically the same situation tonight - Reyes is basically platoon neutral, and hitting in Yankee Stadium against a average to below average pitcher will always be a good spot for him while he is priced this way.

Hanley Ramirez - FD 3800 DK 5100 DD 10700 DFSTR 7500
Doubrount's 49 Ks against 30 walks in 77 innings this year are just terrible, and Hanley is significantly better against left handed pitching. Wrigley can play to hitters on any given day, and there's a ton of upside in grabbing Hanley today. It feels weird, but it's definitely a slate to spend on SS.

Late Games
Elvis Andrus - FD 2300 DK 3500 DD 7650 DFSTR 5400
Erick Aybar - FD 3000 DK 3600 DD 7850 DFSTR 5500
The late games call for the exact opposite of the early game strategy. Andrus and Aybar bring similar things to the table - guys without a lot of individual upside (aside from the speed) that bat in the middle of a bunch of good hitters on good teams. You like Andrus here for the price, but Aybar for facing a worse pitcher. I'll probably just go Andrus and spend elsewhere.

Third Basemen

Early Games
Nick Castellanos - FD 2500 DK 3200 DD 6200 DFSTR 3000
God, I just hate the early slate today. You take Castellanos if you just want to get away cheap with relatively low downside. The options are thin here especially with Arenado most likely out. If he finds his way back into the lineup then roll him. But that's looking doubtful.

Late Games
Evan Longoria - FD 3500 DK 4500 DD 9850 DFSTR 6600
With 4 homers in the last 2 weeks, Longoria seems to have his power stroke back. Noesi lacks any semblance of command, and if he makes a mistake around the zone, Longo could capitalize.

Trevor Plouffe - FD 3300 DK 4500 DD 8300 DFSTR 6900
Another guy with big upside, Plouffe has wagged his finger at doubters with 2 homers in the last week, and plenty of hard contact besides. The lefty TJ House plays right into this platoon monster's hands, and Plouffe could put up some nice numbers. More risk here though since he will get pinch hit for if the Indians bring in a ROOGY.
 

Outfielders

Early Games
Mark Trumbo - FD 3000 DK 4800 DD 8600 DFSTR 7400
The Eddie Butler effect. The guy just has terrible stuff. 5.25 K/9 in AA this year! And this game is in Coors. Big joke, regardless of Trumbo's full season line. Could be a huge feeding frenzy on Butler here.

Marlon Byrd - FD 2800 DK 3400 DD 7150 DFSTR 3000
It's been a quiet September for Byrd, but the guy still has 26 homers this year. I agree it's not a super play. What do you want from me, bro? It's a terrible early game slate!

Michael Cuddyer - FD 3500 DK 4700 DD 10650 DFSTR 7000
Same story as Trumbo, except Cahill is better than Butler and Cuddyer is better than Trumbo. And, COORZ!

Jacoby Ellsbury - FD 3300 DK 4000 DD 8350 DFSTR 3000
Brett Gardner - FD 2700 DK 3900 DD 7250 DFSTR 3000
I like the left handed Yankees outfielders today quite a bit. Gardner's been just awful recently, but the price is so low that you have to take a look at him. And Ellsbury is basically Gardner with double the steals. Both interesting guys from both a safety and an upside perspective.

Late Games
Coco Crisp - FD 2700 DK 4100 DD 8400 DFSTR 3000
With his combination of walks, speed, and slight power, Crisp makes for a very safe play against the hapless Jerome Williams, even at home in Oakland.

Yoenis Cespedes - FD 3200 DK 4300 DD 8750 DFSTR 3700
As I wrote yesterday (before yet another homer!), Cespedes has actually been better against righties this year, and I especially like him against a guy like Tillman who tends to stay around the plate.

Mike Trout - FD 5200 DK 5700 DD 14150 DFSTR 10400
Kole Calhoun - FD 3900 DK 4400 DD 9450 DFSTR 5700
Well, this is why you saved your money, I guess! Our projection system loves both Trout and Calhoun against Colby Lewis. If Lewis goes pop, Trout and Calhoun will almost certainly have had big days.

Ryan Braun - FD 3600 DK 4500 DD 10500 DFSTR 5600
Volquez has been wildly lucky with his ERA this year, sporting an ERA a full run ahead of his xFIP. Give me the tremendous upside of Braun against a guy who can't strike anyone out at this point in his career.

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