Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings, DraftDay and Draftster 8/27/14

Also considered: If you must spend, I like Corey Kluber. I also could consider taking a risk of Mat Latos.

Catchers

Buster Posey - FD 3500 DK 4400 DD 10000 DFSTR 9300
Posey's been short of his historic self this season, but he's still posting an .849 OPS against left handed pitching. And that's all left handed pitching. Tonight, he gets to face Franklin Morales. And I get it, Morales is a major league pitcher, which means he's one of the best 200 pitchers in the world or whatever. But he might be solidly ranked exactly #200. His 80 Ks and 54 BBs in 118 IP are atrocious, and Posey and the Giants should make quick work of him.

Devin Mesoraco - FD 3100 DK 3800 DD 7150 DFSTR 3000
The price has dipped from Mesoraco's in-season peak, but it's not totally clear why. The guy has been an animal against right handed pitching this year, posting a .384 wOBA and hitting for serious power - with 16 homers in 264 plate appearances. And I might have been quick to call Morales the worst starter in the bigs - Turner's peripherals are equally grizzly, and he's pitched in a better park this year.

Everyone else
No great case to be made for anyone else today, but if you're feeling adventurous I suppose you could take a shot on Derek Norris or Evan Gattis.

First Basemen

Miguel Cabrera - FD 4200 DK 5300 DD 11850 DFSTR 6100
Just because it's a pleasure to recommend him. Miggy isn't quite the Miggy of old, but chances are good he can still handle Shane Greene. Miggy has been equally good (if not great) against both righties and lefties this year, so I think you can make the large investment pretty confidently today.

Brandon Moss - FD 2900 DK 4200 DD 9050 DFSTR 3000
Man, are there some crap pitchers going today. Moss' case is straightforward - he's a righty crusher against one of the league's worst righties. High chance that an Oakland stack pays the bills today.

Michael Morse - FD 2600 DK 4200 DD 8250 DFSTR 3800
Morse remains an affordable option at 1b that has plenty of upside. Morse is pretty much platoon neutral, but the case here isn't a platoon argument - it's Morales. Bay Area stack baby!!

Also considered: Freddie Freeman

Second Basemen

Jason Kipnis - FD 3400 DK 4100 DD 8400 DFSTR 5000
Man, it's a tough slate of bad pitchers today - Hector Noesi's name is only bubbling up when we get to 2nd basemen! Noesi isn't as bad as some of the others (100 Ks and 47 BBs in 133 IP is below average, but could be worse), and Kipnis can provide upside with both speed and pop. His .345 career wOBA against righties makes him a nice buy for these prices.

Dustin Pedroia - FD 2800 DK 3900 DD 8500 DFSTR 3900
Hopefully you've been following along here, and hearing that our projection system has been wary of Marcus Stroman all season. Well, that's come back and then some - and it sure looks like the Red Sox could be poised to add to the damage. When you have a projection system that tries to hunt out value, it's necessarily going to have guys on it that have underperformed this season - and while Pedroia doesn't have Herculean upside, he's the safest 2b today to make a solid payoff.

Chase Utley - FD 3200 DK 4100 DD 8800 DFSTR 3000
While the big world keeps on turning, Utley continues to put out solid fantasy production from the 2b slot. With 11 homers and 6 steals, he isn't exactly who he used to be - but he's still put up a .353 wOBA against righties at home this year, which is well above average for the position. Doug Fister's pitch-to-contact routine might have a tough time flying in the illadelph - stand by.

Also considered: Javier Baez
 

Shortstops

Hanley Ramirez - FD 3500 DK 4300 DD 10200 DFSTR 3000
Hanley's funny, because he's turned into a guy who's solid but without a ton of upside. Against right handers, anyway. Against lefties the dude can still mash. And on this day, he's facing a league average lefty in a great hitter's park. On a day where there's some lousy positions, I don't mind investing in Hanley's big bat.

Jimmy Rollins - FD 3200 DK 4100 DD 9000 DFSTR 7700
The wOBA is looking like trash this year, but the upside stats (SBs and HRs) are elite. This is pretty much what you're getting from Rollins nowadays, but the cool thing is that that's more than enough to get from him for these prices. Fister's pitch to contact approach actually gives Rollins' more of a chance to use his upside tools, and this could be a nice game.

Jose Reyes - FD 3700 DK 4900 DD 9500 DFSTR 7200
I find Joe Kelly to be absolutely infuriating. With 39 Ks and 26 BBs in 57 IP he's got some of the worst peripherals in the game, but he somehow doesn't have the league's worst ERA. But neveryoumind! He's going to get blitzed in this Toronto game, or I'll kiss Doug's wife. Where was I? Oh right. Reyes. Reyes has turned into a fairly boring player, but he's still an elite shortstop option. He's at his best against guys who allow contact, and Kelly is that. Could be a nice counting stat game.

Third Basemen

Todd Frazier - FD 3200 DK 4400 DD 9650 DFSTR 7400
With 22 homers and 17 steals, Frazier is a fantasy beast. Facing a guy who is simultaneously wild and can't strike anyone out in a great pitcher's park makes him an easy play if you're willing to spend a little on him.

Evan Longoria - FD 3300 DK 4700 DD 9300 DFSTR 6100
It's awfully tough to take Longoria against a righty this year, but Gausman's peripherals don't support his decent ERA. Could be a game where Longoria gets a hold of one.

Everyone else
For the number of bad pitchers going today, 3b is surprisingly barren. If you must, our projection system thinks you could take a crack at Will Middlebrooks, Juan Francsico, or even Prado in a pinch. Ugly day here.

Outfielders

Coco Crisp - FD 3000 DK 4700 DD 9300 DFSTR 9200
With more walks than Ks this year, Crisp should give Peacock fits, getting on base early and often, and coming across when the big bats behind him bring him home. I love him for safety, and I think you can make a good case for his upside as well.

Nelson Cruz - FD 3300 DK 4800 DD 9950 DFSTR 9100
Adam Jones - FD 3700 DK 5000 DD 9600 DFSTR 6600
Cruz is coming at insanely low price in some spots considering how he rakes lefties. Makes a fantastic play against the lefty. Meanwhile, a semi-forgettable year for Jones overall, but not against left handed pitching. Drew Smyly is a solid pitcher, but Jones has been out of this WORLD against left handers this year, putting up a .464 wOBA with 8 homers in 164 plate appearances.

Yasiel Puig - FD 2800 DK 4500 DD 11300 DFSTR 3000
Oh man, our projection system just loves Puig at this price. And what the hell? Sure, the guy has shown some understandable warts (especially give his age), but he's got a freaking near .900 OPS this season. And he's facing Wade Miley - a league average lefty - in Arizona. Cuold be a huge one, and you barely have to pay for it.

Jay Bruce - FD 3300 DK 4200 DD 8950 DFSTR 5600
Billy Hamilton - FD 3200 DK 4900 DD 8600 DFSTR 5300
Bill the Thrill!! Trademark it, baby. Is there anything cooler than 3 stolen base upside? I say no. I documented Turner's struggles earlier, but his inability to get strike outs is going to kill him against the Reds, and Hamilton in particular. If Hamilton can keep his barrel on the ball, you're looking at a potential monster. Same story for Bruce, but take out "steals" and insert "home runs."

Jose Bautista - FD 3600 DK 4900 DD 10500 DFSTR 3800
If you can't strike guys out, and you struggle with wildness, Bautista is the last guy you want to see. This one has the makings of a 2 BB 2 R 1 HR game. Bookmark that projection.

Also considered: Matt Kemp, Desmond Jennings, Marlon Byrd, Alex Gordon
 

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