Jose Iglesias is batting .600 for Detroit so far. He’s on fire and comes with a cheap salary on DraftKings. (Getty)
Less than a week into the season, a couple things have stood out: 1) the Tigers can hit, and 2) nobody can hit at the Padres’ Petco Park.
For the Tigers, Miguel Cabrera is hitting .313 and that’s 7th-best out of the 9 regulars. Trust me, he’s not a scrub. This won’t last, but take advantage of it now. A lot of the unsung Tigers come with low salaries, so get them in your lineup until the cooling period begins.
Now for Petco. The Giants and Padres have played 2 games there and a total of 2 runs have been scored in 22 innings (one was a 13-inning game). Tim Lincecum and Brandon Morrow were dominant Friday night. He didn’t get a W, but here’s hoping you took our advice and used Lincecum. Saturday night it’s James Shields (SD) vs. Madison Bumgarner (SF). Stranger things have happened, but let’s go out on a limb and say pitching will dominate again tonight.
For the moment, if there’s a borderline starter with an attractive price tag pitching at Petco, put him in your lineup and use that extra cash you saved to build a heavy-hitting squad.
DraftKings uses the following parameters: You get a $50,000 cap to spend on 10 players – 2 pitchers, 1 catcher, 1 first baseman, 1 second baseman, 1 shortstop, 1 third baseman and 3 outfielders.
Hitters Scoring:
Single = +3 points
Double = +5 points
Triple = +8 points
Home Run = +10 points
Run Batted In = +2 points
Run = +2 points
Base on Balls = +2 points
Hit By Pitch = +2 points
Stolen Base = +5 points
Caught Stealing = -2 points
Pitchers Scoring:
Inning Pitched = +2.25 points
Strike Out = +2 points
Win = +4 points
Earned Run Allowed = -2 points
Hit Against = -0.6 points
Base on Balls Against = -0.6 points
Hit Batsman = -0.6 points
Complete Game = +2.5 points
Complete Game Shut Out = +2.5 points
No Hitter = +5 points
*NOTE: Hitting statistics for Pitchers will not be counted, and Pitching statistics for Hitters will not be counted.
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Here are the best lineup picks for April 11:
Pitchers
James Shields (Getty)
James Shields, Padres, $9,800, vs. Giants
The Padres and Giants have combined to score 2 runs in 22 innings in the first 2 games of the series – a pair of 1-0 offensive struggles. It’d be foolish not to start Shields or his counterpart Madison Bumgarner. Shields is $1,000 cheaper.
Sonny Gray, A’s, $8,900, vs. Mariners
Gray was gold in his opening start when we told you to start him, throwing 1-hit, shutout ball over 8 innings. He’s not much of a strikeout pitcher, but he’s going to get you points everywhere else. Seattle, Gray’s opponent, has scored 7 runs in 4 games. That’s reason enough.
Catcher
Nick Hundley, Rockies, $3,800, vs. Cubs
Hundley is a career .239 hitter, but he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he’s facing Cubs starter Jason Hammel. Nick The (Occasional) Stick is 7 for 15 with a homer vs. Hammel, a former Rockie who never pitched well at Coors … just like everybody else who has toed the rubber there.
First Base
Joey Votta (Getty)
Joey Votto, Reds, $4,600, vs. Cardinals
Votto has started the season a cool .412 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs – and his 1B price for Saturday is head-scratchingly low. Hey, I don’t make the prices, I’m a bargain shopper, though. Votto is one. And he’s 4 for 9 vs. Cards starter Michael Wacha. If you can’t afford Votto, then Adam LaRoche at that basement-bottom price is worth it vs. the Twins’ Mike Pelfrey, despite his early-season struggles.
Second Base
DJ LeMahieu Getty)
DJ LeMahieu, Rockies, $4,300, vs. Cubs
LeMahieu’s hot start got better Friday night at Coors Field with 3 hits. He’s now hitting .471 with another game in the thin Denver air on Saturday. Sign me up. Load up on your lefty Rockies hitters vs. the righty Hammel – outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon all make above-average plays, as does 1B Justin Morneau.
Shortstop
Jose Iglesias, Tigers, $2,900, at Indians
I know this won’t continue, but Iglesias is hitting .600. And he bats 9th. The Tigers have the top offense in the league. All good things come to an end, but until they do, milk it dry. At $2,900, Iglesias is a steal Saturday.
Third Base
Josh Donaldson is heating up. (Getty)
Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays, $4,900, at Orioles
Donaldson is waking up, racking up 4 hits, 3 RBIs and 3 runs in the past 2 games. And, as I mentioned, Ubaldo Jimenez is the opposing pitcher, so don’t get cute. Use Donaldson and use him with the utmost confidence.
Outfield
Anthony Gose (Getty)
Lorenzo Cain, Royals, $3,800, at Angels
I’m looking past the fact Cain is 0 for 4 with 4 Ks lifetime vs. Jered Weaver. Things have changed. Weaver is not as dominant as he used to be and Cain as evolved into a very good hitter. And right now Cain is mashing everything and everyone. I’m all over Cain for the foreseeable future.
Anthony Gose, Tigers, $2,900, at Indians
Gose has found a nice home atop the Tigers’ batting order. And right now, as mentioned above, the entire Detroit lineup is crushing, especially Gose, who is 8 for 17 the past 3 games. Ride that hot hand at that bargain price.
Jon Jay, Cardinals, $3,400, at Reds
Jay found himself on the bench Friday night, but don’t expect that to be the case Saturday vs. Johnny Cueto. Jay absolutely destroys Cueto to the tune of .480 (12 for 25) with 3 homers. No-brainer at that price.
Total Lineup Salary: $49,300 of the allotted $50,000
Each day, we’ll give you the rundown of who to pick for a winning lineup, so stay with us the entire season.
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