Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer is on the hill Thursday vs. the Rangers. (Getty)
Thursday’s Major League schedule is a healthy mix of day and night games.
But for purposes of this lineup below, I’m passing on the afternoon tilts and participating in an evening game-only contest on FanDuel.
Editors note: Sign up for DraftKings’ MLB $10K Mini Moonshot contest, which begins Thursday, May 7, at 7:05 p.m. Eastern. The contest is FREE for first-time DraftKings users and $3 for current members. First prize is $800 and 780 entered teams get paid.
That’s the beauty of one-day fantasy sites. Don’t have time to get a lineup together for the day games? Who cares, skip it. Play a night-only contest instead. I love it.
With only 6 games on the night portion of the schedule, the player pool is rather shallow. No big deal, there are definitely fantasy studs wading in said pool. Let’s find out who they are.
**This lineup below is for a night-game only 50/50 contest (7 p.m. Eastern and after)**
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.
You can find the FanDuel scoring key at the bottom of the post.
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Here are the best FanDuel lineup picks for May 7:
Pitcher
Chris Archer, Rays, $8,900, vs. Rangers
Archer (3-3, 1.64 ERA) has pitched too well to have 3 losses. Two of them came against the Orioles, the only team to have scored an earned run against the Rays ace. He gets the Rangers, whose offense is near the bottom of the majors.
Catcher
Jason Castro, Astros, $2,200, at Angels
The price is right. The .500 average (albeit just 4 for 8) vs. Angels starter Hector Santiago works. So let’s knock on wood and hope Astros manager A.J. Hinch, a former catcher himself, doesn’t decide to give Castro a day off.
First Base
(Getty)
Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks, $5,100, vs. Padres
Something about getting Goldschmidt in my lineup just makes me feel good. I’m really not concerned he’s 0 for 4 vs. Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne; Goldy is 13 for 38 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs over this year and last against the San Diego staff.
Second Base
Brandon Phillips, Reds, $2,800, at Pirates
Phillips has multiple-hits in 4 of 5 games this month. He’s also a .300 hitter vs. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett. I’m riding the hot hand with Phillips.
Shortstop
Brandon Crawford, Giants, $2,500, vs. Marlins
Over the past week, Crawford is 8 for 19 with a couple of homers. I can’t stress enough how much of a weak-hitting crop of shortstops there are, so if you find one in the zone (like Crawford is), roll with him.
Third Base
(Getty)
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, $3,200, vs. Orioles
A-Rod has homered 3 times in 10 at-bats vs. Orioles starter Chris Tillman, who is sporting a not-so-tidy 6.23 ERA. Rodriguez is only 5 for 22 this month, but has 3 doubles and a bomb. The 3B pickings are less-than-slim on Thursday and you could definitely do worse than Rodriguez.
Outfield
Wil Myers of the Padres. (Getty)
Mark Trumbo, Diamondbacks, $3,600, vs. Padres
Trumbo never met a pitch he didn’t like. But the difference between 2015 and the past is this year the free-swinger is putting the ball in play (as opposed to his usual strikeout) and it’s paying off with a .295 average. It won’t last, Trumbo just isn’t a batting average star. But it could for another evening as he’s batting .364 vs. Despaigne and .333 against the Pads this season.
Wil Myers, Padres, $3,400, at Diamondbacks
Myers doesn’t have much history against the Diamondbacks, but he is 4 for 7 against starter Ruby De La Rosa (when Myers was a Ray and De La Rosa was on the Red Sox). Myers was struggling a bit, but received a day off Tuesday, then responded with 3 hits Wednesday. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
Kole Calhoun, Angels, $3,300, vs. Astros
Calhoun can rake. He has such a nice, compact swing. Listen to me sounding like Tom Emanski here. Back to Calhoun’s fantasy prospects. He’s 5 for 12 vs. Astros starter Collin McHugh and is coming off a 2-hit game. He fits my budget perfectly.
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.
FanDuel Scoring
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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NBA
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PGA
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FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball: Best Picks for May 7