Sonny Gray gets the Opening Day start for the A’s vs. the Rangers. (Getty)
It’s finally time to set your lineups.
Yes, it’s baseball season and we’ll have all the advice you’ll need to earn some money on DraftKings, the one-day fantasy sports site where you can win cash prizes.
Each day, we’ll give you the rundown of who to pick for a winning lineup, so stay with us the entire season.
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 6:
Pitchers
The Royals’ Yordano Ventura gets the start against the White Sox. (Getty)
Yordano Ventura, Royals, $7,600, vs. White Sox
Ventura had a breakout season in 2014, compiling 14 wins and a 3.20 ERA. The White Sox look to be a middle-of-the-pack offense at best. Good value here for Opening Day.
Sonny Gray, Athletics, $8,300, vs. Rangers
It was always sunny for Gray against the Rangers in 2014; he went 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA in 6 starts. Oakland’s Overstock.com Coliseum is an obvious advantage for pitchers and the Rangers’ offense isn’t expected to be a murderer’s row in ’15.
Catcher
Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers, $4,300, vs. Rockies
Last season, Lucroy was a .307 hitter at Miller Park, where Monday’s game vs. the Rockies will be. Also really liking the fact the Brew Crew faces meatball tosser Kyle Kendrick, whom J-Lu is 6-for-12 against.
First Base
Adam Lind of the Brewers. (Getty)
Adam Lind, Brewers, $4,100, vs. Rockies
Don’t mean to be picking on Kendrick but … OK, I’m picking on Kendrick. Lefties like Lind crush him and Miller Park is also conducive to hitters. And that price for Lind is extra appealing.
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox, $3,700, at Phillies
Pedroia’s matchup against Cole Hamels might not be ideal, but that price tag is. Pedroia is coming off a dreadful season and is a prime bounceback candidate.
Shortstop
Yunel Escobar, Nationals, $3,200, vs. Mets
You don’t need to be sending Escobar out there every day. But at that price and a matchup vs. Bartolo Colon (Escobar is 6-for-14 against Big ‘Ol Bartolo), Escobar should put up some positives numbers Monday.
Third Base
Trevor Plouffe has 6 hits in 12 at-bats vs. the Tigers’ David Price. (Getty)
Trevor Plouffe, Twins, $3,600, at Tigers
Plouffe is not your average cream puff vs. Tigers starter David Price. He has 6 hits in 12 at-bats against the southpaw. Plouffe had a pretty rough spring and he’s not an every game option, but could be a sneaky play Monday.
Outfield
Mike Trout, Angels, $5,100, at Mariners
On the surface, using a hitter against Seattle’s Felix Hernandez seems like a horrible idea. But not for Trout, who has yet to be reeled in by King Felix. Trout is a .367 (18-for-49) hitter with 11 RBIs vs. Hernandez.
Ryan Braun, Brewers, $4,800, vs. Rockies
This is again mostly because Kendrick is on the hill for the Rockies. But that’s what fantasy baseball is all about; exploiting the matchups. Braun is a terrific play vs. Kendrick. Don’t overthink it.
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies, $4,000, at Brewers
Blackmon is likely going to lead off for the Rockies, hitting in front of Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Justin Morneau. And that means if he can get on base, like he has shown in the past, Blackmon is going to score a ton of runs. It’ll start Monday vs. Kyle Lohse and Milwaukee.
Total Lineup Salary: $49,900
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