RADIO
This Monday once again features a solid nine-game slate for daily fantasy baseball players. Among the best matchups are the Dodgers in St. Louis in a battle of first-place NL teams, and a pair of division rivalries as the Tigers visit the Indians and the red-hot Braves travel to Washington to face the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg..
Everyday here on RotoBaller.com you can find plenty of fantasy baseball advice, including tips and picks for fantasy baseball daily leagues like Fanduel and DraftKings. You can also check out my daily picks each day at SportsReelBoston.com where you’ll also find a sweet deal for a registration bonus at DraftKings.com.
I'm short on time today, so I'm going rapidfire through the picks I like the most on this Monday, August 5. I tried to pull from different salary strata to give a nice cross-section of options at each position.
Starting Pitcher
John Lackey-Boston Red Sox: vs. the strikeout-prone Astros. Lackey pitched into the seventh in each of his last nine starts, and he's been a solid contributor for the first-place Red Sox.
Stephen Strasburg-Washington Nationals: Strasburg faces the hot-hitting Braves at home where he has a 1.68 ERA and a .197 BAA (batting average against). He's just 4-4 at home due to lack of run support, but he does have 81 K in 75 innings at home. He's started three times against the Braves this season and is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 17 K in 14 IP.
Hisashi Iwakuma-Seattle Mariners: Iwakuma was hit well by the Red Sox but didn't give up any earned runs. He has four straight quality starts allowing five earned runs in 25.2 innings. His strikeout numbers are a bit inconsistent, but he's won his last three decisions and has a 0.97 WHIP on the season. He beat the Jays earlier this season allowing one run on five hits in seven innings with five strikeouts.
Jose Quintana-Chicago White Sox: Value starting option as the Sox host the Yankees. At home, he's 3-3 with a 3.49 ERA and a .234 BAA. In six starts in July, he went 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and a .243 BAA.
Catcher
Wilson Ramos-Washington Nationals: should start after day off Sunday. Ramos went 3-8 with a homer, two runs scored and one RBI in his last two games against the Brewers. Versus Atlanta starter Mike Minor, Ramos is 3-4 with a homer for his career.
Chris Herrmann-Minnesota Twins: Value pick who has been starting in the outfield for the Twins, Herrmann has reached base in each of his last eight games.
First Base
Justin Morneau-Minnesota Twins: Morneau is 9-25 (.360) with four doubles and two homers against KC starter Jeremy Guthrie in his career. He's hit in five straight going 8-22 with three runs, two doubles, and two homers. Three of his ten home runs on the year have come in his last eight games.
Paul Konerko-Chicago White Sox: Konerko is 13-35 (.371) against Pettitte in the past with two doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs to go with 11 RBI. Konerko homered yesterday but has struggled overall recently.
Victor Martinez-Detroit Tigers: V-Mart kills his former team, going 17-46 (.370) against the Indians with five doubles, a homer, eight runs scored, eight RBI and seven walks. Against Kluber, he's 4-9 with a walk.
Second Base
Ian Kinsler-Texas Rangers: In his last 10 games, Kinsler is 8-32 with seven runs scored, eight RBI, a triple, a home run and three walks. Versus LAA starter Jerome Williams, he's 4-19 with five runs scored and a walk, and against the Angels this season, Kinsler has gone 11-36 with a triple, two homers and 10 RBI.
Marco Scutaro-San Francisco Giants: Scutaro has been playing well and may be moving into the leadoff spot for the Giants. He's 13-38 over his last 10 games, and splits show he hits better at home where he plays tonight.
Brock Holt-Boston Red Sox: 3-15 since being recalled with four runs scored and two doubles. Value play as the Sox play in Houston.
Third Base
Adrian Beltre-Texas Rangers: Beltre has five multi-hit games in his last seven, going 12-28 with a homer and six RBI. Career vs. Jerome Williams: 9-21 with a double, home run, and four RBI.
Brett Lawrie-Toronto Blue Jays: hit in seven straight going 9-25 with a double, two HR and three RBI.
Shortstop
Stephen Drew-Boston Red Sox: Five-game hitting streak with four multi-hit games in that stretch, during which he's gone 9-18 with a homer, four runs scored and four RBI.
Brad Miller-Seattle Mariners: Miller had a solid road trip to Boston and Baltimore going 6-29 with a double, triple, one RBI and a stolen base along with four runs scored. He continues to get on base at the top of the Seattle lineup and gets what I think should be a good matchup against R.A. Dickey.
Outfield
Mike Trout-Los Angeles Angels: Trout is the most expensive OF for a good reason: 19-54 since the break with two doubles, two homers, and two stolen bases. He kills the Rangers and is hitting better against lefties like Martin Perez, who gets the call for Texas tonight.
Nelson Cruz-Texas Rangers: Cruz has three homers in his last five games and four since the All-Star break. Against LAA starter Jerome Williams, he is 11-18 with four homers, a double and 10 RBI. Assuming he plays tonight and doesn't accept the suspension, he's a good play.
Michael Bourn-Cleveland Indians: 3-9 in his last three games with three SB. Since the break, he's gone 12-49 (.245) but has been picking up extra base hits with two homers and three doubles as well as nine walks. Against Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez, Bourn is 7-21 in his career with two doubles.
Ryan Doumit-Minnesota Twins: 3-11 with a HR off KC starter Guthrie. Since the All-Star break, he's 16-57 (.281) with five doubles, five runs scored and five RBI.
Raul Ibanez-Seattle Mariners: hit safely in five of his last six, going 7-28 with two doubles. Career versus R.A. Dickey: 11-30 with three home runs, a triple and 6 RBI.
Caleb Gindl-Milwaukee Brewers: 14-39 (.359) since the break with six doubles an a homer. SF starter Chad Gaudin struggles against lefties like Gindl, allowing a .265 BAA.
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As always, remember to check your MLB daily lineups before they lock and make sure you are doing your own research, too, for optimal performance! The most successful daily leaguers are grinders who are constantly tweaking their lineups as the day goes on and fantasy news gets released. Good luck today, RotoBallers!
