RADIO
We have switched things up a little bit in our Daily League column. Instead of giving you an exact lineup, we'll be sharing top positional plays with quick analysis about why we like these guys. There is no set budget for these picks, so they may be star-studded... the idea here is to give you some of the best players that are playing at each position.
Here are some intriguing plays for May 28, 2013:
SP: Kevin Gausman ($2,600) - This is usually NOT the kind of pick I would recommend to you RotoBallin' Daily Leaguers out there, but it's pretty rare for there to be a $2,600 pitcher who throws 99 mph with a dominant strikeout-to-walk ratio throughout his minor league career. He'll also get the Nationals weak lineup of late, missing Bryce Harper. Couple that with the fact that he will be facing Nathan Karns making his first ever MLB start for the Nats while never having pitched above AA, and I smell a recipe for a dominant outing and a possible W.
C: Joe Mauer ($3,800) - It is not always smart to pay a lot for a Catcher in the daily games, but with Joe Mauer you can make an exception. He has been on an absolute hitting tear lately, and has even shown a little power, hitting 2 HR in the past week. Get him in if you can afford him against a rookie right hander today.
1B: Adrian Gonzalez ($3,000) - He is severely undervalued and absolutely racking up the points over the past few nights (13, 9.5, 11). Make sure he is playing tonight against the junky Joe Blanton.
2B: Kelly Johnson ($3,900) - If you are going to pay this much for a 2B not named Cano, Pedroia or Kipnis right now, you should pony up for the Rays' MI/OF. He is showing off tremendous power so far in 2013, and he is facing a soft-tossing righty today in Kevin Slowey.
3B: Josh Donaldson ($3,400) - Donaldson has been a sleeper in all formats for all of 2013, but it is hard to ignore his dominance at the plate of late. That is mostly attributed to him crushing left handed pitching, and he gets another lefty tonight in SF. Get him in and try to separate from the pack at 3B.
SS: Starlin Castro ($3,000) - This guy is a fantasy stud through and through, but does not always score big in the power-dependent daily-league games. That said, he is still a premium player who is always fairly cheap and has the potential for some power, BA and speed on any given night.
OF: Andre Ethier ($2,800) - He has not been off the charts hot lately, but he has a great career history against Joe Blanton (7/17 .412 BA).
OF: Carl Crawford ($3,400) - Sorry for recommending two Dodger outfielders today, but it's not every day you get to pick on Joe Blanton in the fantasy game. Make sure you are checking the lineups to ensure that these guys are actually slotted in today.
OF: Adam Jones ($4,400) - There is no hotter hitter in the game right now, and this guy is not just a fluke-- he is THE REAL DEAL! He is just about a great play any day, but he is facing a rookie pitcher today and is on a six-game hitting streak during which he's hit 4 HR. It doesn't get much hotter than that kids, so don't hesitate to spend the money if you've got it!
As always, remember to check your 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 at the tables today RotoBallers!
