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Daily Fantasy Leagues - Fanduel Lineup Picks (6/4)
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP / NYM ($4,200) - Yes, it has been quite a while since anyone could confidently recommend Matsuzaka for fantasy purposes. However, those who roll with Dice-K Wednesday evening could end up being very pleased that they did. Though the 33-year-old native of Japan posted a 7-13 record with a lousy 6.14 ERA over just 26 appearances during the last three seasons, he has enjoyed a bit of an unforeseen resurgence for the Mets here in 2014.
Out of the bullpen, Matsuzaka has put together a very nice 2.31 ERA with 26 strikeouts while only allowing 11 hits in 23.1 innings. In his one start, which came back on May 25, the veteran hurler flashed a form from days gone by, as he held the Dbacks Diamondbacks to just two runs on three hits while registering a half-dozen punchouts in a six-inning victory. Start number two could certainly deliver an even better stat line, considering the opposing Chicago Cubs have been shut out in three of their last six games.
Kyle Blanks, OF / OAK ($2,700) - Standing 6’6” and weighing in close to 270 lbs., Blanks is one of the most physically imposing figures that an MLB batter’s box has to offer. The A’s traded for the sizable slugger back on May 15 and have made him a lineup regular when facing off against left-handed hurlers. So far, the addition has paid off, as Blanks is 7-for-20 with two homers since coming to Oakland. Needless to say, power potential is the point of this pick, and it's definitely in play here. Today’s opposing starter, Yankee Vidal Nuno, has already surrendered nine long balls through just 28.1 innings at home in the Bronx this year.
Josh Thole, C / TOR ($2,200) - Thole really has one purpose on the Jays’ 25-man roster this season: playing personal catcher to veteran knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. However, the 27-year-old backstop has brought an added bonus so far, as he is sporting a .340/.407/.377 slash line over 59 plate appearances. Thole has no power at all, but one of his eight career home runs did come off of Tigers’ right-hander Rick Porcello.
Scott Van Slyke, OF / LAD ($2,800) - Though Van Slyke has never faced Sox starter John Danks, it seems reasonable to believe that he will add the seasoned southpaw to his hit list at some point in Wednesday night’s contest. Pounding opposing left-handers to the tune of a 1.147 OPS with four round-trippers across 49 plate appearances, Van Slyke is a great value at this price.
Nate Miller is a RotoBaller regular as well as MLB Contributor & Tampa Rays Beat Writer for RotoWire.com. Feel free to stay up to date with him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.