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MLB Fantasy Baseball DFS FanDuel Bargain Picks for 4/9
Jesse Chavez - SP / OAK ($4,400)
Many may not be aware, but Chavez has taken a major league mound in 192 different games since 2008. Only three of those outings, including last Thursday’s appearance versus the Mariners, have come as a starter. Oakland’s 30-year-old righty was certainly solid in his 2014 regular season debut, as he held the Seattle lineup to just two runs (one earned) on five hits over a half-dozen frames. Chavez found the strikezone with 56 of 91 pitches, adding four strikeouts and two free passes to his overall line. The Twins are the opponent today in Minnesota’s Target Field. A fairly pedestrian offense and a pitcher-friendly park combine to form an inviting atmosphere for Chavez to begin the 2014 campaign with consecutive quality starts.
Matt Joyce - OF / TB ($3,100)
The justification with Joyce today is easily understandable-- he will step into the box against Royals' veteran hurler Jeremy Guthrie, a man whom Joyce has rocked to the tune of a 1.209 OPS over 37 career plate appearances. The left-handed Joyce has gotten off to a tremendous start over his first eight games of the season, posting a batting average of .400 with a homer, six runs driven in and four walks. He could certainly be in for a big afternoon.
Kelly Johnson - 3B / NYY ($2,900)
These days, Johnson is known mostly as a versatile player who possesses decent on-base skills. However, the 32-year-old still brings some punch to the plate, as shown yesterday when he launched his first bomb of the young season at Yankee Stadium. Johnson is playing his first season in New York, and given enough at-bats, the hitter’s haven should only work to enhance his offensive numbers. So far, the left-handed swinging veteran is 5-for-21 with four extra-base hits in 2014. In addition, Johnson is 3-for-9 in his career against the Orioles’ Miguel Gonzalez, who will be toeing the rubber against the Pinstripers today.
Mitch Moreland - OF / TEX ($2,500)
Simply put, Moreland has great power potential, especially against right-handed pitchers. Jake Peavy, the scheduled opposition, fits that bill and has previously experienced Moreland's punishment. The two have matched up on six separate occasions, and Moreland has been the clear victor in those meetings, coming up with three hits, two of which left the yard. The 28-year-old heads into tonight's contest carrying a .273 average with a couple of RBI, but he's still in search of his first longball of the regular season.
Nate Miller is a RotoBaller regular as well as an MLB Contributor & Tampa Bay Rays Beat Writer for RotoWire.com. Feel free to stay up to date with him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.