FantasyScore Daily Fantasy Baseball Primer: Tuesday 4/28/15
Season-long fantasy baseball leagues can be tiresome. You have to set your lineups each day, play the waiver wire for new players, and when it's all said and done, you still might be out of it by the All-Star break.
Fortunately, we've got an alternative to your season-long fantasy baseball woes: FantasyScore.com.
FantasyScore has tons of games to choose from and compete in (including regular freerolls going on now) for real cash prizes every single day. All you need to do is sign up, enter a lineup based on salary restrictions, and join contests against baseball fans just like you.
With an interesting slate going on tonight in baseball, it's a perfect time to try it out. And to help you, we're giving out our FantasyScore optimized lineup, which you can find below.
| Player | Salary | FP |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) | $9,500.00 | 14.02 |
| Tyson Ross (SP, SD) | $7,000.00 | 12.23 |
| Troy Tulowitzki (SS, COL) | $6,000.00 | 4.31 |
| Ian Kinsler (2B, DET) | $5,200.00 | 4.56 |
| Kyle Seager (3B, SEA) | $5,000.00 | 4.4 |
| Lucas Duda (1B, NYM) | $4,300.00 | 4.14 |
| J.D. Martinez (LF, DET) | $4,200.00 | 4.48 |
| Rajai Davis (RF, DET) | $3,200.00 | 4.25 |
| Michael Cuddyer (RF, NYM) | $3,000.00 | 4.59 |
| Francisco Cervelli (C, PIT) | $2,000.00 | 3 |
Clayton Kershaw being on the mound typically means he's in play in daily fantasy baseball. He'll be facing the same team he went six innings against in his last outing, and while it wasn't a superb, Clayton Kershaw-like performance, he still struck out nine batters. And over his last two outings, he's struck out 21. He's the top pitching option on the day, and for good reason: he gets you strikeouts, and that's what you need in daily fantasy baseball.
The other pitcher our algorithm likes is Tyson Ross, who's a top option per our numbers, but just the seventh-most expensive one on FantasyScore. Ross will be in San Diego -- a plus given it's one of the best pitcher's parks in all the land -- facing an Astros lineup that's striking out at a higher rate than any other club in baseball so far this year (24.3%). It's the perfect storm for Ross, who has a career 8.12 strikeout per nine rate, and who also surrendered just a .243 wOBA to opposing batters at home a season ago.
As usual, there are a lot of strong bats in the lineup, so let's dig into some of the lower-cost players. Michael Cuddyer has been batting cleanup for the surging Mets this year, and will face David Phelps in Miami tonight. The righty-righty matchup isn't enticing, but Phelps has still allowed a .317 wOBA to right-handed bats over his career, which is nothing special. Though Cuddyer mashes lefties better, his price point makes him essentially a punt play, which isn't bad for a game with an eight run over/under.
The lineup has three Tigers in it as well -- targeting Detroit is never a bad idea, and they should have no trouble tonight against Mike Pelfrey and his career 4.26 FIP. Though some of the bats are righty ones, Pelfrey, a righty himself, has given up a career .343 wOBA to right-handed bats. With a high over/under, expect Detroit to do some work.
Last but not least: the catcher position. You can go in a lot of directions at catcher each night, usually opting for Buster Posey or "anyone with a platoon advantage." Pittsburgh's Francisco Cervelli will get just that -- as long as he's in the lineup -- against lefty Travis Wood. Cervelli won't light the world up with his bat, but he has a more-than-respectable .356 wOBA against lefties throughout his career.
Enter the lineup now over at FantasyScore.com!
