Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: MLB DraftKings Strategy, Primer for April 14
MLB daily fantasy owners are finally getting into a groove, but there's always room for improvement. Each day brings a new opportunity for DraftKings players to thrive in myriad games, but only if they know how to set up a winning lineup.
Before Tuesday's slate gets underway, here's a look at the full strategy for MLB daily fantasy with the top value players to target.
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Pitcher: Daniel Norris, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,600)
Putting stock in young pitchers isn't always wise for daily fantasy owners. However, Daniel Norris is a special hurler going against a porous lineup on Tuesday.
In his first start with the Toronto Blue Jays, Norris was touched up a bit by the Yankees for three runs over 5.2 innings. During his second start, the 21-year-old pitcher will face a Tampa Bay Rays offense that has been limited to two or less runs in three of the last five games.
Outside of Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay doesn't really offer many impressive bats. Look for Norris to have a great first outing against the division rivals and post impressive fantasy numbers in his second start.
First Baseman: Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,200)
Well, this is obvious. Even after a slightly down weekend—if you call four hits over three games unimpressive—Gonzalez is still the hottest hitter in the game.
Just how hot has A-Gone been thus far? The Dodgers slugger was historically hot through the first three games, per Bleacher Report:
Somehow priced at his lowest salary hit of the season, Gonzalez can be had for a reasonable price on Tuesday night. Punch him into your lineup and expect solid numbers even against Hisashi Iwakuma.
Third Baseman: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies ($4,100)
Through seven games this season, Nolan Arenado already has six extra-base hits. Even with two games where he's been stifled at the plate, Arenado still has the plate presence to do damage against good pitching.
Facing Tim Hudson, Arenado has a chance to get back on track. Hudson is a veteran on the mound, but he doesn't have overpowering stuff at 39 years old. This young third baseman has the potential for another stellar night in San Francisco.
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves ($3,500)
Known for his stellar defensive play, Andrelton Simmons has been great at the plate so far this season. Simba had an off night on Monday, but his average of 11 fantasy points per game over the weekend is certainly welcomed by daily owners.
Given his consistency to start the season, Simmons should be plugged into nearly any fantasy lineup. If he comes away with numbers similar to the ones he posted over the weekend, spending low for him will pay off in this matchup.
Outfielder: Steve Pearce, Baltimore Orioles ($4,000)
Even at a position with so much depth, picking a perfect outfielder can still be an arduous task. Luckily, Steve Pearce has been blazing hot to start the year for the Orioles.
In fact, he started the year with similar numbers to two other memorable Orioles over the last several years, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Despite cooling down some since those first two games, Pearce is still slotted just ahead of Chris Davis. With pitchers all but forced to throw to him, look for Pearce to light up CC Sabathia to help daily owners thrive on Tuesday.
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