Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: MLB DraftKings Strategy, Primer for July 17
The All-Star break is over, and the start of the second season is upon us. That makes Friday one of the most exciting days for daily fantasy owners on DraftKings.
Taking some time off to enjoy the All-Star Game was fun, but it's time to get back down to business. Prior to setting your lineups Friday, here's a look at some low-value players for July 17.
First Baseman: Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,300)
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Mr. Consistency isn't slowing down this season. In the heart of a loaded lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has protection in front of and behind him every night. That is a huge reason A-Gone is averaging 8.2 fantasy points this season and nine in his last 10 games.
After hitting a home run in his last game before the break, Gonzalez should be rested up and ready for a hot start in the second season.
With his team pitted against another one of the best teams in the National League, he'll need to provide some offense against Jordan Zimmermann. Expect him to do just that, as he has 16 homers and a .536 slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers.
Second Baseman: Devon Travis, Toronto Blue Jays ($3,800)
He may be a rookie, but Devon Travis has hit like a veteran so far this season. Even with just seven homers, Travis has averaged more than eight fantasy points per game with an .845 OPS.
In just 52 games, he has 32 RBI and has shown patience at the plate with 13 walks. Oh, then there's the fact that Travis had a ridiculous stretch of four multiple-hit performances in a four-game stretch before the break. Don't overlook Travis for a more experienced player, or you might regret it.
Third Baseman: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox ($4,000)
Speaking of young players, Xander Bogaerts is another slugger under 25 who's hitting at a ridiculous clip recently. Through 10 games in July, Bogaerts has at least one hit in each and multiple hits in half of them. His .395 average this month has helped raise his season average above the .300 mark.
Bogaerts might not be the same value as Travis, but he's a bargain for a third baseman. With Miguel Cabrera and David Wright still on the disabled list, Bogaerts is a solid choice to help fill out the rest of the lineup with power bats.
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants ($3,500)
Brandon Crawford is an All-Star. He also has 12 homers—second-most among MLB shortstops. Yet somehow, someway, Crawford can be had on DraftKings for $4,500 on Friday.
It might have something to do with the slight dip in his production, with just one hit in six games starting in Washington. However, his numbers before the break—four hits in two games with a triple, two RBI and two runs—tell a different story.
Crawford also has a great matchup. Facing off with Robbie Ray, he'll get a chance to see a pitcher who has been up and down over his last four starts. Carrying a .318/.375/.545 clip against lefties with three homers, Crawford should have no issues putting up strong numbers at a low price.
Outfielder: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles ($3,800)
Keeping with the theme of players who have outproduced their value on DraftKings, we give you Adam Jones. The Baltimore Orioles slugger has been raking recently, with seven hits over his last six games—four of which have been home runs.
Similar to Crawford, Jones has a perfect matchup against Anibal Sanchez. With a .600 OBP against Sanchez and 10 homers against righties this season, there's no reason not to trust Jones as a No. 2 or high-end No. 3 outfielder.
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