We’re counting down the final days of August, and Thursday, Sept. 1 is when things start to get a little tricky for Fantasy players, especially those in DFS. Major League rosters expand,
and veterans tend to get a lot more days off, especially on the poor teams. Non-contending teams like to see what they have for the future, giving youngsters hands-on training. You will not see a lot of this on teams in contention for a playoff spot, so DFS players are wise to gravitate toward those teams in the final month of the regular season since there is much less uncertainty.
One young player already making an impact for his big league club is Oakland Athletics 3B Ryon Healy ($2,800), as he has the longest active hitting streak in the majors at 14 games. In fact, only one other player has a streak in double-digits. Healy is hitting a robust .404 (21-for-52) with two homers, five RBIs and eight runs scored during the span. Sure, it isn’t a giant slugging percentage and a lot of DFS points, but he is regularly contributing at a cut-rate price.
Kris Bryant is on a tear, and he especially loves facing left-handed pitching. Photo Credit: Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire
In the National League it is Chicago Cubs 3B-OF Kris Bryant ($5,600) leading the way. He is the only other player in the majors with a double-digit hit streak going, and he’ll give you a lot more bang for your dollar. Is he worth double that of Healy, for example? Well, during his 10-game run he is batting a robust .488 with seven homers, 16 RBIs, five walks, 15 runs scored and a ridiculous 1.073 slugging percentage; so the answer is a resounding yes. He is worth every penny of his DFS salary until he cools significantly. Hit streaks are nice, but power is what really wins on a nightly basis.
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson ($5,200) is another hot corner man on a roll. He has belted five homers with 11 RBIs and a .962 slugging percentage during his current seven-game hitting streak. And how about New York Yankees C Gary Sanchez ($4,700)? The international free agent rose through the minor-league ranks and appears destined for stardom. Or, he is the next Kevin Maas. Time will tell. In DFS play, though, he is a dependable backstop at an affordable price.
For more recommendations from me throughout the week, plus tips from other top industry analysts like Drew Dinkmeyer, check out DailyRoto.com for comprehensive free and premium DFS content.
DraftKings.com salaries included below where applicable. (*** salaries subject to change ***)
TOP DFS PITCHER OF THE DAY
MONDAY
Dan Straily, SP, Cincinnati ($9,100 at LAA): There haven’t been a lot of bright spots in Cincinnati this season, but how many people predicted Straily would be a double-digit winner when the team claimed him off waivers from the San Diego Padres back on April 1? Well, he has 10 wins and is impressive lately. Straily is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 18 strikeouts over his past 17.1 innings with just two walks allowed. The WHIP is actually slightly higher than his season mark of 1.12. He has been a DFS find, and a low exposure player because people are scared of the Reds.
TUESDAY
Cole Hamels, SP, Texas ($11,300 vs. SEA): Hamels is looking good down the stretch for the playoff-bound Rangers. He is 2-1 with a sparkling 1.21 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over his past three outings, whiffing 23 batters over the past 22.1 innings. He has handled his business against the divisional rival Seattle Mariners, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 14 innings while posting a .167 opponent batting average. More importantly, the Mariners are 3-10 in their past 13 road games against southpaws, and really, only 2B Robinson Cano handles them with any aplomb.
WEDNESDAY
Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit ($10,200 vs. CHW): If you’re playing the six-game afternoon DFS slate, you’ll certainly want Verlander. He is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA and ridiculous 0.68 WHIP over his past three otuings, rolling up 19 strikeouts with just three walks over the past 20.2 innings. He won his only start against the White Sox this season, allowing two runs and five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over seven innings June 5. Verlander has won seven of his past eight decisions since June 26, and has re-emerged as a must-have DFS option.
THURSDAY
Jose Quintana, SP, Chicago White Sox ($10,200 at MIN): There will be just a three-game DFS slate Thursday night, but if you absolutely have to get your fix Quintana is the play. He is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season, striking out 27 batters in 26.2 innings while allowing just six walks and two home runs with a .232 opponent batting average.
FRIDAY
Jameson Taillon, SP, Pittsburgh ($6,900 vs. MIL): Taillon will face a familiar foe, the Milwaukee Brewers, for the fourth time this season. This will be his 14th start of the year, so he is really familiar with the Brew Crew. He hasn’t recorded a win during the span, but he has 12 strikeouts over 15 innings against the Brewers, the team that strikes out more than any other team in the majors this season. He has a 2.86 ERA at home in seven starts as opposed to a 4.09 ERA on the road, so he is a solid DFS option against a bad offense at a good price.
SATURDAY
Julio Urias, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers ($5,700 vs. SD): Don’t let the extremely soft pricing fool you. Urias has been really good lately, and is coming into his own. Overall he has a 5-2 record, 3.71 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 63 innings in 14 appearances (12 starts). Those numbers warrant using him across the board, but the fact that he has won four straight starts and each of his past five decisions makes him a slam-dunk DFS play at this price level against a Padres team that is second in the majors in strikeouts at 9.26 per game.
SUNDAY
Kenta Maeda, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers ($6,500 vs. SD): Maeda is another bargain-basement option for DFS owners against a San Diego lineup with plenty of holes in their bats. He is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts against the Padres this season, striking out 22 over 18 innings while walking just one and holding San Diego to a .169 opponent batting average.
TOP DFS HITTER OF THE DAY
MONDAY
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs ($5,600 vs. PIT): The high-flying Bryant will face Pirates LHP Steven Brault, and that usually doesn’t end well for southpaws. Bryant has clubbed 13 of his 35 homers against left-handed pitching this season, or one homer per 11 at-bats. He has one homer per every 15.7 at-bats against right-handed pitchers. His 1.061 OPS vs. LHP is stellar, as is his .315 batting average, .418 on-base percentage and .643 slugging percentage against lefties. In other words, expect another big night from Bryant.
TUESDAY
Ryon Healy, 3B, Oakland ($2,800 at HOU): As mentioned, Healy streaked into the new week with a 14-game hitting streak in tow, and he will face a right-handed pitcher Tuesday in Houston. Healy is hitting .311 (32-for-103) with eight doubles, four homers and 15 RBIs with an .848 OPS against righties this season, more than proving his home going forward from be in Oakland and not with Triple-A Nashville.
WEDNESDAY
Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas ($3,600 vs. SEA): For whatever reason, Andrus seems to handle the twig well against Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez. They have plenty of encounters over the years, with Andrus posting 26 hits in 90 at-bats (.289) with 14 RBIs. Is Andrus the best hitter on the board Wednesday? No. But he is a giant value who will more than hold his own against a pitcher he is very familiar.
THURSDAY
Justin Morneau, 1B, Chicago White Sox ($3,000 at MIN): Again, Thursday has a very short slate, but Morneau is a value you won’t want to forget about. He owns Twins LHP Ervin Santana, belting four homers with 10 RBI in just 32 at-bats, good for a .941 OPS. And he has been warmer lately, and always gets up for games in his old stomping grounds in the Twin Cities.
FRIDAY
Mike Trout, OF, L.A. Angels ($4,900 at SEA): It isn’t a giant sample size, but these numbers are simply too huge to ignore. Trout has faced Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker just 10 times, but he has eight hits (.800) with a triple, two homers and five RBI, good for a 2.418 OPS. Obviously, over the years those numbers will decrease substantially as they are not sustainable, but Trout has a nice price and sees the ball well from Walker. Take advantage.
SATURDAY
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto ($5,200 at TB): While everyone else is busy watching college football, you can be busy watching your third baseman go off against a pitcher making his first start back after reconstructive elbow surgery. Donaldson has only faced Rays RHP Alex Cobb (elbow) 13 times, and doesn’t have a great history against him, but Donaldson has four homers in 44 at-bats against Rays pitching this season, with all four bombs in 24 at-bats at Tropicana Field while posting a 1.150 OPS.
SUNDAY
Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston ($4,600 at OAK): Bogaerts has handled the bat well against left-handed pitching over the years, and 2016 is no exception. He is hitting .324 (34-for-105) with four doubles, four homers and 15 RBIs with an .866 OPS against southpaws this season. And, for what it’s worth (which isn’t much!), he has two hits in two at-bats against Athletics LHP Sean Manaea, Sunday’s probably pitcher for the A’s.
The Fantasy Sports Network (FNTSY) is now available on AppleTV! You can also watch FNTSY on Xbox One, Xbox 360, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
