Aside from the typical Cubs’ matinee, there is a full slate of MLB games tonight. So, head on over to Star Fantasy Leagues and set your daily fantasy baseball lineup. When making your deposit, use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% bonus. To help get you on your way, here is the lineup I’m rolling with tonight.
(C) Brian McCann $7,724 – In the words of ESPN’s Buster Olney, McCann is “just crushing the ball since being activated” and has an “OPS of about a billion”. While that might be a bit of a stretch, he’s as hot as just about any catcher right now.
(1B) Mitch Moreland $7,211 – After May 2nd, Moreland was hitting just .250. Now, he’s 4 points shy of .300. Since the 2nd, he’s had at least one hit in all but 2 games and also has 5 home runs.
(2B) Dustin Pedroia $7,405 – Over the last week, Pedroia is hitting a solid .478 and faces Vance Worley in Minnesota tonight, against whom he is 3-for-6.
(3B) Adrian Beltre $8,409 – Last night marked Beltre’s first hitless performance in 9 games, but he still managed an RBI and 2 runs. He’s also a career .357 hitter against tonight’s opposing pitcher, Rick Porcello.
(SS) Jean Segura $8,332 – Segura remains the best shortstop going, with 14 hits, 3 home runs, and 6 steals in the last 7 days. He’s also hitting a robust .386 on the road this year.
(OF) Jose Bautista $8,775 – Bautista has put up quite the numbers over the last 4 games. He has 2 hits in each of them, 2 home runs, and has scored 7 times. Sounds like someone’s heating up, to me.
(OF) Nelson Cruz $7,942 – Cruz marks the third Ranger in my lineup tonight. He has a home run in each of his last 2 games and 4 in his last 6. After the thrashing the Rangers put on Justin Verlander last night, I expect Texas to keep the bats going tonight and Cruz to be a part of it.
(OF) Gerardo Parra $7,526 – Parra continues to hit well, with 9 hits in his last 5 games. He’s also facing Miami’s Kevin Slowey, who is coming off of his worst performance of the season.
(U) Will Middlebrooks $4,898 – It hasn’t been a great sophomore season for Middlebrooks, but last night, he came up huge with a 2-out, 2-strike, bases clearing double in the top of the 9th to give the Red Sox a 4-3 win over the Rays. It is that type of big hit that can restore a player’s confidence.
(SP) Hyun-Jin Ryu $13,957 – Ryu has been one of the few bright spots for the Dodgers this season. He has gone at least 6 innings in each of his 8 starts this season and has given up more than 3 runs only twice. Tonight, he faces a Braves team that has been struggling, hitting just .237 during the team’s current 10-17 slide.
(SP) Tony Cingrani $12,562 – The Cincinnati rookie has shown flashes of brilliance during his brief career and has posted a 2.89 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 5 starts. Tonight he gets a Philadelphia team hitting just .246 on the year.
(RP) Mariano Rivera $2,699 – The Yankees are riding a 2-game losing streak, but, when choosing a closer, it’s hard to argue against the best of all time, pitching for the team sitting atop the AL East.
(P) Jason Grilli $2,425 – Grilli’s Pirates are 7 games above .500 and are hosting the MLB-worst Houston Astros, which have won all of 5 games on the road. If there is a situation that could provide a surefire save opportunity, this may be it.
