After trying my new strategy of spending big on starting pitching for the first time on Wednesday in a Star Fantasy Leagues daily league, I’m happy with its potential. It’s just a matter of picking the right pitchers and getting some decent production from my lineup, too. Tonight, I feel very good about my starters and I hope my hitters can follow suit. So join me over at SFL and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Jason Castro $4,202 – Castro has been my go-to catcher recently because of his inexpensive cost and success. He has 13 hits in his last 7 games.
(1B) Adam LaRoche $6,265 – LaRoche has also been a fixture of my lineups this week as he’s rolling along with an 8-game hitting streak that includes 3 home runs and 7 RBI. He’s also 2-for-4 with 2 walks against tonight’s opposing starter, Julio Teheran.
(2B) Neil Walker $6,001 – The Pirates have been winning a lot lately and Walker has been a significant contributor. He has multiple hits in 6 of his last 7 games with 3 home runs.
(3B) Josh Donaldson $7,202 – Donaldson’s 6-game hitting streak came to an end last night, but he had 12 hits, 2 home runs, and 7 runs during that stretch. I’m hoping he starts a new streak tonight.
(SS) Jose Iglesias $4,193 – For a guy who’s been touted as having a hole in his bat, Iglesias has been great at the Major League level this year. He’s hitting .419 on the season and, since his most recently call up on the 24th, he’s gone 9-for-23 with a hit in all but one game.
(OF) Jacoby Ellsbury $7,205 – This may be a day too late after Ellsbury’s Red Sox record-breaking 5 stolen base performance last night in Philadelphia, but the Major League steals leader has still been quite good all week. Since Sunday he has 11 hits, including 5 for extra bases.
(OF) Kelly Johnson $6,225 – Johnson is now outfield-eligible, so I’ll have to use him here instead of at second base. He’s coming off his first 0-for performance since the 22nd, but his .435 average over the last week is still promising.
(OF) J.D. Martinez $4,998 – Martinez has enjoyed a very nice three-day stretch against the Rockies, going 8-for-13. While not a particularly big sample size, it’s hard to ignore and easy to get excited about.
(U) Aaron Hicks $5,775 – Hicks’ .168 season average is not very nice to look at, though his recent performances are more encouraging. He has hits in each of his last four games, including 2 home runs.
(SP) Stephen Strasburg $16,015 – Strasburg is putting together another very nice year, though his 3-5 record might have you believe otherwise. In his last 28 innings, he’s allowed just 3 earned runs and struck out 27. He should be reliable tonight against Atlanta.
(SP) Shelby Miller $15,895 – After winning the Cardinals’ fifth rotation spot in spring training, Miller has done everything to show he belongs. He has yet to give up more than 3 runs in a start this year and averages 6.5 strikeouts per outing.
(RP) Rafael Soriano $2,000 – With Strasburg starting tonight, I’m hoping he’ll put the Nats out front and giving Soriano a chance to get in the game. He also hasn’t pitched in a week, so he’s due to make an appearance.
(P) Hisashi Iwakuma $13,775 – Iwakuma is 5-1 on the year with a 2.35 ERA and 69 strikeouts and, tonight, he faces a below average Twins team against whom he has yet to allow an earned run in 2 career starts.
