Tonight, the Major League Baseball schedule is as light as you’ll ever see it this side of the All-Star break. There are just four games on the docket, which means only eight teams in action. And, when setting my Star Fantasy Leagues daily lineup, that presents a challenge or two. So, you’ll see a lot of players from the same couple of teams filling out my roster. If you want to see if you can do any better, join me over at SFL and build your own team. And use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) J.P. Arencibia $4,886 – Arencibia likes to hit in spurts, and he had a three-hit, two-run performance on Sunday. He also is a .294 career hitter against tonight’s opposing starter, Jeremy Hellickson.
(1B) Edwin Encarnacion $9,911 – The Toronto first baseman has been very good during his team’s 11-game winning streak, with a .333 average, three home runs, 10 RBI, and 10 runs.
(2B) Maicer Izturis $4,399 – Hey, look. It’s another Blue Jay. Izturis has hits in five of his last six games and at least one run in four of five. He also has four extra base hits in those last five games.
(3B) Juan Uribe $5,219 – Now, my run of Dodgers begins. Uribe is coming off a two-double performance on Sunday and has at least a run or RBI in eight of 10 games.
(SS) Hanley Ramirez $7,320 – Ramirez is riding a six-game hitting streak during which he is hitting .500/.542/1.000 with three home runs, seven RBI, and six runs.
(OF) Yasiel Puig $9,344 – Just see this. And this. And this.
(OF) Michael Bourn $6,339 – Bourn marks my first non-Dodger or Blue Jay. Bourn has hits in 13 of his last 15 games and multiple hits in his last three. He is hitting .310 on the season with 11 steals.
(OF) Ben Revere $5,229 – Revere had a nine-game hitting streak snapped on Sunday, but he was great during that stretch. He hit .405 in those nine games with 17 hits, 10 runs, and six steals. One hitless performance doesn’t mean he can’t get back to swinging a hot bat now.
(U) Ryan Howard $5,338 – Not only is Howard six for his last 12 with two home runs, but he has a great matchup tonight. He’ll face Eric Stults, against whom he is 2-for-2 with two homers. Stults can’t feel good about that. But I do.
(SP) Cliff Lee $19,210 – My third run on teammates ends with one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Phillies’ ace hasn’t lost since May 1st and has a quality start in every outing since. He is also averaging more than 7 strikeouts a start during that stretch. I like his chances tonight against the Padres.
(SP) Esmil Rogers $6,622 – And it’s back to Blue Jays. Rogers has been one of Toronto’s best pitchers during the team’s current winning streak. In his two starts, he’s gone 13.2 innings, allowed just three earned runs, and picked up the win in each game. He may not pick up a ton of strikeouts, but if he can get another win against Tampa, it will be worth it for this price.
(RP) Casey Janssen $1,825 – If I’ve gone this far, I might as well live and die with Blue Jays in all facets of my lineup tonight. He’s picked up five saves and a win during Toronto’s winning streak.
(P) Hyun-Jin Ryu $14,102 – And I’ll close out my lineup with a fourth Dodger. Ryu lost his first game since early May in his last start, which also happened to come against tonight’s opponent, San Francisco, but he still went six and gave up only three runs. He has turned in quality starts against every opponent since then.
