It doesn’t happen all the time, but all of today’s MLB games are nighttime starts. And, with all but four teams in action, that means there are plenty of players to help fill our Star Fantasy Leagues daily lineup tonight. I’ve decided to go back to a two-closer team today, and spend more money on offense. It could work out very well if both of my relievers get save chances. If you want to try building a team yourself, join me at SFL and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Brian McCann $7,649 – Over the last eight games, McCann has gone 19-for-32, good for an average of nearly .600. Yes, .600. He has eight extra base hits in those games and has failed to score a run only once. I feel great about starting him tonight.
(1B) Adam LaRoche $6,317 – LaRoche has had a bit of an up and down season, but might be in the early stages of a hot streak. He has five hits in his last three games with a run and RBI in each of them. Historically, he’s also a much better hitter from July on, so look for him to start producing consistently.
(2B) Robinson Cano $11,743 – Cano has cooled off in the four games since ending a multi-hit-game streak of six games. He has just two hits in those games. Tonight, though, he faces Jeremy Guthrie, against whom he is 10-for-40 with three home runs in his career. I’ll take my chances with a hitter as good as Cano.
(3B) Adrian Beltre $8,218 – Beltre is rolling with a nine-game hitting streak and he is posting a .478 average in July. He has four home runs in his last four games, bringing his total to 18 on the season.
(SS) Hanley Ramirez $9,987 – The Dodgers seem to have gotten the MVP-caliber Ramirez this season, rather than the disappointing version of the last couple years. He owns a .410 average on the season and has a nine-game hitting streak, during which he has 17 hits, including four doubles, two triples, and two home runs. He’s also scored 11 runs in that time.
(OF) Desmond Jennings $9,373 – After his seven-game hitting streak came to an end on Saturday, Jennings was back at it last night, going 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, and a run, bringing his total to 57 on the season, which is good for sixth in the American League.
(OF) Alfonso Soriano $7,594 – Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are surely very happy with Soriano’s recent production as his trade value ticks up. Soriano has hits in eight of his last nine games, which includes five home runs.
(OF) Cody Ross $5,989 – Ross has five home runs on the season, two of which have come in the last week. On Saturday, he put together his first career five-hit game, capping a stretch with hits of seven of eight games.
(U) Jason Heyward $5,482 – The Braves were surely hoping for more than a .229 average and seven home runs from Heyward at this point in the season, though he has shown some signs of life in the last couple days. He is three for his last nine with a home run and three RBI. In his career against tonight’s starter Kevin Slowey, he is 2-for-6.
(SP) Jeff Locke $14,228 – How good has Locke been this year? He is 8-1 with a 2.12 ERA He hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in a start since April 18. He’s also averaging six innings a start. Expect a pitchers’ duel tonight between him and Bartolo Colon.
(SP) Hector Santiago $8,467 – Santiago has been making regular starts for the last month and has been pretty good, aside from one blip against the Indians a week-and-a-half ago. He owns a 3.50 ERA on the season and is coming off a seven-inning, two-run, nine-strikeout performance against a good offense in the Orioles. Tonight, he’ll face the Cubs and he comes at a very affordable price.
(RP) Addison Reed $2,217 – After blowing a save opportunity three appearances ago, Reed has bounced back and has been nearly perfect in his last two, picking up a save and a win. If Santiago can get the White Sox in position for a win, we could see Reed tonight.
(P) Aroldis Chapman $2,615 – Chapman hasn’t had many save chances lately, picking up his last one on June 29. He’s appeared twice since, striking out four, while not allowing a run. Homer Bailey seems to be enjoying a hot stretch, coming off a no-hitter last week, potentially setting the stage for a Chapman save.
