While setting my Star Fantasy Leagues MLB daily lineups recently, I have spent more than two-thirds of my budget on offense, focusing on strategic value-plays with my pitchers. And it has worked quite consistently. But, today, for better or for worse, I’m shifting that a bit. With a lot of solid, mid-range starting pitching options I’ve decided to spend a little more there and use a few of them in my lineup for tonight. Even in doing so, though, I am as optimistic about this lineup as any I’ve had lately because I was able to find some inexpensive, yet streaking hitters. So take a look and try building a team for yourself, and when you make a deposit, use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% bonus.
(C) Devin Mesoraco $5,651 The Reds’ catcher is enjoying quite the second half so far. He has hit in each of his four starts, going 9-for-16 in those games with five extra base hits including two homers. We’ll just have to check the lineup before the game starts tonight because Mesoraco did appear in both games of Cincinnati’s doubleheader yesterday.
(1B) Adrian Gonzalez $7,009 – Gonzalez had the biggest hit in the Dodgers’ comeback win in Toronto last night, with a three-run, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. He also has hits in four of his five games since the All-Star break, going 7-for-20 overall with eight runs scored.
(2B) Chase Utley $8,516 – If the Phillies are considering dealing Utley within the next week, his price is rising. He currently has a six-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in three of his last four, including two home runs. Tonight, He’ll face Jake Westbrook, against whom he is 4-for-11 in his career.
(3B) Junior Lake $4,455 – You may not recognize his name, but you should, at least for now. Lake was just called up by the Cubs and has started each game since the break. He has hit in all five of his career games, with 12 hits in 22 at bats, with two home runs. As we’ve seen with guys like Yasiel Puig, a hot call-up could be worth rolling with for a while.
(SS) Zack Cozart $6,673 – In the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader, Cozart went 4-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and three runs scored. It was the seventh time in nine games he had managed at least one hit.
(OF) Jayson Werth $8,001 – Just before his 0-for-2 performance last night, Werth had back-to-back great games. He had four hits between the two, all of them home runs. His batting average on the season is now just under .300 and he is one of the Nationals’ best hitters.
(OF) Jay Bruce $6,583 – Bruce is just another Red in my lineup tonight. He has scored twice in each of his last three games and is coming off a three-hit performance in Cincinnati’s nightcap yesterday. When his bat gets going, it goes well.
(OF) Andre Ethier $6,245 – Like Gonzalez, Ethier also had a home run in the eighth inning of last night’s win in Toronto. It’s just the latest big hit in a good month for him. In July, he is hitting .333, his best month this season by 72 points. On top of that, he will face Esmil Rogers tonight, against whom he is 4-for-7.
(U) Allen Craig $8,374 – Thanks to an eight-game hitting streak, Craig is now tied for the league lead in hitting with .335 and is second with 79 RBI. During his hitting streak he is batting .412.
(SP) Wei-Yin Chen $12,438 – Chen has made two starts for the Orioles since returning from the disabled list and he has won them both against a tough Texas team. In his 13.1 innings, he has allowed just 11 hits and two runs. He’ll face the Royals tonight. During his last time out against them in May he went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs.
(SP) Jeff Samardzija $12,118 – Samardzija got a nice boost from the All-Star layoff, getting nine days between starts. In his last outing against Colorado, he got the win, going 7.1 innings, giving up just one run on four hits and striking out six. Tonight will mark his first start against Arizona since June, when he went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out 11.
(RP) Kevin Gregg $2,183 – If Samardzija can keep the Diamondbacks’ offense in check enough, Gregg will surely get the call to close the door in the ninth.
(P) Mike Leake $11,585 – Leake owns a very respectable 9-4 record this year and a 2.79 ERA, but he has been especially good on the road. He is 6-1 outside of Cincinnati with a 2.19 ERA, while limiting hitters to just a .239 batting average against him. He’ll get to face the Giants tonight, whose offense has been sporadic as of late.
