My Star Fantasy Leagues daily leagues results have been a mixed bag lately. I’ve put together some very good lineups, but others haven’t been as good. The one place I’m really focusing on is pitching. I’ve tried to find value plays there, but that has occasionally cost me. Some of those pitchers have earned negative points enough that it’s making me rethink how I spend my money there. So now what I’m focusing on is strikeouts. A guy who picks up a half dozen strikeouts or more can rack up the points pretty quickly. So my pitchers tonight are ones who average about a strikeout an inning, and who also shouldn’t get shelled. And even with less money to spend on offense, I think I still assembled a good looking lineup. It’s all about knowing where to look. To try building a team for yourself, head on over to SFL and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Wilin Rosario $4,837 – Rosario has scored in three straight games, during which he had four hits, including a home run. He’s got pretty good season-long numbers, too, with a .272 average 14 homers, and 51 RBI. The thing that makes me nervous are the strikeouts, having whiffed 10 times in six games. But, at this price, he’s worth the play.
(1B) Joey Votto $6,983 – Votto had a six-game hitting streak come to an end on Saturday, but bounced back nicely yesterday with two hits, including a double. The Reds’ offense has been stagnant for the last three games, but as long as Votto gets his, that’s enough for me.
(2B) Howie Kendrick $4,932 – Kendrick comes pretty cheaply for a guy who’s hitting .299 on the season. He’s been a little spotty lately, but had a hit, two RBI, and a run yesterday. With Albert Pujols likely out for the season now, the Angels’ offense has to come from somewhere. Why can’t it be Kendrick?
(3B) Chris Johnson $5,138 – Did you know that Johnson is now the National League’s leading hitter? His .338 average is best in the N.L. thanks in large part to his recent stretch of having at least one hit in 23 of 25 games. Last night he had three hits and three runs. He’s pretty much a guarantee to earn me a few points tonight.
(SS) Troy Tulowitzki $9,018 – Tulo is five for his last eight with a home run in each of his last two games. Tonight, he faces Brandon Beachy, against whom he is 3-for-5 with a double and homer.
(OF) Giancarlo Stanton $6,673 – When Stanton gets hot, he really gets going. And he is going right now. He has multiple hits in each of his last four games, good for a .692 average, and a home run in three of his last six.
(OF) Jay Bruce $6,318 – Bruce has been a part of what little offense Cincinnati has had over the last couple of days. He has two home runs in his last four games. He was hitless yesterday for the first time in more than a week. Between him and Votto, maybe the Reds can pick up some runs today.
(OF) Jason Heyward $5,938 – Heyward has been a general disappointment this season, so relying on him is very much a gamble. He’s only hitting .118 since the All-Star break, but he came up big yesterday with two hits and a homer. Who knows, it could be the start of a turnaround.
(U) Andrelton Simmons $6,837 – Simmons is coming off a nice weekend for the Braves, with two hits each on Saturday and Sunday. It comes on the heels of a seven-game hitting streak, which ended just a couple days before. He’s hit .260 with five home runs over the course of July, which is his best month of the season.
(SP) Francisco Liriano $18,271 – Liriano is the most expensive pitcher of the night and this might be more than I’ve ever spent on a starter. But, it fits in with my goal of focusing on strikeouts. He has a 9.34 K/9 rate and a 2.23 ERA on the year. He’ll face the Cardinals tonight who were just swept by the Braves and scored only three runs in three games.
(SP) Kyle Lohse $10,647 – Lohse isn’t generally a strikeout pitcher, but has been more so lately. Over his last three starts he has a 7.45 K/9 rate, which is nearly two strikeouts above his career average. He’ll face the Cubs tonight, whose players struck out 11 times yesterday.
(RP) Jim Henderson $1,764 – With Francisco Rodriguez in Baltimore now, Henderson has reclaimed the closer’s role in Milwaukee. A good start by Lohse gives him a save opportunity tonight.
(P) Jeff Samardzija $12,474 – Samardzija is one of the league’s premier strikeout starters, averaging more than one an inning, while sporting a sub-4.00 ERA. I can see a low scoring, high swing-and-miss affair between the Cubs and Brewers, and I want to capitalize on both sides of it.
