There is a full slate of MLB games tonight as the regular season enters its home stretch. In choosing my offensive players for my Star Fantasy Leagues daily lineup tonight, I’ve opted to go mainly with players from good teams. Meanwhile, I’ve chosen pitchers who are opposing bad teams. It’s a strategy that would seem to work in theory, but we’ll see how it actually plays out. To try out your own strategy, build a team at SFL. And, while you’re there, use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Jarrod Saltalamacchia $6,054 – Salty has hits in his last four games, including two home runs, one of which was a grand slam. He also has three stolen bases during those four games. It may not be the norm for the Red Sox catcher but getting points is all that matters.
(1B) Matt Adams $4,980 – Adams is hitting well over his last three games, having gone 6-for-14 with two hits in each game. He has also scored four runs in that time. I like the production he provides at this price.
(2B) Aaron Hill $6,311 – Hill was slumping his way through the first part of this month, but seems to have turned it around. He has hit safely in five of his last six games with 10 hits in that time. Hill is a very good hitter anyway, but is especially trustworthy when he is heating up.
(3B) Ryan Zimmerman $7,675 – It’s been a very nice week for Washington’s third baseman. He has reached base in each of his last seven games and is hitting .400 during that stretch. His power numbers this month have also been incredible with 10 home runs in September.
(SS) Asdrubal Cabrera $6,095 – Cabrera has managed at least one hit in eight of nine games and, of those nine hits, two have been doubles and four have been homers. He may not go off tonight, but he should be good for at least a couple of points.
(OF) Wil Myers $6,336 – Myers has a seven-game hitting streak with two hits in each of his last three games. Seven of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases.
(OF) Denard Span $6,303 – With hits in each of the two games of the Nationals’ doubleheader on Tuesday, Span now owns the Majors’ longest hitting streak of the year at 28 games. He also has five steals in his last four games. The way he and Washington are playing right now, it’s hard to expect him not to do something good tonight.
(OF) Angel Pagan $5,822 – After turning in his first hitless performance in nine games on Sunday, Pagan bounced back with three hits yesterday, including a triple and homer. He is now hitting .385/.439/.596 this month.
(U) Brandon Belt $6,381 – It has been a nice three-game stretch for Belt. He has eight hits in his last 15 at bats, including a 5-for-6, four RBI performance. He is now hitting .290 on the season.
(SP) Adam Wainwright $16,780 – Over his last two outings, Wainwright has allowed just eight hits and one run over 15 innings, while picking up 14 strikeouts. Tonight he gets to face the Rockies. In 10 career games against Colorado, he owns a 1.17 ERA, .211 BAA, and averages nearly a strikeout an inning.
(SP) Justin Verlander $13,211 – It hasn’t been the best season for Verlander, but I still want him tonight. He’s coming off a nice outing against Kansas City and now he’ll face the Mariners. Seattle has scored just 11 run over its last five games. Sounds like a winning formula for Verlander tonight.
(RP) Chris Perez $1,610 – With the Indians and Royals fighting to stay in the wild card race, this is bound to be a close game. I’ll give Cleveland the edge tonight with Perez getting the call in the ninth.
(P) Matt Cain $11,200 – Like Verlander, Cain is an ace on a down year, but things have been better lately. He’s coming off back-to-back quality starts against above-.500 teams. Now, he’ll play the Mets, who have a .238 team average on the season. That’s third-worst in the Majors.
