If you need some guidance in putting together your Draftstreet lineup for today, look no further. You might be interested in some combination of these three.
Best Bet
Jordan Lyles – $11,010
If it wasn’t for one bad start, Lyles’ numbers on the year would look better than they already do. He is 5-1 with a 3.45 ERA, and is holding batters to a .233 average. His one loss is really the only time this season that he has truly struggled. He allowed six runs in 3.1 innings to the Padres on May 17. Aside from that, he hasn’t given up more than four runs in any of his other nine starts, and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in seven of those. So now that he has moved past the poor outing, he has a nice matchup tonight against the Phillies. He saw them in mid-April and got the win, holding them to one unearned run in seven innings. Overall, Philadelphia is pretty bad against right-handed batters. Their 126 runs on the year ranks ahead of just three Major League teams.
Double Down
Henderson Alvarez – $10,050
After a great April, Alvarez has slowed a little in May, though he may be back on track. In the season’s first month, he had a 2.73 ERA and tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout on just 90 pitches. This month, he actually threw a second complete game shutout. However, he gave up 13 runs is the other three starts in a four-game stretch, raising his ERA to 3.62 on the year. But he did bounce back to go seven scoreless innings in his last start on Thursday against the Phillies. Tonight, Alvarez will face the Nationals, which is good news for him. This will be the second time he’ll oppose them this season. The first came on April 8 when he gave up one earned run over 5.2 innings, and that was when Bryce Harper was healthy. He remains sidelined now, and it shows. The Nats’ team batting average for May (.223) is the lowest in MLB, and their 72 runs is ahead of only Cincinnati.
Roll the Dice
Liam Hendriks – $10,813
Hendricks has spent parts of the last three seasons in the Majors with the Twins. Things didn’t particularly go well there. He had an overall record of 2-13 with a 6.06 ERA. This offseason, he was claimed off waivers by three different teams, eventually landing with Toronto. It appears that’s what he needed, as he’s enjoying the best year of his career. In nine games with Triple-A Buffalo, he was 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. He was called to make a start on May 23 and he didn’t disappoint. In 5.2 innings against Oakland, he allowed only one run on three hits in earning the win. So now, he’s looking at his second MLB start of the year, coming tonight against Tampa. The Rays have struggled outside of Florida this season, scoring an A.L.-worst 83 runs, while managing just a .226 road batting average.
