It’s been a few days since our last Star Fantasy Leagues daily fantasy baseball lineup, but we’re back now as we get ready for the stretch run of the MLB season. Our last lineup on Wednesday turned out pretty well, finishing in the money at third place in the daily freeroll. I didn’t skimp on pitching then, but didn’t overpay either. That’s what I’ve done today as I hope to replicate that success. To try a team for yourself, log in to SFL and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Yadier Molina $7,218 – Molina is just a few days removed from a DL stint for a right knee strain, and he’s been great since returning. Though he went hitless in his first game back on Thursday, he was 4-for-9 in his two games over the weekend. Tonight he’ll face Marco Estrada, against whom he is 9-for-18 in his career.
(1B) Chris Davis $9,701 – The Orioles’ first baseman hit his major league-leading 45th home run yesterday as part of a 4-for-5 day. The Triple Crown contender always has a great chance of doing something big.
(2B) Aaron Hill $8,391 – Hill is riding an 11-game hitting streak and has at least two hits in eight of those games. Yesterday, alone, he had four hits in seven at bats.
(3B) Martin Prado $6,919 – Like Hill, Prado has a bit of a hit streak going. Prado’s currently sits at six games, and he, too, had a four-hit game over the weekend with his coming on Saturday. He is also a .500 career hitter in his career against Bronson Arroyo.
(SS) Troy Tulowitzki $7,410 – Over his last five games, Tulo is hitting .400, and he should have a nice matchup tonight. He’ll face the Phillies’ Ethan Martin. While he has never hit against the 24-year-old, Martin has a 6.28 ERA in three games this season and has a .295 BAA.
(OF) Jayson Werth $8,282 – After posting a .367 average in July, Werth has been even better in August. In 15 games this month, he is hitting an even .500. He’s hit safely in each of his last 10 games and has raised his season average to .334.
(OF) Nate Schierholtz $6,320 – Schierholtz has hits in three straight, with a double and three RBI. He owns a .271 season average and he’ll face Jordan Zimmermann tonight. In his career, he is 3-for-10 against him with two doubles.
(OF) Will Venable $5,676 – Venable owns the majors’ longest active hitting streak at 15 games and owns a .377 August average. He has five home runs and five stolen bases in the last two weeks.
(U) Andrew McCutchen $8,797 – A National League MVP candidate, McCutchen has multiple hits in five of his last seven games and has two stolen bases in that stretch. He is as much an average, power, and speed threat as anyone else in the game.
(SP) Francisco Liriano $15,884 – After turning in his worst performance of the season 10 days ago, Liriano bounced back with one of his best. On Wednesday, he fired a complete game against a good St. Louis team, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. He should have a good matchup tonight against the Padres.
(SP) Jeff Samardzija $11,459 – It’s been a rough week-and-a-half for Samardzija. Over his last two starts, he has allowed 13 runs in 9.1 innings. It’s not the most encouraging stretch, but I am always drawn to him because of his strikeout potential. He’ll oppose the Nationals’ lineup tonight, which strikes out more than the Major League average.
(RP) Jonathan Papelbon $1,750 – It’s hard to believe, but it’s been more than a month since Papelbon earned his last save. Last night, though, he did pick up a win with a scoreless ninth. I just have a hunch he’ll get his elusive save tonight.
(P) Danny Salazar $1,750 – It’s hard to believe I can get a starter at the price of a closer, but that is the case here. Salazar has made three starts for the Indians and was very good in his first two, going 13.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out 17. He only got through four innings in his third start, but with what he showed in his first two games, and the fact he comes at a ridiculously low price, this a low-risk, high-reward play.
