Labor Day baseball makes for great television because there are games all day long. But it can make it tough on daily fantasy leaguers. In filling out my Star Fantasy Leagues lineup today, I’ve found the options are limited because of all the matinees today. But I’m not going to let the slim pickings change my strategy. As has been the case lately, my lineup on Friday was extremely successful. For the fourth time in six entries, I finished in the top three in the daily freeroll, beating 72 other players and taking the top spot for the second time. So I’m not going to let a short slate change what I’ve been doing. So here’s what I’ve put together. And while you grill up some burgers at your cookout today, build a team of your own, and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) A.J. Pierzynski $6,208 – Pierzynski is working on an eight-game hitting streak that includes two home runs. He has more than one hit in just one of those eight games, but I like that he’s at least consistently finding ways to get a hit every day. He also likes hitting against tonight’s starter Dan Straily. Pierzynski has three hits in five at bats against him with a homer, three RBI, and three runs.
(1B) James Loney $5,342 – Somehow, Loney is getting it done for the Rays. We’re in September and he owns a .305 batting average on the season. Not bad for a guy who’s never seemed to live up to his potential. Over his last six games, he has at least one hit in five of them, and two hits in three of them, including each of the last two.
(2B) Anthony Rendon $4,914 – Rendon has a hit in each of his last four games, though it is only one in each. But, like Pierzynski, the fact that he’s getting hits could mean that a multi-hit performance is on the horizon. His Nationals have also been playing well lately, and that kind of run can get everyone on the team going.
(3B) Ryan Zimmerman $6,378 – Meanwhile, Zimmerman is one of the Nats who has been key to their recent success. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, and has multiple hits in three of his last four. He got his September off to a great start, going 3-for-5 yesterday.
(SS) Willie Bloomquist $5,320 – Bloomquist missed two full months due to a bruised hand, but has been great since his return. He has made three starts, and went 8-for-13 in those games. He is only a .271 career hitter, so he won’t be hitting like this forever, but he’s worth using while he is.
(OF) Carl Crawford $6,076 – Crawford enjoyed a great weekend against San Diego with five hits in eight at bats over two games. Now, he and his Dodgers will head to Colorado to play a Rockies team that Crawford has historically played well against. In 14 career games, he has a .347 average against the Rockies.
(OF) Leonys Martin $5,477 – It wasn’t a great weekend for Martin, but it had its moments, specifically on Saturday. Martin delivered a walk-off single in the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the Twins. Now, with a huge series against Oakland, Texas will count on him to kickstart the offense from atop the order.
(OF) Michael Morse $4,277 – Sometimes a change of scenery will do wonders for a player, and it seems like that could be the case for Morse. He hit just .226 this year with the Mariners, but now he’s in a pennant race with the Orioles and he acclimated himself well to his new team. In his only game with Baltimore on Sunday, he had two hits and a run in the Orioles’ win over the Yankees. I have a hunch he’ll do more of the same today.
(U) Wil Myers $5,857 – After getting a day off on Friday, Myers ended a week-long slump by bouncing back with a double in each game over the weekend. Myers has performed very well in his rookie season, but the Rays are going to have play well against the Angels over the next few days to maintain a decent lead for a wild card spot and to have a chance at the division. Myers will be an important contributor if they are to do that.
(SP) Clayton Kershaw $20,503 – When looking for a pitcher who is as reliable for points as anybody in baseball, look no further than Kershaw. He owns an incredible 1.72 ERA this year and has 197 strikeouts in 204 innings. He averages almost nine fantasy points per game this season and has had double-digit points in three of his last four outings.
(SP) Stephen Strasburg $13,844 – As Washington fights to get into the wild card race, Strasburg is a good bet to keep their winning ways going. He will be extra rested for his start today, as well. In his last outing, he only went two innings because of a rain delay and two starts before that he was ejected in the second inning, so he will be plenty ready to go against the Phillies.
(RP) Rafael Soriano $2,196 – Assuming Strasburg does his job, and the Washington offense picks up a couple runs, Soriano will be in to close the game out, and he will.
(P) Chris Archer $13,393 – Archer has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts, while allowing just four total runs. He’ll face the Angels tonight, which is the same team he beat in his last outing. Tampa was just swept against Oakland, so it will be up to Archer to give his Rays a chance to win tonight.
