It is the first Friday of September and there are plenty of games on the MLB schedule tonight. And even with the focus of fantasy sports shifting to the fresh NFL season, this is a perfect night to choose a Star Fantasy Leagues daily team. The pennant race is heating up and players are stepping up. This is the team I am going with tonight. Try one for yourself and use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus.
(C) Yan Gomes $5,499 – Gomes has hit safely in the last five games in which he’s had an at bat. That was highlighted by his 3-for-4 game on Wednesday night against Baltimore. Gomes is hitting .297 on the season.
(1B) Prince Fielder $7,275 – Fielder has reached base safely in seven straight games with hits in six of them. He had a home run in his last game on Wednesday and will face James Shields tonight, against whom he is 4-for-11 in his career.
(2B) Daniel Murphy $7,176 – The hits just keep coming for Murphy, who has a nine-game hitting streak. He has multiple hits in five of those games with seven extra-base hits to go with two stolen bases.
(3B) Pablo Sandoval $6,406 – Sandoval is on a hot streak while he faces a team that he has a history of success against. He is 12-for-28 during his seven-game hitting streak, and he had a three-home run game on Wednesday. In 81 career games against Arizona, Sandoval is a .340 hitter and is 4-for-9 versus tonight’s starter, Patrick Corbin.
(SS) Stephen Drew $5,758 – While Drew is only hitting .249 this season, he’s had a knack for getting hits at big times. He went 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI against Detroit on Wednesday, then had a game-tying hit with two outs in the ninth inning against Mariano Riviera. With another important game in New York tonight, I suspect Drew will come through in some form again.
(OF) Shin-Soo Choo $7,671 – Choo keeps getting on base for Cincinnati, now reaching safely in 12 straight games, and has done so multiple times in his last six. He is 12 for his last 24 and his OBP is now up to .420.
(OF) Michael Cuddyer $7,396 – Over his last four games, Cuddyer has gone 9-for-15 with six RBI. It’s just the latest run during his career year. He is hitting a career-high .331/.391/.538 for Colorado. Between his current hot streak and his season-long production, I love this play.
(OF) Christian Yelich $5,370 – The 21-year-old is putting together a nice season for Miami. In 40 games, he is hitting .288, and has been especially good over the last week. In the last six games, he has gone 12-for-25 and has added three stolen bases.
(U) Martin Prado $7,064 – Prado has failed to hit in a game just three times since August 4th. He has been very steady this year, and owns a .286 average. I always feel comfortable with him in my lineup.
(SP) Jose Fernandez $16,940 – Due to innings limits, this could be Fernandez’ last start of the year, which is too bad for fantasy purposes. He has been incredible on the mound. He is a near lock for a quality start in any outing and will rack up the strikeouts, too. I’ll take him every time.
(SP) Anibal Sanchez $16,283 – Sanchez has allowed more than two runs just twice in his last nine outings and, while those have happened to be in his last two starts, I think he’s due for a turnaround tonight against Kansas City. He has faced the Royals twice since mid-July. In 13.1 innings, he gave up 11 hits and just two runs.
(RP) Sergio Romo $2,366 – Romo hasn’t had a save chance in a week, but I think that changes tonight. His last one came against Arizona in a 1-0 game and I have a feeling these two teams will be in another close one.
(P) Yusmeiro Petit – Part of that reason is because of Petit. He has taken a spot in the rotation his last two times out because of injury and has won them both. He went six innings and gave up two runs each time. He also has a combined 16 strikeouts in those two starts.
