Believe it or not, this is the last Friday in July. There are just over two months left in the MLB season. While you wonder where the season has gone, join a Star Fantasy Leagues daily league and win some money so you can have some fun with what’s left of the summer. Tonight, I’ve put together a lineup of MVP hopefuls, Cy Young candidates, and some sneaky plays. Think you can do better? Use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% deposit bonus and find out.
(C) Victor Martinez $7,887 – Over his last 23 games, Martinez is hitting .398 and, last night, he hit his ninth home run of the season. Since the All-Star break, he has at least one hit in five of seven games.
(1B) Allen Craig $8,374 – Craig has gotten on base in each game since the break, and has a hit in all but one of them. He’s batting .348 over those six games and tonight he gets to face Mike Minor. He is 1-for-2 against him in his career, and that one hit is a home run.
(2B) Aaron Hill $6,691 – Hill has struggled lately, but may have started to break out last night. He had two hits in four at bats, including a home run and a double. Hill is generally one of the better offensive second basemen in the league, and a night like last can be a springboard for better things and I don’t want to miss the boat.
(3B) Junior Lake $4,455 – The rookie is still impressing and he is a complete steal at this price. In his seven career games, he has 15 hits. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s tied for the third most by any player in the modern era, trailing just Bo Hart and Kirby Puckett. Can’t argue with Elias.
(SS) Jose Reyes $9,317 – Despite the Blue Jays’ recent struggles, their shortstop has been doing his part. He has hits in five of his last seven games and multiple hits in four of them. Last night he had three hits and another game against the Astros is usually a good place to start when success is on your mind.
(OF) Carlos Gomez $7,898 – Gomez has torn it up over the last two nights. In those games he went 7-for-9 with three extra base hits and three RBI, bringing his struggles to an abrupt end. He’ll face Tyler Chatwood tonight, against whom he has a hit in two at bats.
(OF) Wil Myers $7,567 – Just about the only thing that could stop Myers these days is a rainout. He has a six-game hitting streak and has at least two hits in each game. His batting average during that time is .520. Tonight, he’ll face the Yankees’ C.C. Sabathia, and, wouldn’t you know, Myers won their first and, so far, only battle. In that game, Myers was 2-for-3 with a grand slam.
(OF) Brett Gardner $6,574 – On the other side of Yankee Stadium tonight will be Gardner. He has nine hits in his last five games and two stolen bases. Against Jeremy Hellickson, he is 4-for-13.
(U) Bryce Harper $7,998 – Harper is less than 24 hours past hitting his first career walk-off home run, capping a three-hit, three-run day. For a guy as young, brash, and with as much talent as Harper, that could be a springboard to a big day today, too.
(SP) Bartolo Colon $14,437 – One of the American League’s Cy Young candidates is coming off one of the best games of his season. On Sunday he threw a complete game shutout against the Angels, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five. His opponent tonight? The Angels.
(SP) Eric Stults $10,483 – Like Colon, Stults is facing a team against which he threw a complete game his last time out. Stults will pitch against the Diamondbacks tonight. On June 14th, Stults picked up a win, giving up one run on just two hits. Over his last three games overall, he has a 2.14 ERA and had another complete game three starts ago.
(RP) Grant Balfour $2,645 – Balfour blew his first save of the season on Tuesday and I’m sure he is itching to get back on the mound to redeem himself for that. With Colon starting the game, tonight may provide him the chance to do just that.
(P) Ross Ohlendorf $5,618 – Ohlendorf is getting a start today thanks to a doubleheader. He earned the win in his only start this season back in June, giving up one run in six innings to the Rockies. On Sunday, he pitched six innings of relief against the Dodgers and gave up two runs on six hits while striking out six. He may not necessarily dominate tonight, but I expect to at least pick up a couple points from him.
