The return of the new work week also brings the return of an old strategy for me in my Star Fantasy Leagues daily lineup. It’s not that my recent lineups haven’t been successful, but with some teams out of action tonight, I felt going in this direction was best for me today. Maybe you agree? Disagree? Either way, put together your own lineup at SFL and use the promo code “SJN” when making your deposit and get a 40% bonus.
(C) Victor Martinez $6,124 – Martinez has raised his batting average 11 points over the last four games thanks to his seven hits, which includes two home runs. He’s also a career .357 hitter against tonight’s opposing starter, Jeremy Guthrie.
(1B) Prince Fielder $9,778 – Fielder has hit safely in 13 of 14 games and is a .556 hitter against Guthrie. He’s always a threat for a home run, too.
(2B) Howie Kendrick $6,725 – Kendrick’s hitless Sunday was his first 0-for in seven games, having 15 hits in his previous six. He gets to face Freddy Garcia tonight, against whom he is 5-for-12 with a double, triple, and a home run.
(3B) Kyle Seager $7,015 – Seager is on a roll right now with a 13-game hitting streak. He’s hitting .292 on the season with eight home runs, 29 RBI, and 31 runs.
(SS) Everth Cabrera $6,223 – Cabrera is one of the best batters going at the moment, with a 10-game hitting streak and 22 hits and 10 stolen bases in that stretch. At this price, I consider him a steal.
(OF) Yasiel Puig $8,224 – As I mentioned last week, the ridiculously good Puig will remain in my lineup until he cools off or his price skyrockets. Neither has happened yet. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 13 hits are the most by a Dodgers’ player in his first seven games since 1900.
(OF) Marcell Ozuna $6,920 – Speaking of impressive rookies, there’s also Ozuna. He’s hitting .331 on the year and has five hits in his last two games. He’s been so good the Marlins will move Ozuna to center field when the man he replaced, Giancarlo Stanton, returns from injury this week.
(OF) Kyle Blanks $6,522 – When June began, Blanks was hitting .256. Now he’s hitting .298. Over the last week, he’s hitting .407 with 3 home runs, 7 RBI, and an OPS of 1.319. I like those numbers.
(U) Jay Bruce $7,224 – Bruce is hitting .381 in the last seven days with two home runs and seven RBI. I like a guy here who can produce from the middle of an order.
(SP) Hisashi Iwakuma $16,445 – I see Iwakuma as a very nice play here. He has a 1.92 ERA on the season and has given up more than two runs just twice in 12 starts. Tonight, he gets the Astros, against whom he struck out 11 in just five innings during a start in April.
(SP) Jered Weaver $14,765 – Weaver has made two starts since returning from his broken elbow and he has been very good, allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings and striking out 12. He also has a career 2.76 ERA against tonight’s opponent, the Orioles.
(RP) Brandon League $1,745 – Clayton Kershaw gets the start tonight for L.A. and 10 of his 13 starts have been decided by three runs or fewer. Another game like that and League could have a say in it, assuming the Dodgers are on the winning side of things.
(P) Tom Wilhelmsen $1,982 – It’s been a while since I’ve gone with a double closer lineup, but I’m trying it again tonight. I wanted more money to spend on my lineup. So I’ll piggyback my Iwakuma choice with the Mariner’s closer in Wilhelmsen and maybe I can hit it big in Seattle.
For more fantasy baseball advice, visit SJN’s Fantasy Baseball Projections
