The weekend begins with an outstanding lineup of MLB action. We’ll use Draft Kings prices for our Friday Super Seven and Sleeper.
P – Zach Greinke – Los Angeles
Greinke opened at $10,000. The Dodgers are at the San Diego Padres with a starting time of 9:10 p.m. ET. The Dodgers and Padres are a marquee matchup of the top two teams in the National League West Division. Greinke would be a number one starter on most any other team in MLB, but of course is the number two behind Clayton Kershaw with the Dodgers. Greinke has a 1.83 ERA with a WHIP of 0.71 and has surrendered a stingy .171 batting average so far this season.
C – Michael McKenry – Colorado
McKenry opened at $3,700. The Rockies host the San Francisco Giants at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Rockies have been a pleasant surprise so far at 9-7 while the defending World Series champion Giants have flopped on their faces out of the gate with a 7-10 record . McKenry has been one of the reasons for the Rockies success with a .294 batting average and solid defense behind the plate. Best of all he is yet to homer and has just one double which are numbers that are far below his career averages. McKenry brings plenty of potential upside.
1B –Billy Butler – Oakland
Butler opened at $4,400. The A’s host the Houston Astros with a starting time of 9:05 p.m. ET. Butler is proving to be an astute pickup by Oakland general manager Billy Beane, who went on a trading tirade over the winter. Beane blew up and remade the A’s in a wild flurry of transactions that were widely panned. Butler is the A’s top hitter so far this season with a .369 average and .992 OPS with 10 runs, 12 RBI, four doubles and three home runs.
2B – Ian Kinsler – Detroit
Kinsler opened at $3,900. The Tigers host the Cleveland Indians with a starting time of 6:30 p.m. ET. Kinsler has gotten off to a quiet start despite playing on a Detroit team that is off to a fine 11-5 start on the season. The Indians have stumbled out of the gate with a 5-9 record and rank 19th for pitching staff ERA with a mark of 24th for WHIP. With an OBP of .300, a SLG of .338, and an OPS of .638, Kinsler is far below his career averages and brings plenty of potential upside.
3B – Josh Donaldson – Toronto
Donaldson opened at $4,200. The Blue Jays are at the Tampa Bay Rays with a starting time of 6:10 p.m. ET. Donaldson is one of the reasons that there has been so much hype about the Blue Jays. So far the former Oakland A’s star has more than lived up to the hype. Donaldson is hitting .349 with an OPS of 1.035 as Toronto is off to a first place start in the American League East Division with a record of 9-7. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff ranks 21st for staff ERA and 20th for quality starts.
SS – Andrelton Simmons – Atlanta
Simmons opened at $3,800. The Braves are at the Philadelphia Phillies with a starting time of 6:05 p.m. ET. The Braves were written off for dead before the season as they appeared to be tearing down their roster but so far Atlanta has surprised with an 8-7 record. The dreadful Phillies are 5-11 with a pitching staff that ranks 29th for WHIP. Simmons is one of the reasons for the Braves success with five runs and 10 RBI while hitting .291.
OF – Andrew McCutcheon – Pittsburgh
McCutcheon opened at $5,300. The Pirates are at the Arizona Diamondbacks with a starting time of 8:40 p.m. ET. McCutcheon is off to a dreadfully slow start which is reflected in the Pirates record of 8-8 so far this season. McCutcheon is hitting just .200 with only two home runs and an OPS of .677. The warm Arizona air should prove to be the tonic to get the Pirates star back on track.
Sleeper – Matt Kemp – San Diego
Kemp opened at $4,500. Kemp will be beyond motivated to take on his old teammates and is off to a start that matches the hype of his arrival in San Diego. Kemp is hitting .333 with an OPS of .858 with 13 runs scored and 14 RBI.
