We again use Sunday to focus on another outstanding feature matchup as the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds at 7 p.m. ET. We will use FanDuel prices with a mix of strategic picks to go with our ever popular value picks. We are coming off yet another big night as we called for Starling Marte to break out for the Pirates and he produced with two hits, a homer, and five runs batted in.
P – Adam Wainwright – St. Louis
Wainwright opened at $9,400. The Cardinals are off to a championship start with a 7-3 record and looking very much the perennial power that they are. Wainwright is the Redbirds number one starter and has compiled a tidy 2.08 ERA with a WHIP of 1.08 in his first two starts. He has not allowed a home run in 13 innings of work.
C – Yadier Molina – St. Louis
Molina opened at $3,100 as one of the top catchers in the game. Molina was off to a promising start with a .306 batting average and seven RBI. He has hit safely in six out of his last seven games with six RBI in his last four games. The Reds pitching staff has been inconsistent and ranks 19th for ERA. Reds starter Mike Leake has had a rough start with a 4.97 ERA 12 hits, seven walks, and two home runs allowed in 12.2 innings of work.
1B – Joey Votto – Cincinnati
Votto opened at $4,500. We were bullish on Votto before the season started and remain so after what has been a promising start. Votto is hitting .350 with seven runs, two doubles, four home runs, and 10 RBI with a 1.230 OPS. If Votto stays healthy he will catapult the Reds into contender status. The Reds rank 24th for run production and once Votto gets some more support in the lineup his numbers could become really impressive.
2B – Kelton Wong – St. Louis
Wong opened at $3,000. Wong is right at his career totals with a .233 batting average and an on base percentage of .333. He does have six runs scored so far this season and comes cheap, which clears space for more productive players elsewhere. Despite Wong’s modest numbers he is on a Cardinals team that is capable of good support. When you add in the inconsistent Reds pitching staff you have a value pick that makes sense.
3B – Matt Carpenter – St. Louis
Carpenter commands a price of $4,300 as one of the hottest and most coveted third basemen in the game. Carpenter has hit safely in five straight games and has been ripping the cover off the ball with a .381 batting average, .435 on base percentage, and 1.054 OPS. Carpenter has nine runs and nine RBI with seven doubles and a home run. He figures to loom large against Leake and the Reds.
SS – Jhonny Peralta – St. Louis
Peralta is at $3,100 and it could prove to be an outstanding value. The Cardinals shortstop is one of the better fantasy baseball values at his position and is off to a hot start with a .325 batting average to go with an OPS of .849. Peralta has six runs and seven runs batted in to go with 13 hits, four doubles and a home run. He stands an excellent chance at more production against the Reds.
OF – Jay Bruce – Cincinnati
Bruce opened at $3,500 and is far below his career numbers with a slow start in which he is hitting .205 with an on base percentage of .311 and an OPS of just .696. The left hand hitter could break out against Cardinals right hand ace Wainwright and is worth a gamble as a player that is due and capable of much more than what he has produced so far.
Sleeper – Zach Cozart – Cincinnati
The light hitting Cozart is far about his career numbers so far and is a bargain at $2,200. Cozart is hitting .368 on the season with an OPS of .941 to go with three doubles and four runs scored. He is on a seven game hitting streak and homered last night. We’ll ride the hot streak of the Reds shortstop at a bargain basement price.
