Here is our Monday Fantasy Super Seven and sleeper pick using FanDuel prices. We will combine a couple of power picks with some strategic selections that are due to explode against weak opposition.
P – Edinson Volquez – Kansas City
The Royals host the Minnesota Twins at 7:10 p.m. ET in an American League Central Division matchup. Volquez opened at $9,000. Kansas City is off to a strong 9-3 start and is looking primed to build on the success from last year’s World Series run. The Twins are a weak hitting team that rank 24th for runs scored so far this season. Volquez is off to a promising start with a 2.30 and 0.70 WHIP in his first two starts. The combination of Kansas City’s strong start, the numbers by Volquez, and the sluggish Twins all make this a strong pick.
C – Jonathan Lucroy – Milwaukee
The Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds with a starting time of 6:20 p.m. ET. Lucroy opened at $3,300. The Brewers catcher has been among the best fantasy values at any position on the board but is off to a horrible start in which he is hitting .167 with an on base percentage of .250, a slugging percentage of an abysmal .214, and an OPS of .464. It all adds up to a quality player that is far past due for a break out.
1B – Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels
The Angels host the Oakland A’s at 9:05 p.m. ET and Pujols opened at $3,700. Oakland starting pitcher Kendall Graveman is off to a horrible start with a 7.27 ERA with eight hits, two home runs, and five walks allowed in 8.2 innings of work. Pujols is another player with a strong past that is off to a horrible start. Pujols has stumbled out of the gate with a .186 batting average and .286 on base percentage.
2B – Taylor Featherston – Los Angeles Angels
Again we pick on the A’s and Graveman with Featherstone, who opened at $3,000. The Angels are off to a sluggish start with a 5-7 record and an uncharacteristic ranking of 22nd for run production, 26th for batting average, and 23rd for OPS. We will make a bargain buy on Featherstone figuring that the Angels should put up big numbers against Graveman.
3B – Todd Frazier – Cincinnati
We will pick on a dreadful Milwaukee team that looks as if they are yet to recover from their epic stretch run collapse of last year. Frazier opened at $3,400. The Brewers are off to a 2-10 start and rank 28th for staff earned run average, 25th for WHIP, 29th for quality starts, and 30th for fielding errors. It all adds up to a window of opportunity for Frazier and a Reds team that we remain bullish on. Frazier was off to a slow start and far below his career numbers with a .229 batting average and a .269 on base percentage.
SS – Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado
Colorado hosts the San Diego Padres at 7:40 p.m. ET and Tulowitzki opened at $5,300. Colorado was off to a better than expected start of 7-5 with solid offensive production led by Tulowitzki, who is hitting .326 with eight runs, seven doubles, one home run and seven RBI. Although we are not convinced that the Rockies success is sustainable we are quite high on the proven Tulowitzki, who is the best player on the team.
OF – Nelson Cruz – Seattle
The Mariners host the Houston Astros at 9:10 and Cruz opened at $4,700. Seattle will be going up against Houston rookie starter Asher Wojciechowski, who has a 4.50 ERA with four hits, two home runs, and three walks allowed in eight innings of work. Cruz is on a tear for the Mariners with a .354 batting average, .854 slugging percentage, and 1.258 OPS. Cruz has nine runs, eight home runs, and 14 RBI for a spectacular start.
Sleeper – Matt Joyce – Los Angeles Angels
Joyce opened at $3,000. The Angels outfielder is off to a terrible start at .184 with a .220 on base percentage and a slugging percentage of .263. Those numbers are far below Joyce’s career averages and we think that Graveman is potentially the perfect tonic to cure Joyce of his slump.
