The Cincinnati Reds will host the St. Louis Cardinals in a key National League Central Division showdown that could prove to have long lasting consequences for playoff positioning. The Pittsburgh Pirates are at the Milwaukee Brewers in another key NL Central matchup. The Chicago Cubs are a potential upstart team in the NL Central that will face a week Colorado team. Our Saturday Pick Six has a definite NL Central flair.
SP – Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati
The Reds will host the St. Louis Cardinals with a starting time set for 12:10 p.m. ET. We are expecting big things from the Reds this season and a Cincinnati run to the playoffs. Cueto had a highly promising debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates with no runs, four hits, and just one walk allowed in seven innings of work. Cueto is considered by many to be the second most valuable starting pitcher in fantasy baseball behind only Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Against the perennial power Cardinals, we expect solid value for Cueto.
RP – Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati
We consider Chapman the best reliever in the game and he should get a solid shot at a save on Saturday with Cueto getting the start against the Cardinals. We could go on and on with superlatives about Chapman but his dominance and value speaks for itself. With a strikeout rate of 52.5 percent last year and with overpowering stuff, Chapman is the closest thing you can find to a certain save when he takes the hill.
2B – Dee Gordon – Miami
The Marlins host the Tampa Bay Rays with a staring time set for 3:10 p.m. ET. Miami is going up against what is expected to be a dreadful Tampa Bay Rays team that could rate as among the worst in the game. Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer was lit up for three earned runs and two home runs in his season debut against the Baltimore Orioles. Gordon is one of the reasons that Miami is considered to be a dark horse contender this year. Gordon’s speed can add infield hits and stolen bases to the score sheet totals.
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C – Salvador Perez – Kansas City
The Royals are at the Los Angeles Angels with a staring time set for 8:05 p.m. Angels starter Jared Weaver was roughed up in his opening start with four earned runs and a home run allowed in six innings of work. At age 32, Weaver may not be at the same level as was the case in his past as the Angels top starter. Perez got off to a fine start for Kansas City with four hits, a double, and two RBI in eight at bats with a 1.125 OPS. A great defensive catcher with power, Perez is one of the reasons we remain high on the Royals despite experts writing them off as a one hit wonder.
SS – Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are at the Colorado Rockies with a staring time set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Castro is one of the reasons that there is a lot of hype about the Cubs emerging as a National League playoff contender in 2015. Not much is expected from the Rockies this year despite their good start and Castro rates as one of the top shortstops in the game.
1B – Miguel Cabrera – Detroit
The Tigers are at the Cleveland Indians with a starting time set for 3:05 p.m. ET. The Tigers are going up against Cleveland starter T.J. House, who has allowed a career batting average of .284. Cabrera remains a coveted and elite first baseman as a former Triple Crown winner from a couple of seasons ago. Although he has lost a bit of power pop from his bat, Cabrera is still one of the most valuable commodities in fantasy baseball.
Sleeper – Pedro Alvarez – Pittsburgh
The Pirates are at the Milwaukee Brewers with a starting time set for 6:10 p.m. ET. Jimmy Nelson will get the start for the Brewers and that opens up plenty of potential opportunity for the Pirates and Alvarez. Nelson has a career ERA of 4.42 with a 1.36 WHIP and 2-9 record. The Pirate infielder is capable of 30 home runs as evidenced in 2012 and 2013 and is expected to be a vital contributor to the Bucs playoff hopes. At age 28, we expect Alvarez to return to more productive levels and offer good value as well.
