Here is our MLB fantasy Pick Six and sleeper as we concentrate on value selections based on the FanDuel prices.
SP – Dillon Gee – New York Mets
The Mets host the Miami Marlins at 6:10 p.m. ET and are off to an encouraging start with six wins in their first nine games. Although Gee is a marginal starter we will make a value based pick at $6900. Miami stumbled badly out of the gate with just three wins in their first nine games and ranked just 23rd in MLB for OPS while ranking 28th for home runs. Gee was shelled for eight hits and five earned runs in his first start but is certainly better than that.
2B – Daniel Murphy – New York Mets
Murphy was off to a terrible start with an average of just .138 with an on base percentage of just .257 with a slugging percentage of .276 and OPS of .533. We believe he has plenty of upside at +$3400 against a Miami Marlins team that ranks 25th for earned run average and 27th for strikeouts. Murphy is a career .288 hitter with an average of 53 runs and 47 RBI per season.
C – Wilson Ramos – Washington
The Nats will host the Philadelphia Phillies with a starting time of 6:06 p.m. ET. Washington was one of the hot preseason picks to win the National League pennant but has stumbled badly out of the gate with six losses in their first nine games. The Nats will be facing a bad Phillies team that is also 3-6 and among the worst teams in the game. That opens the door for Ramos, who is reflective of the Nats slow start with a .200 batting average, .200 on base percentage and .379 slugging percentage which are all far below his career numbers. We consider Ramos a bargain at $3000.
1B – Ryan Zimmerman – Washington
We again go against the pathetic Phillies with yet another buy that is off to a slow start with plenty of upside. Zimmerman is at $3,500 and is far below his career averages to start the season. Zimmerman was hitting just .152 with a .300 on base percentage yet has a career batting average of .285 with an average of 63 runs, 17 home runs, and 65 runs batted in per season. Washington and Zimmerman are both ticking time bombs that are due to explode in a moment’s notice.
3B – Danny Valencia – Toronto
The Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays with a starting time of 6:07 p.m. ET. The Rays rank 20th in MLB for staff earned run average while Toronto is one of the hot picks to contend for the American League pennant. Valencia is a bargain at $2300 with a .333 average so far on the season but with just one run scored and no RBI. Better support is likely in the Toronto lineup which will only serve to enhance his numbers.
SS – Wilmer Flores – New York Mets
Again we go with a member of the hot Mets and oppose the sluggish and overrated Marlins. Flores was at $2,400 and has nothing but upside. Flores was off to a terrible start with a batting average of just .160 with an on base percentage of .250 and a .200 slugging percentage which are numbers that are all far below his career averages. This is another bargain buy.
OF – Angel Pagan – San Francisco
The Giants host a bad Arizona Diamondbacks team at 9:15 p.m. ET. The defending World Series champions have flopped out of the gate with seven losses in their first ten games. Arizona’s pitching staff ranks 19th for earned run average with a mark of 26th for home runs allowed. That opens the door for Pagan, who opened at $3,300 and is one of the few Giants playing well early with his .980 OPS.
Sleeper – Reed Johnson – Washington
Johnson opened at $2,300 and is yet another player that is far below his career averages. Against Philadelphia, Johnson has a good chance to break out and get back on track. Johnson has career marks of .280 for batting averages with a .335 on base percentage.
