Our lineup is filled with good players that are off to slow starts that are facing pitchers that could help bring out their best. We have plenty of bargains with lots of upside today along with a superstar who is due.
SP – Mark Buehrle – Toronto
The Blue Jays host the light hitting Tampa Rays at 6:07 p.m. ET. Buehrle had a promising start in his first game with just two earned runs allowed in six innings of work as he earned the 200th win of his career. Buehrle remains one of the most durable pitchers in baseball despite his age of 36. Tampa Bay may have won four out of their first seven games but it’s not sustainable. The fact that Tampa Bay won the first game of this series only adds to our desire to be on the side of the Jays and Buehrle.
RP – Santiago Casilla – San Francisco
The Giants host the Colorado Rockies with a starting time of 9:15 p.m. ET. Colorado was off to a surprising 5-2 start but we do not see that as sustainable. The defending World Series champion Giants and Casilla rate a solid call here, as we consider the Giants to be the superior team. Casilla picked up three saves in his first three appearances with three strikeouts, one hit, and no runs allowed in 3.0 innings of work.
1B – Brandon Belt – San Francisco
We again go against the Rockies and starting pitcher Tyler Matzek. Matzek may have won his first game but he labored hard with 84 pitches in only four innings of work with four hits and three walks allowed. This is a buy that is based on potential and Belt being overdue, as he was off to a horrible start with a .154 batting average and .154 slugging percentage with a .368 OPS in his first four games. Belt is seen as a capable 30 home run man and we think he is due to bust open sooner rather than later.
OF – Andrew McCutcheon – Pittsburgh
The Pirates host the Detroit Tigers at 6:06 p.m. ET. The Pirates will be going up against Alfredo Simon, who was rocked for three earned runs, seven hits, and two walks in 5.1 innings of work in his previous start. McCutcheon was off to a slow start for the Pirates with an average of .208 and an on base percentage of .286. We expect much more from McCutcheon and believe that few players in fantasy that have as much upside. McCutcheon is a bona fide Most Valuable Player candidate and the king pin of a team that is looking to make the post season for the third consecutive season.
OF – Alex Gordon – Kansas City
The Royals are at the Minnesota Twins with a starting time of 7:10 p.m. ET. Kansas City was off to the best start in franchise history but without much help from Gordon, who was off to a horrific start with a .063 batting average and .063 slugging percentage. Gordon has long been considered a value based outfielder and could break out against Minnesota starter Kyle Gibson, who was shelled in his first start for eight hits, five walks, and six earned runs allowed in 3.2 innings of work.
2B – Jason Kipnis – Cleveland
The Indians host the Chicago White Sox with a starting time of 11:10 a.m. ET. Kipnis was off to a solid start with a .308 batting average but is yet to see that turn into run production as he had only one run scored with two RBI. The Tribe will be going up against Chicago starter John Danks, who allowed four earned runs with seven hits in just 5.2 innings of work. Kipnis brings plenty of potential value and simply needs more support from the rest of the lineup.
Sleeper – Jedd Gyorko – San Diego
The Padres will host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Padres will face Arizona starter Chase Anderson, who was shelled for five hits, three walks, and three earned runs in five innings of work in his first start. We like Gyorko to have a solid shot at a breakout game after a dreadful start in which he was hitting .143 with an OPS of .217 and slugging percentage of .190. The Padre second baseman is due.
