DraftKings Team of the Day

Today I’m playing the $1,500 Moon Shot, which is a $2 buy-in that pays out the top 200 spots. When you sign up for DraftKings be sure to claim your deposit bonus!

Pitchers: Felix Hernandez ($12,300) at Houston – I’d say Felix is the play of the day coming off a great start and now facing the Astros.

Kyle Lohse ($5,000) at San Diego – Lohse has been quietly very good for the Brewers and facing the Padres in San Diego is always a good matchup.

Catcher: Devin Mesoraco ($3,600) – Mesoraco should be playing almost full-time now that Ryan Hanigan is on the DL. His price, matchup against lefty Travis Wood and playing at home all made him a good play.

First base: Anthony Rizzo ($4,400) – Rizzo’s struggled a bit early, but he’s hit six homers already and he’s got a good matchup against the righty Mike Leake. Hopefully he can take advantage of GABP’s small right field.

Second base: Munenori Kawasaki ($2,000) – I had to go real cheap somewhere, and Kawasaki seemed like a good option. He led off Sunday and now has a real good matchup against Chris Tillman. Lefties have a .948 OPS against Tillman this year.

Third base: Manny Machado ($4,000) – I’m hoping the game between Toronto and Baltimore is a slug-fest. Toronto’s starting J.A. Happ, who’s homer-prone and is worse against righties than lefties.

Shortstop: Jean Segura ($4,200) – Segura’s been hitting well and should have plenty of chances to score against Jason Marquis tonight.

Outfield: Nelson Cruz ($4,400) – Joe Blanton pitching in Texas. I can hear the Rangers salivating already.

Michael Cuddyer ($5,800) – Cuddyer facing a lefty in Coors? Sign me up please.

Colby Rasmus ($4,200) – Raz has always been much better against righties like Tillman than lefties.

Sunday Recap

Kris Medlen threw another quality start, striking out six and walking only one in six innings against Pittsburgh. Andrelton Simmons helped out his cause with this sick catch. Medlen pitched well and could’ve gotten out of the sixth allowing only two runs for the game, but Clint Barmes’s 17-hopper went just out of Medlen’s reach and Simmons couldn’t field it fast enough to keep the runner from scoring.

Jordan Zimmermann and Dillon Gee had a brief pitchers’ duel in New York, and while neither made it out of the sixth they both pitched well in their five and 5.2 innings, respectively. Zimmermann continued his hot start, even though he’s still not striking out many guys, and Gee finally had another good start after putting up back-to-back stinkers. I’d be buying both guys right now.

Brett Lawrie collected two hits and two RBIs in Toronto’s 8-4 win over the Yankees. Josh Johnson had another underwhelming start, walking three with only four strikeouts in 5.1 innings. J.P. Arencibia hit his seventh home run of the year, and he also struck out once, bringing his season numbers to: 28 Ks, one walk. That’d be really good if he was a pitcher, but he’s not.

Homer Bailey struck out eight in six innings against Miami and lowered his ERA to 3.24. He only gave up three fly balls, which is a good idea if you’re pitching in Cincinnati. His strikeout rate and ground ball rate are still career bests through four starts so his performance is for real this year. Giancarlo Stanton picked up his first RBI of the season yesterday, going the other way for a single. I’d be trying to buy low anywhere for Stanton.

Ervin Santana (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) beat Boston in the first of two games at Fenway while pitching his third straight very good game. He now has a 26:5 K:BB in 29 innings. Greg Holland picked up two saves on the day, pitching two perfect innings while striking out five.

Injury news and notes

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Albert Pujols is dealing with a severe case of plantar fasciitis. The injury causes severe pain in Pujols’ left foot and is limiting him to DH duties for the past four games and the immediate future. While Pujols is still producing, the only real cure for the injury is rest. The Angels have talked about putting Pujols on the DL and plan on “[letting] Pujols play until he says he cannot tolerate the discomfort.” I would try to sell Pujols while he’s playing and hitting when you can get something of good value for him.

Brett Myers, Jhoulys Chacin, Chad Billingsley and Ryan Hanigan were placed on the 15-day DL Sunday. Devin Mesoraco should benefit from Hanigan’s injury. Mesoraco has three doubles, six walks and only six strikeouts in eight games and 27 at-bats this season. He’s virtually unowned in most fantasy leagues.

Freddie Freeman should rejoin the Braves today in Colorado, so make sure you activate him for a juicy series at Coors Field.