Draft Kings Team of the Day

Today I will be playing the Daily Dollar (great for beginners!): Don’t forget to claim your Deposit Bonus!

Here is my @DraftKings team! Yesterday’s news and notes are inside the pick descriptions.

Pitcher: Carlos Villanueva | $5,000: Villanueva has been on an absolute tear this season. He’s sporting a 1.53 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP over his first four starts. The starts haven’t come against weak competition either, as he’s faced the defending champion Giants, the reigning AL Champion Rangers, and two of the biggest up-start offenses in the National League – The Braves and Reds. Now he’s facing the Marlins; sure Giancarlo Stanton just hit his first home run last night, and Villanueva has had HR issues, but the rest of the Marlins lineup stinks. He’s a great value.

Pitcher: Shelby Miller | $8,700: Miller, like Villanueva has been on a serious run to start the season. Since his 5.1 inning 4 BB 4 K effort against the Giants in his major league debut, Miller has a 22:3 K:BB ratio. However, one of those efforts was a 6 H, 2 R performance against the Pirates that resulted in a loss – his only loss of the season. Despite the first start against the Giants, Miller still owns a 1.44 ERA and 0.84 WHIP on the season. He faces those same Pirates again, this time at Busch Stadium where he hurled his best outing of the season – a 1 hit 7 inning shutout with 8 K against the Brewers.

Catcher: Carlos Ruiz | $3,800: Ruiz makes his triumphant return off his 25-game suspension on Sunday. He should come back with a bang, as Ruiz has enjoyed great success against Jonathon Niese in his career. Ruiz hits .353/.421/.529 against Niese in 17 career AB.

Other good options at Catcher include: John Buck ($3,800), Chris Iannetta ($3,100) and A.J Pierzynski ($3,300).

Buck has been cooling down somewhat, but he hit his 8^th HR last night off Jeremy Horst. Buck is a measly 2-22 against Sunday’s starter Cole Hamels, but both the hits are HR.

First Base: Mark Reynolds | $4,700: Reynolds has not recording a career AB against Guthrie, and I can’t help but think that plays into the hands of the hot-hitting Reynolds. Reynolds has a .412 OBP in his last 15 games played, and has belted 2 HR. He’s a great boom or bust choice.

Other good options at First Base include: Edwin Encarnacion ($5,000) and Chris Davis ($4,600)

Encarnacion has been on absolute fire, with 5 home runs in his past 5 games, and getting to face homer prone Phil Hughes in Yankee Stadium – he’s a great selection.

Second Base: Robinson Cano | $5,600: Cano is 3-10 vs. Dickey in his career and Dickey continues to struggle. Cano has been on fire. It’s a match made in Daily Fantasy Baseball Heaven.

Third Base: David Wright | $4,300: David Wright is the #1 3B right now in Fantasy Baseball, and it makes no sense why he is tied for the 17^th most expensive 3B. Until his price increases, he’s a must draft every single week.

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford | $2,500: You could go with a higher priced option here, but let’s face it; Crawford has been absolutely on fire this season so far. His BABIP is unsustainable, but he could be going through a mini-breakout. As we all know, shortstop and catcher are the positions where guys develop their bats the latest, because of the emphasis put on defense. Crawford’s defense is already uber-elite, and he’s playing like the #1 shortstop in all of baseball right now with the way he is hitting. Not to mention he hit this 3-run HR last night off LHP Eric Stults.

Outfield: Alex Rios | $5,100: Rios is only 2 for his last 19, but he has a .500/.579/1.125 against David Price in 16 career AB with 3 walks and a stolen base. It’s a boom/bust choice, as Rios tends to run hot and cold. He has 4 runs scored, a HR and a steal in his last 4 games, so it’s possible he goes yard against Price.

Outfield: Shin-Soo Choo | $5,000: Choo has an OBP of .505 this season, which is absolutely insane. He also hit this home-run last night off struggling pitcher Dan Haren who actually got the win last night behind a strong 5 K, 0 walk, 6 H, 2 ER performance.

Outfield: Chris Davis | $4,600: Davis is 3-7 with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts and a HR against Bartolo Colon. For a modest salary of $4,600, Davis is a good choice.

Other choices: Nick Swisher ($4,600)– Swisher absolutely owns Jeremy Guthrie- in 29 career at-bats .448/.500/.897. He has been cold in his last few games, 2-15 to be precise. This could be the game that he breaks out his slump though.

Good luck this week in your @DraftKings games !! Once again, don’t forget to claim your Deposit Bonus!