Today I will be participating in the $1,000 Moon Shot challenge for a $2 entry fee. I tend to have more success in these than the other challenges. Also for just $2, fantasy players can participate in one of the 100K Sweet Spot Qualifiers for Draft Kings’ mega-event on August 23^rd.

Like always, Sunday provides us with a much wider range of players at our disposal. In order to take advantage of this, I will once again be offering my Luxury Pick, Safe pick (solid), and Bargain-Bin picks for each position.

First things first though: weather. Colorado @ Baltimore has a 50 percent chance of rain throughout the game and before the game, so I am avoiding all players from that game.

Pitcher:

Luxury Pick- Madison Bumgarner- San Francisco Giants- @ MIA- $11,000:

Middle Range Price Pick- Jason Vargas- Los Angeles Angels- vs. HOU- $8,100: Vargas got slapped by the Yankees in his first start since coming off the disabled list so Vargas isn’t typically the type of guy I would choose for this slot. Garrett Richards struggled against the Astros last night so there’s some real risk here with Vargas, but also considerable upside. Astros first baseman Chris Carter is the only real guy to worry about in this matchup.

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Hector Santiago- Chicago White Sox- @ MIN- $7,000: First, a little about the “Wal-Mart” moniker. The Bargain-Bin pick is one that can be extremely risky. Like Wal-Mart items, they are priced very low because of their lack of considerable quality. Wal-Mart products can be highly flammable and can blow up in your face, but every once in a while you get something from there that is really a gem.

Catcher:

Luxury Pick- Yadier Molina- St. Louis Cardinals- @ Chicago Cubs- $4,600: Molina hits 9-18 against Edwin Jackson with three home runs in his career.

Middle Range Price Pick- A.J. Pierzynski- Texas Rangers- vs. SEA- $3,900: Pierzynski has done well against right-handed pitchers this season in terms of power, with 11 of his 13 home runs coming against righties.

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Brayan Pena- Detroit Tigers- vs. KC- $3,300:

First Base:

Luxury Pick- Brandon Belt- San Francisco Giants- @ MIA- $5,000: Belt has simply been on fire since moving to the number three spot last week. Since August 8^th Belt has four home runs, 13 runs scored and nine RBI with an OBP of .479.

Middle Range Price Pick- Chris Johnson- Atlanta Braves- @ WSH- $3,900: Johnson is hitting a robust .382 against left handed pitching this season, and he draws Gio Gonzalez of the Nats today.

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Josh Satin- New York Mets- @ SD- $2,000: Mets face lefty Eric Stults

Second Base:

Luxury Pick- Matt Carpenter- St. Louis Cardinals- @ ChC- $5,100:

Middle Range Price Pick: Chase Utley- Philadelphia Phillies, vs. LAD- $4,200: Utley has quite a bit of experience against Ricky Nolasco thanks to Nolasco’s long tenure with the Florida/Miami Marlins. Utley hits .293 against Nolasco in 41 career at-bats.

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Maicer Izturis- Toronto Blue Jays- @ TB- $2,700:

Shortstop:

Luxury Pick- Jose Reyes- Toronto Blue Jays- @ TB- $3,800:

Middle Range Price Pick- Andrelton Simmons- Atlanta Braves- vs. WSH- $3,400: Simmons hits very well against Gio Gonzalez in his short career so far. Simmons leads the active Braves in OPS against Gonzalez as he hits .357/.500/.857 in 14 career at-bats against the lefty.

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Maicer Izturis- Toronto Blue Jays- @ TB- $2,700:

Third Base:

Luxury Pick- Miguel Cabrera- Detroit Tigers- vs. KC- $6,400: Cabrera continued his hot hitting ways yesterday as he hit a walk-off home run against the Royals Aaron Crow in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cabrera just continues to be an absolute monster.

Middle Range Price Pick- Chris Johnson- Atlanta Braves- vs. WSH- $3,900:

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Juan Francisco- Milwaukee Brewers- vs. CIN- $3,700: Francisco gets to face Homer Bailey who is quite “homer” prone. Francisco specializes in hitting right-handed pitching.

Outfield:

Luxury Pick- Justin Upton- Atlanta Braves- vs. WSH- $4,800:

Middle Range Price Pick- Giancarlo Stanton- Miami Marlins- vs. SF- $4,100: Stanton runs very hot and cold and he homered last night. He also happens to 6-for-8 against Bumganer with an incredible five of them being doubles! He has a 2.153 OPS against Mad-Bum!

Bargain-Bin “Wal-Mart” Pick: Jonny Gomes- Boston Red Sox- vs. NYY- $2,800: