Yesterday was a rough day for your’s truly. The  infield produced a whopping two points as my team failed to get in the money. These things happen. However, that is the beauty of daily fantasy baseball. Today is a new day. If you want to get in on the action, Draftkings is still offering their deposit bonus. You can get in on the action today if you want.

When we have a rough day, it pays to get back to basics and play on some low stakes games. That means we go back to the MLB Daily Dollar. It’s only one dollar and brings some decent rate of return. We have to learn to walk before we can run.

My Lineup

Catcher: Wilin Rosario vs. C.C. Sabathia ($5,200)

Yes, it’s Sabathia, but we have two things going in our favor here. First, Rosario has a stellar record against lefties. Secondly, it’s being played at Coors Field, so it’s highly likely that some runs will be scored.

First Base: Edwin Encarnacion vs. David Price ($4,300)

Encarnacion is going up against a struggling Price. He is better against lefties anyway and he is on a hot streak right now. Sure, the average is low, but he has quietly gotten up to ten home runs on the season.

Second Base: Kelly Johnson vs. R.A. Dickey ($3,400)

Dickey has been inconsistent at best so far on the season while Johnson seems to have rediscovered whatever magic he had back in 2011. They have him playing at second and left field these days, but he’s eligible at second today and that’s all that matters.

Third Base: David Wright vs. Jeff Locke ($4,300)

David Wright is cheap today for some reason and I have to take a shot on a guy averaging more than ten points a game on the season. Locke is off to a good start, but he doesn’t have the kind of pedigree that makes you scared to play someone like Wright.

Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons vs. Ryan Vogelsong ($3,500)

It looks like the clock has struck midnight for Vogelsong. Two years ago nobody knew who he was. He’s had two very good seasons, but he came from nowhere and to nowhere he shall return. Simmons has been producing decent numbers so far and shouldn’t struggle tommorrow.

Outfield: Cody Ross vs. Cole Hamels ($3,400)

Hamels has been shaky on the season so far (1-4, 4,34 ERA) and Ross has been back a couple of weeks now. He isn’t the guy he was last season, but he has been solid for much of his career. For one day he should be fine.

Outfield: Josh Willingham vs. John Lackey ($5,200)

John Lackey is off to a good start on the season, but he was injured all of last season and was horrible in 2011. Willingham hits lefties and righties equally well, so he is a sensible play.

Outfield: Jose Bautista vs. David Price ($4,700)

I hate to play twice against a pitcher of Price’s caliber, but we are talking about one of the better outfielders in baseball and one that mashes against lefties. Chances are that either Encarnacion or Bautista will get to him.

Pitcher: Jeremy Guthrie vs Baltimore Orioles ($7,700)

Guthrie is 4-0 on the season with a sparkling 2.40 ERA. I don’t think he is really this good, but he is going against his former employers, so maybe he has a little extra juice going. I’m simply betting that the hot start will last one more start.

Pitcher: Patrick Corbin vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($8,300)

Corbin is off to a fantastic start, and as one of the highly touted arms that have come up in recent years with the Dbacks, there is no reason to believe that this should not continue.

Yesterday’s Highlights

The Astros won two games in a row. Stop the presses, the Astros have won two games in a row. More importantly, it means the Los Angeles Angels can do no better than 3-3 against the Astros in the early going. I can’t help but think of guys like Peter Gammons that questioned the integrity of the game with the Astros in the American League West.

While it is true that the Astros are 0-6 against the Athletics, they have claimed eight of their ten wins against AL West opponents. These things happen I guess. The struggling Angels are now nearly ten games out of the division lead and we haven’t even gotten to Memorial Day yet.

The rest of the American League action seems to be setting up according to traditional norms. The Yankees and Red Sox are on top in the AL East, the Tigers are on top in the Central, and the Rangers are on top in the AL West. Sometimes you really can predict these things.

In National League action, the Nationals won the battle of the aces to move within two games of the Atlanta Braves. They are clearly the class of the National League East with the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins all under .500 in the early going.

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue their march to respectability despite a close defeat to Felix Hernandez and the Mariners. At 18-15, they stand tied with the Reds in second place in the Central. With the extra wild card, they could be an interesting team to watch as the season goes along. Both Wandy Rodriguez and A.J. Burnett are pitching well and their bullpen has been spectacular.

The Dodgers may be off to a slow start (13-19), but the Dbacks (18-15) and the Rockies (19-13) seemed poised to give the Giants a run for their money. Barry Zito has been brilliant in the early going (2.75 ERA) but Ryan Vogelsong has turned back into a pumpkin. They officially trail the Rockies in the early going, but we know the Giants are strong finishers. A good series sweep of the Dodgers coupled with another close win yesterday have them back in the hunt.

MLBtv Game of the Day

The powers that be are featuring the likes of the Pirates and the Mets. Far be it from me to disagree, but today sees the first battle between two teams with 20 or more wins as the Braves take on the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong has struggled so far, but Julio Teheran has struggled as well. So, it might be a high scoring affair for a change.