Wednesday’s MLB went pretty well if you followed along the Daily Double Switch. The hitter’s didn’t do as great as I had hoped, but the pitching did well for their prices. Also, my hunch that Chris Davis was underpriced and worth the gamble worked out well. It’s worth noting that Josh Tomlin will almost guaranteed NOT be pitching today with him throwing 3 innings yesterday. Let’s see if I can keep it going today before handing this article off to Logan for the weekend.

Weather:
SF/COL: Rain 0-40%
LAD/NYM: Rain 40%

Positional Breakdown:

Cole Hamels is probably the most tempting pitcher of the high-priced pitchers today. He’s only at 18k, but is every bit of an ace as Lester at 20k. He has two straight starts of one run and 10 strikeouts, so Miami should look out. There will be plenty of RHB for Hamels to pick on with his nasty changeup and odd reverse splits. Sonny Gray sits at a price just above Hamels, but I like him just as much. He gets the Rays offense that is hitting one home run about every 45 at bats. Gray is hot off a nine-strikeout performance and should be able to repeat close to it today.

The Cubs are playing like the Cubs right now and that means even a guy like Eric Stults is in play today. He’s been great lately with a 2.21 ERA in two starts, but only has six strikeouts during that time. I think he’ll pitch well and give himself a real shot at a win, but the upside is limited. Robbie Ray is likely to produce the same kind of numbers as Stults, but with a few more strikeouts. He has struck out eight in 12 innings so far and faces the Rangers at home today. Prince Fielder will be out and that just means one less strong bat for the talented rookie to face.

Others to Consider: Aaron Harang, Chris Sale, Henderson Alvarez

If Buster Posey is back in the lineup today against the Rockies then you have to strongly consider him against De La Rosa. He loves hitting against LHP and does damage via the way of the long ball in these kinds of opportunities. If Posey isn’t playing then play Hector Sanchez instead. He has better numbers against LHP, and like I just said, he gets an average one today.

Tony Sanchez is going to be in play for me as an under 4k option with the way he’s swinging right now. He faces Blake Treinen who has pitched really well so far this season, but doesn’t have huge strikeout potential and has given up 18 hits in 11.2 innings so far.

Others to Consider: John Jaso, Jonathon Lucroy

Edwin Encarnacion had 9 home runs in 14 days before last night and didn’t disappoint those who kept riding that train. He hit two more last night and there’s not really much else to say. He gets Jon Lester, a LHP today at Fenway again. So far this season, EE has been hitting home runs at same rate against LHP as RHP. If you’re afraid of chasing points and price with EE, then look at Chris Davis as a great play today. The Indians used nine pitchers yesterday including Josh Tomlin who was supposed to be their starter today. Davis should see plenty of great matchups.

Brandon Moss is a tad cheaper than both and gets a solid matchup as he gets to face a RHP. He hit a home run yesterday against the LHP, so he must be feeling great at the plate. His numbers suggest the same as he has a .380 average with five home runs in the last 15 days. With how great these players have been, paying up for this position today feels like a must. If you want to go value then check out the “others to consider.”

Others to Consider: Mark Reynolds

Robinson Cano proved to be a top play at second base yesterday, and if you have the money again they look his way today. He gets Jared Cosart who has an ERA in the 4 range in his last two starts while averaging half a strikeout per inning.  Cano is also red hot with a .389 average in the last 15 days and a home run yesterday. He remains in a plus hitter’s park in Houston.

Dustin Pedroia is a guy to look at today going against Buehrle. He has some solid numbers against him in his career and he’s doing better against LHP so far this season. He has the same amount of extra base hits against both LHP/RHP with 81 less at bats against LHP. Emilio Bonifacio remains hitting over .400 from the right side and he gets to attempt to keep it there today. He faces Stults who can give up plenty of hits although I do like him today. Bonifacio has a four-game hit streak with only five strikeouts in his last ten games.

Others to Consider: DJ LeMahieu, Jedd Gyorko

Manny Machado sits at the top of my best plays for third base today and with good reasons. He’s hitting much better than that ridiculously bad start recording hits in nine of his last ten games. He hit his first double of the season yesterday, something he did a lot last season. Lastly, he is going to face a guy like Kyle Davies or Johnny Wholestaff. This bodes well for Machado and that entire Orioles lineup.

David Wright is stupid cheap even with a tough matchup against Zack Greinke today. He’s at just above 4k and is hitting .328 in the last 15 days. I like him for that price and think that’s a safe choice there if you’re not a fan of Machado. Matt Dominguez is another great option facing off against Elias the LHP. He’s hitting .327 against LHP this season with seven extra base hits in just 52 at bats. He also comes at a very affordable price if you’re looking for variance.

Others to Consider: Adrian Beltre

Jimmy Rollins isn’t necessarily my top play, but he’s one of the better pitcks for that above average range. He has six hits in his last four games and an extra base hit (two home runs) in each of his last three. Henderson Alvarez has some weird reverse splits this season, but he’s still not dominant against LHB as they’re hitting .269 in 2014. Hanley Ramirez is always an option when he’s 7k. He gets a LHP, but it’s at Citi Field. It’s the park that tempers me a little bit, but you can’t hate on a guy that has a HR every 11.7 at bats against LHP compared to one HR per 36 at bats against RHP.

Elvis Andrus has been sneaky at times this season and I think today is one of those days. He hit a home run yesterday and today gets to face a LHP. He’s hitting .308 against them on the season compared to .224 against RHP. He’s 3 for 3 in stolen bases as well against LHP and Alex Avila should be sitting today’s game.

For value at this position I’m looking at a guy like JJ Hardy. I rolled him out yesterday and he did great. He’s hitting .321 in his last 15 days with seven runs scored. He’s hitting behind those studs, so I expect his RBI totals to move up here soon and quite possibly today against the Indians.

Others to Consider: Stephen Drew

All of Baltimore’s outfielders are in play today, but I’ll rank how I like them for you. Nelson Cruz has to be number one with the way he hit yesterday. He’s got five home runs in the last 15 days and has 11 of his 14 home runs at home. Nick Markakis comes in at number two due to Jones’ numbers against RHP on the season and the fact that Markakis is hitting behind a talented Machado. I think those two combine for a few runs and RBIs today. Markakis also has four hits in his last three games. Adam Jones is number three and on sites where you can only use four from one team, he would probably be the guy left out. I like him, but not unless you can roll a full stack out there, which you can’t on Draftstreet.

There are other outfielders playing today and one of them I love is Justin Upton again. What’s not to like about his eight hits in the last four games with five extra base hits? The guy is white hot and isn’t fadeable at 7k. Hunter Pence did quite well yesterday, rewarding owners with a home run and a walk. He has an eight-game hit streak and does great against LHP. His .379 average against them on the season proves that point.

Jason Heyward is one of those guys I think is extremely overrated at this time in his career, but he’s turning it up recently. He’s hitting .289 in his last 15 days and is doing it at the right time. With Freeman and Upton swinging great right now, Heyward’s fantasy owners are benefitting from him hitting in front of them.

Scott Van Slyke dominates LHP, so be aware of his situation today. If he’s in the lineup then you’ll want to capitalize on his 9 extra base hits out of 11 hits so far against LHP this season. He’s hitting .333 with a slugging percentage of .858 against them. Simply incredible.

Others to Consider: Allen Craig, Ryan Raburn

Top Stacks:
Baltimore: Markakis/Machado/Davis/Cruz
Atlanta: Heyward/Freeman/J.Upton
San Francisco: Pagan/Pence/Posey/Morse

Lineup:

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