2014 Fantasy BaseballFantasy Baseball

2014 Fantasy Baseball Daily Fix — September 5th

Welcome to Friday night baseball. With the NFL officially opening for business last night, most of the daily fixes will focus on the pigskin. However, Draftkings wants you to know that they are still open for business on the baseball front. Since my NFL draft board still has Sammy Baugh and Crazy Legs Hirsh on top, management felt it was better for me to stick with baseball through the end of the season.

In all seriousness, there is no better time to play daily fantasy baseball. Many serious fantasy players have turned their attention to football, so you can take advantage of the brain drain going on in baseball. Even if you are just beginning on the baseball front, it is a good time to get your feet wet. You can play every now and then and test your skills. Then, you can jump in full board in 2015. September baseball does require some different strategies than the rest of the year, so it can be somewhat frustrating if you play it straight.

About half of the teams are outside the playoff hunt for all intents and purposes. So, I usually focus my September lineups on the guys playing on playoff contenders. Some managers of those other clubs treat September as a modified Spring Training. This can be especially true for pitching staffs. Teams suddenly may expand their bullpens to ten or eleven pitchers, so starters may get pulled artificially early. I normally play the one dollar double up and that is no less true now. As usual, I will give you my lineup first and then a reasonable alternative at each position. As usual, check the weather report and projected lineups for last minute changes.

Salary

FPPG

Opposing SP

Comments

C

Buster Posey

5400

7.8

Rick Porcello

He has been on fire since the all-star break.

1B

Kennys Vargas

4500

9.3

Matt Shoemaker

The Twins definitely aren’t missing Kendrys Morales.

2B

Kolten Wong

3900

7.0

Mike Fiers

He has quietly elevated his numbers to .250 and 10 HR.

3B

Chase Headley

3700

5.8

James Shields

He has been slightly better as a Yankee.

SS

Elvis Andrus

3500

6.5

Hisashi Iwakuma

The only player from a non-contender on the list.

OF

J.D. Martinez

4100

8.0

Jake Peavy

He is still hitting over .300 into September.

OF

Nick Markakis

3800

7.0

Alex Cobb

A tough matchup, but Markakis has been solid.

OF

Kirk Niewenhuis

2800

4.3

Alfredo Simon

We needed a cheap option and he’s it.

SP

Jeff Samardzija

9600

17.3

Houston Astros

He’s pitched well against Houston this season.

SP

James Shields

8700

17.0

New York Yankkes

The Royals have been really good since the all-star break.

Salary

FPPG

Opposing SP

Comments

C

Evan Gattis

4000

7.0

Jarred Cosart

How many catchers have 20 or more home runs?

1B

Ryan Howard

3900

7.0

Stephen Strasburg

Scoff if you must, but he is on pace for 100 RBI.

2B

Emilio Bonifacio

3700

6.4

Jarred Cosart

They don’t have much at second base or centerfield.

3B

Brock Holt

3800

7.4

Drew Hutchinson

The Red Sox almost have to play him somewhere.

SS

J.J. Hardy

3700

6.0

Alex Cobb

Hardy is beginning to heat up some.

OF

Nick Castellanos

3200

6.1

Jake Peavy

It’s been a decent rookie season for Castellanos.

OF

Josh Reddick

3400

6.2

Brett Oberholtzer

He seems to murder Houston pitching.

SP

John Lackey

8400

17.0

Milwaukee Brewers

The Cardinals are still in the hunt somehow.

SP

Alex Cobb

10,400

18.4

Baltimore Orioles

Cobb has been one of the better pitchers in the AL.

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