DFS MLB Picks (July 27, 2017)

Pitchers:

Michael Blazek - Milwaukee Brewers: Blazek is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 5 relief appearances (5.2IP, 2ER). His only career outing at Nationals Park came on July 6, 2016 (1.2IP, 1H, 2K). Blazek, 28, is making his fifth appearance for the Brewers this season and first Major League start after 108 career games out of the bullpen.

Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals: Scherzer is 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA (7 ER/33.0 IP) in five career starts against Milwaukee. He last faced them on July 4, 2p16 (6.0 IP, 4 H, ER, HR, 3 BB, 7 SO).

First Baseman:

Yonder Alonso - Oakland Athletics: Alonso is 26-for-127 (.205) with 20 walks over his last 38 games. He is batting .222 (16-for-72) in the month of July, which his lowest batting average of any month this season.

Second Baseman:

Daniel Murphy - Washington Nationals: Murphy is 22-for-59 (.373) with eight 2Bs, three HRs, and 18 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Shortstop:

Eric Sogard - Milwaukee Brewers: In 46 games so far in 2017, Sogard is batting .313 with 3 HRs, 14 RBIs, and 3 SBs.

Third Baseman:

Anthony Rendon - Waahington Nationals: Rendon has hit safely in 16 of 18 games, going 24-for-60 (.400) with 6 2B, 4 HR, and 17 RBI.

Catcher:

Bruce Maxwell - Oakland Athletics: Maxwell was recalled from Triple-A Nashville June 22 for his third stint with the A’s this year and is batting .243 (17-for-70) with 12 walks (.354 on-base percentage) in 24 games since his return.

Outfielders:

Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals: Harper has scored at least one run in nine of 11 games and at least two runs in six of the 11.

Domingo Santana - Milwaukee Brewers: Santana is batting .321 (89-for-277, 15 HRs, 50 RBIs) since Apr. 28 (76 games), which ranks eighth in the National League.

Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics: Davis has homered seven times in the month of July and now has 28 home runs for the season, which is tied for third in the American League and matches the second best total of his career (2015). His career high is 42 last year.

DFS MLB Picks (July 16, 2017)

Pitchers:

Rich Hill - Los Angeles Dodgers: Jn three career games (two starts) against Miami, Hill has gone 1-1 with a 5.84 ERA (8 ER/12.1 IP) and has struck out 17 against a lone walk in 12.1 innings (17.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio), while limiting hitters to a .234 average and posting a 0.97 WHIP.

Masahiro Tanaka - New York Yankees: Tanaka will make his 19th start of the season in the second game of today's doubleheader. He is 6-3 with a 3.89 ERA (74.0IP, 32ER) in 12 career starts vs. Boston.

First Baseman:

Cody Bellinger - Los Angeles Dodgers: Last night, Bellinger belted his 26th homer of the year in the second inning and then completed the third cycle in Los Angeles Dodger history (Wes Parker-1970, Orlando Hudson-2009) with a triple in the seventh.

Second Baseman:

DJ LeMahieu - Colorado Rockies: LeMahieu has batted .416 since June 15, going 32-for-77. Among players with 75 or plate appearances, that span is tied for first in the National League. LeMahieu hit safely in 17 of this 20 games.

Shortstop:

Jose Reyes - New York Mets: Reyes is hitting .404 (19-47) with five doubles, one triple, three home runs and seven RBI in his last 13 games. He has seven multi-hit games in his last 12 contests.

Third Baseman:

Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies: Arenado is hitting .380 since June 27, hitting safely in 12 of 13 games. He is 8-for-19 his past five games. Arenado leads Major League Baseball with 51 extra-base hits and is tied for second in the Majors with 70 RBI (tied for first in NL). He is tied for second in the Majors with 29 doubles.

Catcher:

Gary Sanchez - New York Yankees: Sánchez has 4HR off David Price in his career, matching his most off a single pitcher (4HR off Marco Estrada).

Outfielders:

Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies: Blackmon currently leads the Major Leagues in hits (120) and triples (11) and ranks fifth in runs (73). He ranks fifth in the National League in batting average (.320), fourth in slugging percentage (.582) and third in extra-base hits (49). His 20 home runs while batting first in the lineup are the second-most in MLB (Springer, 27) and the most in the National League by eight (Conforto, 12).

Aaron Judge - New York Yankees: Judge has reached base safely in each of his last 41 starts since 5/28, the Majors' longest streak in 2017 and third-longest since the start of 2016 (Freddie Freeman-46G and Jayson Werth-45G).

Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers: Puig collected his fourth career multi-homer game of his career on Friday, stroking a solo home run in the fourth inning and a three-run shot in the ninth inning and drove in a season-high tying four runs for the fourth time this year.

DFS MLB Picks (July 15, 2017)

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale has won 10 of his past 12
decisions.

Pitchers:

Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox: Sale has won 10 of his last 12 decisions. The Sox have won 7 of his last 9 starts since May 24. Plus, he has tossed 7.0+ IP in 5 of his last 6 starts, and he is 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA (12 ER/43.2 IP) in those. Sale allowed 3 or fewer ER over 7.0+ IP in 7 of his last 11 starts (11 BB, 105 SO).

Michael Fulmer - Detroit Tigers: Fulmer's only career start against the Blue Jays came on June 6, 2016 in Detroit, when he earned the win a!er throwing 6.0 shutout innings with two hits allowed, three walks and five strikeouts.

First Baseman:

Mitch Moreland - Boston Red Sox: Moreland drew 38 BB in 336 first-half PA, his most since a career-high 45 in 2013 (in 518 PA). He has a career-best 8.89 PA/BB rate, and has been walked in 6 of his last 9 games. His .349 OBP is higher than his full-season career high.

Second Baseman:

Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox: Pedroia recorded multiple hits last night for the 27th time this season and 14th in his last 26 games. He has reached multiple times in 11 of his last 14 games (.485 OBP).

Shortstop:

Alcides Escobar - Kansas City Royals: Escobar hit a two-run home run off the left-field foul pole in the second inning, extending his home hitting streak to 11 games, in which he’s batting .400 (16-for-40).

Third Baseman:

Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers: Beltre hit a game-tying, three-run home run in the sixth inning, the 453rd of his career to break a tie with Carl Yastrzemski for 38th all-time.

Catcher:

Gary Sanchez - New York Yankees: Sanchez hit two-run HR (#14) in the fifth and was 2-for-4 with 3RBI in Friday's loss at Boston.

Outfielders:

Aaron Judge - New York Yankees: Judge leads the Majors with 30HR, three ahead of Houston's George Springer (27), and he has held the outright MLB HR lead for 47 straight days (since May 29), the longest stretch by a Yankee since Alex Rodriguez (84d in 2007), per Elias.

Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox: Betts recorded his 6th multi-hit game last night and stole his 16th base (T-6th in the AL). He ranks 2nd in the AL since last year in SB% (87.5) and 5th in SB (42).

Jorge Bonifacio - Kasas City Royals: Bonifacio had an RBI single with one out in the fifth inning last night, his first RBI since June 27. But he was thrown out 8-3-6 trying to stretch it into a double.

DFS MLB Picks (June 21, 2017)

Marlins pitcher Dan Straily has held opponents to a
.215 batting average this season.

Pitchers:

Ian Kennedy - Kansas City Royals: Kennedy is 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA (10 ER in 17.0 IP) in three career starts vs. the Red Sox. He’s allowed just four walks and fanned 23, including eight K’s in 5.1 innings last August 26 at Fenway Park in a 6-3 triumph. He went 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA in seven outings vs. A.L. East foes a year ago.

Dan Straily - Miami Marlins: Straily has held opponents to a .215 (62x288) batting average this season, which ranks seventh among National League starters. He is also seventh among NL starters in hits allowed per 9.0 innings (7.15).

First Baseman:

Ryan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals: This season, Zimmerman ranks in MLB in AVG (1st, .347), SLG (2nd, .661), OPS (2nd, 1.048), extra-base hits (T3rd, 39), total bases (5th, 162), RBI (T3rd, 57), and HR (T8th, 19).

Second Baseman:

Jose Peraza - Cincinnati Reds: Peraza has hit safely in 9 of his last 11 starts (13-41, .317, 1 RB, 1HR, 5RBI).

Shortstop:

Xander Bogaerts - Boston Red Sox: Bogaerts is 7-for-14 with 6 RBI in his last 3 games. He ecorded his 1st career multi-HR game on Sunday at Houston.

Third Baseman:

Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays: Since May 5, Longoria is batting .278/.338/.449 (49-for-176) with 15 multi-hit games. Prior to that, he was batting .202/.282/.367 with 3 multi-hit games.

Catcher:

J.T. Realmuto - Miami Marlins: Realmuto Leads the MLB in hits (63) as a catcher, is 3rd in AVG (.293) and 5th in OBP (.356). His 12 CCS rank 3rd in the MLB, behind Yan Gomes (14) and Tucker Barnhart (14).

Outfielders:

Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox: Benintendi has 4 HR in his last 14 games since June 4. In that time, he has hit .333 (17-for-51) with a 1.007 OPS.

Corey Dickerson - Tampa Bay Rays: Yesterday vs. Cincinnati, Dickerson's homer off of Amir Garrett was his third vs. LHP this season, matching a career high (2014).

Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals: Harper has hit 22 home runs against the Marlins, more than any other team in his young career.

DFS MLB Picks (May 21, 2017)

Pitchers:

CC Sabathia - New York Yankees: CC is 6-8 with a 3.84 ERA (140.2IP, 60ER) in 21 career starts at Tropicana Field. Although his eight losses mark his most as a visitor at any ballpark, he is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA (25.2IP, 4ER) with 23K in his last four starts at Tropicana (since April 17, 2014).

Jesse Chavez - Los Angeles Angels: In five career games against the Mets (all in relief), Chavez is 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA (4.2 IP – 2 ER). His last appearance vs. New York came on Aug. 20, 2014 for Oakland (2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 SO) at the Coliseum.

First Baseman:

Ryan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals: Zimmerman ranks in Major League Baseball in total bases (1st, 109), extra-base hits (1st, 29), slugging percentage (2nd, .736), RBI (2nd, 38), batting average (2nd, .365), OPS (3rd, 1.146), home runs (T3rd, 13), and hits (4th, 53).

Second Baseman:

Jonathan Schoop - Baltimore Orioles: Schoop is tied with Welington Castillo for the Orioles team lead with 8 RBI in the seventh inning or later this season.

Shortstop:

Andrelton Simmons - Los Angeles Angels: In 61 career games vs. the Mets, Simmons is batting .335 (79/236) with 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 26 RBI. The .335 clip is his highest vs. any single opponent (min. 100 PA).

Third Baseman:

Eugenio Suarez - Cincinnati Reds: Suarez has a 4-game hitting streak, including 2 hits on Thu at Chicago (NL) and 3 on hits Fri vs Colorado (7-15, .467, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI).

Catcher:

TJ Rivera - New York Mets: Rivera ranks third among National League rookies with .333 on-base percentage, third in doubles (seven), sixth with a .267 batting average, seventh in runs scored (13), eighth with a .407 slugging percentage and 10th in RBI (10).

Outfielders:

Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels: Trout is leading the AL with a .730 slugging percentage and is tied for the A.L. lead with 25 extra-base hits.

Brett Gardner - New York Yankees: Gardner has 7HR over his last 19G while hitting .351 (26-for-74) with 20 R and 16 RBI.

Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals: Harper is hitting .371 (39-for-105) with 8 2B, 11 HR, 28 RBI, 20 BB and 32 R in his last 28 games.

DFS MLB Picks (May 19, 2017)

Pitchers:

Eddie Butler - Chicago Cubs: Eddie pitched 6.0-scoreless innings in his Cubs debut, May 12 at St. Louis, allowing just two hits while fanning five.

Luis Severino - New York Yankees: Severino will pitch on regular four days' rest...last pitched in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader vs. Houston,
taking a no-decision despite matching his shortest non-ejection start of his career

First Baseman:
Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs: Rizzo reached base three times yesterday. He went  2-for-4 with a homer and two runs Tuesday night.

Second Baseman:

Ben Zobrist - Chicago Cubs: Zobrist has reached base in 17-straight games, including a 2-for-4 effort yesterday.

Shortstop:

Zack Cozart - Cincinnati Reds: Cozart (2-for-5, RBI) has three-straight multi-hit games.

Third Baseman:

Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs: Bryant hit a solo homer yesterday and has six homers in his last 16 games. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, double and RBI Tuesday night.

Catcher:

Wilson Contreras - Chicago Cubs: Contreras went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double Tuesday night.

Outfielders:

Ben Zobrist - Chicago Cubs: Zobrist extended his on-base streak to 17-straight games last night. He hit an RBI single in the fifth inning after batting leadoff for the third time this season. The Cubs are 2-1 when he bats first.

Billy Hamilton - Cincinnati Reds: Hamilton extended his career-best on-base streak to 18 games last night. He drove in a run with an RBI double in the Reds’ four-run seventh inning.

Jon Jay - Chicago Cubs: Jay started Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with a run, RBI and HBP.

FANTASY PLAYS: Young bats and tough bullpen situations

By JAKE CIELY
Fantasy Sports Network

Two youngsters are impressing and have everyone talking in fantasy baseball. Meanwhile, two closer situations took big hits that will ripple through lineups. How should you value the young players and handle the bullpen situations?

CHEERS

Cody Bellinger, LAD - It's safe to say that Bellinger has been impressive in his first taste of the majors. The question fantasy baseball owners have is how to value Bellinger. To answer that, we need to talk about Bellinger's ability and projected year-end numbers. The kid is the real deal talent-wise with the ability to hit 25-plus home runs while adding in double-digit steals. In the right lineup and position in the batting order, Bellinger can score and drive in 90-plus runs. That puts Bellinger on par with George Springer's 2016 season (fewer runs, more RBIs), and Springer was a top 15 outfielder. While it's rare to see rookies reach those marks, Bellinger has the talent to do so even with a dip in average (.280-ish hitter). Unfortunately for Andrew Toles, but good for Bellinger, Toles tore an ACL, which alleviates the worry of Bellinger not having an everyday job. Bellinger will play most days even when Adrian Gonzalez returns, splitting time between first base and the outfield. Be thrilled that you own Bellinger, and if you don't, test the waters from his owner to see if he thinks he's selling high. He won't be, and you will reap the reward.

Aaron Altherr, PHI - Like Bellinger, the main question with Altherr this season isn't his talent; it's whether he will see playing time. As with the Dodgers, injuries have provided Altherr with the opportunity, and the way Altherr is playing, the Phillies will keep him in the lineup - sorry, Howie Kendrick. Altherr doesn't quite have the power that Bellinger has, but Altherr has more speed and can hit for a good average as well. The Phillies lineup is going to limit Altherr's numbers, but Altherr can still score and drive in 70-plus runs while hitting around 20 home runs and stealing 15-20 bases. That puts Altherr in the OF3 conversation, which makes him a must-own and must-start option in all fantasy baseball formats.

FEARS

Mark Melancon, SF - Melancon hit the 10-day DL this week, and now we have a situation like that of the Tigers last week. However, Melancon's replacement doesn't have the numbers that Justin Wilson does, nor the potential for as many saves given the Giants' ineptitude. Melancon's replacement is Derek Law... for now. Law's best pitch is his curveball, meaning he's not as overpowering as many top-end closers and doesn't strike out as many batters. In addition, because he likes the off-speed stuff, Law walks too many batters, creating a high WHIP. Law pitched better last year, but before you rush to your waiver wire and/or blow a large portion of your free agent acquisition budget, know that Hunter Strickland has more strikeout upside and that Melancon could be back in short time. The talk is that Melancon needs just two weeks. You're better served looking to the east coast.

TEARS

Jeurys Familia, NYM - This refers to the Mets situation generally. Familia has an arterial clot in his throwing shoulder. There isn't a large history of these, but David Cone missed four months with a similar clot (and surgery to fix it) back in his playing days. You can't drop Familia yet, but you need to run to the waiver wire and grab Addison Reed ... and don't be stingy. Reed has shown the ability to be a great setup man and closer for the Mets. If Familia has surgery, Reed could be the most valuable waiver addition for the rest of the year. You simply don't find closers with the ability to post top 12 numbers on waivers. As seen with the Tigers, Giants, Nationals and Phillies, it's rare to have a clear, rock-solid, high-quality replacement at the closer position. If you need saves, you have to go all in and spend 80 percent or more of your budget. This could be your best opportunity for "free" saves this year.

STREAMING PITCHERS

Looking ahead to Week 7, the Padres continue to be one of the weakest offenses while having the highest SOBB (strikeout percentage minus base on balls percentage) of 16.9. That makes Chase Anderson and Zach Davies of the Brewers, and Taijuan Walker and Robbie Ray of the Diamondbacks strong options, especially the Diamondbacks starters. The Rockies aren't far behind the Padres (16.3) and thankfully are on the road, giving Ervin Santana of the Twins and Tim Adleman of the Reds some streaming appeal. Yes, Santana's season likely has everyone starting him anyway, but regression is coming; you just don't have to worry about it next week. Lastly, the Rays strike out more than any other team currently, making Luis Perdomo and Trevor Cahill solid streaming plays.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by Jake Ciely of the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com