2013 Fantasy BaseballChris GarosiFantasy Baseball

2013 Fantasy Baseball Daily Fix: July 1st 2013

Today, we are going to participate in the MLB $1K Moon Shot [$1,000 Guaranteed] for just a $2 entry you can pick up $200 for a first place finish. The top 100 score some green in this contest. Don’t forget to claim your deposit bonus!

Rotoinfo.com provides excellent updates as lineups roll in. I’ve got some fun choices below – read along and enjoy.

DraftKings.com Team of the Day:

It’s a pretty small slate today and there are a lot of landmines among the pitchers. But, that’s the great thing about daily fantasy. Each day is a new and different game.

Jordan Zimmermann | P | Nationals | $9,500 – Zimm is the best Zimm on the team. He’s probably the best pitcher on the team as well. He has a matchup against a struggling Brewers offense. The only blemish is that the Brewers don’t strike out a lot against right handers so the big K day may not be in the cards.

Jose Fernandez | P | Marlins | $7,100 – Had to go somewhat cheap for the second start, but Fernandez has a juicy matchup against a Padres team with a team 21.2% K rate (8th in the majors).

I’d also consider Matt Moore against the strikeout-happy Astros and even Dallas Keuchel who has pitched well over his last three starts. I’d avoid Andy Pettitte who has been awful over his past three starts and Mike Kickham (who doesn’t seem ready for prime time) and Scott Diamond…and well, almost every other starter out there today.

Joe Mauer | C | Twins | $4,600 – Mauer has crushed lefties this year and Andy Pettitte has not be good over his last three starts. Both of these are at odds with their career profiles, but Mauer looks like the only solid choice today. I could understand if you wanted to go cheap here (perhaps Ryan Hanigan if he is back from his slight injury?) and spend some money on a better outfielder.

Adam LaRoche | 1B | Nationals | $4,100– I couldn’t find someone I really liked at first base today so I went with the sometimes reliable LaRoche. He’s not in one of his patented hot streaks, but he does get to face a middling right hander. I may reconsider this choice later in the day if I find anyone else worthy of a spot.

Aaron Hill | 2B | Diamondbacks | $4,300 – Hill is now five games into his post-DL stint and things are going well so far as he’s got a .957 OPS through those five games. He’s got 1.005 OPS against righties this season and gets Shaun Marcum who isn’t very good.

Trevor Plouffe | 3B | Twins | $3,700 – I picked Plouffe yesterday and he delivered so let’s go with him again. He’s got a lefty on the hill and he’s got a 1.021 OPS against them this season.

Brian Dozier | SS | Twins | $3,800 – Dozier has a .900 OPS against left-handers this season. Yea, I didn’t know that either.

Desmond Jennings | OF | Rays | $5,300 – Jennings is Babe Ruth against left-handers (with a .983 OPS this season) and a Baby Ruth candy bar against righties. Luckily he faces a lefty in Dallas Kuechel.

Logan Morrison | OF | Marlins | $3,900 – In his 54 plate appearances since returning from the DL, Morrison has slashed 320/370/520. And all of his damage has been done against righties with a 1.105 OPS.

Brandon Barnes | OF | Astros | $2,700 – Barnes hits leadoff which is nice. Barnes plays for the Astros which is not so nice. The Astros are facing a lefty which is nice for Barnes. He’s got a .991 OPS (in 69 plate appearances) against lefties this year good for 14th in the majors thus far.

If you are looking to stack today I think about the Twins against a struggling Andy Pettitte or maybe the Reds against Mike Kickham and the Giants.

I’ve left $1000 on the table for some wiggle room. Good luck today!

The First Pitch:

A few quick notes from Sunday’s games:

Kevin Gregg got back on the closer wagon and picked up a save. He’s a great candidate to be dealt before the trade deadline and Blake Parker might just be the one to get the chance if he’s gone.

Francisco Rodriguez is the closer for now according to Ron Roenicke. I can’t see him holding the gig and even if he does, he’s another great option for trading at the deadline. Jim Henderson will be back and should be valuable down the stretch.

Justin Masterson threw a six-hit shutout against the White Sox – his third of the season. Adam Wainwright and Bartolo Colon have two. No other pitcher has more than one. If you had that trio at the beginning of the season as the league’s shut out leaders, congratulations.

Jeff Francoeur was designated for assignment and now the Royals will go with Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson and David Lough as the three-headed monster between center and right fields. All have deep league intrigue. In a related move, Johnny Giavotella has been recalled to take over at second base full time. Another deep league pickup.

Dexter Fowler has played as much MLB baseball as I have over the last week. The decision on a DL move is coming on Tuesday if he doesn’t feel any improvement in his wrist.

Bryce Harper is due back from the DL today. Get him out there for your team.

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