Daily Dime: Talking Cano, Kershaw, Miller, Franco and Jones
Here are 10 DFS recommendations for Thursday but be sure to double-check the weather and lineups before first pitch approaches.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, at SF (Bumgarner), $11200 at FanDuel: He’s the most expensive player Thursday and faces a tough opposing pitcher in Madison Bumgarner. But Kershaw is still as good as it gets (2.52 GB/FB ratio, 24.5 K-BB%, 13.8 SwStr%), and this game’s O/U is six, with the vig -120 on the under.
Brad Miller, SS, at Bal (Tillman), $2900: He has five homers over 90 ABs against RHP, including three steals and a .289/.356/.567 line. Chris Tillman has yielded a .333 BAA to LHB, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards has increased home runs an American League-high 33 percent for left-handed batters over the past three seasons, so Miller seems like a no-brainer considering his price at such a shallow position.
Maikel Franco, 3B, at Col (De La Rosa), $2700: He’s a solid prospect hitting in the middle of Philadelphia’s lineup facing a southpaw who’s allowed a .360 BAA at home. Franco sure looks like a bargain at this price, especially given the LHP and Coors Field.
Ryan Raburn, OF, at CWS (Danks), $2200: He has a 1.019 OPS versus lefties this year, bats mostly in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup when facing them and owns a 1.192 OPS over 47 career at-bats against John Danks. No player is cheaper than Raburn on FD during Thursday’s slate.
Adam Jones, OF, vs. Sea (Happ), $3400: He’s batting .444/.476/.889 against lefties with a 1.059 OPS in a home park that’s consistently been favorable for hitters. There are somehow 19 more expensive outfielders priced at FD on Thursday despite this.
Robinson Cano, 2B, at Bal (Tillman), $3000: After averaging 28.4 home runs over a five-year span from 2009-2013, Cano hit just 14 last year and has only one over 159 at-bats this season. But he owns a .429/.467/.679 career line against Chris Tillman, is the 12th most expensive second baseman in a shallow position despite such a great track record and as mentioned above, is hitting in a terrific environment for LHB in Baltimore.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, vs. Phi (Williams), $3300: He has a long history of success, is facing a righty and is at home in Coors Field, where Gonzalez’s price doesn’t reflect this. Jerome Williams has allowed a .333 BAA versus LHB this season.
Carlos Ruiz, C, at Col (De La Rosa), $3000: He’s batting .438 against left-handers this season and owns a career 1.370 OPS versus Jorge De La Rosa. Both are small samples, but he’s hitting in Coors Field on Thursday.
Hanley Ramirez, OF, vs. Tex (Rodriguez), $3600: He has a .343/.439/.743 line against southpaws this season and owns a 1.292 career OPS when facing Wandy Rodriguez. Fenway Park is a great place to hit, and Ramirez isn’t priced as a top-10 outfielder.
Xander Bogaerts, SS, vs. Tex (Rodriguez), $2200: This is a former highly regarded prospect who’s batting in a strong lineup (albeit low) against a left-handed pitcher in a terrific hitter’s park. So Bogaerts is a potential bargain as the lowest priced batter available, let alone one at the SS position.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.
