Daily Dime: Starting Chris Archer and searching for hitting bargains
Here are 10 DFS recommendations for Saturday but be sure to double-check the weather and lineups before first pitch approaches.
Chris Archer, SP, vs. CHW (Samardzija), $10500 at FanDuel: He has a 38:0 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, when he’s allowed just 14 hits over 23.0 innings. Archer’s 27.2 K-BB% leads all starters in baseball, so he’s the real deal and worth paying up for (we’ll get to some bargain hitters next, and Archer isn’t even one of the two costliest pitchers). He also faces a White Sox team that’s scored the third-fewest runs in MLB despite playing in the AL and benefiting from a home park that’s increased run scoring more than any other than Coors Field over the past three seasons. Saturday’s game will be played in Tropicana Field, which is a pretty big pitcher’s park.
Matt Wieters, C, vs. NYY (Sabathia), $3200: He’s hit well (.917 OPS) since returning from his knee injury and should be in the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday. Wieters has been batting cleanup, and the switch-hitter has performed better against LHP during his career. CC Sabathia has allowed a .344 BAA and 11 homers over 54.1 innings versus RHB this season.
Chris Coghlan, OF, vs. Cin (Leake), $2700: He has multiple hits in three of his past four starts and has eight homers and four steals over 162 ABs when facing right-handed pitchers. Moreover, Coghlan is 9-for-11 with two homers in his career against Mike Leake.
David Ortiz, 1B, vs. Tor (Dickey), $2500: Despite all his struggles, Ortiz has posted an .894 OPS with seven homers over 134 ABs vs. RHP this season, and he’s playing in a park that’s increased BA more than any other than Coors Field over the past three seasons. Ortiz is dirt cheap and facing a pitcher in which he owns a career .348/.423/.696 line over 28 at bats.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, vs. Tor (Dickey), $2300: Like Ortiz, Sandoval has been a disappointment overall, but he’s batting .299 with six homers over 137 ABs against RHP this season. Sandoval is nearly as cheap as it gets in a thin position and faces a pitcher who’s given up 13 homers over 75.2 innings this year.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, at Stl (Lyons), $2500: He’s hitting .338 against southpaws, including a .411 OBP. Cain is on pace to finish with 103 runs scored and 25 stolen bases, so the price is right here.
Carlos Beltran, OF, at Bal (Norris), $2400: He owns a career .387/.424/.677 line over 31 at bats against Bud Norris and will be inexpensive while batting in the middle of a great hitter’s park.
Andre Ethier, OF, at SD (Kennedy), $2900: Petco Park has played like a hitter’s paradise this season for some reason, and Ethier owns a career .359/.419/.667 line over 39 at bats versus Ian Kennedy.
Marcus Semien, SS, at LAA (Wilson), $2200: He’s been in a slump but this is a player as cheap as it gets with the seventh highest OPS among all shortstops in baseball.
George Springer, OF, vs. Sea (Montgomery), $3600: This is a cheap price considering Springer has a .902 OPS vs. LHP and is on pace to finish with 21 homers and 34 steals despite a 26.7 K%.
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