Daily Dime: Going with Nelson Cruz, Drew Hutchison and a big Coors Field Stack
Here are 10 DFS recommendations for Wednesday’s slate on Yahoo but be sure to double-check the weather and lineups before first pitch approaches.
Nelson Cruz, OF, at Col (Rusin), $21: His 31 homers are the second-most in MLB, and he also owns a 1.095 OPS on the road and a 1.207 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. Cruz isn’t only facing a southpaw away from home, but he’s doing so in Coors Field in a game with an Over/Under of 11 that you’ll rarely if ever see higher. He seems like the most obvious hitter to use Wednesday, especially given his price. Cruz has also homered in five straight games.
Drew Hutchison, SP, vs. Min (Duffey), $38: He has an elite offense backing him and owns a 2.47 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP at home this season, including a 54:14 K:BB ratio over 62.0 innings. It’s unclear how much we can bank on his extreme home/road splits (he has a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP on the road, and his BAA is .230 vs. .372), but Hutchison has what appears to be an unlucky .352 BABIP to go along with an impressive career 10.0 SwStr%. The Blue Jays are the most favored team Wednesday (-200), yet he’s the No. 15 most expensive SP.
Brett Anderson, SP, at Phi (Harang), $36: He owns a 2.94 ERA on the road this season and is facing a Phillies team that’s produced the fifth-lowest OPS (.679) in major league baseball. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have the fifth-highest OPS (.753) (with only teams that use the DH and/or play in Coors Field ahead of them), and Los Angeles is the second-biggest favorite Wednesday.
Brian McCann, C, vs. Bos (Wright), $16: He has a 1.004 OPS at home this season to go along with 13 homers over 228 at bats versus right-handed pitchers.
Jesus Montero, 1B, at Col (Rusin), $7: The former top prospect has played better of late and is facing a lefty in Coors Field. He’s the cheapest here.
Robinson Cano, 2B, at Col (Rusin), $16: I’m not sure I’ve ever recommended a LHB facing a southpaw, but over the last 15 games, Cano has been the No. 8 fantasy hitter, and he’s batting cleanup in Coors Field while marginally priced at a thin position.
Nolan Arenado, 3B, vs. Sea (Walker), $17: I’m not a big fan of reverse splits, but it’s worth mentioning 24 of Arenado’s 26 homers this year have come against right-handed pitchers. He has the second most home runs and the most RBI among all third basemen this season.
Marcus Semien, SS, vs. Bal (Chen), $12: He’s struggled after a hot start, but Semien still has a .755 OPS against lefties on the year, which is more than acceptable for a shortstop.
Austin Jackson, OF, at Col (Rusin), $16: He typically hits leadoff and is facing a lefty in Coors Field. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m all in for stacking players in Colorado for Wednesday’s slate.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, vs. Sea (Walker), $21: After an extremely slow start, he suddenly has 20 homers and a .990 OPS over 265 at bats when facing RHP this season. Over the last month, CarGo has been the No. 1 fantasy hitter, when he’s posted a .386-20-10-23 line.
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