MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 9/4/13
We know that people play all sorts of fantasy platforms, not just from from our friends at StarStreet but on other platforms such as FanDuel, Draft Kings, and Fantasy Feud as well. So once again, we have four optimized rosters, all for you, the numberFire reader. One is for free here; the others can be found in our Premium section.
As always, the full tables for today's action are available at our Daily Fantasy Projections page. Make sure to check it out to see where the best values are for your team.
Our baseball projections are updated throughout the day, so make sure to come back to double-check your optimized rosters for any last-minute lineup changes. Since most action happens later in the day, we will be ignoring the early games (if there are any) and focusing solely on the late contests. That way, you can use and tinker with our optimized rosters throughout the day.
StarStreet Optimized Roster
| Player | Position | Projected FP | Cost | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Zimmermann | SP | 19.55 | $30,800 | 0.63 |
| Wily Peralta | SP | 12.52 | $19,300 | 0.65 |
| Miguel Cabrera | 3B | 14.57 | $9,300 | 1.57 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | SS | 16.6 | $6,700 | 2.48 |
| Robinson Cano | 2B | 14.53 | $6,400 | 2.27 |
| Michael Cuddyer | RF | 14.13 | $6,200 | 2.28 |
| Jean Segura | SS | 12.63 | $5,400 | 2.34 |
| Dexter Fowler | CF | 14.72 | $5,100 | 2.89 |
| James Loney | 1B | 11.47 | $4,400 | 2.61 |
| Chris Iannetta | C | 11.7 | $4,000 | 2.93 |
| Matt Tuiasosopo | LF | 11.64 | $2,400 | 4.85 |
Fantasy Feud, Draft Kings, and FanThrowdown Optimized Rosters
For the optimal rosters for the other main players, be sure to check out our brand new Daily Fantasy Optimized Rosters for our Premium members. We know that you're killing it with our picks; maybe now you'll help us continue to help you win each night, every night.
Access to the optimal rosters is immediate, and you'll have it constantly updated for the latest injury news and updates from around the league. The best news of all? For new subscribers, you can use the promo code WELCOME and get it 50% off what was already the reduced price. Think of the savings!
The Top Three Pitchers
Jordan Zimmermann – The somewhat forgotten member of the vaunted Nationals rotation, Zimermann has a lower ERA than Gio Gonzalez and more than twice as many wins as Stephen Strasburg. In fact, Zimermann’s 15 wins tie him for second in all of baseball. Of course, wins are woefully outdated as a measure of actual pitching ability, but they are still relevant for fantasy owners. Zimmerman has a good shot at picking up win number 16 tonight, since he’s facing the Phillies, who rank 27th in the majors in runs scored.
Francisco Liriano – In honor of Pittsburgh clinching their first non-losing season since 1992, it’s only right that we have a Pirate in our optimized lineup. Liriano has finally realized the potential he flashed in Minnesota, putting up a career year with a 2.57 ERA, 15 wins and a 9.14 K/9. That K/9 would rank 7th in the N.L., just ahead of Gio Gonzalez, if Liriano had enough innings to qualify. And Liriano faces the Brewers – 22nd in the majors in runs scored – tonight as Pittsburgh goes for his first winning season in 20 years.
Wily Peralta – The man trying to prevent the Pirates from making history is Peralta. He’s a bargain play – he costs nearly half as much as Zimmermann – but he’s got a potentially useful skill: He’s actually pretty good against righties. Peralta’s got just a 4.51 ERA this year, but for his career, he’s allowed just a .300 wOBA against righties and a .330 slugging percentage. Four of Pittsburgh’s six best hitters – McCutchen, Marte, Sanchez and Tabata – are right-handed.
Top High-Priced Hitters
Miguel Cabrera – There’s not much to say about Cabrera that hasn’t been said already. His 202 wRC+ is among the 15 best offensive seasons of all time. He’s second in the majors in WAR despite a ghastly defensive rating that drags him down. (Mike Trout is again leading the league.) And tonight he’s facing Ryan Dempter, who’s flashed a reverse platoon split this year and allowed righties to slug .518 off him.
Troy Tulowitzki – Tulo leads najor league shortstops in virtually every offensive category. He ranks 8th in the N.L. in WAR despite only having 424 plate appearances – not enough to even qualify for the batting title. Tonight he’s facing Edinson Volquez – he of the 5.97 ERA – at home, where he’s hitting .351/.425/.572 on the year.
Cost-Effective Mid-Range Hitters
Chris Iannetta – If you’re going to pinch pennies, you might as well do it at catcher, the game’s worst offensive position. Iannetta’s actually got a 101 wRC+, which means he’s a just slightly above average offensive player, which isn’t bad for a cheap catcher. He’s also hitting 30 points higher at home, where he’s playing tonight.
Matt Tuiasosopo – Tuiasosopo has put up an excellent 134 wRC+ in limited action with the Tigers this year. He really is a platoon player, though, and he truly excels against righties. He’s facing one in Ryan Dempster, which is good news. His line against right-handers this year: .366/.435/.610 – truly Cabrera-like.
