Sure, the NBA returns tonight, but before those games start, why not throw a baseball lineup together and try to win some money?
DraftKings has contests going on each night where you can win real cash prizes. And with a nice slate tonight in baseball, it's the perfect chance to join and play.
Not sure who to select? Don't worry, we've got you covered with tonight's optimal lineup.
Be sure to check out our optimal lineups prior to games starting to ensure each player is in his team's lineup.
| Player | Position | Projected FP | Cost | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Harvey | SP | 1000 | 11000.00 | 1.82 |
| Gio Gonzalez | SP | 18.59 | 9500.00 | 1.96 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | 10.92 | 5000.00 | 2.18 |
| Matt Kemp | OF | 10.56 | 4700.00 | 2.25 |
| Yasmani Grandal | C | 9.86 | 4100.00 | 2.4 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | OF | 8.61 | 3700.00 | 2.33 |
| Luis Valbuena | 2B/3B | 9.8 | 3600.00 | 2.72 |
| Cory Spangenberg | 2B/3B | 8.42 | 2900.00 | 2.9 |
| Sam Fuld | OF | 8.05 | 2800.00 | 2.88 |
| Marwin Gonzalez | 3B/SS | 7.51 | 2700.00 | 2.78 |
For the second Friday in a row, Matt Harvey is our number one overall projected pitcher on the slate. Harvey has been straight dealing so far this season. In five starts this season, the Mets' ace is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA and a 2.83 FIP. He has also accumulated an impressive 9.05 strikeouts per nine innings with a 25.8% strikeout percentage.
Although it is tough to fade David Price whenever he takes the mound, Harvey's matchup with the Phillies is simply too good to pass up. Philadelphia has posted just a .227 batting average -- which ranks fourth worst in the league -- and ranks dead last in all of baseball with a .272 wOBA this season. Considering Harvey has gone at least six innings in each of his first five starts of the season and has struck out at least seven batters in four of his first five starts, look for the Mets' young stud pitcher to throw another impressive outing tonight against the offensively-challenged Phillies.
While we do have the aforementioned Price as our second highest projected pitcher on the board tonight, our algorithms prefer the value Gio Gonzalez -- our third highest projected pitcher on the night. Not only does Gonzalez cost less but also he has a far superior matchup against the Braves than Price does against the Royals. Kansas City is one of the best hitting teams in the Majors, ranking number one in the league with a .290 batting average and second in all of baseball with a .340 wOBA. They also have the lowest strikeout rate in the league.
Meanwhile the Braves rank in the middle of the pack in most hitting categories. They rank 12th in both batting averaging (.257) and wOBA (.318). Gonzalez has had a strong start to the season. He has posted a 2.93 FIP while striking out 9.20 batters per nine innings with a very respectable 23.3% strikeout percentage. The Nationals' starter makes an excellent play at $9,500 tonight.
When it comes to hitters, targeting players with games at Coors Field is always a smart move, and our algorithm has picked two such players tonight. Adrian Gonzalez has been absolutely mashing this season, especially against right-handed pitching. Gonzo is hitting .375 with a massive .505 wOBA and 1.205 OPS against righties this year and draws an excellent matchup against Rockies' starter Eddie Butler who has allowed an enormous .419 wOBA to left-handed hitters this season.
With all of that in mind, our algorithm also recommends you start Dodgers' catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is coming off of a four-for-four performance with two homers and eight RBI last night. The switch-hitting Grandal has posted a monstrous .429 wOBA and .270 ISO against right-handed pitching this season and all four of his dingers have come from the left side of the plate this season. The Dodgers' catcher should be in store for another big game tonight.
Considering both the Dodgers and Rockies are very pricey tonight, it's tough to fit too many players from the game into your lineup while including the top pitching options. Another matchup that you might look to exploit is Astros' lefties against Jered Weaver. Weaver has been rocked by left-handed bats all season long, allowing a ridiculous .445 wOBA to lefties so far this season. Contrarily, Luis Valbuena has crushed right-handed pitching this year, posting a .355 wOBA and .292 ISO against righties so far this season. Valbuena makes a very strong play at just $3,600 tonight against the struggling Weaver.