Our Saturday Super Seven is a diversified lineup from several different games that features may underperforming players that are due to break out. We are using Fan Duel prices.
P – Jonathon Niese – New York Mets
Mets fans have been waiting impatiently for years for the fantastic type of start that they are off to now at 15-8. Players such as Niese are a big reason for the Mets success and why most observers believe that they are in the pennant race for the long haul. The Mets can further add to their credibility this weekend as they host the defending National League East Division champion Washington Nationals, who were the chalk to repeat as champs. The Mets host the Nats at 6:10 p.m. ET. The price for Niese is $8,500. He has an impressive 2.74 ERA in four starts.
C – Salvador Perez – Kansas City
The Royals have emerged as the most hated team in baseball after their shocking World Series run of last year. The days of the Royals franchise being a punching bag are all over. Kansas City is 15-7 and leads the American League Central and Perez is among the catalysts to their success. Perez has emerged as one of the most coveted catchers in fantasy with a .326 average, five doubles, three home runs, 11 runs and 14 RBI. The Kansas City star catcher is at $3,600. The Royals host the Detroit Tigers at 6:10 p.m. ET.
1B – Prince Fielder – Texas
Fielder is off to the type of start that reminds fans of his past when he was one of the most feared hitters in the game. The lumbering Texas first baseman and designated hitter opened at $4,400. Last year was a disaster for Fielder as he was lost for most of his first season with the Rangers due to injury. He has roared back to life at the start of 2015 with a .333 average with seven runs, 10 RBI, five doubles but just one home run. Expect more dingers from Fielder coming soon. The Rangers host the Oakland A’s at 7:05 p.m. ET.
2B – Emilio Bonifacio – Chicago White Sox
Chicago and Bonifacio have stumbled out of the gate badly but could get a shot at improvement against the equally bad Minnesota Twins with a staring time of 1:10 p.m. ET. Bonifacio opened at $4,000. Bonifacio was 80 points below his career batting average at just .143 which means he has nothing but upside. Minnesota starter Ricky Nolasco was rocked for six earned runs in three innings for his first start and we’ll make the buy on Bonifacio to break out.
3B – Manny Machado – Baltimore
The inconsistent Orioles have stumbled out of the gate at 10-10 and will host a surprising 12-10 Tampa Bay Rays team at 6:05 p.m. ET. Machado is far below his career average at just .254 but does have 12 runs, 12 RBI and four home runs. The price for Machado is $4,800. We expect Machado and Baltimore to perk up soon.
SS – Jimmy Rollins – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are looking like the team to beat in the National League West so far with a mark of 13-8 and will host a rebuilding Arizona Diamondbacks team at 8:10 p.m. ET. Rollins is hitting just .185 which is 80 points below his career average. Arizona starter Jeremy Hellickson has a poor 5.24 ERA in four starts. The price for the Dodgers shortstop opened at $3,600.
OF – Ryan Braun – Milwaukee
The Brewers are a disaster at 5-17 but in baseball even the worst of teams finish near the .400 mark for win percentage. Milwaukee is at the Chicago Cubs with a starting time of 1:20 p.m. ET. The former All-Star Braun is at $4,700. Braun is 200 points beneath his career OPS at a current .716. The law of averages is in Braun’s favor.
Sleeper – Josh Reddick – Oakland
So far the critics are looking like they are correct in that Oakland is a disaster of a team at 9-14 after the roster was blown up by Billy Beane this past winter. But a weekend series at Texas gives the A’s a chance to gain success. Reddick has been the A’s top hitter at .368 with an OPS of .990. You can have Reddick at $4,000.
