It may be early in the season but the action is definitely heating up with a couple of key divisional matchups that could prove to have long lasting playoff implications. We’ll use Fan Duel prices for our Thursday lineup.
P – Danny Duffy – Kansas City
Duffy opened at $8,000. The Royals host the Detroit Tigers with a starting time of 7:35 p.m. ET. The Royals and Tigers are the top two teams in the American League Central Division and their matchup is among the biggest of the early portion of the season. Duffy has not been dominant so far on the season but has a respectable 4.15 ERA. Duffy was strong in his last start with no earned runs allowed in 5.1 innings of work.
C – Mike Zunino – Seattle
Zunino opened at $3,800. The Mariners are at the Houston Astros with a starting time of 7:10 p.m. ET. Houston starter Scott Feldman has a 4.81 ERA and has surrendered five home runs in 24.1 innings of work. Zunino is off to a terrible start with a .125 average, .194 OBP, .250 SLG, and .444 OPS. All of those numbers are far below Zunino’s career averages. We’ll make a buy on Zunino’s upside and the potential to break out against Feldman.
1B – Matt Adams – St. Louis
Adams opened at $4,300. The Cardinals host the Philadelphia Phillies with a starting time of 12: 45 p.m. ET. Philadelphia starter David Buchanan has been shelled for a 7.52 ERA with a batting average of .293 surrendered and a 1.77 WHIP. Adams is a good value in a matchup with Buchanan and is hitting .267 with six runs and 10 RBI.
2B – Robinson Cano – Seattle
Cano opened at $5,400. Cano is far below his career numbers to start the season but has still been respectable with a .259 average, 13 runs, and six RBI. Cano has a career OPS of .885 and rates a good chance to break out against Feldman. Cano is one of the reasons that Seattle received so much preseason hype and will need to get back up to par if Seattle is to get into gear after what has been a sluggish and disappointing start.
3B – Kyle Seager – Seattle
Seager opened at $5,000. Again we bet the come with the Mariners against an Astros team that is playing above its class so far. Seager is off to a decent start at .270 with five runs, 11 RBI, five doubles and two home runs. Seager makes for a good value call against Feldman.
SS – Ian Desmond – Washington
Desmond opened at $4,100. The Nationals are at the New York Mets with a starting time of 6:10 p.m. ET. Washington was one of the most hyped teams in the preseason and has flopped on their collective faces so far with a mark of 7-13. Offense remains the consistent problem for the Nats as they rank 20th in MLB for run production and 25th for batting average. Desmond has been a big reason for the Nats early woes as he is far below his career numbers. Desmond is hitting a light .238 with a SLG of .357 and OPS of .654. We expect more out of Desmond and will make a value buy with him in a key series against the Mets.
OF – Lorenzo Cain – Kansas City
Cain opened at $4,900. A big reason for the Royals great start is Cain, who is on a tear with a .342 average, .507 SLG, and .930 OPS. Cain has 14 runs and 12 RBI with five stolen bases, six doubles and two home runs to emerge as one of the top center fielders in the game. In just his fifth year in MLB Cain brings plenty of potential upside for the future on a Royals team that remains underrated.
Sleeper – Alex Gordon – Kansas City
Gordon opened at $4,500. Gordon has caught fire with a .409 average in the past week to climb to .293 for the year with a .500 SLG and a .923 OPS. Gordon has seven runs, 11 RBI with three home runs. Gordon remains a solid and underrated bargain that is in good form heading into a huge series with Detroit.
