This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Be sure to checkout tonight's FAWBC Qualifier, as the winner gets an entry to the $250K Fantasy Aces World Baseball Championship live in Anaheim, California at Angel Stadium on August 15. Only 20 will win a trip to the final and the winner takes home $100K.
OPS is a great indicator of point potential under the scoring system with walks being worth just as much as singles and the progression of points per extra base is one per. Strikeouts are pretty heavily penalized, so be diligent with those prone to strikeouts or those against a high strikeout pitcher. While on the pitching side, strikeouts aren't quite as overpowering as on other DFS sites and pitchers that can keep their pitch count low and go deeper into games can be better rewarded. Fantasy Aces offers a great selection of contests for Friday night's huge slate of 14 games.
Pitchers:
Clayton Kershaw ($8,000): The reigning Cy Young Award winner is simply the best pitcher in the league and has the DIPS (defense independent pitching statistics) to prove it. He sports a good, but relatively mediocre 3.36 ERA, but the DIPS counterpart FIP reads off at 2.64, which is among the best in the league. Kershaw has been held down by a .320 BABIP this year, nearly .500 points above his three-year average that lies at .271. The department Kershaw has excelled in is his K/9 (11.32), as it actually surpasses his K rate from last year during his Cy Young campaign. Possibly best of all, Kershaw has been trending better and better in each start with an eight-inning, one-hit, 11-strikeout gem last time out against none other than the team with the best record in the league, the St. Louis Cardinals. Kershaw now gets the Padres, who have the fourth-highest K rate and fifth-worst OPS in the majors, and they do so in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park.
Other studs to consider (in order of preference):Michael Pineda ($6,750), David Price ($7,650), Danny Salazar ($6,750), Madison Bumgarner ($7,650), Felix Hernandez ($7,950)
Hector Santiago ($5,750): If you are looking to play the SalaryPro Format or just trying to roster some big bats with Kershaw's price tag, you'll need value in at least one of your pitcher spots. Santiago being a lefty against a lefty-heavy Oakland lineup with the fourth-worst OPS in the league against southpaws gives initial intrigue. Throw in Santiago's 8+ K/9 and the upside starts to become apparent. Santiago isn't without flaws, which is why you are getting him for under $6,000, but with a favorable matchup against a lefty-heavy lineup accompanied by that solid K rate, Santiago provides considerable upside at his price.
Other values to consider (in order of preference):Jesse Chavez ($5,650), Wandy Rodriguez ($5,350)
Catchers:
Salvador Perez ($4,600): Perez is as hot as they come in the catcher department with three home runs in his last five games. He doesn't strikeout and has a matchup against a left-handed pitcher who has allowed an .804 OPS this season. At the catcher position, Perez provides upside without the downside of negative strikeout points, and he usually bats slightly higher in the order against lefties too.
A.J. Ellis ($3,150): Ellis is a sneaky near-minimum value play as Kershaw's designated catcher. Ellis hasn't had a great season at the plate, but with a .174 BABIP it should be expected that he'll turn it around to some extent. He doesn't strikeout much and opposing pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne doesn't strike many batters out anyway, so there is little downside in taking Ellis.
1B/3B:
Maikel Franco ($4,250): At just 22 years old, it's a wonder why Franco isn't getting more attention. He has a .444 batting average and 1.279 OPS over the last seven days while also maintaining a low K rate, an important stat for young players. Lefty Jeff Locke and his 5.37 ERA will be on the mound, meaning Franco will be hitting cleanup ahead of Ryan Howard in a favorable matchup.
Evan Longoria ($5,000): The Rays are cheap and among the very best in the league against lefties, with their right-handed heavy lineup. Longoria, back from a wrist injury, sports a .327 batting average and .903 OPS against lefties this season.
Jose Abreu ($5,400): Abreu is finally finding the spark we saw last season with home runs on back-to-back nights and ample opportunity to make it another big night with Triple-A pitcher Matt Andriese on the mound.
Other 1B/3B:Kyle Blanks ($4,250), Justin Smoak ($4,100), Edwin Encarnacion ($5,200)
2B/SS:
Jake Elmore ($3,250): Elmore led off the last time the Rays faced a lefty and if he does so again with John Danks on the mound, he provides tremendous value. Elmore has a .321 batting average and .795 OPS against lefties this season, and the 2B/SS eligibility is a nice bonus if he does indeed get the start.
Other 2B/SS to consider:Jose Reyes ($5,150), Dee Gordon ($5,400), Matt Duffy ($4,250), Stephen Drew ($4,000)
Outfield:
Nelson Cruz ($5,750): Cruz has missed the last two games with back spasms but he's reportedly feeling better (nevertheless, make sure to check the lineups before finalizing your rosters). In other news, he's the American League home-run leader and has a 1.641 OPS against lefties. Brett Oberholtzer hasn't shown he's anything but a mediocre southpaw and Cruz devours mediocre lefties. Add in the fact that the game is at hitter and home-run-friendly Minute Maid Park and the equation is simple: if Cruz is healthy, he borders on must-play status.
Brandon Guyer ($4,250): If Elmore leads off, Guyer figures to slot in second. If Elmore doesn't lead off then Guyer becomes the most logical candidate to takeover the top spot. Guyer provides good splits against lefties with some base-stealing upside too.
Gregory Polanco ($4,850): With 16 stolen bases and the lead-off spot against Kevin Correia, who is on the mound only after being released by the Giants, Polanco provides some nice upside in one of the higher over/under games of the night.
Other outfielders to consider:Joey Butler ($4,000), Steven Souza Jr. ($4,750), J.B. Shuck ($3,250), Andrew McCutchen ($5,300), Delino DeShields Jr. ($4,300), Jose Bautista ($5,500), Avisail Garcia ($4,350), Corey Dickerson ($5,250)
