This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Most teams in the majors have played at least 30 games now. That is starting to feel like a decent sample size, though it still isn't 20 percent of the season. Still, you can begin to feel a bit more confident in current performances as long as there isn't anything that stands out as a huge outlier. There are 15 games Friday, and fortunately for you, they are all at night, giving more time to make your selections. Here are some recommendations…
STARTING PITCHER
J.A. Happ, TOR at TAM ($44): The Rays are middle-of-the-road in terms of runs scored, but they also have a .262 team batting average. That's third highest in the majors, and with all due respects to Tampa Bay, they do not have a roster that screams "offensive powerhouse." Last year they ranked 25th in runs scored, which may be more representative of the Rays' future. Happ has a 3.43 ERA over the last three seasons, and he's struck out 12.50 batters per nine innings this year.
Sal Romano, CIN vs. MIA ($27): Yes, this may seem like a gamble. Romano is 24 and throws hard, but he has a career 4.50 ERA. However, this is a great matchup. The Marlins, who had a fire sale this offseason, are the only team in the majors who hasn't notched 100 runs scored yet. They've only managed 98 runs in 30 games. They have a .225/.296/.327 slash line. At this price, anything positive you get from Romano will make him a nice value, and Miami offers him a real opportunity to excel.
CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at NYY ($16): There's always a risk of a catcher getting a day off to rest his battered body, but the Indians will likely want to make sure Gomes is in the lineup against C.C. Sabathia. Gomes has hit lefties better in his career, for both average and power. Sabathia may have a 1.71 ERA, but his 4.26 FIP tells a different story. It's the story of a 37-year-old who is very unlikely to suddenly have a career year.
FIRST BASE
Hanley Ramirez, BOS at TEX ($18): Speaking of aging starting pitchers who aren't likely to sustain their current numbers, 44-year-old Bartolo Colon has a 2.87 ERA but a 3.90 FIP, thanks in part to a .229 BABIP. He's also allowed 1.28 home runs per nine innings over the last three seasons, and none of campaigns came in Texas. Ramirez has certainly shown power in his career, as his .489 career slugging percentage shows.
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield, KAN vs. DET ($15): Merrifield broke out last year, mostly by adding power. He suddenly found himself hitting 19 home runs. This year his numbers are a little worse, but it's mostly because he's struggled against righties. Merrifield has actually been crushing lefties, lefties like Francisco Liriano. Liriano has a 4.53 FIP and a .216 BABIP that is destined to regress toward the mean.
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson, TOR at TAM ($19): Donaldson is off the DL, giving the Blue Jays their best bat back in their lineup. Over the last three seasons the 32-year-old has a stellar .285/.386/.557 slash line and has averaged 37 homers per year. The Rays are doing one of their "bullpen days," which means that they don't have a traditional starting pitcher going. Andrew Kittredge, who has a 6.23 ERA, will be the first pitcher to take the mound, and from there Tampa will turn to their less-than-imposing bullpen. None of this should deter you from going with Donaldson in your lineup.
SHORTSTOP
Jose Peraza, CIN vs. MIA ($16): Peraza's numbers have fluctuated the last couple of seasons thanks to his BABIP, but this year he has a .294 batting average and a .395 slugging percentage. Plus, he's stolen at least 21 bases the last two campaigns and already has five this year. Wei-Yin Chen has only pitched 5.3 innings this season, so his numbers aren't worth noting. What does matter is his career 3.89 ERA and 4.23 FIP.
OUTFIELD
Mitch Haniger, SEA vs. LAA ($23): Haniger had a .282/.352/.491 slash line and 16 homers in 96 games last season, and this year he's been even better so far. That includes hitting a whopping 10 homers in only 30 games. Garrett Richards has started six games this season, which is how many games he's started in each of his last two campaigns. That is to say, we don't know what kind of pitcher he can be while healthy, but he does have a 4.88 ERA so far.
George Springer, HOU at ARI ($19): Springer's .284 BABIP is well below his career average of .311, so his numbers should get better. He's been fine so far, but the 28-year-old's numbers aren't quite in line with his career slash line of /.265/.358/.477. With Robbie Ray injured, Kris Medlen is starting for the Diamondbacks on Friday. He hasn't pitched in the major since 2016, and that season he had a 7.77 ERA. Throw in the offense-friendly confines of Arizona's ballpark, and Springer could be in for a big day.
Max Kepler, MIN at CWS ($17): Kepler is off to a hot start, which makes sense given that he's 25 and still improving as a player. In previous seasons, though, his issue has been hitting lefties. That won't be a problem against Carson Fulmer, who is right handed. On top of that, Fulmer has a 4.95 ERA and 5.29 FIP.
