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 Aug. 15. Only 20 will win a trip to the final, and the winner will take 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.
Pitcher:
Clayton Kershaw ($8,250): "When in doubt, take Kershaw." I think that's a saying, though this time around it doesn't come without question marks. Will there be a pitch limit with his recent hip injury? Is he 100 percent healthy? Can he do what he's been doing against the Mets, Nationals and Phillies against the cross-town Angels? Independently, Kershaw has the best numbers of any pitching option Friday night. The only pitcher that even rivals his numbers is Madison Bumgarner, and he's matched up with the Texas Rangers in an 8.5 over/under game.
Other Stud Pitchers to consider:Madison Bumgarner ($7,900), Michael Wacha ($7,250)
Taylor Jungmann ($5,500): With a 3.35 FIP and the most strikeout prevalent team in the league opposing him, Jungmann is a value play that can be considered for cash game consideration. Jungmann's fatal flaw is his walks. He's given up multiple walks in each of his last six starts and an ugly seven over his last two outings. If he can keep his walks manageable (the Cubs strike out a lot, but they also are second in the league in free passes), he can continue the wonderful bout of form he's been having.
Other Value Pitchers to consider:Hector Santiago ($6,150)
Catcher:
Curt Casali ($3,750): Casali has five home runs in his past six games. He never showcased this sort of power binge in the minors, so it's likely unsustainable, but as a fan of "strike while the iron is hot," Casali screams big-upside, cheap-catcher play. A high over/under and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound just bolsters Casali and the righty-heavy Tampa Bay lineup.
1B/3B:
Chris Davis ($4,850):Buck Farmer is pitching. Who? Well, that's not very important. Davis has been on a home-run tear and should be able to exploit Famer and his 9.22 ERA in 13.7 innings this season. Lefties are hitting an incredible .438 against Farmer, and though the same size is small, that's a big number.
Pedro Alvarez ($4,600): A cheap home-run hitter, Alvarez just needs to get some air under one and Great American Ball Park will do the rest.
2B/SS:
Neil Walker ($4,900): The Great American Ball Park should be at it again with a plethora of home runs. Walker holds down the middle of the infield at an affordable price with considerable upside.
Matt Duffy ($4,850): Duffy's eligibility in the middle of the infield again makes him a very good play. Throw in the mediocre Nick Martinez and the high over/under, and Duffy can be trusted to hold down the middle of your infield (even as he plays third base).
Outfield:
Franklin Gutierrez ($3,800): I'll start by saying the trio of right-handed Mariners outfielders likely to bat 3-4-5 (Nelson Cruz and Mark Trumbo being the others) are all great options. I targeted Gutierrez for his deeply discounted price. The 32-year-old has been very good since being called up from the minors, posting an .826 OPS and .236 ISO and standing as a sort of lefty specialist as part of a platoon in the outfield.
Yoenis Cespedes ($4,950): Cespedes has been good all season, as evidenced by his .829 OPS. The Baltimore hit factory, a.k.a. Camden Yards, is expected to be at it again with an 8.5 over/under. Cespedes' four home runs in his last seven games represent a nice power upswing as we reach the trade deadline. Speaking of the trade deadline, make sure Cespedes isn't traded before slotting him into your lineups.
Andrew McCutchen ($5,200): High-flying home-run action at Great American Ball Park is the reality we live in. What are fly balls at most parks find the bleachers in Cincinnati. The wind appears to be blowing out, and the Pittsburgh bats are likely to find the bleachers a time or five. I name McCutchen, as he's the best all-around hitter and posses the ability to swipe a base, but most of the Pittsburgh lineup is live.
