Happy Tuesday, everyone. What could be happy about a Tuesday? Simple. DraftTeam holds a $2,000 MLB Tuesday Triple Play contest every week, so if that doesn’t alter your perception of this day of the week, we don’t know what would. What’s that? Free beer? Well, yes, we suppose that would work, too.
Let’s get you set for play on Tuesday, July 21.
Just over a month ago, we advised picking up Yankee 3B Alex Rodriguez ($10,583) as he needed just one more hit to join the 3,000-hit club. Sure enough, he homered that night to hit the mark. On Tuesday, however, we’re going to avoid A-Rod. He came out of the break bashing (see video below), but is now just 1-for-8 with five Ks in the last two games. More importantly, Rodriguez has always struggled against Baltimore SP Wei-Yin Chen (2-for-13 with five strikeouts). Yes, ARoid is enjoying a tremendous comeback season, but if you’re looking for a 3B for Tuesday, spend a bit more and get Kyle Seager ($11,363). You can thank us tomorrow.
At the beginning of the season, we talked about how Washington SS Ian Desmond ($4,745) was the only big leaguer with three straight 20-20 seasons and wondered what he had planned for 2015, the final season of his contract. Well, this was obviously not what he had in mind. We’re past the 90-game mark now and Desmond has yet to reach double digits in homers or steals while his batting average has plummeted to career worst levels as he’s struggled to hit his way out of a wet paper bag.
Yet, we are going to recommend him as a sneaky cheap option. Yes, Desmond has to face the nasty Jacob DeGrom, but we like the life his bat showed Monday as he smoked a two-run dinger and singled to snap a 3-for-44 skid. Desmond is someone that’s feasted on Mets pitching at Nationals Park (.339 in the last 16 games there), so take that into consideration as well.
DFS Notes
- Tonight marks the MLB debut of SP Aaron Nola ($14,693), one of the top prospects for the Phillies. The seventh overall pick from last year has soared through the minors very quickly, and we like his matchup tonight (vs. TB).
- Seattle SP Taijuan Walker ($19,142) was on a major roll as July began, but in his last two starts the bubble has burst (11 IP, 13 hits, 12 runs, 11 ER, 3 HR). His ERA has risen a half a run based on this pair of duds.
- Los Angeles Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw (next scheduled to pitch Thursday), was looking somewhat human in late-June, but is really rounding into form since with just two earned runs allowed over his last 31 innings.