This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Here are my Fantasy Aces recommendations for the 15-game slate on Monday, September 7, which includes 11 early games:
P – Michael Pineda ($6500) – He is coming off a dominant start in his last outing where he overpowered a free-swinging Red Sox lineup, as he fanned seven, walked none and allowed only one run on four hits over six innings of work. On Monday he gets a similar Orioles lineup, albeit one with more power. Pineda should be up for that challenge and is ably supported by a prolific offense.
P – Mike Leake ($6250) – Leake has been solid in his last three starts against some of the best offenses in the senior circuit, allowing a total of seven earned runs over 19.1 IP. He has allowed only 12 hits, while striking out 13 and walking only two batters.
C – Yan Gomes ($4750) – Gomes is quickly rising among the ranks of receivers in the big leagues. He has struggled a bit offensively on the season, but is currently enjoying a bit of a spike in his productivity with a two-homer game and five hits over his last 19 at-bats.
2B/SS – Ryan Goins ($4550) – Goins has surprised of late with his patience at the plate, and led the AL in OBP during the month of August. He has 17 hits in his last 45 at-bats, including five extra-base hits, seven RBI and seven walks. Clearly he has a lot of confidence, knowing that he is finally a lock to appear in the potent Jays lineup every day.
2B/SS – Didi Gregorius ($4800) – Gregorius continues to shine somewhat unexpectedly this season, following two ordinary seasons in Arizona. He has ramped up his productivity during the last two weeks, driving in 14 of his 46 total RBI on the season. He has 22 hits in 52 at-bats during that span.
1B/3B – Ryan Zimmerman ($5250) – He is among the hottest batters in all of baseball, collecting 20 hits in his last 51 at-bats. Included in that sample is 12 extra-base and 25 RBI. Zimmerman has good protection with some hot hitters in the middle of the Nats lineup.
1B/3B – Aramis Ramirez ($4950) – As with Zimmerman, Ramirez is part of a potent lineup in Pittsburgh and is benefiting from that right now. He is enjoying a nice power surge with three homers, five extra-base hits and six RBI over his last 19 at-bats.
OF – Justin Upton ($5100) – This is a power bat that I want in the lineup on Monday. He has had a couple of big offensive days in his last five starts and I believe in riding the power guys when they are enjoying some overall success. Upton has hit four homers in his last two weeks of action.
OF – Ben Revere ($4800) – Now leading off, after starting in the nine hole when he first joined the Jays, Revere's game has really ignited. He has three multi-hit efforts in his last seven days and looks like his old self, a very good contact hitter whose speed puts pressure on opposing defenses.
OF – Adam Eaton ($4850) – Like Revere, Eaton is a very capable table-setter at the top of the White Sox lineup. He has been on fire over the last two weeks, producing 21 hits in his last 55 at-bats. He has four multi-hit efforts in his last seven starts, including three doubles, two homers and nine RBI.
Util – Jackie Bradley Jr. ($4500) – Bradley concludes my theme of going with a few speed guys, who are hitting well above their season rate over the last couple of weeks, in Monday's lineup. He has 17 hits in his last 44 at-bats, including seven extra-base hits and seven RBI. He also has what should be a favorable matchup against Jays lefty Mark Buehrle, who was pushed back a couple of days because he has looked fatigued recently.
Other favorable batting/pitching options, based on career splits against their Monday opponents include: C Travis d'Arnaud ($5000); 1B/3B Adam Lind ($5100); 2B/SS Brandon Phillips ($4850) and OF Jayson Werth ($5000)
