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 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 night games.
Pitchers:
Chris Sale ($8,000): Double-digit strikeouts after double-digit strikeouts after double-digit strikeouts. Sale makes the opposing team swing and miss, and he does it a lot. His K/9 for the season is 11.71, which is spectacular in itself, but over the last month it's 14.72. This is by far the best strikeout rate in the majors during that span. The Texas Rangers provide Sale with tremendous upside being one of the most strikeout prone teams in the league averaging 10.33 K/9 over their last three games, while also being in a slump, sporting a .610 OPS in that same time period. The biggest chink in Sale's armor has nothing to do with Sale himself, it is the rest of his team and their abysmal offense that ranks second-to-last in season long OPS, including an unseemly .374 OPS over their last three games. I expect the southpaw to be able to dominate the lefty-heavy, strikeout prone Rangers bats; just hope he gets a bonus in the wins department from his offense producing runs somehow.
Other studs to consider (in order of preference):Carlos Carrasco ($7,300), Jacob deGrom ($7,200)
Joe Ross ($5,000): The 22 year old Ross went eight innings with eight strikeouts in his second major league start last time out against Milwaukee. The brother to Padres starter Tyson Ross, he currently carries a K/9 over eight, which is consistent with what he showcased in the minor leagues. His FIP through two major league starts stands at1.58. Now, there's no way he'll be able to maintain these types of numbers; no MLB starter maintains a 1.58 FIP. What Ross has showcased through two major league starts is his upside, which makes his $5,000 price very enticing. The Pirates' offense has been disappointing this year, ranking in the bottom half of the league in both OPS and strikeouts, so there's no reason to think they'll suddenly turn that form around here.
Other values to consider (in order of preference):Lance McCullers ($5,300), Michael Bolsinger ($5,500)
Catcher:
Salvador Perez ($4,700): He's an All-Star! Wait, all the Royals are All-Stars…Omar Infante? Yep. Anyway, Perez. He doesn't strikeout a lot, moves up in the order against the lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (whom I absolutely do not like), and is having by far his best power year with 10 home runs already. The catcher position is always tough, but if you aren't going to punt some minimum priced nobody, Perez is a fine play.
1B/3B:
Jason Rogers ($3,000): Minimum price, righty vs. lefty and Coors Field; need I say more? Rogers isn't flashy, but he's cheap and should get the start at first base with a lefty on the mound. I wouldn't be scared of Rogers's .220 batting average against lefties this season either, as he's also hit both of his home runs on the season against southpaws.
Matt Carpenter ($5,000): Carpenter gets a matchup with the minor league righty Phillippe Aumont. Carpenter hit two doubles Thursday night, so he can look to carry that form (and his season-long form) into Friday night.
2B/SS:
Hernan Perez ($3,000): Regardless of what they've shown, players at the minimum price at Coors Field cannot be overlooked. Perez has four hits in his last seven at-bats, so maybe he's even found something at the plate to make him even more playable. Just think of the studs you'll be able to afford if you roster Perez. He started Thursday, and with Scooter Gennett being a lefty, Perez seems to be in line for his second consecutive start.
Carlos Correa ($4,700): The Astros just get better and better. Correa has immediately come into the majors and made his presence felt. Home runs and stolen bases are both coming aplenty for Correa, and getting sub-$5,000 for him at the 2B/SS position pretty much means keep playing him until either the price gets too high or he hits his first major league slump.
Outfield:
Carlos Gonzalez ($5,300): Gonzalez seems to have finally found his stroke after struggling for much of the season. The lefty has four homeruns in his last six games. And Coors, always Coors, can't avoid Coors Field.
Chris Parmelee ($4,500): Parmelee moved to the majors and entered the starting lineup three games ago. Three home runs later and he is looking like an immediate impact player. His .417 batting average and 1.667 OPS are clearly unsustainable, but a .222 BABIP showcases the simple fact that he's unlucky to not be doing even better. A month from now, I don't expect to be on Parmelee, but right now I'll ride his hot streak and three-spot in the Orioles' lineup to the bank.
Lorenzo Cain ($5,100): Cain may or may not be the one Royal completely deserving of his spot in the starting lineup for the All-Star Game. He's one of the few true five-tool phenoms in the game. Okay, he's not quite Mike Trout, but who is? A 1.249 OPS over his last six games, and a matchup against a rookie lefty who was hit up badly last time out is an equation for success.
