Kuzul

The San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner is the highest-priced pitcher available on the DraftKings market for Friday, and he’s worth the selection at $11,100. It’s no secret that you need at least 25 points from your pitchers if you hope to win your contest.

With Bumgarner facing the Philadelphia Phillies, he seems to be the surest bet to reach the 25-point plateau of any starting pitcher in action.

The Phillies are 28th in runs scored and 23rd in team batting average on the season. Bumgarner is coming off a dreadful performance in his last start, but this is an opponent he can bounce back against. In his previous start against Philadelphia, Bumgarner wasn’t at his best, allowing five earned runs over eight innings, but he compiled 29.8 fantasy points thanks to 11 strikeouts.

Look for him to be even better this time around.

Collin McHugh ($8,700) at Tampa Bay Rays

A host of aces are on the mound Friday: The Phillies’ Cole Hamels opposes Bumgarner, and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gerrit Cole goes against Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals. Those guys are decent options, but you should be a little gun-shy because each clearly has a tough counterpart to tangle with.

Preferably, you’d like to tab a pitcher who has a good chance to earn the winning decision in his game.

That leads me to the Houston Astros’ Collin McHugh. Houston visits the Tampa Bay Rays, and the home team will send Erasmo Ramirez to the mound. He’s been decent this season (7-3, 3.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP), but he’s a pitcher the Astros figure to have some success against.

On the season, Houston is sixth in the majors in home runs and slugging percentage against right-handed pitching. 

As far as McHugh goes, he too is coming off a bad start, but he managed at least 22 fantasy points in each of his three starts in 2015. He’s struggled to find consistency this season, but he has pitched well against the Rays in his career.

In two starts since 2012, McHugh has 12 strikeouts in just 11 innings pitched and has allowed just three earned runs. His DK salary will still leave room for position players, and he’s in line for a solid fantasy performance.

Alternative Picks

Mike Montgomery ($7,500) vs. Los Angeles Angels

After two straight herculean efforts, Seattle Mariners left-hander Mike Montgomery produced just 14.6 fantasy points against the Oakland A’s on July 5. Montgomery will need to hold down the Angels’ dynamic duo of Mike Trout and the resurgent Albert Pujols in this one.

Even with Trout and Pujols, the Angels are only 19th in the majors in hitting against lefties, and Pujols is hitting just .197 against southpaws. 

Montgomery would be a legit pick and a potentially huge bargain.

Gerrit Cole ($10,000) vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Having slowed down a bit since his hot start, Cole isn’t as automatic of a choice to land in the two pitching spots as he was early in the season. It also doesn’t help that he’s facing St. Louis. 

The Cards can be a scary bunch—especially with Kolten Wong back in the lineup. However, this is a big game, and guys like Cole get up for these contests. The Cards have yet to face Cole this season, a scenario that usually favors the pitcher.

Cole could have a huge game, but his salary investment almost mandates a 30-point performance to be worth the draft slot.

Danny Salazar ($8,900) vs. Oakland A’s

Having been a huge strikeout pitcher all season, Cleveland Indians starter Danny Salazar is always a tempting option when he starts. He has 108 strikeouts this season in just 90 innings pitched.

That said, he’s seen his ERA rise to 4.10, and just three of his last 10 starts have produced games with 20 or more fantasy points. Is he due for a big performance?

It’s possible. He’s been better at home than on the road. At Progressive Field, Salazar is averaging 20.6 fantasy points. On the road, he’s produced 19.4. 

You’ll have to choose between Salazar and McHugh for the second pitcher spot in your DK lineup.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

We’re through 10 rounds of the 2015 MLB draft, but there are still solid prospects available heading into the third day. We must remember Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg and others were all taken after the 10th round.

You never know when a team might find the next diamond in the rough. Here are three players with tremendous upside who are still on the board.

Justin Hooper, LHP, 6’7″ 225 pounds, De La Salle High School, California

According to MLB.com, Hooper “is the hardest-throwing and most intimidating pitcher in the 2015 high school class.” At 6’7″, he can hit 96 mph with his fastball, and his huge frame gives him a difficult angle for hitters to pick up.

The fact that he’s left-handed only makes him potentially tougher to hit. He hasn’t fully developed his secondary pitches; thus, he might wind up as a reliever. However, if he can land with a team with strong coaching for young pitchers, he might become a starter later in his career.

Even if he is a reliever, he could have a career as a nasty lefty specialist. The only issue is this tweet from Hooper on June 6:

He is committed to UCLA, and with that definitive statement, teams may not use a 10th-round pick on him.

Al Jones, SS, 5’9″ 197 pounds, Columbus High School, Georgia

Speedy leadoff men who embrace their identity are so underrated. That’s exactly who Al Jones can be. While he’s smallish, Jones has the type of speed that will get him 20-25 infield hits per season and make him a terror on the bases.

Per MLB.com, Jones has drawn comparisons to Billy Hamilton, but he also has a little bit of pop in his bat as well. To make Jones’ overall talent profile even more impressive, he’s a switch-hitter who might prove himself to be platoon-proof.

The team that gets Jones will be getting one of the better late-round picks in the draft.

Marquise Doherty, OF, 6’1″ 193 pounds, Winnetonka High School, Missouri

Two-sport stars are always intriguing prospects in baseball because you know you’re looking at a rare athlete for the diamond. Marquise Doherty is no exception. The 6’1″, 193-pounder is a running back and outfielder who has plus power.

Here’s what MLB.com said about Doherty:

“With his bat speed and strength, he’s a threat to hit for power as well as average. Doherty’s instincts aren’t as refined on defense, where he’s shaky in center field despite his plus speed. He has improved his arm strength from weak to fringy in the last year.”

He’s committed to the University of Missouri to play football and baseball. An 11th-round selection might not be enough incentive for him to shun the college game.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Few teams have drafted as well as the Cleveland Indians through the first two days of the 2015 MLB draft. It seemed obvious that the Indians front office had a plan to snatch up arms early and go for bats on Tuesday.

On Monday, Cleveland got what could be the biggest steal in the draft when it took former No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken at No. 17 overall. Aiken was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2014, but there were questions about the health of his elbow. The Astros lessened their signing-bonus offer from $6.5 million to $5 million, and Aiken rejected it.

He became just the third No. 1 overall pick in MLB draft history not to sign. He had committed to the UCLA Bruins, but he chose to attend IMG Academy instead. He blew out his elbow and had to have Tommy John surgery.

Here he is back in the draft. The Indians are hoping the injury happened early enough in the young man’s career for him to recover and return to the form that had scouts raving about him in 2014. Players like the New York Mets’ Matt Harvey, who have undergone the procedure and seemingly returned as strong as ever, are an inspiration. 

If Aiken pans out, the Indians’ brass will look like geniuses. 

Aiken isn’t the only awesome pick the Indians made. Cleveland also selected a gamer by the name of Mark Mathias who could play as a shortstop or second baseman should he climb to the major leagues. USA Baseball tweeted these congratulations to the program’s alum:

Mathias seems like an offensive-minded second baseman, but Tony Lastoria of Scout.com sees more versatility. He said:

He is a line drive hitter with some good size and strength, though his power potential as a pro is questionable. He shows a solid approach and should translate well to the pros and along with the hit tool and a bit of a run tool he brings some interesting upside with the bat. It remains to be seen how strong he is defensively as he is average at best with a fringy arm, but he has some experience at third base and first base, and some think he could even play some outfield if needed.

Obviously, the Indians have Jason Kipnis at second base, and he will likely be the team’s choice for the next few years. Because of that, Mathias’ versatility makes him an even more attractive prospect. Even if second is determined to be his best position, he would provide the Indians a trade chip for future seasons.

Here’s a look at all of the grades for each team through 10 rounds of selections. To see every pick, check out the MLB.com draft tracker. Just below the table is a look at two other teams that had great drafts.

Minnesota Twins

Of all the pitching prospects in this draft, the guy I like the most is Tyler Jay. The Minnesota Twins took the Illinois Fighting Illini star with the sixth overall pick, and the lefty could be a staff ace within the next four to five years.

Despite standing just 6’1″, 180 pounds, Jay’s fastball still tops out at 95 mph, which is plenty fast for a left-hander with his control. Many see him as a reliever currently, but his makeup seems to be that of a starter. He did have 24 saves in three seasons with Illinois, but his easy delivery and control would seemingly tempt the Twins to try him in the rotation. 

Jay walked just seven in 129 innings pitched in college and could be a second or third starter during his initial call up to the minors with bigger things ahead. Jay addressed the topic with Matt Loveless of WAND-TV, but the 21-year-old just seems to like pitching at this point.

“I know people want to see me start, but it is what it is. I like doing both.”

Twins fans may just love watching him pitch for their team in the next few years.

Another notable selection for the Twins was Kolton Kendrick from Oak Forest Academy in Amite City, Louisiana. Kendrick is a powerful left-handed slugger whom scouts seem to be divided on. MLB.com said this of Kendrick’s prospects in the majors:

Kendrick may have the best raw power in a draft that’s short on promising sluggers. He packs a lot of strength in his 6’3″, 235-pound frame and can put on a show in batting practice that would do a big leaguer proud. Nevertheless, there’s a split camp on how well his power will play in pro ball. Scouts who like him think his top-of-the-scale raw pop could translate into 30 homers annually in the majors. Others think he has a grooved swing and lacks bat speed and believe he’ll have trouble making contact against better competition.

Todd Buster of Nola Baseball tweeted about Kolton’s mammoth power back in 2013:

He’s definitely going to have to be a first baseman or designated hitter, but the lefty has the looks of a former Minnesota Twins first baseman/DH, and that’s David Ortiz. If he can make consistent contact in the minors and majors, this eighth-round selection could be a hit in Minnesota.

Tampa Bay Rays

It’s hard not to love Garrett Whitley. The Tampa Bay Rays selected the potential five-tool player with the 13th overall pick in the draft. The 18-year-old from Niskayuna High School in New York has tremendous speed that will keep him as a center fielder in the major leagues.

He also has some legitimate potential to grow into a power threat. During the initial MLB TV broadcast, Whitley displayed the character of a future leader. When a kid has Whitley’s talent and has his head on straight, he’s aimed in the right direction. He reminds me of Ian Desmond at the plate and former Chicago Cubs prospect Corey Patterson in the outfield.

The Rays bolstered their pitching future with the fourth-round selection of Brandon Koch out of Dallas Baptist University. The program has become a steady pipeline for pitching, and Koch is one of the latest exciting prospects. At 6’1″, 205 pounds, the hard-throwing right-hander can reach the mid-90s on his fastball and also has a hard slider that MLB.com calls one of the best breaking balls in the draft.

He could be a setup man down the road in a bullpen with a dominant closer. Koch represents a strong pick who will almost certainly reach the big leagues relatively quickly.

All height and weight references per MLB.com

All stats per the Baseball Cube.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If you had to take one pitcher for your DraftKings lineup on Friday, it would have to be the New York Yankees’ Michael Pineda. He comes into his start against the Kansas City Royals with a 5-0 record, 2.72 ERA and 1.51 WHIP this season.

Pineda has also struck out 54 batters in just 46.1 innings pitched. He’s allowed more than three runs in just one start, and he’s coming off a 16-strikeout effort against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start.

The Royals are the top offensive team in the majors, but Pineda has developed into the type of pitcher you can trust against any lineup. While his DK salary isn’t exactly a bargain at $8,800, it is still significantly lower than the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw‘s $11,900 salary.

With Kershaw struggling to live up to his high expectations all season, Pineda seems like the smarter selection. Kershaw is averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game compared to 25.1 for Pineda.

Let’s take a look at two mid-range choices and two bargain picks among hurlers on the mound on Friday. 

Mid-Range Options

Bartolo Colon ($7,700) vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The 41-year-old Bartolo Colon has been solid everywhere this season, but he’s been really good at home. He’s 3-0 at Citi Field with a 2.18 ERA and 19 K’s in 20.2 innings pitched. The ageless wonder has gone at least six innings in every one of his starts. It’s hard to believe we’d be counting on a player this old, but Colon has been a model of consistency all year.

If you don’t want to spend to get Pineda, Colon should be the choice to anchor the pitching in your DK lineup.

Jered Weaver ($6,900) at Baltimore Orioles

The Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver has had a tough year overall, but he showed some definite signs of breaking out in his last start. Weaver tossed a complete-game six-hitter against the Houston Astros, as the Angels won 2-0. Weaver only struck out six, but the outing still earned him a season-high 37.7 fantasy points.

Weaver is too good to struggle all season, and his last start is evidence he’s finding his stride. 

This is a slightly scary pick because Weaver is a fly-ball pitcher playing in hitter-friendly Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Weaver has also had some rough outings at the park in his career. In five starts, he has an astronomical ERA of 7.09 in Baltimore.

That said, this is baseball, and recent performances will often trump historical numbers. Weaver may not throw another shutout, but he should at least keep his team in the game for seven innings.

Bargain Picks

Carlos Rodon ($5,600) at Oakland Athletics

The Chicago White Sox will run their prized prospect out to the mound again on Friday night on the road against the Oakland Athletics. Left-hander Carlos Rodon was sharp in his first major league start on May 9. He went six innings, allowing just four hits, two earned runs and striking out eight.

Rodon is just scratching the surface of what he can do on the mound. By making Rodon a member of the team’s starting rotation, it appears the White Sox are saying, “The future is now.”

The A’s haven’t had a great deal of luck against left-handed pitchers. As a team, Oakland is hitting just .206 in 252 at-bats against southpaws. Rodon should add to Oakland’s misery with another strong start.

Chris Young ($5,300) vs. New York Yankees

Pineda has a tough assignment. Not only does he have to contend with the Royals’ hitting, he also has to stare down veteran Chris Young who’ll be on the mound for Kansas City.

While Young has had just two starts this season, he has been awesome almost every time he’s taken the mound in 2015. His ERA is a minuscule 0.78, and his WHIP stands at a minute 0.52. Though not notoriously a strikeout pitcher, Young has 19 K’s in 23.1 innings pitched.

Barring a complete collapse, Young should offer some bang for your virtual buck.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter:

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A ton of aces will be on the mound on Friday, thus your DraftKings contests may be won and lost on the mound. You obviously get to pick two hurlers, but in case you need options, here’s a list of the top five who figure to score big.

Matt Harvey ($11,000) at Philadelphia Phillies

The New York Mets’ Matt Harvey has returned from injury this season and looked like a true Cy Young candidate. On Friday he will face a Philadelphia Phillies team that is last in the major leagues in runs scored, 27th in batting average and 29th in on-base percentage. Just about any pitcher would be a smart play against them.

Harvey is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched, so he becomes even more of a no-brainer selection.

His season has Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez singing his praises. In an interview promoting his new book Pedro, (h/t Ricky Doyle of NESN.com) the three-time Cy Young Award winner talked about Harvey’s high ceiling: “I think that he has more talent than I do, and he has better chances to do better than I did.” 

Harvey’s salary is $11,000, but it’s hard to imagine it not being worth it on Friday.

Sonny Gray ($9,800) at Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics hurler Sonny Gray has easily been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game this season. He’s 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA and an 0.95 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.

He’s allowed more than two runs in just one of his six starts.

On Friday, he faces a struggling Seattle Mariners offense that ranks 25th in runs scored and 23rd in hitting. Oddly enough, the Mariners are also 25th in runs scored and 26th in batting average against right-handed pitchers. The only thing that makes Harvey a better play than Gray is the former’s higher percentage of strikeouts.

However, if you want to save some virtual cash, Gray could have more value at $1,200 less than the Mets’ ace.

James Shields ($8,800) at Arizona Diamondbacks

Coming into Friday’s start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, James Shields is fourth in the majors with 48 strikeouts in just 36.1 innings pitched. While he’s 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA, his strikeout total and average of six innings pitched per start makes him a solid fantasy performer even in defeat.

Shields’ counterpart Jeremy Hellickson has struggled mightily this season to the tune of a 5.21 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. This just seems like a game that Shields and the San Diego Padres can win even if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Michael Wacha ($8,300) at Pittsburgh Pirates

You’re not going to get a ton of strikeouts from Michael Wacha (18 in 32 innings pitched), but he has still eaten up innings and kept opponents off the scoreboard for the most part. He’s 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

He’s drawing a favorable matchup as well with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs are 26th in runs scored and hitting, and 28th in on-base percentage. Against a red-hot St. Louis Cardinals team that has won nine of its last 10—and with Wacha on the mound—the Pirates are good marks for a studly fantasy performance.

David Price ($10,400) vs. Kansas City Royals

If recent outings against an opponent matter at all, David Price has had a noticeable edge over the Kansas City Royals. In his last start he threw a complete game and allowed just one run on five hits against Kansas City.

Price’s success hasn’t been confined to games against the Royals. On the season he’s 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA. He has struck out 32 batters in 34 innings pitched. The only reason he isn’t ranked higher on this list is because of his high salary and the Royals’ offensive prowess.

K.C. is the top-hitting team in MLB with an average of .290. Take that into consideration before you pick Price. 

Stats per ESPN.com.

DraftKings salaries per DraftKings.com.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Dark Knight of Gotham, aka Matt Harvey, has been on fire all season, and he should be your top choice for a pitcher in DraftKings lineups Friday. Harvey and the surprising New York Mets host the Washington Nationals in what figures to be a pitchers’ duel.

Opposing Harvey for the Nats will be Max Scherzer. We’re likely looking at two candidates for the National League Cy Young Award if they maintain their current pace. Harvey is 4-0 with an ERA of 3.04 and an 0.94 WHIP. Scherzer has been even better, though his record doesn’t show it.

He’s 1-2 with a 1.26 ERA and an 0.84 WHIP. 

Even beyond the season-long numbers Harvey has enjoyed, he has had sustained success against some of the Nats’ biggest offensive threats. Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Denard Span are hitting a combined .190 against Harvey in their careers.

Harvey has rebounded from last year’s injury and has shown no ill effects. ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin noted Harvey’s velocity in the ninth inning of his last start against the New York Yankees:

Harvey should continue to shine against Washington and overall. 

The same goes for Scherzer. He’s had solid success against the Mets lineup as well. The current Mets roster is hitting just .200 against him. Because you know both men cannot get the win, and because Harvey ($11,200) and Scherzer ($12,000) represent the largest salaries for any pitcher starting Friday, you’ll need some other alternatives.

Scott Kazmir ($7,400) at Texas Rangers

The Oakland Athletics’ Scott Kazmir is another red-hot pitcher. He’s 2-0 with an ERA of 0.99 and a WHIP of 0.88. Kazmir faces the Texas Rangers Friday, and he catches a break with newly re-acquired Josh Hamilton still out rehabbing his injured shoulder, per Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News.

Hamilton is hitting .368 against Kazmir in his career with two home runs. 

Kazmir has had the strikeout pitch working in his four starts leading up to Friday’s outing. He’s recorded 30 strikeouts in just 27.1 innings pitched. What’s more, Kazmir hasn’t generated less than 17.7 fantasy points in any of his starts this season. He’s a solid second choice if you don’t want to splurge on Harvey and Scherzer.

Alex Colome ($5,500) at Baltimore Orioles

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, 26-year-old Dominican Alex Colome will make his 2015 debut Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. The game was originally supposed to be played in Baltimore, but because of the unrest in the city due to the riots, it has been moved to Tropicana Field.

Colome had pneumonia earlier in the season that kept him off the mound.

When he’s right, he can be dominant. While it’s a small sample size, Colome’s success against the Orioles must be noted. Of the seven Baltimore players to face Colome, only Manny Machado and Chris Davis have been able to reach base. Machado is the only one of the two to reach base via a base hit.

Collectively, the aforementioned Orioles group is hitting .071 against Colome. He likely won’t pitch longer than five innings, but for $5,500, Colome is a huge potential value.

Roenis Elias ($6,800) at Houston Astros

In his first start of the season, the Seattle Mariners’ Roenis Elias went 5.2 innings, striking out six, but he had to settle for a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins on April 26. He’ll get his second start Friday on the road against the Houston Astros.

Elias has had an opportunity to face several of the Astros dating back to last season. He’s held the current lineup of Astros to a batting average of .211. If you look at the pitching matchup, the Mariners seemingly have the edge there as well.

Samuel Deduno is scheduled to be on the bump for Houston. He’s a reliever getting a spot start. He hasn’t pitched more than 2.1 innings in any outing this year. Look for Elias to outlast him and to put up decent fantasy numbers considering his relatively low salary.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests!  Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Despite the fact that Pablo Sandoval is hitting just .167 through his first three games with the Boston Red Sox, you still have to like him for your DraftKings squad on Friday.

Sandoval has the most favorable pitching matchup of any player in the majors as he and the Red Sox face New York Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi. In 11 at-bats, Sandoval has eight hits for a .727 batting average with nine RBI against Eovaldi.

That, my friends, is complete ownership at the plate. Sandoval’s DK salary is a mere $4,200. This should make him the steal of the day. 

The Panda is my pick to be the top third basemen. Here’s a look at my picks for the top performer at every position.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, ($5,200) at Milwaukee Brewers

Another player with a favorable matchup on Friday is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen. Cutch faces the Milwaukee Brewers’ Michael Fiers, and the batter has gotten the better of this matchup. McCutchen is hitting .429 with four home runs and nine RBI against Fiers.

It gets better.

McCutchen is also hitting .303 at Miller Park, and his 14 home runs and 36 RBI are the most he’s tallied at any visiting ballpark in his career.

Though he’s gotten off to a slow start with a .167 average through his first 12 at-bats, there’s every reason to believe McCutchen will break out on Friday.

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, ($4,700) at Arizona Diamondbacks

No one is quite as hot as Adrian Gonzalez so far this season. Through three games, Gonzalez is putting up numbers like he’s playing MLB 15: The Show on rookie. He’s hitting .769 with a league-leading five home runs and seven RBI.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Gonzalez’s start marks a first in the sport.

That pace alone is enough to tab him as the top DK first baseman for Friday, but he’s also had good success against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Chase Anderson. Gonzalez is hitting .333 against Anderson with a home run. I like Gonzalez to continue his torrid hitting.

Tim Lincecum, P, ($7,600) at San Diego Padres

We’re in the first week of the regular season, so most teams are getting to the back of their starting rotations. That could create some high-scoring games and difficulty picking a pitcher to anchor your DK team.

Tim Lincecum is far removed from the pitcher who took the league by storm in 2008, but he’s still set up for a pretty good outing on Friday against the San Diego Padres.

This current group of Padres is hitting a combined .192 against Lincecum overall. Even if he’s not quite as dominant, there’s still some room for falloff while still being productive.

Petco Park is also notoriously a pitcher’s park, so that should aid Lincecum in keeping the score down and your DK fantasy points up.

Jose Reyes, SS, ($4,700) at Baltimore Orioles

Through three games, Reyes has just three hits. He hasn’t been able to steal any bases as of yet, but all that could change on Friday.

Reyes and the Toronto Blue Jays travel to Maryland to take on the Baltimore Orioles. The 31-year-old shortstop has done well against Orioles starter Bud Norris in his career. Reyes has hit .357 with two doubles and an RBI.

If Reyes can get on, he has a chance to cause some issues on the base paths. The Orioles are still without normal catcher Matt Wieters, and that could create an opening for Reyes to be aggressive on the bases. The Tampa Bay Rays stole two bases against the O’s in the first series of the season. Reyes could lead the charge on Friday.

All pitcher vs. batter stats per ESPN.com

Daily fantasy baseball is going strong at DraftKings! Get FREE entry into a $10,000 MLB contest today.

Click here.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Without question, the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is the most valued player in fantasy baseball. Three of the four mock drafts studied for this article had Trout as the No. 1 pick. The reigning MVP is coming off a season that saw him lead the majors in runs scored and RBI.

His batting average dipped below .300, and he led the league in strikeouts with 184, but there’s no questioning his ability to put big numbers up for the Angels and your fantasy team.

Bleacher Report’s Jason Catania shared a draft he was involved in, and that was the only one of the group to have someone other than Trout go first.

In that draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw was the top pick. Kershaw is just 27 years old, and he’s already won three Cy Young Awards in the last four years. In 2014, he also won the National League MVP when he went 21-3. He led the league in wins, ERA (1.83) and complete games with six.

You can’t really go wrong with either man. Both are pretty clearly the top fantasy producers in the sport. They both seem impervious to down years, but quite honestly, with so many pitchers suffering arm injuries in this day and age, I’d always take the stud hitter with the top pick.

Let’s take a look at the top five picks for the four experts’ mock drafts I researched.

As you can see from the picks, others may have felt the same way about selecting a pitcher. Kershaw was selected as low as seventh in one of the drafts. 

The second-most coveted hitter is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen. Cutch’s consistency encouraged those selecting in the mock drafts not to let him slip past the fourth spot in any case. He’s never eclipsed the 100-RBI mark, but he’s almost a guarantee to hit .300 with at least 20 home runs.

In 2014, he hit .314 with 25 home runs and drove in 83. While not astronomical, Cutch’s stats are dependable, and he’s never missed more than 16 games in a season. 

If you’re looking for a pitcher and can’t get Kershaw, who should be next on your list? In all four of the examined drafts, the Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez was the second pitcher taken. King Felix was only 15-6, but he had an American League-leading 2.14 ERA. With better run support and bullpen work, he could have easily been a 20-game winner.

Fantasy owners don’t care much about his bullpen. Thus, he’s a hot commodity.

Sleepers

Jorge Soler

Part of doing well in fantasy baseball is about drafting a breakout star. The Chicago Cubs’ Jorge Soler has the look of a guy ready to explode. Soler wasn’t taken before the seventh round in any of the four drafts. 

Super prospect Kris Bryant is getting all of the attention during spring training, but Soler is quietly hitting .333 with three home runs. Cubs manager Joe Maddon gave Soler a huge compliment with a lofty comparison. Per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, Maddon said:

“He’s a beautiful man, though. I really, really enjoy the way he is. Really, I mean, he’s like Vladimir (Guerrero) with plate discipline. That’s what he is.”

His spring training success follows up a 24-game run with the big club in 2014 where he hit .292 with five homers and drove in 20. With most of the pressure and attention on Bryant—whenever he reaches the majors—Soler should be able to continue to prove why he’s such a great prospect in his own right.

Think about snatching him up at some point between the fifth and ninth rounds. If he stays healthy, this could be a huge year for the 23-year-old Cuban.

Collin McHugh

I know he plays for the Houston Astros, but Collin McHugh was pretty solid in 2014. Because of his team’s inability to score runs, he was only 11-9, but he had an ERA of 2.73 and he struck out 157 batters in just 154 innings.

Still, the earliest he was taken in any draft was the ninth round in the FFToolbox mock. That’s pretty insane. 

Last year was McHugh‘s first full season in the majors. Obviously, it’s possible he falls off a bit and incurs a sophomore jinx, but that can be said for just about any pitcher who hasn’t put together a proven track record of excellence.

McHugh is one of those guys you’ll select and your buddies will be like, “Who?” Later in the season, their tune might change when he’s become one of your most consistent performers.

Other researched mocks: Brad Pinkerton of Sporting News and Sports Illustrated.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It seems only a matter of time before the Philadelphia Phillies trade Cole Hamels. As the ace starting pitcher took the mound for the first time this spring, the rumors continued to swirl. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald tweeted about the most recent buzz surrounding Hamels.

With Yu Darvish now out of action for an extended period, it would make sense for the Texas Rangers to crank up their interest in Hamels. The Rangers are built to win now, and not having Darvish creates a huge hole in the front of the team’s rotation.

Hamels would have been perhaps the piece that could push the Rangers to the top of the American League West if he had joined Darvish. Adding him now might be necessary to keep Texas competitive in what could be the major league’s toughest division.

Texas Not Interested in Dillon Gee?

The New York Mets appear to be dangling Dillon Gee for interested teams, but according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, don’t count the Rangers among the interested teams.

Gee was 7-8 in 2014 with a 4.00 ERA. He’s a solid middle-to-end-of-the-rotation guy but clearly not the type of pitcher who projects as a major difference-maker in the rotation. If the rumors from Heyman and Silverman are accurate, the Rangers are only interested in acquiring an ace.

If Gee is going to be moved, it’s more likely going to be to a team who is looking to add depth to the back end of its rotation.

Padres, Braves and Dodgers Favorites to Land Hector Oliveira

According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, Cuban infield prospect Hector Oliveira is on the radar of several teams, but the 26-year-old second baseman is most likely to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres or Atlanta Braves.

The Padres would seemingly have the biggest immediate need at the position. The team’s current second baseman is Jedd Gyorko. While he’s a solid clubhouse guy, he doesn‘t offer the overall impact that Oliveira would. Gyorko is hit .210 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 2014.

There are some injury concerns with Oliveira. A blood clot cost him time while still in Cuba but since recovering and leaving his native country, scouts have been impressed with him. Badler writes:

He’s strong—heavier and stronger than the last time scouts saw him—and he’s shown well at all of his open showcases and several private workouts. Teams won’t have all the answers they want about Olivera because even he doesn’t know for certain how he will respond to having to play the field every day over a 162-game season. But the bat speed is still there, the swing is intact and he’s shown he still has a polished hitting approach with the ability to drive all types of pitches. There’s still risk, but he’s done just about all he can to show teams that the talent that excited scouts years ago is still there.

With the recent success of Cuban players like Jose Abreu and Yasiel Puig, there’s seemingly an increasing level of comfort with throwing large amounts of cash at young Cuban free agents. Oliveira looks to be next on the list of players from Cuba ready to get paid in the major leagues.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Trade talks and free-agent signings are at a fever pitch during this MLB offseason, and the hype for MLB 15 The Show is gaining serious steam as well. On Saturday, the debut sizzle trailer for the game was released at the PlayStation Experience in Las Vegas. 

The event was put together to celebrate 20 years of the PlayStation brand. That celebration wouldn’t have been complete without serious representation from Sony’s monster baseball hit series MLB The Show. Here’s the latest trailer featuring cover athlete Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers:

As you may have seen from the tail end of the trailer, the release date is set for March 31, 2015.

For hardcore virtual baseball fans, that day probably seems like an eternity away, but most still have MLB 14 The Show to tide them over until then. Last season’s debut on the PS4 went pretty smoothly. It generated a Metacritic score of 83, and I rated it an 8.8 overall.

The fact that saves will carry over from MLB 14 The Show to MLB 15 only makes longtime and new fans more committed to the series. What’s new and in store for fans this time around?

Based on information that was revealed via Amazon.com, here are the new features up to this point:

• Licensed Equipment: For the first time ever, partnerships from various brands will bring accurate bats, gloves, cleats and batting gloves to the game.
• Year-to-Year Saves: Users who purchased MLB 14 The Show will be able to continue their Franchise and Road to the Show progress in MLB 15 The Show.
• Universal Rewards: Simply playing the game earns Stubs that can be spent on licensed equipment, Road to The Show improvements and virtual baseball cards.
• Legends: We’re introducing 30 Iconic MLB Alumni into our virtual player card pool, 1 representative for each team. These players span every historic baseball era of the last 70 years.
• Major Graphical Improvements: Visually, the introduction of real-time seasonal sun and shadows, revamped night lighting and enhanced player personality help make MLB 15 The Show the most authentic baseball experience yet (PS4 Only).

The licensed equipment can be seen in the trailer and will be a selling point for gamers who are sticklers for details in presentation.

The use of legends is also compelling. Obviously, the reveal of the legends included or the unlockables in the game is going to be a major deal. Theoretically, it would be cool to have access to players like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. 

The exact legends haven’t been revealed yet, but one can only hope for a star-studded cast of guys.

One wish I’m still holding on to is the hope that the game includes a Create a Ballpark feature. At the PlayStation Experience, I spoke to community manager Ramone Russell about this concept. He was noncommittal about it making it into this year’s game, but it is something that appears to be on the developer’s radar. 

We’ll keep our fingers crossed for Create a Ballpark, and hopefully this year’s game will be everything last year’s release was and more.

Follow Brian Mazique aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com