Don’t start packing it in for the weekend already, because Friday is another chance to dominate in daily fantasy baseball. And with a full schedule to choose from, expect a lot of room for variance when it comes to Friday’s guaranteed prize pools, or GPPs, for extra spending money this weekend.
But in order to fill out the perfect lineup, you’ll need to know which bargain players you can target. That’s why we’re here. So before kicking back on the La-Z-Boy with a beer to take in the games, take a look at these players to help you win on Friday night.
Pitcher: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers ($7,300)
The comeback trail has started for Justin Verlander. Sure, he returned from the disabled list weeks ago, but he didn’t look like the Verlander of old until recently. Going up against the Texas Rangers on Friday, he’s certainly worth the $7,300 asking price on DraftKings.
Verlander has scored over 23 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. While his 1-5 record with a 4.11 ERA is daunting, expect Verlander to outperform his salary against Texas. Who knows, he might even earn a win against Colby Lewis—that is, if the Tigers give him some run support.
First Baseman: Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates ($2,900)
Over his last 10 games, Pedro Alvarez is averaging 10.9 fantasy points and has just two games with less than five. Those two games just so happen to be the only ones where he didn’t start. So the moral of the story is that when Alvarez starts, he’s posting great fantasy outings.
He may be facing Madison Bumgarner, who has been a shutdown pitcher this month, but Alvarez is worth the risk. At just $2,900, having a left-handed batter who hits better against lefties this season is a crucial key to building a balanced lineup.
Third Baseman: Derek Dietrich, Miami Marlins ($3,700)
Where did Derek Dietrich come from? In a four-game stretch, the Miami Marlins third baseman has broken out with multiple huge nights. In daily fantasy, he’s averaging 13.2 points over that stretch, and he’s heading into a great matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jerad Eickhoff will be making his first start for the Phillies on Friday after three solid games in the minors. With Dietrich heating up and hitting near the middle of the lineup, expect good things from him against the 25-year-old pitcher.
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,000)
Jimmy Rollins is just a professional hitter. The former Phillies shortstop got off to an extremely slow start for the Dodgers, but he is gradually coming around. With 12 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games, he’s also becoming a player to target for owners.
Going up against Mike Fiers isn’t a terrible matchup, especially considering 10 of his 12 homers have been against righties. He may have a huge dip in batting average from the left side of the plate, but he has great power numbers against righties. Batting at the top of the lineup, look for another solid night from Rollins.
Outfielder: Billy Burns, Oakland Athletics ($3,800)
By now, most DFS players know that Billy Burns has been a stud this season. The Oakland Athletics outfielder doesn’t have the power numbers of some other outfielders, but he gets the job done on the bases with 24 steals this year.
Burns’ numbers over the last 10 games are skewed a little by having one at-bat during his off day and going hitless in another. But with double-digit points in four of his last six starts, Burns is a smart option for a No. 2 or 3 outfielder. And with Drew Smyly on the mound, who gave up five earned runs in his last start, expect big things from Burns.
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