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Daily Dime: Can Billy Hamilton outrun the raindrops?

Daily Dime: Can Billy Hamilton outrun the raindrops?

I’m not going to point you to Chris Sale for Tuesday night. If you can’t build that case on your own, there’s no hope. Let’s see if we can support him with some other plays, and give you alternatives if you need to go contrarian, here and there.

Study the lineups, consider the weather. Let's get to it.

Billy Hamilton, OF, vs. MIN (Hughes), $3000: He’s been on a stealing rampage this month, and he’s set to lead off for the second straight game. Phil Hughes is nothing special when it comes to stopping the running game. There’s some rain in the forecast, but if things look clear around opening pitch, Hamilton is a dynamic play at a modest cost.

Josh Phegley, C, vs. COL (De La Rosa), $3100: Here’s the best-kept secret at the catcher position, someone who’s mashed to a .362/.423/.617 line against lefties. Colorado's De La Soul is a southpaw, so if Phegley is in the Oakland lineup, he’s in my lineup.

Any Dodger You Want (at ARI, De La Rosa): The Boys of Summer have met up with Rubby De La Rosa twice, pounding him for 14 runs and four homers over 10 innings. It’s not really Rubby’s fault - the Dodgers, after all, lead the majors in wOBA and weighed-runs created against right-handed pitching. They crush these guys. Your normal lefty sluggers look good, so long as they’re lineup verified - Pederson, Ethier, Grandal, Gonzalez. And don’t forget that Justin Turner - the ridiculous Justin Turner - is a reverse-platoon guy who actually prefers RHPs.

Rougned Odor, 2B, at BAL (Gonzalez), $2700: It’s a little boring when the plays become forced, but you take what they give you. Odor is the No. 4 fantasy second baseman since his recall, he’s leading off again, and runs should be scored Tuesday at Camden Yards (total is 8.5).

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Jose Altuve, 2B, vs. KC (Duffy), $4300: The cost has come down some, and Altuve is back in fine form (.346, two homers, four steals over last seven games). Altuve is a solid play against anyone, but his best form shows against southpaws (career .862 OPS).

Brandon Crawford, SS, at MIA (Latos), $3100: We’ve talked about Crawford’s reverse platoon split in the past, but Mat Latos can’t get anyone out these days - lefties especially. And despite Crawford’s dynamite fantasy season, he’s still priced reasonably. I’ll be shocked if the Giants don’t get to Latos at some point Tuesday.

Dallas Keuchel, SP, vs. KC (Duffy), $10,300: This might have some contrarian roots because Keuchel isn’t a dominant strikeout man (his recent form to the side) and the Royals are known for their contact. Nonetheless, Keuchel works at home, and KC is a modest 13th in wOBA against lefties - that doesn’t make them a matchup to drool over, perhaps, but it’s nothing to be afraid of. And the Royals are unlikely to run at all on Keuchel, who does an outstanding job holding runners and delivering in a tidy fashion. I also expect Houston to do some damage against Danny Duffy.

Ian Kennedy, SP, vs. SEA (Montgomery), $7400: He's righted the ship in June (2.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) and the Mariners are the lowest-scoring team in baseball. Sometimes the plays just write themselves into your lineup. If you want pitching on a budget Tuesday, vote for Kennedy.

Josh Donaldson, 3B, vs. BOS (Rodriguez), $4100: Another big name but the cost isn't prohibitive, and you should know how Donaldson has obliterated lefties this year, especially at home. The wheels have come off E-Rod for the last two starts, and I'm not expecting him to right the ship in the most daunting pitching assignment.

Mitch Moreland, OF, at BAL (Gonzalez), $2600: A hot hand (four homers in five games), a cheap price, a homer park, a platoon edge against an ordinary righty. All the dots connect.