Daily baseball is all the rage in the fantasy sports world, so I will be covering the game a couple of times a week here at BaseballGuys.com. To that end, I've partnered with DraftDay.com to give all my wonderful followers, that's you, the chance to play the game on a daily basis. On Tuesday and Thursday's here at the site, I'll also be giving you some insight into the mind of The Oracle as I will give you some of my best plays for the day – even if I'm willing to admit that daily games are a bit of a crap shoot given the difficulty in predicting how a handful of at-bats will work out. With that, here are some of the better plays for Tuesday, April 9th.
To join a daily league remember to visit DraftDay.com by clicking on the link to their site.
CATCHERS1. John Buck2. Wilin Rosario
Not only does Buck have three homers and 12 RBIs in just seven games (the most RBIs in Mets history over the first seven games of the season), but he's facing Cliff Lee, a pitcher who he has hit .292 with three homers against in 48 at-bats.
The Rockies' backstop is hitting .350 with three homers on the year, and Rosario also has four hits, including a home run, in nine at-bats against Tim Lincecum.
FIRST BASE1. Todd Helton2. Adrian Gonzalez
Helton is broken down, old, and generally ineffective. However, he's always risen to the occasion against Tim Lincecum who he is hitting .359 with a .479 OBP against across 39 at-bats.
I don't know how this is possible, but in eight at-bats against Clayton Richard A-Gone has only gone back to the dugout once without reaching base. That's right, he's got seven hits in eight at-bats (.875 with all the hits being singles). He's not playing, but Hanley Ramirez has been even better with nine hits in 10 at-bats against Richard.
SECOND BASE1. Chase Utley2. Donovan Solano
Utley is only 2-for-8 against Dillon Gee, but he's hit .301 with a .918 OPS at home in his career and he's also managed a .297 average and .888 OPS against righties in his career.
Solano has six hits in his last five games and is batting .292 on the young season. He's also produced four hits, including two homers, in seven at-bats against Kris Medlen.
THIRD BASE1. Juan Uribe2. Chris Johnson
Uribe flat out kills it against Clayton Richard as he's hit .385 with a 1.159 OPS, including two homers, against the lefty in 26 at-bats.
Johnson is only 1-for-3 against Wade LeBlanc in his career, but he had three hits Monday and his career numbers against lefties say he would produce about 78 RBIs over 550 at-bats.
SHORTSTOP1. Jed Lowrie2. Ruben Tejada
Tejada has a hit in three of his last four games, and on the year he has five walks versus four strikeouts. He's also had a bunch of success against Cliff Lee with six hits in 13 at-bats (.462).
According to ESPN, Lowrie hasn't sung and missed the last five games covering a total of 31 swings. He's also produced nine line drives in the 19 balls he's put into play.
OUTFIELD1. Jon Jay2. Jeff Francoeur
Jay is hitting .242 on the young season, but he's a career .299 hitter who is about to face Bronson Arroyo, a hurler who he has 10 hits in 25 at-bats against (.400).
Francoeur has hit .316 in 19 at-bats against Mike Pelfrey. Frenchie has also been mildly effective at Kauffman Stadium in his career hitting .271 with 17 homers and 67 RBIs over 569 at-bats.
STARTING PITCHERS1. Wily Peralta vs. Cubs 2. Kris Medlen vs. Marlins 3. Andy Pettitte vs. Indians 4. Brandon Maurer vs. Astros
Peralta faces the Cubs, and the Cubbies are hitting .186. One-eighty-six, with an OPS of 540 folks. Last season Tim Hudson, he's a pitcher in case you forgot (though he used to DH in college), hit .218 with a .523 OPS. Just saying.
Medlen isn't facing the Astros, more on that below, but he is facing an terrible Marlins club that is hitting .228 with a .295 OBP and .298 SLG. They've also only gone deep two times while scoring 14 runs in seven games.
Pettitte has a 2.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in his last 13 starts. In his last six starts against the team from Cleveland he's also posted a 2.86 ERA.
Maurer looked pretty bad in his first outing as he allowed six runs in six innings, but at this point, how do you not consider any hurler against the Astros? The club from Houston is hitting .201 with a .234 OBP and .275 SLG. Honestly, you can't be a professional club and do any worse.
To join a daily league remember to visit DraftDay.com by clicking on the link to their site.By Ray Flowers