(John Rieger, USA TODAY Sports)
Leading off
It’s Friday, we’re in love: It’s a Division Series party, with both Game 2s of the American League and both Game 1s for the National League. FantasyScore entries will lock at 12:30 p.m. ET, but competitors can edit any player before their respective game start afterward.Deck full of aces: This probably will be the most expensive pitching day in the postseason, so it’s best to find discounted bats. You really have no other choice.
Injury issues: Several star players left yesterday’s ALDS opener in Toronto with injuries. Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson was evaluated for concussion symptoms after getting hit in the head on a slide. Jays OF Jose Bautista exited early with a sore hamstring. And Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre could hardly move after he strained his back on a slide — although an MRI showed no structural damage. Keep an eye on their status going forward.
Keep playing in the postseason. Close the year out with a championship.
Pitchers
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets
$8,900 salary | 17.8% of cap
2. John Lackey, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
$7,800 salary | 15.6% of cap
3. Johnny Cueto, Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros
$8,000 salary | 16.0% of cap
Kid K’s postseason woes shouldn’t deter you from paying up. Lackey’s 1.93 home ERA and 1.25 ERA vs. the Cubbies this year tip the scales in favor of his value price. Cueto vs. the K-happy Astros is a fine play, too.
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Batters
3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers (Cole Hamels)
$6,200 salary | 12.4% of cap
He passed his postgame concussion tests and crushes left-handed pitching. He’s in the lineup today, so do all you can to squeeze him in.
1B Mitch Moreland, Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Marcus Stroman)
$5,000 salary | 10.0% of cap
OF Stephen Piscotty, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs (Jon Lester)
$4,700 salary | 9.4% of cap
Two more excellent platoon plays for a bit less.
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Value picks
OF Colby Rasmus, Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals (Johnny Cueto)
$4,000 salary | 8.0% of cap
OF Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets (Jacob deGrom)
$3,800 salary | 7.6% of cap
OF Delino DeShields Jr., Texas Rangers at Toronto (Stroman)
$3,600 salary | 7.2% of cap
OF Alex Rios, Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros (Scott Kazmir)
$4,100 salary | 8.2% of cap
The outfield pool offers several discounts to allow you to build up elsewhere.
SS Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago (Lester)
$4,100 salary | 8.2% of cap
2B Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York (deGrom)
$4,300 salary | 8.6% of cap
3B Luis Valbuena, Houston Astros at Toronto (Stroman)
$3,700 salary | 7.4% of cap
C A.J. Ellis, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York (deGrom)
$3,500 salary | 7.0% of cap
Peralta had a poor year but still has fine power against left-handers. Ellis is a fine way to save dough when you pick his battery mate Kershaw.