Five Guys MLB Fantasy Expert Picks 5-14-14
The opportunity cost is high with our MLB fantasy expert picks tonight.
Opportunity cost is a term I use a lot when talking about our MLB fantasy expert picks. For those unfamiliar, opportunity cost refers to the price you pay by choosing a lesser option. For instance, Troy Tulowitzki was absolutely locked in a few weeks ago. Shortstop is already a position defined by characteristically weak hitters, and Tulo stood out as the lone offensive force at a weak roster spot. Players were continually faced with a difficult decision night after night. Do I pay up for Tulo and his massive fantasy point potential, or do I go a different way and hope to cash in on a value play?
Cashing in on a value play is generally an appropriate strategy when dealing with weak positions like shortstop and second base, and even in the outfield where the depth of options allows for extreme customization. With Tulo though, players were forced to consider the opportunity cost of passing on the prolific slugger if he had a huge night. Could your team realistically make up those fantasy points elsewhere?
Tonight’s top hurler fits this bill precisely. With an abbreviated evening slate due to an influx of day games, and serious weather concerns in two of the eight contests, the cost of missing out on the one true ace is simply too high. Let’s find out who I’m talking about below with my MLB fantasy expert picks.
Five Guys MLB Fantasy Expert Picks
Ryan Braun $12,600 - If there’s one hitter I’m paying up for this evening it’s Milwaukee’s top slugger. Personal troubles from the last few seasons aside, Braun has kept on keeping on with the thing he does best-crushing lefties. His numbers against them since 2011 are otherworldly; .356 batting average, .460 wOBA, and a .321 ISO. All those stats add up to my surefire top play against a mediocre left-hander.
Jonathan Lucroy $8,550 - If we’re targeting one Brewer, why not another? Braun’s teammate has an equal affinity for slugging southpaws, bashing to the tune of a .330 average, .407 wOBA, and .248 ISO since 2011. He’s not quite on the same level as Braun, but when you consider the price differential he’s every bit the stud.
Masahiro Tanaka $19,050 - I talked at the beginning of this article about opportunity cost, and the opportunity cost of missing out on Tanaka this evening is far too high. With only one true ace on the mound in tonight’s late slate of games, and two other potential options likely to be rained out, you simply must have him in your lineups tonight. The Mets fan against righties 22% of the time, and Tanaka is currently sitting on an impressive 10.65 strikeout per nine innnings ratio.
Andre Ethier $7,700 - Whenever the Dodgers square off against a mediocre right-hander, Ethier comes into play. The platoon extraordinaire has made his living off righties, sporting a solid .311 average and a .380 wOBA versus them since 2011. Anthony DeSclafani is making an emergency start for the Marlins, and he is simply not a quality pitcher.
Jason Castro $6,300 - A second catcher joins our list today, and if you’re not playing Lucroy in your lineups you almost certainly need to roster Castro. His skills against right-handers are evident by his .274 batting average, .360 wOBA, and .204 ISO since 2011. Most importantly though he stands out as the single best source of salary relief at DraftDay.
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