I put together a standard MLB DraftKings Team for Friday, August 25. After trying out other types of fantasy MLB games, I'm sticking with the Classic. The team I'm stacking with today are the Toronto Blue Jays.
The team the Jays face, Minnesota, starts Bartolo Colon. I'll get into the specifics on why the Jays seems like a great team to utilize the stack method today.
MLB DraftKings Team for Friday, August 25.
P – Rick Porcello, $8,600, Boston vs Baltimore – Porcello's overall stats versus Baltimore aren't very good. I think he shows up much bigger at Fenway tonight than he has in the past versus the O's. For the most part, Porcello's pitched well enough to hold the New York Yankees to only a single run in his last. That gives me a ton of confidence going into tonight's match up.
P – Justin Verlander, $11,900, Detroit at Chicago White Sox – I've been down on Verlander all season. His form, though, has been decent in 3 out of his last 4 starts. The Chicago White Sox sport one of the worst offenses in MLB. Verlander was brilliant holding the L.A. Dodgers to 1 earned run off 2 hits in 8 innings in his last. He also struck out 9 in that game. There's a chance he keeps the good times rolling.
C – Salvador Perez, $3,400, Kansas City at Cleveland – Perez hasn't played since August 23. That's a full day of rest. He's no longer serving as KC's designated hitter. No worries. At $3,400, he offers a lot of value for today's team. Salvador bats .278. Cleveland's starting pitcher today, Ryan Merritt, starts for the first time this season. We'll see how he does.
1B – Justin Smoak, $4,400, Toronto vs Minnesota – Bartolo Colon is Minnesota's starting pitcher on Friday, August 25. Colon has a 6.66 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He should have no shot against AL MVP Candidate Justin Smoak. Smoak only bats .227 versus Colon. That should change tonight.
2B – Asdrubal Cabrera, $3,300, New York Mets at Washington – Cabrera hasn't had a hit in 12 straight at-bats. Is he due? I hope so. A.J. Cole, the Nationals starer on Friday, has a 5.32 ERA. He's just the type of pitcher to help Cabrera get off the schneide.
3B – Josh Donaldson, $4,800, Toronto vs Minnesota – Donaldson bats .286 versus Colon. Donaldson's got 2 hits from 7 at-bats. Even if Toronto runs Colon off early, a true possibility, I like Donaldson to perform the entire game.
SS – Marcus Semien, $3,300, Oakland vs Texas – Marcus Semien is only 2 out of 11 against Texas listed starter Nick Martinez. I believe he could get a couple of hits today. Semien's the player I'm most worried about.
OF – Ezequiel Carrera, $2,800, Toronto vs Minnesota – Carerra only has 1 hit from 7 at-bats versus Bartolo Colon. No worries. Carrera is a lefty going against a righty while batting .297. Hopefully, he'll get more than just 1 or 2 at-bats tonight. That's what he's averaged in Toronto's last few games.
OF – Steve Pearce, $4,100, Toronto vs Minnesota – Pearce has never faced Bartolo Colon. Colon should have an issue against the very good Pearce. I feel safe saying that because Pearce has been hot. He has 9 hits in his last 22 at-bats. 3 of the 9 hits went for doubles. 1 went for a home run.
OF – Kevin Pillar, $3,400, Toronto vs Minnesota – Pillar has only faced Colon 5 times. He's got 3 hits off Colon for a .600 batting average. Pillar bats .364 against all Minnesota pitchers combined. He could have a really nice night versus Twins' pitchers.
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