Week 4 RWBC Recap
In a balanced week where it came down to the wire, siberger, just beat out seven other competitors who were only seven points behind siberger's 53.75 to win the fourth week of FanDuel's RotoWire Baseball Championship as hundreds of subscribers squared off against RotoWire experts.
The subscriber, siberger, gambled on Nats' pitcher Max Scherzer, who came into last Friday's game after having his start delayed because of a blister. Scherzer was not fazed by it and developed 16 points and outpointed my choice of Mets' hurler Matt Harvey, who while getting the win only had three strikeouts.
It was a difficult week for points with an average of 27.59 by RotoWire Experts, the lowest so far in the first four weeks.What put siberger over the top was some value picks like Joc Pederson (9.5 for $3,600), Andre Ethier (8.75 points for $2,700), and Evan Gattis (7.5 points for $2,700).
Among the RotoWire Experts, Paul Sporer (pjs24) maintained his overall lead with a score of 36.50 and raise his lead by a few points over the new second place RotoWire Expert Ryan Rufe (rmrufe), who leapfrogged James Seltzer (schweppy23) for second place. For the fourth week Dave Regan (vtadave) had a big week with 47 points, a point ahead of James Anderson (realfranderson). Regan moved into the top 10 and is in ninth place with 151.49.
Below are the overall RotoWire top-10 standings through four weeks:
1 Paul Sporer (pjs24) - 182.50
2 Ryan Rufe (rmrufe) - 176.25
3 James Seltzer (schweppy23) - 176.00
4 Tony Goldenstein (trookie83) - 172.50
5 Kevin Payne (kevinccp) - 160.66
6 Peter Schoenke (rotopeter) - 157.16
7 Ed Kensik (chicagoed) - 153.50
8 Adam Wolf (rotosomething) -151.83
9 David Regan (vtadave) - 151.49
10 Joel Bartilotta (joelbartilotta) - 151.25
Helpful Contest Links
Enter the Week 5 Qualifier on FanDuel
Official Terms & Conditions
RotoWire's MLB Weather Report
RotoWire's Batter vs. Pitcher Matchup Statistics
Strategy Tip
Along with the tools listed above, RotoWire subscribers get the benefit of seeing daily lineups all in one convenient location. This tool can be extremely useful when looking for value picks in daily fantasy leagues. Starting a backup catcher who is in the lineup when the starter is getting rest is a good way to fill the position with a minimum salary contract. This strategy also helps with identifying hot bench players who happen to be getting a spot start on a particular day (i.e. Alex Guerrero). Not to mention it is a great way to make sure one of your players isn't getting a day off.
Value Picks/Sleepers
(SP) Roberto Hernandez: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels
FanDuel Price: $5,700
While Angels hitters have hit Hernandez for four homers in 71 at bats, they are only hitting .181/.239/.392 against Hernandez. He also has a 18/5 strikeout to walks ratio against the Angels. While he has a 6.00 ERA in the last seven days, Hernandez has a 2.47 ERA in 10 starts against the Angels.
(1B) Freddie Freeman: Atlanta vs. Washington
FanDuel Price: $3,900
Freeman has really been picking it up in the last week and he has a history against Nationals' Gio Gonzalez .292/.321/.625 to go along with two home runs and nine RBI in 24 at-bats. Freeman has been consistent from the start of the season and is definitely the most reliable pick on the Braves with a .318/.376/.561 line this season. And he is doing this as he has less protection in the lineup with Atlanta trading away Justin Upton and Jayson Heyward.
(2B) Aaron Hill: Arizona vs. San Diego
FanDuel Price: $2,900
Hill has had Big Game James Shield's number over the year with four home runs in 35 at bats to go along with a .286/.324/657. Hill had been on fire for the last week before Thursday night's game with .533 batting average a 1.000 slugging percentage with a pair of home runs and 5 RBI in the last 15 at-bats.
(SS) Jhonny Peralta: St. Louis vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
FanDuel Price: $2,800
While Matt Carpenter is somebody to avoid on Friday, Peralta has a very good history against Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano. Peralta has a pair of home runs with six RBI and a .326/.446/.478. Liriano might just be the tonic for Peralta who has slumped lately with only six hits in his last 25 at-bats.
High Risk/High Reward
(SP) David Price: Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City
FanDuel Price: $10,900
Price was moderately successful after his move from Tampa to Detroit last season, but he appears to be settling down as the new ace of the Tigers staff. He has good success against Kansas City in his career and he is primed recently to have another good outing against the Royals. Price has a 2-0 mark with a 1.16
ERA and 0.65 WHIP against Kansas City while Royals' batters are only hitting .182 against him.
(OF) Mike Trout: Los Angeles Angels vs. Roberto Hernandez
FanDuel Price: $5,300
The Angels have not had much success hitting against Hernandez that is except for Trout who has pounded the veteran pitcher. In only 11 at-bats against Hernandez, the preseason top fantasy player has hit three home runs and collected four RBI with a .364/.364/1.182.
Steer Clear
(2B) Jose Altuve: Houston vs. Los Angeles Angels
FanDuel Price: $4,600
Altuve is making 2014 season as not a mirage with a great start to the season that has also included a little pop where he is close to almost halfway to his career high in a season with seven. Altuve though has not fared well against Angels' Jered Weaver and his slash line is odd symmetry on the wrong side of the offense, .211/.211/.211.
(OF) Michael Brantley: Cleveland vs. Minnesota
FanDuel Price: $4,200
Brantley is showing that last season was not a fluke compile a line of .346/.414/.526 to start the season. But Brantley has not hit well against Minnesota pitcher Mike Pelfrey with only two hits in 13 at-bats and a line of .154/.214/.154 against Pelfrey.
(1B) Lucas Duda: Mets vs. Phillies
FanDuel Price: $3,200
The Mets are still waiting for Duda's power to come into play in 2015. Duda won out the battle for first base last year as the Mets shipped out Ike Davis and Duda responded with 30 home runs and 92 RBI. But so far this season Duda has been hitting for average (.290), but he has had a power shortage with only a pair in 28 games. And Duda does not have a very good history against Phillies hurler Cole Hamels with zero dingers and zero extra base hits while only hitting .125 in 16 at-bats.
(3B) Matt Carpenter: St. Louis vs. Pittsburgh
FanDuel Price: $4,200
Carpenter has so far had another productive season this year with 20 RBI and 23 runs scored in 27 games. But Bucs' pitcher Francisco Liriano is like kryptonite for Carpenter. The Cardinals third baseman is only /182/.280/.273 against the Pirates hurler with only two extra base hits in 22 at-bats along with one RBI in that span.