Squad Up Daily MLB Late Fantasy Dose: Lester and Kershaw make it a 2-game slate
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily MLB fantasy picture for the three-game slate beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 28:
Hitter Stacks
- New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Tyler Glasnow): The Mets and Pirates feature the highest projected run total of Sunday night's micro slate, despite the game being played in conventionally pitcher-friendly PNC Park. Glasnow has allowed left-handed hitters to slash .317/.426/.595 and post a .432 wOBA on the season.
- San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves (RHP R.A. Dickey): Undoubtedly a contrarian stack, the Giants rank last in all of baseball with a .282 team wOBA vs. right-handed pitching. They do save some face with a more reasonable team strikeout rate of just 19.7 percent. Balls in play combined with Dickey's occasional wildness could capitalize on Atlanta's middling .982 fielding percentage.
Pitcher Breakdown
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
- TARGET - LHP Jon Lester (114K), Cubs (at Dodgers): Lester is 40K less expensive than his counterpart on the day, providing a significant boost for the rest of the lineup. The Cubs own the fourth-ranked team wOBA vs. lefties, while the Dodgers rank just 14th.
- FADE - RHP Tyler Glasnow (89K), Pirates (vs. Mets): Glasnow has allowed at least one home run in each of his past five starts, and he has issued at least two walks in every start this season. He has held opponents to one earned run just once. He strikes out 9.15 hitters per nine innings, but he walks 5.80, while the Mets have the sixth-best walk rate.
Top Fades
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
- 1B Josh Bell (55K), Pirates (vs. Mets): Bell is a meager 5-for-32 over his past eight games. Despite hitting either third or fourth, exclusively, over the stretch, Bell has managed just a lone RBI. The lack of productivity is also despite the fact Pittsburgh has scored 41 runs in those eight games. After jumping out of the gate this year, Bell's slowdown has come swiftly.
OF Matt Kemp (50K), Braves (at Giants): Kemp has three RBIs and three extra-base hits over his past eight games. The loss of 1B Freddie Freeman continues to drag down his RBI productivity. With RHP Johnny Cueto pitching inside AT&T Park, Kemp's ability to garner extra-base hits will be limited even further. Of the 16 ballparks in which Kemp has played 20 games, his .453 OPS at AT&T Park is better than just two others.
Contrarian Plays
(Photo courtesy Action Images)
- C Travis d'Arnaud (42K), Mets (at Pirates): d'Arnaud has played only 25 games this season due to injury. His .221 batting average isn't too endearing, either. With five homers, a .515 slugging percentage, and 18 RBIs in those 25 games, d'Arnaud has flashed big-time upside when he connects. Glasnow has given up six or more hits in six of nine starts and owns a 6.69 ERA this year.
OF Gregory Polanco (55K), Pirates (vs. Mets): Polanco has just two games under his belt since returning from the disabled list. On a three-game slate, contrarian choices can be hard to come by so this may be the best mix of respected player and contrarian flair available. In his first game back, Polanco went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Shaky RHP Matt Harvey should allow Polanco to find success.
For up-to-the-minute starting lineups, check out Baseball Press.