2014 Fantasy Baseball: 5 Shrewd Plays For June 23
For any fantasy baseball team, starting the right players is unsurprisingly the key to success. This is especially true in the immensely popular daily leagues, where a single player can mean the difference between a big payday and crushing disappointment. Based on matchups and talent, the following five players could all be in store for an outstanding day on June 23 and deserve your utmost consideration.
5. SS Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
5. SS Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
Rollings had his 15-game hitting streak halted yesterday, but will look to start anew this evening. The Miami Marlins will be the opponent tonight, and the struggling Nathan Eovaldi will get the start for the fish. The Marlins right-hander has been roughed up in each of his past two starts, plus Rollins owns a career .381 average against him in 21 at-bats.
4. 1B Matt Adams, St. Louis Cardinals
4. 1B Matt Adams, St. Louis Cardinals
With a .303 average and three HRs in 10 games, June has been treating this slugger quite well. A trip to Coors Field will likely help him improve those numbers even further. Jhoulys Chacin will get the starting nod for the Colorado Rockies this evening, and he hasn't exactly impressed this season as he sports a 4.53 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. Adams loves facing right-handed pitchers too, as he's batting .363 against them thus far in 2014.
3. OF Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
3. OF Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
This speedy outfielder is quietly having an excellent season for the Yankees. He's been especially hot of late with a .353 average over his last nine games, and should be in for more success today when the Yanks take on the Toronto Blue Jays and Marcus Stroman. On top of his ugly 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP, Stroman is allowing left-handers to bat .348 against him so far this season.
2. 3B Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers
2. 3B Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers
This 35-year-old is perhaps the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He's hitting a very impressive .455 over his last 11 games, plus has chipped in four HRs and 12 RBIs over that stretch. He'll square off against the disappointing Gio Gonzalez tonight, and more good times should ensue. Not only does Gonzalez sport a terrible 4.85 ERA on the season, but Ramirez has roughed up lefties so far to the tune of a .350 average.
1. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
1. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Few pitchers can dominate like this guy, and boy is he dialed in right now. Hernandez's ERA sits at a dynamic 1.33 over his last seven outings, plus he's struck out an impressive 69 batters over his last 60.2 innings pitched. He'll face a Boston Red Sox team today that ranks just 25th in baseball in runs per game, plus have managed only 2.44 runs per game over their last nine contests.
Brian Davis is a fantasy writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @SportsGuyBrian, ”Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.