2014 Fantasy Baseball: 5 Shrewd Plays For June 25

2014 Fantasy Baseball: 5 Shrewd Plays For June 25

Adam Jones Orioles
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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 25 and deserve your utmost consideration.

5. 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

5. 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

After a prolonged cold spell, this slugger's bat seems to have a pulse again. He's now recorded hits in 10 of his last 13 games, and four of those have been multi-hit efforts. A date with James Shields and the Kansas City Royals should help him keep up the momentum. The typically dominant Shields sports a smelly 5.31 ERA over his past seven starts, plus Gonzalez is a career .348 hitter against him in 23 at-bats.

4. SP Mat Latos, Cincinnati Reds

Mat Latos Reds
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

4. SP Mat Latos, Cincinnati Reds

Mat Latos Reds
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

In two starts since returning from injury, Latos has put up one gem and one stinker. Considering the competition, I expect something closer to the "gem" category today. The Reds take on the Chicago Cubs tonight, and on top of ranking 24th in baseball in runs per game, the Cubbies are batting just .223 versus right-handed pitching. In four starts against these guys last year, Latos managed a 3-0 record to go along with a tidy 2.42 ERA.

3. 2B Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers

Ian Kinsler Tigers
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. 2B Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers

Ian Kinsler Tigers
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers' second baseman has really been dialed in of late. Over his past 10 games, he's batting a smooth .395, and has chipped in three HRs and 10 RBIs. He faces starter Joe Saunders and his atrocious 1.92 WHIP today, so I expect Kinsler's train to stay on the tracks. Teams are batting an incredible .346 versus this southpaw thus far, plus Kinsler owns a .333 average against Saunders with four HRs in 36 career at-bats.

2. 3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals

Anthony Rendon Nationals
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

2. 3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals

Anthony Rendon Nationals
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

This fellow is having a breakthrough campaign, and has really turned his bat up a notch in June. He's already popped six HRs to go along with 16 RBIs, plus is batting a nifty .343 over his last eight games. He'll face the massively disappointing Marco Estrada today, and to go along with a horrific 7.63 ERA over his past seven starts, Estrada has already allowed a ridiculous 24 HRs on the season.

1. OF Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Adam Jones Orioles
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

1. OF Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Adam Jones Orioles
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

This three-time All-Star has been giving opposing pitchers nightmares in June. He's batting an outstanding .337 for the month, plus already has eight HRs and 18 RBIs to his credit. Chicago White Sox starter Hector Noesi is likely shaking in his cleats at the thought of facing Jones today. To go along with his awful 5.34 ERA on the season, right-handed bats are hitting a robust .348 against Noesi to this point.

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.


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