5 Shrewd Plays for July 2
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 July 2 and deserve your utmost consideration.
5. 2B Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
5. 2B Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
This switch-hitter's bat has been pretty cold in recent weeks, but it looks to be heating back up. Zobrist has managed to put up eight hits in his last six games, including a HR, two triples and two doubles. He'll look to keep the momentum going today against starter Vidal Nuno. The southpaw will bring an ugly 6.20 home ERA with him to the ballpark, and right-handers are batting .282 against him with a whopping 13 HRs on the year.
4. OF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals
4. OF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals
The Royals' center fielder is quietly having a pretty solid season with a .309 average to go along with 35 RBIs in 59 games. He's seeing the ball well right now with four multi-hit efforts in his past eight contests. He'll square off against Minnesota Twins starter Kevin Correia this afternoon. Not only does Correia sport an awful 6.55 home ERA, but he's allowing righties to bat .304 against him to this point.
3. 1B Mike Napoli: Boston Red Sox
3. 1B Mike Napoli: Boston Red Sox
After batting a minuscule .189 in May, Napoli was able to turn it around in June with a solid .311 average. He's been even better over his past 10 games as he sports a .333 average to go along with three HRs. He'll face lefty Travis Wood today, and that bodes well for more success. Napoli is hitting .310 versus southpaws this season, plus Wood owns a smelly 6.07 ERA on the road thus far.
2. 3B Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers
2. 3B Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers
With a .368 average to go along with five HRs and 14 RBIs over his past 18 games, few players are as sizzling hot at Ramirez right now. I think that continues when he takes on the Toronto Blue Jays and lefty J.A. Happ today. Ramirez has mashed southpaws this year to the tune of a .340 average, and Happ is allowing right-handers to bat a lofty .286 on the season.
1. SP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
1. SP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
This Cy Young Award candidate has been beyond impressive in 2014. He's the only starter in baseball with a sub 2.00 ERA (1.88), and his microscopic 0.84 WHIP is tops in the league as well. Cueto makes for a good play any day, but he'll face the comically inept San Diego Padres offense this afternoon. Considering the Padres are working on a historically bad offensive season, a gigantic game should be in the cards for Cueto.
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.