Daily fantasy baseball lineup: Start Hisashi Iwakuma, Mike Trout
SI's FanNation app has arrived, offering daily fantasy sports games that let you put your skills on the line for money or just for bragging rights, leading off with the launch of Baseball Throwdown. Every day, SI's Michael Beller will release his lineup for that day's Baseball Throwdown contest and offer up other picks to get your team ready for the day's slate of games. Download the FanNation app today and get started challenging your friends.
Pitcher
Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners (vs. Astros) — Iwakuma has been touched up in his last three starts, allowing a total of 11 runs in 13 2/3 innings. The Astros, then, should be a sight for sore eyes. In his last outing against the division foe, he allowed just one run and fanned seven batters in six innings. The Astros' 23.4-percent strikeout rate is the second highest in the majors, trailing only the Cubs. Iwakuma can exploit this lineup and rack up big strikeout numbers on Wednesday.
Infielder
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers (vs. Padres, Ian Kennedy) — Gonzalez has been on a tear of late, going 14-for-41 with five homers and 12 RBI in his last 10 games. Four of those five homers have come in his last four contests, so now is the time to go after him in daily fantasy leagues. He has just eight hits in 35 career at-bats against Kennedy, but two of those have left the yard.
Outfielder
Mike Trout, Angels (@ Rangers, Nick Tepesch) — When Trout is hitting like he is right now, you don’t really ask questions about getting him on your daily roster. You just plug him in and watch the points accumulate. He has six hits in his last 13 at-bats, including a homer, double and triple. He’s also 3-for-7 with a homer against Tepesch and is a career .324/.368/.618 hitter at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Other Recommendations
Pitchers
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (vs. Braves) — Strasburg has allowed just two runs in his last 13 2/3 innings, fanning 13 batters in that span.
Jake Odorizzi, Rays (@ Yankees) — Odorizzi didn’t allow a run in either of his previous starts, going 14 1/3 shutout innings against the Blue Jays and Red Sox combined.
Infielders
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays (vs. Cubs, Kyle Hendricks) — Encarnacion has eight hits, including a homer and a double, in his last five games.
Victor Martinez, Tigers (vs. Royals, James Shields) — Martinez is a career .317/.317/.488 hitter against Shields.
Outfielders
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (vs. Cubs, Kyle Hendricks) — Bautista, who is on a 13-game hitting streak, has four hits, two homers and 10 RBI in his last three games.
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (@ Brewers, Wily Peralta) — Stanton already has four homers, two doubles and seven RBI in the month of September.
