The Fourth of July is the time of year to celebrate fireworks and hot dog eating contests. There might be some patriotic parts in there somewhere, but there are few things more American than baseball.
Of course, as long as you're watching baseball, you might as well make some money in daily fantasy with the help of these pitchers.
Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers ($11,100)
While fans can expect an exciting pitchers' duel between Matt Harvey and Zack Greinke, only one of them gets to face a New York Mets lineup that recently scored just one run in a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
Greinke not only has an easy matchup, he is also coming in with three straight scoreless efforts totaling 20.2 innings. With an incredible 1.58 ERA to this point in the season, the veteran pitcher seemingly cannot be stopped.
Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($9,000)
Carlos Martinez continues to impress in his first full year as a starter. Not only does he have a 9-3 record with a 2.80 ERA for the season, but he has been even better lately, finishing June with a 2.18 mark.
He has also been excelling as a fantasy player, averaging 26 points over his last eight starts. The San Diego Padres haven't exactly been world-beaters at the plate, which makes this a good opportunity for a big game from Martinez.
Michael Pineda, New York Yankees ($8,300)
Consistency has been a real issue for Michael Pineda, but when he is on, he can be a huge help to your fantasy team. In four of his last six starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs while striking out at least eight.
What helps his cause is the ability to limit his own damage. He currently leads the American League with a 7.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio and can take advantage of this against the light-hitting Tampa Bay Rays.
Collin McHugh, Houston Astros ($7,600)
The Boston Red Sox have been hitting better lately, but this still isn't a good team, and Collin McHugh has a good chance to leave Fenway Park with a win. Meanwhile, whatever had been ailing McHugh is apparently fixed, per ESPN.com's Mark Simon:
A pitcher who can go deep into games is a real asset in daily fantasy baseball, and McHugh can provide players with a big game for reasonable cost.
Wandy Rodriguez, Texas Rangers ($5,400)
For those looking to save some money with a pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez represents an intriguing pick. The veteran has had an up-and-down season, though his 3.91 ERA would drop to a more respectable 3.10 if you took away his one terrible start against the Oakland Athletics (eight runs allowed in four innings).
The Los Angeles Angels have been inconsistent at the plate this year and, except for Mike Trout, not much better against left-handed starters. You could end up with some serious value if Rodriguez puts together a quality game.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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