Amazin’ Fantasy Picks: Mets Musts for 8/21 vs. Rockies

Amazin’ Fantasy Picks is a new gameday feature by co-editor Kenny DeJ0hn. On gamedays, these posts will look into the best Mets plays for Daily Fantasy Baseball — specifically on FanDuel. At most, we’ll pick four Mets to target, and we’ll include valid reasons as to why they need to be locked into your lineups. All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.

The Mets square off against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET on Friday at Coors Field in Colorado, meaning the ball should jump off the bat against two pretty hittable pitchers.

Bartolo Colon takes the bump for the Mets, and he is not an option worth considering tonight for FanDuel. While he’s almost a certainty to go five or more innings, coupling his pitch-to-contact strategy with the potent Colorado bats isn’t a good recipe for success.

Colorado sends Jon Gray to the mound, and while there’s not much to examine on Gray at the major league level, he did post a solid start against the Mets on Aug. 10, issuing just one hit and one run (both courtesy of a Travis D’Arnaud home run) in a six inning outing.

Gray is still unpredictable, but several Mets bats are in line for decent nights hitting in the friendly confines of Coors.

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Travis D’Arnaud, C, $3,900

D’Arnaud is actually a bit on the pricey side today, but he’s the only Mets player with a hit against Gray in his career (1-for-2). Generally, hitter-versus-pitcher statistics shouldn’t sway your decision too much, but seeing as he’s the only member of his team to even touch Gray, it’d be a smart decision to give him a look tonight.

Catcher is traditionally a position many Daily Fantasy players like to punt, which is very understandable for a variety of reasons.

This is a bit of a risk play because of the price tag and because D’Arnaud is just two for his last 18, but he owns a .789 OPS against right-handed pitchers and a .216 ISO, which definitely puts him in the conversation as one of the better options tonight — despite the risk.

Curtis Granderson, OF, $4,700

Perhaps the most expensive player on the Mets you’ll consider tonight, Curtis Granderson is as close to a must-play as there is. If you can fit $4,700 into the budget, then make it happen. You won’t regret it.

His .911 OPS is the highest on the team against right-handers, and his .245 ISO makes him a deadly option against Gray.

Granderson, a fly ball hitter playing in Coors Field tonight, should be in your lineups.

Lucas Duda, 1B, $4,600

Yes, Lucas Duda is the next option in an apparent line of high-priced Mets this evening, but for good reason. The lefty slugger feasts on right-handed pitching, evidenced by his .791 OPS, .222 ISO and .344 wOBA.

Duda was 0-for-3 against Gray 11 days ago, but he should learn from that poor showing and work better at-bats against the youngster.

With hits in his last three starts at first base, Duda is on a mini-streak right now that should continue on through Friday.

Juan Uribe, 3B, $3,400

Juan Uribe is by no means your traditional punt play, but few Mets hitters are as inexpensive tonight as the third baseman.

Uribe isn’t a great hitter. He sports a .641 OPS and .268 wOBA against righties, but his .277 ISO is absolutely absurd. He’s a cheap source of massive power on Friday, especially at Coors.

Uribe is a good player to pair with Granderson or Duda if you’re looking to do a mini Mets stack, as it should even out the remaining payroll to spend a good amount on your remaining players.