Daniel Norris (SP-DET): Norris won after allowing two hits and four walks with five strikeouts across six scoreless innings. After experiencing dead arm during his last spring start, Norris has come out of the shoot looking like the breakout we were hoping for. He has been fortunate with sequencing and BABIP, which has bailed him out of jams that's entered due to control issues. But, I see this is rust, as the stuff looks filthy. He looks ready to break out.
Dallas Keuchel (SP-HOU): Keuchel won after allowing one run on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over seven innings Friday. The lefty has a 100 percent strand rate and is experiencing some extreme BABIP luck so far. I like the increase in the groundball rate and the control/command he is exhibiting, but foresee something in between his breakout 2015 and his disappointing 2016 by season's end.
Felix Hernandez (SP-SEA): Hernandez won after allowing one run on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. The King knows how to pitch and is adjusting to diminishing velocity. While the days of elite K's may be over, Hernandez can still deliver top-30 SP value by season's end if he can maintain his control. Just be sure to slot him in behind 200+ strikeout guys and you'll reap rewards.
Logan Morrison (1B/DH-TB): Morrison went 2-for-5 with a grand slam, a double, and two runs scored. Morrison has posted a .413 wOBA with three homers and 10 RBI in his first 11 games. While he's enjoying BABIP luck, he's also posting the highest hard-hit rate of his career. LOMO can hold his own against lefties, and as long as he's healthy and hitting, he should be owned in most 12-team leagues.
Troy Tulowitzki (SS-TOR): TULO--as part of a Jays stack against Alec Asher--makes for a great tournament play today on FanDuel at $3400. Asher posted a six percent swinging strike rate in his limited MLB time last season; before getting the call he posted 46:10 K:BB ratio in 64 2/3 innings in the minors. His pitch to contact style should fit into Tulo's wheelhouse, as the veteran is carrying an 88 percent contact rate out of the gate season. Add in the favorable hitting environment at the Rogers Centre, a place that Tulo has enjoyed during his Blue Jays tenure, and you have the ingredients for a big day.
