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Reminder: Always double check the lineup card before rosters lock to make sure that a player you've chosen to roster is playing that day, and check the weather to make sure your players won't get rained out of their game.
Early
The early game is too limited, I think, to play Clayton Kershaw ($13,100) and find enough value hitters to put together a good lineup. There are only 4 games, 1 of which is in Coors Field, so prices on hitters are inflated there. Cole Hamels ($10,600) is a much cheaper pitching alternative. The positives for Hamels is that O.Co is a pitcher friendly park, and a good left handed heavy Rangers offense faces a RHP coming off a shoulder injury, so run support looks likely. The negatives are that the A's have multiple hitters with wRC+'s over 120 against LHP this year and they don't strike out a whole lot vs lefties, so the matchup isn't a slam dunk.
One hitter that strongly stands out in the early game based on price and matchup is Neil Walker ($3,200). Walker had hit RHP to a 116 wRC+ and .175 ISO before his huge night last night where he had 4 hits, including a home run. Walker gets a gigantic park upgrade in Coors Field and is priced very affordably.
Overall, though, I don't really like the selection a whole lot in the early game, and am probably going to avoid playing it because of how limited it is.
Late
Mets LHP Steven Matz ($8,600) the play I am leaning towards most primarily because of how talented he is + his salary, but he hasn't really had his best stuff since coming back from the DL. He does get the favorable matchup against a below average RHP, though, which the Mets offense should produce against, and Matz generates enough weak contact with his mid 90s moving fastball, 3 pitch mix and deceptive delivery to make Great American Ballpark less intimidating.
Some of those Mets hitters than can be expected to have strong chances at production are Curtis Granderson ($3,400), and Michael Conforto ($2,700). Granderson and Conforto have both hit RHP extremely well with wRC+s over 150, and Mets hitters (particularly lefties) get a massive park upgrade in Great American Ballpark. The issue with playing Conforto is that the manager often double switches him out of games late, which I do not really understand, because his defense is solid and his bat is electric. He also unfortunately bats 7th, when he should probably bat anywhere from 2-5.
Other thoughts: lefty masher Evan Longoria ($3,200) faces a below average LHP in Fenway Park, so that's an affordable option at 3B if needed.
You can follow me on twitter at @TimFinn521