With a lot of the creative offensive players away at the Gold Cup, the scoring was down for MLS last week. This should continue this week, but there will still be some good plays out there. With the low scoring, some of the best plays will probably be goalkeepers. Be sure to put extra time into picking the right one for your team this week.
Here are the MLS links for injuries and discipline, usually updated Tuesdays and Fridays:
//www.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-injury-report
//www.mlssoccer.com/mls-disciplinary-summary
You can also get updates on these and MLS Projected Starting Lineups from us at MLS Fantasy Gurus on Facebook and Twitter every week.
Tip(s) of the week: Sporting KC, Real Salt Lake, Chicago and Columbus will play twice this week, Toronto and New England the following week. Gold Cup players will be away this week with their teams. Check our Facebook page to see the list of players.
TOP XI for points:
GK - Will Hesmer (CLB) – The Wake Forest product plays in two home games this week, the first against Real Salt Lake and the second against the Chicago Fire. Expect a shutout in at least one of them.
D - Nat Borchers (RSL) – The 2010 MLS Best XI member has two opportunities to add to his one goal he has on the season.
D - Chad Marshall (CLB) – The 2008 and '09 MLS Defender of the Year has had some close chances on goal, but hasn’t been able to finish. He will have two chances to open his scoring account this week with home games against Real Salt Lake and Chicago.
D - Cory Gibbs (CHI) – The former Ivy Leaguer from Brown University has one goal on the season and will have two away games to add to that, the first against Sporting KC and the second vs. Columbus.
M - Brad Evans (SEA) – After an injury-shortened 2010 season, the former UC Irvine player has been playing well, with four goals and one assist so far on the season. He will be playing against a Vancouver Whitecaps team that has allowed 20 goals this year, tied for second-worst in the league.
M - Jean Alexandre (RSL) –The 24-year-old Haitian International has been moved to forward, a position he is familiar with from his college days at Lynn University. With two games this week, look for him to continue to impress with away games against Columbus and Philadelphia.
M - Ryan Smith (SKC) – An injury-filled season has led to an unimpressive start, with one goal on the year. He has looked dangerous the last couple weeks and should break out this week with two games, first against Chicago and the other away vs. FC Dallas.
M - Eddie Gaven (CLB) – His numbers were so much better as a 17- and 18-year-old, but we’re thinking that this is the week he breaks open his 2011 season with home games against Real Salt Lake and Chicago.
F - Cristian Nazarit (CHI) – The 20-year-old Colombian has looked good since he joined the Fire. He has two games this week to prove himself, the first in Kansas City and the other one at Crew Stadium against Columbus.
F - Teal Bunbury (SKC) –The fourth overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft will have two opportunities to add to his three goals and two assists. Opening up the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in his first game and playing away against FC Dallas should allow him to add to those totals.
F - Fabián Espíndola (RSL) – The 26-year-old Argentine plays in two games this week, giving him the chance to add to his two goals and one assist.
Here are our official teams for Week 13 in the basic game:
FantasyGuruDave’s choices:
GK - Kronberg (SKC), D - Myers (SKC), UTL - Nazarit (CHI), M - Joseph (NE), M - Gaven (CLB), F - Bunbury (SKC), F – Rodgers (NY).
FantasyGuruJimmy’s choices:
GK - Will Hesmer (CLB), D - Chad Marshall (CLB), UTL - Andrés Mendoza (CLB), M - Eddie Gaven (CLB), M - Jean Alexandre (RSL), F - Teal Bunbury (SKC), F - Diego Cháves (CHI).
Questions? Comments? Contact us at mlsfantasygurus@comcast.net
