The second round of the MLB playoffs will begin today and there are no schedule days off in this round of the playoffs. That won’t matter in the first couple of games but by the time they get to game three and beyond we will be noticing a lot of interesting decisions from managers with regards to bullpens.
The two American League best of five series begin today and will be played in PETCO Park in San Diego and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as the MLB moves into a bubble environment setup.
The Astros and Athletics will face off in Los Angeles with the Athletics being the “home” team for the first two games.
The Rays and Yankees will face off in San Diego with the Rays being the “home” team for the first two games.
I expect lots of offense in both of these series, including today.
WEATHER
There’s a reason they picked L.A. and San Diego. It’s nice out and in the case of the game in L.A. it’s extremely warm. I expect both games to go OVER with lots of home runs as all four teams have HR power.
Houston (McCullers) vs Oakland Bassitt) in Dodger Stadium
From a DFS perspective these are your sneaky pitchers today for strikeouts, but I don’t know that the strikeout upside each bring is enough to trust it as the contrarian play.
Astros Hitters
Dodger stadium typically plays well for LH hitters and Bassitt has been so good at keeping right handed hitters in the ballpark that I think our entire focus has to be on Kyle Tucker (great FB/CH hitter, which Bassit throws 65%+ of the time) and Michael Brantley. Houston runs at the pace of George Springer though, so if you like Houston to score a bunch you gotta have Springer.
DFS: Tucker – Brantley – Springer
Athletics Hitters
Tommy La Stella should lead off for Oakland and has been a great addition to this lineup at the top of the order. He and Marcus Semien (SS isn’t great on this two game slate, lock him in) are the table setters as must owns. Since I mentioned this is a good lefty park that brings Matt Olson, Mr. HR or bust into play as well.
DFS: La Stella – Semien – Olson
N.Y. Yankees (Cole) vs Tampa Bay (Snell) in PETCO Park
Prepare for fireworks. This is a match-up of two teams who have publicly stated that they don’t care for each other and the Rays do not want to go quietly just because the big bad Yankees are in their way.
N.Y. Yankees Hitters
Open your DFS lineups, open your favorite sports book prop site. Search for Giancarlo Stanton and click on whatever prop or bet that you can in which you win money by him hitting a home run. It’s going to happen so long as he doesn’t walk five times today.
DFS: Stanton, LeMahieu, Sanchez
Rays Hitters
For those who love some BvP, Ji-Man Choi against Gerritt Cole has already come through this year and will be a logical spot that folks want to gravitate towards today. Cole is no doubt the highest owned pitcher in DFS terms today and it makes sense given that when he is on he tops out near a 40% strikeout rate. I would be open to using Cole and still plugging in a few Rays hitters like Choi and some value from Arozarena/Kiermaier/Margot depending on who gets the start.
DFS: Choi & Value outfielders
BETS & DFS PLAYS
Astros/Athletics OVER 8 Runs
Yankees/Rays OVER 7 Runs
Chairman of the Dongers Club: Giancarlo Stanton
Top DFS Pitchers to use: Cole and McCullers
Core DFS Bats: Stanton, LeMahieu, Tucker, Semien