HUGE Saturday slate, which in the middle of April might appear weird but then you remember everyone is wearing #42 today for Jackie Robinson Day.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings are also in sync, as we have a 12 game site synchronicity slate locking at 1PM EST everywhere with a friendly and quiet 3 game night tilt slate for those who are wanting the late Saturday night MLB DFS fix.
WEATHER
Some rain here on this Saturday afternoon that needs to be monitored
- PIT at STL – Heavy rain potential. Divisional series too so we have an easy excuse to PPD and make it up later.
These spots also have what I call weather ‘noise’ but in the end they will play and have zero DFS impact.
- CLE at WSH – Rain should be very light and pass through. Game will play.
- ATL at KC – Higher rain potential here, but KC likely waits it out and finds a way to get this one in. Good chance they start in a delay
The only game with a little wind impact is in Cincinnati, which is already a little league field to begin with, winds are up to 10 MPH out to left field.
ANTHONY DeSCLAFANI
DK: $8,900, FD: $9,900
I don’t see the Tigers winning two in a row, do you? The Italian is back and got up to 88 pitches in his second start of the season on the 9th vs Kansas City. An extra days rest should bode well and he has yet to walk anyone on the season, which also bodes well vs the Tigers because we know they love to swing too, so I really think we’re looking at a 7 inning performance without any or much damage from Tony.
BRYCE EDLER
DK: $7,700, FD: $9,700
Time and time again I have seen the Royals as an organization struggle with pitchers that they do not have much data on. Their advanced scouting strategy seems to be so heavily weighted upon the opposing pitcher actually having lots of big league experience that they have seen in person. So this is a spot where we’re gonna see potential for a delayed start and then the Royals come out and just do nothing off Edler.
Other pitching notes ….
- Tyler Mahle … I do think Mahle is gonna be just fine today, expect this to be a lower scoring game, but not going to want to stomach either pitcher with other safer choices.
- Fastball Freddy P(eralta) … Just not willing to trust Peralta vs the Padres heart of the order.
- Kris Bubic … Yes, he is for real. I prefer Edler.
- Carlos Carrasco … He hasn’t been good and neither has the opponent Oakland. I cannot see him going from 0 to 60 here, at best you get 5 innings to luck into a win.
BLUE JAYS & RAYS
Yusei the Faucher is starting for Tampa? I say lets go north of the border for our gamestack as I don’t see this one going under.
We’ll wait to see the status on the roof here in Toronto and I think it will be open, but the way Bichette and Vlad are putting the ball in play Toronto should be able to string together some nice crooked number innings.
- Tampa – Wander Franco, Isaac Parades
- Toronto – Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero, Daulton Varsho
GUARDIANS
Any pitcher who has a history with poor command — especially with LHH is going to grade poorly vs this Cleveland lineup. I wrote yesterday how Amed Rosario was going to get going, he now has an XBH in each of his last two games and is sticking out at $4,400 between Kwan who probably is on base 3 times and Bubba Ramirez who likely drives in both of them a lot. Pair them up with Josh Naylor or Gimenez and this is a nother time I like a 4+ CLE stack.
I think you go all in on Cleveland or just play Jose Ramirez
- Steven Kwan, Amed Rosario, Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor
PHILLIES
A quick summary from the Friday night DFS slate. The Braves hit a ton of homers and also struck out a ton of times. Insert Phillies vs Graham Ashcraft today and we have the same thing IMO. Yes, they might strikeout 6+ times vs Asscrack but there isnt a better HR stack on the slate.
- Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm
Other viable hitting spots
- Mets — At this point just assume whoever is facing the Oakland pitching staff will be recommended until further notice.
CATCHER
- Francisco Mejia
- Danny Jansen
- Shea Langeliers
FIRST BASE
- Vlad Guerrero Jr
- Josh Naylor
- Pete Alonso
SECOND BASE
A deep but mediocre spot today. I see someone like Jeff McNeil as a really hard option to pass up. The way Fujinami has struggled he could see a ton of RBI potential in that Mets lineup.
- Jeff McNeil
- Andres Gimenez
- Ozzie Albies
THIRD BASE
- Jose Ramirez
- Isaac Parades
- Alec Bohm
SHORTSTOP
- Wander Franco
- Bo Bichette
- Trea Turner
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Juan Soto
- Nick Castellanos … Very tough call ranking him vs Schwarber today. Pretty even but Castellanos much cheaper and wind/split matchup isnt bad here.
- Daulton Varsho
- Christian Yelich
OUTFIELD – Value
- Enrique Hernandez … Also known as Kike
- Michael Conforto
- Manuel Margot
- Alex Call
- Wander Franco – SS – Rays – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Jose Ramirez – 3B – Guardians
- Vlad Guerrerro Jr – 1B – Blue Jays
- Daulton Varsho – OF – Blue Jays
- Enrique Hernandez – OF – Red Sox
- Nick Castellanos – OF – Phillies
- Francisco Mejia – C – Rays
- Jeff McNeil – 2B – Mets
- BONUS …………… Bo Bichette – SS – Blue Jays
FAVORITE BET(s)
- Tampa/Toronto over 9.5
- Angels/Red Sox over 9.5
- Braves/Royals under 8.5
- Phillies over 4.5 runs
TOP PROP(s) OF THE DAY
- Yusei Kikuchi under 4.5 strikeouts
- Kris Bubic over 4.5 strikeouts