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We’ve got an exciting slate full of 14 games tonight! Let’s get this weekend started off right with some lineups. Make sure your squads are set before 7pm eastern.
Must Play SP: Jacob deGrom, NYM ($24,300) at SD
deGrom is looking better than ever this season, posting a career-high 31.5% K-rate with just a 6.3% walk-rate and a 2.53 ERA through five starts. He’s showcased his strikeout ability in his last two starts, striking out 22 batters in 14 1/3 innings, and he could make that stat look even more impressive as he takes on the Padres. The Padres strike out more than any team in baseball against right-handed pitching at 28.4% of the time. Additionally, they have just a .290 wOBA against righties, ranking them 26th in the league, and play in one of the best pitcher’s parks in the league. deGrom should be targeted in all formats.
Honorable Mention: Corey Kluber, CLE ($24,900) vs SEA
Value SP: Danny Duffy, KC ($13,900) vs CWS
I like Duffy as a cheap buy-low to target in GPP formats on Friday. His ugly ERA is mostly due to one awful start, which he had his last time out against Detroit. Duffy has a ton of upside against the White Sox, who are the Padres of lefties (they strike out more than any other team against southpaws at 29.2%). Duffy will also be aided by his home ballpark, which suppresses home runs. He is a risky play, which is why he should only be used in GPPs, but his upside is considerable.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Anderson, COL ($15,600) at MIA
IF Francisco Lindor, CLE ($8,900) vs SEA (RHP Erasmo Ramirez)
Lindor’s slow start means that we can take advantage of his price tonight by buying low. Lindor already has three homers and five steals, but it’s his .215 batting average that’s keeping his price down. We should all know that this won’t last, though, as Lindor is running a .254 BABIP despite hitting for a 26.1% line drive rate. He’s a career .289 hitter and is in a fantastic spot leading off against Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez. Ramirez got shelled for five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Rangers in his first start of the year, so the Indians should put up plenty of runs on him. Atop the Cleveland lineup, Lindor will have the opportunity to score some of those runs.
Honorable Mention: IF Mike Moustakas, KC ($8,400) vs CWS (Lopez)
OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($7,400) at PIT (LHP Steven Brault)
Ozuna is another hitter who has gotten off to a slow start, and while there are admittedly some red flags in his profile, there’s no reason to give up on him after less than a month of play. After all, he hit 37 homers last season, and can do some serious damage out of the Cardinals cleanup spot. Ozuna should crush Pirates starter Steven Brault, who has an awful K-BB numbers, with a 14.9% K-rate and an 11.9% walk-rate. Ozuna has hit lefties much better in his career, with a 123 wRC+ against them. Grab Ozuna in your GPP contests for a high-upside play.
Honorable Mention: OF Odubel Herrera, PHI ($7,500) vs ATL (Teheran)
Value: IF Pedro Alvarez, BAL ($5,900) vs DET (RHP Mike Fiers)
Alright, admit it – you had no idea that Pedro Alvarez is still playing in the Major Leagues. Yep, believe it or not he’s starting every day against righties in the Orioles lineup. While his .192 average is unappealing, he’s at least walking 16.1% of the time. The real story here is in his matchup, facing off against Mike Fiers. Fiers has salvaged together three decent starts this season, but still has a 4.24 FIP on the year with just a 13.2% K-rate. Fiers had a 1.88 HR/9 last year and is going into Camden Yards, which is a great ballpark to hit home runs in. Alvarez is incredibly cheap, so he doesn’t have to produce a ton to be worth his price, and you could hit the jackpot if he homers.
Honorable Mention: OF Jesse Winker, CIN ($6,800) at MIN (Hughes)
Top Stack: Tigers at Orioles (RHP Chris Tillman)
I’m not sure why the Orioles continue to trot out Chris Tillman, but I will continue to take advantage of this every time he pitches. Tillman has a 9.87 ERA in four starts with a 2.60 HR/9 and more walks than strikeouts. The Tigers lineup will tee off in a fantastic hitter’s park. Miguel Cabrera ($9,200) and Nicholas Castellanos ($9,400) are your expensive bats, while hot-hitting Jeimer Candelario comes in at just $8,200. I’m also digging Leonys Martin ($7,200), who is now walking 7.4% of the time while cutting his K-rate to just 17.9%. He’s got four homers on the year, and has plenty of speed out of the Tigers leadoff spot.
Honorable Mention: Indians vs Mariners (Ramirez)