Slate Details
DK/FD – Main slate (10 games) – starts 1:35 p.m. EDT
Weather Impact
It will be very cold with a solid wind blowing in and some late showers but I still think the Rays and Red Sox will get their game in. There could possibly be a delay in COL@KC but no real threat for a PPD.
Pitching
Today is the day! Most definitely. Probably. Okay, maybe. We’ll see. But Sandy Alcantara has to figure it out against Oakland today right? The Marlins ace has flabbergasted fantasy owners this year with his struggles, especially with his command issues of late, walking 11 batters to just 11 strikeouts over his last three starts. A home game against the lowly A’s has to be the get-right formula that does it for Sandy and I am going for it regardless of his recent form.
Taj Bradley had it all working on against the Cubs with his four-seamer/cutter/curveball combo, but unfortunately, Marcus Stroman was just a little bit better. He faces the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, which is not the easiest of matchups but I am willing to let it ride. Outside of Rafael Devers, there are not a ton of HR threats in that lineup and if Bradley’s stuff is in good form I think he can put up a good start today.
I’m all in on Michael Kopech right now. I’m actually glad he gave up a few HRs and wasn’t dominant in his last start against the Angels so that people will not be as in on him as I am. He still racked up 10 Ks in those 4.1 innings and prior to that he struck out 19 batters in 15 innings while allowing just three total hits and one walk. Now he faces a Detroit lineup that has scored just one total run in the first two games of this series and is missing Riley Greene. Lock in Kopech and thank me later.
Joe Ryan got roughed up quite a bit in his last start at Houston, allowing two HRs and five ERs in four innings. Forget about that. Prior to that start, he hadn’t allowed more than two ERs in six consecutive starts and Ryan has four starts of nine Ks or more in 2023. On Sunday he faces the lowly Guardians lineup that is also missing Josh Bell. Sign me up.
Pitcher Pricing 6-4-2023
Hitting
Matthew Boyd is no stranger to the Chicago White Sox and things have not gone well in the previous 17 starts. Boyd’s career numbers against the South Siders include a 5.31 ERA, 104 hits, and 16 HRs in 84.2 innings. This White Sox lineup doesn’t quite mash lefties like they did in previous years, but they still feature Tim Anderson, Luis Robert Jr., Eloy Jiménez, and Yoán Moncada. Andrew Vaughn has an impressive 168 wRC+ over the last two weeks and Jake Burger has some pop in his bat. Stacking the White Sox against Boyd has been a staple of my DFS strategy in the past and I’m certainly not going to stop now.
The early season shine of Yusei Kikuchi has worn off and he now faces a New York Mets lineup that is probably chomping at the bit after getting dominated by Chris Bassitt and José Berríos in the first two games of this series. Francisco Álvarez has taken a big step forward this season and is a great option at catcher. Francisco Lindor and Starling Marte offer an intriguing power/speed combo and Pete Alonso is a walking HR. If you’re looking for good value, Tommy Pham has good splits against LHP and Mark Vientos offers good power despite his struggles at the major league level so far in his early career. Make sure you check to see who is in the starting lineup but there are no shortage of options today in the Mets lineup.
Other hitters to consider:
- The Cincinnati Reds have embraced the youth movement and have been rewarded. Matt McLain and Spencer Steer are playing really well and pair nicely with “veterans” like Jonathan India, Jake Fraley, and Nick Senzel. Adrian Houser is a pitcher that can give up runs in bunches and I think the Reds can get after him this afternoon.
- The Marlins are surprisingly popping off right now after dropping 12 runs on Oakland yesterday. Luis Arraez feels like a lock for the NL batting title and there are few players with more power than Jorge Soler. Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez have been ripping the ball lately as well and Miami could be a sneaky stack against Paul Blackburn and the A’s on Sunday.
Hitter Pricing 6-4-23