Both FanDuel and DraftKings feature a 10 game main slate starting at 7:05, and we have a nice mix of aces with pitchers to attack today’s slate. One thing to keep an eye on is the weather in St. Louis for the Phillies/Cardinals game. As of this writing, it looks like it’s going to be very wet with no signs of stopping. With that said, let’s dive in.
Top SP: Carlos Rodon, CHW ($9,800 DK, $11,000 FD) vs DET
There are three aces up towards the top that I really like today. Tyler Glasnow, Zack Greinke, and Carlos Rodon. In my opinion, Rodon and Glasnow have the highest strikeout upside. Rodon just so happens to have an elite matchup as well. In the past, the Tigers were known to be decent against left-handed pitching. Oh, how the tides have turned!
This year, they’re dead last in wRC+ against lefties while sporting a 34% strikeout rate. Combine that with Rodon’s dominance to open the year, and you have a recipe for success.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Glasnow, TB ($10,300 DK, $10,800 FD) vs OAK; Zack Greinke, HOU ($9,400 DK, $9,000 FD).
Value SP: German Marquez, COL ($7,500 DK, $8,200) at SF
Anytime the Rockies get out of Coors, I’m interested in them on two fronts. The first is I want to pick on their bats, which is why Alex Wood makes an appearance below. The second is that their respectable pitchers become rosterable, and that’s where German Marquez comes into play. Marquez has held his own to begin the year, going at least 5.2 innings in his last four starts while topping five strikeouts each time.
Now he’ll get a Giants team that has struck out at a 28% clip against right-handed pitchers this year. Honestly, if Marquez goes six innings and strikes out six batters, he hits value very easily.
Honorable Mention: Alex Wood, SF ($8,300 DK, $8,800 FD) vs COL; Domingo German, NYY ($7,400 DK, $7,300 FD) at BAL.
1B Eric Hosmer, SD ($4,300 DK, $3,100 FD) at ARI
Usually, I’ll mention a high-priced studly bat in this space, but boy do I love the Padres today. It helps a lot that their clean-up hitter, Eric Hosmer, is priced down for some reason against Taylor Widener. I made the excellent joke on our PL Shorts Podcast that while Widener currently sports a sub-3 ERA, I expected it to start “Widening.” Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
So checking out Widerner’s numbers, he’s striking out batters at a sub-20% rate while allowing a 46% fly-ball rate and 47% hard-hit rate. That screams homers to me and lord knows “Slam Diego” loves hitting taters. For his part, Hosmer has been very good to start the year, hitting for a high average while popping three bombs in the early going.
Honorable Mentions: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 1B ($5,700 DK, $3,700 FD) vs WAS; Shohei Ohtani, 1B/OF ($4,200 DK, $4,200 FD) at TEX.
OF Giancarlo Stanton, NYY ($4,900 DK, $3,400 FD) at BAL
Don’t look now, but the second half of the Bronx Bombers is coming alive. After a tough start to the season, Giancarlo Stanton has rattled off hits in his last five games, including hitting three taters. He’ll look to keep that streak alive against Dean Kremer and the Baltimore relievers. Doesn’t that just sound like a band that would open for Frank Sinatra?
Kremer has flashed the strikeouts early in the year, mowing down 14 batters in 10.2 innings pitched. However, he’s struggled with his control, allowing six free passes and two homers. Not a great combination when facing these Yankees bats that can mash the ball.
Honorable Mentions: Yordan Alvarez, OF ($5,400 DK, $3,500 FD) vs SEA; Trent Grisham, OF ($5,300 DK, $3,900 FD) at ARI.
Value Batter: OF Manuel Margot, TB ($2,700 DK, $3,000 FD) vs OAK
Tampa Bay is one of the heaviest platoon teams in the league. Today, with Oakland rolling out lefty Cole Irvin, the Rays will counter with a lineup that features at least six righties. The good news for us is some of those righties a) also move up in the lineup and b) are super cheap for DFS purposes. Manuel Margot is a prime example of that. Not only is he super cheap, but he’s been batting cleanup for the Rays on days when they’re facing a left-handed pitcher. Margot offers a touch of power and speed in the middle of this lineup, and at $2,700, you can’t go wrong with this value.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Brosseau, 2B/3B ($3,400 DK, $2,900 FD) vs OAK; Anthony Rizzo, 1B ($3,900 DK, $3,300 FD) at ATL; Willie Calhoun, OF ($2,900 DK, $2,800 FD) vs LAA; Rougned Odor, 2B ($3,500 DK, $2,400 FD).
Top Stack: Astros vs SEA (RHP Justin Dunn)
I’ve already mentioned two of my favorite stacks in the Padres and the Yankees, but there are two more teams that are up in that realm, and it’s the Astros and Blue Jays. Both teams are pretty expensive in terms of the bats you want to stack. On the Houston side, I like 1-6 in the lineup today against Justin Dunn, but my favorite three are 2-3-4: Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez. Dunn has struggled with his control to open the year and walking batters, as well as throwing mistakes, is a good way to get your ERA beat up.
Looking at the Blue Jays projected lineup, I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’m going to stack them. Currently, Bo Bichette is expected to bat 8th? Is that correct? With struggling Cavan Biggio batting second? I just know I love Vlad and maybe I’ll just be looking to get him in as a one-off.
Good luck today!
Honorable Mentions: SD at ARI (Widener); NYY at BAL (Kremer); TB vs OAK (Irvin).
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