Pitcher List is proud to partner with DraftKings for the 2019 season. We’ll be featuring our top picks for every daily slate through the season and feature articles dedicated to the GPP.
Top SP: Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS ($9,000) vs. DET
Eduardo Rodriguez has 14 strikeouts to just one walk over 12 innings in his past two starts, a huge improvement from his first two starts of the year. He should continue his success against an abysmal Tigers lineup that has just a .256 wOBA against lefties, which ranks them dead last in all of baseball. Rodriguez has a solid floor in this matchup as well as a high ceiling thanks to his strikeout upside. That’s the best combination you can ask for.
Honorable Mention: Justin Verlander ($10,500) vs. MIN.
Value SP: Jefry Rodriguez, CLE ($6,600) vs. MIA
To be clear, Jefry Rodriguez (no relation to Eduardo) is not a good pitcher. However, bad pitchers can still be valuable DFS plays when they’re at a low price in a good matchup. That’s what we’ve got with Rodriguez as he faces the paltry Marlins. Miami’s .267 wOBA versus right-handed pitching is the third-lowest mark in the league, while their 31.0% strikeout rate is the highest. Rodriguez certainly comes with some risk, but he may be able to give you strong innings at a low price and a low ownership rate.
Honorable Mentions: Jacob Junis ($8,500) at TB; Felix Pena ($7,700) vs. NYY.
SS Xander Bogaerts, BOS ($4,300) vs. DET (RHP Tyson Ross)
Tigers starter Tyson Ross is a clear regression candidate as he’s got a 4.98 FIP and a .243 BABIP. Xander Bogaerts should see plenty of RBI opportunities batting fifth in the Red Sox order, and he is playing in an extreme hitters’ park in Fenway. Bogaerts would be an essential member of a Red Sox stack, and he’s got affordable teammates in Mitch Moreland ($4,500) and Rafael Devers ($4,300).
Honorable Mentions: 2B Ozzie Albies ($4,500) at CIN (RHP Tanner Roark); 2B/SS Jonathan Villar ($4,700) vs. CWS (RHP Ervin Santana).
1B/OF Brandon Belt, SF ($3,900) at TOR (RHP Clay Buchholz)
Brandon Belt has more power in his bat than you might expect, as Oracle Park in San Francisco has severely depressed his output over the years. So when he gets a chance in a hitters’ park like Rogers Centre, he can make the most of it. Belt homered last night and could have another big game against Clay Buchholz, who got beat around his last time out. I like Belt in GPP contests as an under-the-radar power flier.
Honorable Mentions: OF Khris Davis ($4,700) vs. TEX (RHP Jesse Chavez); OF Andrew McCutchen ($4,500) at NYM (LHP Jason Vargas).
Value Bat: OF A.J. Pollock, LAD ($3,400) at CHC (LHP Cole Hamels)
Even with A.J. Pollock’s awful start to the season, he’s still destroying left-handed pitching with a 159 wRC+. It should be easy for him to find runs and RBI in the loaded Dodgers lineup, and don’t forget that Pollock has a valuable power/speed skill set that gives him lots of upside. Pollock is only striking out 14.7% of the time, so I’m confident that he will break out of his early-season slump in no time. Grab him now while he’s super cheap.
Honorable Mentions: OF Randal Grichuk ($4,000) vs SF (LHP Drew Pomeranz); OF Yasiel Puig ($3,900) vs. ATL (RHP Mike Soroka).
Lineup Stack: Indians vs Marlins (RHP Sandy Alcantara)
Sandy Alcantara has gotten shelled in his past two starts and now has a 5.09 ERA on the season. The Indians lineup should put up some runs on him, and you can get many of their hitters for cheap. Leonys Martin ($4,300) and Carlos Gonzalez ($4,100) are the lower-priced buys, while Jose Ramirez ($4,600) and Francisco Lindor ($4,700) are always worthy plays.
Honorable Mentions: Red Sox vs. Tigers (RHP Tyson Ross).
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is troyklauder) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games on which I offer advice. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings, and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any nonpublic information.