There are six MLB games on the main slate for Saturday, with the first starting at 3:40 p.m. EST. Here are three value picks for the slate. This article is written before the actual lineups come out, so keep track of updates throughout the day.
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2B Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Angels, $2,600
Keith has had a brutal start to the season, slashing .181/.337/.250 in 89 plate appearances. The walk rate is a robust 19.1%, though, while the strikeout rate is a more-than-manageable 22.5%. He’s been unlucky with a .235 BABIP and a .069 ISO well below expectations.
All of the projection systems have Keith at a .150-ish ISO. He tallied 13 home runs in 556 MLB plate appearances last season.
Now, Keith did hit his first home run two games ago. He’s hot!!! I kid, but it could be the start of something.
Saturday’s matchup is a good one. Kyle Hendricks has been awful to start the season. The fastball is averaging only 86.8 mph and he’s posted a 6.02 FIP while walking 12 batters and allowing four home runs in 23 innings. He also has struck out only 13 batters.
The Angels’ bullpen has also allowed the fourth-highest FIP and second-highest HR/9.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles, $3,000
Pasquantino is only slashing .185/.246/.336 to start the season with four home runs. While the .151 ISO is down from the .180-.190 range of the last two seasons, Pasquantino has been very unlucky. The BABIP is .196 while the average exit velocity is 90.1 mph and the barrel rate is 8.3%.
Saturday’s matchup is a good one, as Tomoyuki Sugano has a paltry 12.6% strikeout rate and has allowed six home runs in 33 innings, four of those to left-handed batters. The FIP is 5.12 and the average fastball velocity is only 92.6 mph.
In addition, this game is in Baltimore, a more hitter-friendly environment than Kansas City. Camden Yards is 13th-best for home runs while Kauffman Stadium is 25th.
C Mitch Garver, Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers, $3,000
Garver is not in the lineup on Friday, but he will likely be the DH on Saturday, as a lefty will be on the mound.
Patrick Corbin has surprisingly pitched well for the Rangers so far, posting a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings. The FIP is 4.48, though, and he’s served up three home runs.
Garver only has one home run on the season, but the .087 ISO is well below his career-average of .215.
This could be a regression spot for both Corbin and Garver.
