We’ve got an 11-game slate for Saturday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your MLB DFS lineups on DraftKings. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ($11,500) — It hasn’t been a good time for Skubal as a Dodger so far. Scratch that. I’m sure he’s loving life as a Dodger. He just hasn’t been producing up to the lofty standards, so it hasn’t been a good time for us fantasy nerds and Dodgers fans. That said, he hasn’t been awful, putting up 17.9, 13 and 20.1 FPTS in his first three starts in Los Angeles. Moving leagues and going from Detroit to Los Angeles is quite the transition, so it’s not surprising there have been some complications. I have no doubt, though, that he’s going to be the Skubal we all know and love at some point. Why not now? Against left-handed pitching, Pittsburgh is second in strikeouts, 23rd in ISO and 26th in wRC+.
Value
Patrick Sandoval, Boston Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants ($6,700) — Sandoval got lit up for seven earned runs in four innings against the Pirates last start. Wait a minute? I thought the Pirates struggled against lefties?! Well, Sandoval is no Skubal, and he has had some struggles on the road this season. He’s at home for this one, and the matchup is another good one. San Francisco is 12th in strikeouts, 26th in ISO and 28th in wRC+ against left-handed pitching. Sandoval has put up double-digit FPTS in five of his last seven starts.
INFIELD
Stud
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels ($4,900) — Seager has an average exit velocity of 91.5 mph and a barrel rate of 15.1%. Against right-handed pitching, he’s hit 10 of his 13 home runs with a .208 ISO and a 105 wRC+. Seager has produced fantasy goodies in seven straight contests, including four performances in double digits and a high of 22 FPTS. Ryan Johnson has struggled this season, posting a 6.57 FIP, a 19.9-degree launch angle, and an 11.5% barrel rate in 60.1 innings.
Value
Mickey Gasper, Boston Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants ($2,400) — Gasper was recalled from Triple-A three games ago due to the Masataka Yoshida injury, and all he’s done is hit a homer in every contest! I’m not expecting another home run, but Gasper is cheap, and he has hit well against right-handed pitching all season. In the split, he has posted a 122 wRC+ and a .162 ISO. Blade Tidwell has a 6.58 FIP and a -4.9 K-BB% against lefties.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants ($5,500) — Yup, we’re stacking lefties against Tidwell. Abreu has an average exit velocity of 89.9 mph with an 18.8-degree launch angle and a 12.8% barrel rate. He has posted a .215 ISO with a 103 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. Seventeen of his 22 home runs have come off righties.
Value
Gavin Sheets, San Diego Padres vs. Minnesota Twins ($2,800) — Sheets is batting .214, but the BABIP is .234. He has 16 home runs, 46 runs, 46 RBIs and four stolen bases in 399 plate appearances. The walk rate is 11.8%, the strikeout rate is 20.8%, and the bat speed is 74.4 mph. Sheets has hit all of his homers off righties, posting a 118 wRC+ and a .214 ISO against them. Dean Kremer has a 5.39 FIP against lefties; his K-BB% is also 14.5 percentage points lower against them compared to righties (11.4% vs. 25.9%).
