We’ve got a 12-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
Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds ($8,900) — I have a little concern with Gausman because the weather forecasts call for winds blowing out at 10 mph to dead center. Obviously, the concern is not too great since I’m writing him up here. Through 150.1 innings, Gausman posted a 3.50 FIP and a 17.1% K-BB%, while allowing 18 home runs. The matchup is a good one, as Cincinnati is first in strikeouts and dead last in wRC+. Now, Gausman hasn’t been the most consistent pitcher, having posted eight single-digit FPTS games, with two of those in the negatives. On the flip side, he’s cleared 20 FPTS eight times, with two performances over 30 FPTS. He should finish in the upper range of outcomes and match or exceed the top pitchers on this slate as the sixth-most expensive arm.
Value
Martin Perez, Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies ($6,800) — You want strikeouts? You’ve come to the wrong place, as Perez has a 17.9% strikeout rate. Perez is a wily veteran who will eat innings. He has posted an 87.7 mph average exit velocity, a 7.6 degree launch angle, and a 5.3% barrel rate. He has put up over 20 FPTS four times this season, with a high of 30 FPTS. He’s relatively cheap, and the matchup is a good one. The Rockies are out of Coors Field and are 21st in ISO and 29th in wRC+ against left-handed pitching.
INFIELD
Stud
Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks ($4,500) — Devers has 29 home runs, 75 runs and 76 RBIs in 568 plate appearances. His average exit velocity is 92.7 mph with an 11% barrel rate. Twenty-four of his home runs have come off righties, against whom he has posted a .301 ISO and a 156 wRC+. Now he faces the gift that keeps on giving in Merrill Kelly, who has served up 18 home runs with a 6.62 FIP and a 0.8% K-BB% against lefties. Devers has put up fantasy goodies in 10 of his last 11 games with five in double digits, three of those over 20 FPTS.
Value
Andrés Chaparro, Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins ($2,700) — Chaparro has a 17.3-degree launch angle, a 14.7% barrel rate, and a 74.6 mph bat speed. He was in a platoon with Abimelec Ortiz, but the Nationals have been playing both recently. It’s a small sample of 48 plate appearances, but Chaparro is slashing .364/.417/.727 with four home runs against right-handed pitching. The ISO is .364 with a 210 wRC+. The matchup isn’t great, as Sandy Alcantara has a 3.37 FIP against righties. But the strikeout rate is low, and so is the price for Chaparro, giving him massive upside.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox ($4,200) — Keaschall has eight home runs, 60 runs, 40 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 499 plate appearances. The Statcast numbers are unimpressive with an 85.3 average exit velocity, a 3.6% barrel rate and a 69.3 mph bat speed. Against righties, though, he has mashed seven homers with a 114 wRC+. Erick Fedde has coughed up 16 homers against righties, posting a 6.26 FIP and a .272/.319/.521 slash to the split. Keaschall went 0-for-5 on Wednesday but, before that, had produced fantasy goodies in 22 straight games — with eight performances in double digits and two over 20 FPTS.
Value
Nick Loftin, Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Guardians ($2,800) — Loftin is only batting .237 with a .148 ISO. Through 341 plate appearances, he’s racked up six home runs, 36 runs, 40 RBIs, and two stolen bases. Not too impressive. Neither are the Statcast numbers, but Loftin ain’t about the power. Nope, the walk rate is 10.6%, and the strikeout rate is only 15.8%. Against left-handed pitching, Loftin is slashing .271/.364/.390 with a 113 wRC+. He’s produced fantasy goodies in seven straight contests, with two performances in double digits and a high of 30 FPTS. Foster Griffin has a 4.26 FIP and a 13.2% K-BB% against righties.
