We’ve got a 10-game slate for Tuesday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your DraftKings MLB DFS lineups. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $150K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Taj Bradley, Minnesota Twins at San Francisco Giants ($10,000) — While the Taj Mahal Bradley hasn’t inspired fantasy nerds to trek thousands of miles to pay homage, Bradley has been pretty, pretty good this season with a career-low 3.86 FIP with a 27.5% strikeout rate. The big bugaboo has always been the control and the walk rate is a career-high 10.1%. In addition, the average exit velocity is 90.8 mph with a 9.4% barrel rate. That said, he’s put up over 20 FPTS 17 times with four of those over 30 FPTS. In the six most recent outings, Bradley went over 20 FPTS five times with a high of 31 FPTS. Now, he gets to pitch in pitcher-friendly Oracle Park against a Giants team that is 22nd in ISO, 23rd in wOBA and 24th in wRC+ at home.
Value
JR Ritchie, Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds ($6,700) — The season-long numbers are UGLY for Ritchie. The FIP is 5.63 with a 7.2% K-BB% and 11 home runs allowed in 62.2 innings. He did get sent down to Triple-A in early August, but is now back up due to the Reynaldo Lopez injury. In his return, he got blasted by the Cubs for six earned runs and two home runs in 4.2 innings. That game was in Chicago and the Cubs are one of the most potent offenses in the MLB right now. The positive is that he struck out five and threw 82 pitches. Now, he gets a Reds team that strikes out the most on the road while being 25th in wOBA and 27th in wRC+.
INFIELD
Stud
Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals ($4,000) — Meidroth is riding a 12-game fantasy goodie streak, with four of those in double digits and a high of 30 FPTS. On the season, he’s slashing .268/.343/.401 with 15 home runs, 87 runs, 58 RBI and four stolen bases. The Statcast numbers are unimpressive as the average exit velocity is 87.4 mph, the barrel rate is 4.5% and the bat speed is 66.9 mph. That said, he’s crushed left-handed pitching. The slash is .329/.415/.546 with a .217 ISO, a 171 wRC+, a 12.4% walk rate and a 17.4% strikeout rate. Now he gets to face Daniel Lynch IV, who has a 4.43 FIP and 5.6 K-BB% to righties.
Value
Alika Williams, Athletics vs Los Angeles Angels ($2,600) — Williams has accrued 100 plate appearances this season against left-handed pitching. In those plate appearances, he’s slashing .304/.347/.489 with a .185 ISO and a 126 wRC+. Now he faces Yusei Kikuchi in Sacramento. Kikuchi has a 4.55 FIP and a 10.5% K-BB% against righties this season. On the road, the FIP is 4.93 with a 7.3% K-BB%.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Henry Bolte, Athletics vs Los Angeles Angels ($4,500) — Yup, we’re stacking against Kikuchi in Sacramento. Against left-handed pitching, Bolte has a 33.8% strikeout rate, but the ISO is .198 with a 128 wRC+. The slash is .278/.355/.476. Bolte is riding an 18-game fantasy goodie streak, with seven of those in double-digit and two massive games of 39 and 44 FPTS.
Value
Nick Loftin, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox ($2,900) — Against left-handed pitching, Loftin is slashing .262/.348/.383 with a 10.3% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate. The ISO is only .121 but the wRC+ is 105. Now he gets to face Anthony Kay, who has a 5.71 FIP and 6.1 K-BB% against righties. Over the last three games, Loftin has gone 6-for-12 with a hit in each game. That translated to 8, 14 and 7 FPTS.
