We’ve got a four-game slate for Tuesday’s MLB Wild Card action. Playoffs!!!
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 $200K Postseason Opener [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($10,000) — In 162.2 regular season innings, Sale posted a 2.29 FIP and a 26.1% K-BB% while allowing only 10 home runs. The 37-year-old still averaged 96.2 mph on the fastball and allowed an 87.8 mph average exit velocity with a 6.2% barrel rate. Against left-handed pitching, Philadelphia ranked in the middle of the pack in strikeout rate, ISO, wOBA and wRC+. On the road, the Phillies finished 26th in ISO, 28th in wOBA, and dead last in wRC+. In four meetings with Philadelphia this season, Sale put up 28.2, 33.1, 22.7 and 18.2 FPTS.
Value
Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres ($7,000) — There aren’t many options on this slate because there are only four games and many teams are employing openers. So, Boyd it is. A ringing endorsement! Boyd isn’t an overpowering lefty like Sale, but his fastball averages 92.9 mph with an 18.5% strikeout rate. He posted a 4.21 FIP and allowed 15 home runs in 126.2 innings. He also carded an average exit velocity of 88.4 mph and a 7.7% barrel rate. Boyd was much better on the road, with his FIP a full run lower and only four home runs allowed. San Diego is 20th in ISO against left-handed pitching. In two meetings with San Diego, Boyd finished with 1 and 7.8 FPTS.
INFIELD
Stud
Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox ($4,300) — Paredes provided fantasy goodies in all but one of his last 32 games. He put up double-digit FPTS 13 times during that stretch, including four 20+ FPTS games. In 659 plate appearances, Paredes posted a 10.8% walk rate, a 13.4% strikeout rate and a .185 ISO. The Statcast numbers weren’t great — 86 mph average exit velocity, 4.8% barrel rate and 67.2 mph bat speed — but the launch angle was 24.2 degrees, and he pulled the ball 48.9% of the time. That’s ideal for Houston’s Crawford Boxes. Parades mashed 14 of his 25 home runs at home with a .207 ISO and a 137 wRC+.
Value
George Lombard Jr., New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox ($2,800) — Over the last 10 games, Lombard has put up double-digit FPTS five times. It’s a small sample size of 30 plate appearances, but Lombard has a .308 ISO and 145 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. Payton Tolle is a lefty, but he’s been very good against righties this season, though. That said, Lombard is cheap and will likely hit fifth.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($5,300) — Acuna finished the regular season with 20 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 469 plate appearances — stupid injuries. His average exit velocity was 89.6 mph, his barrel rate was 13%, and his bat speed was 75.7 mph. He was good against both righties and lefties, at home and away. Jesus Luzardo will open for the Phillies, but he’s coming off an injury and likely won’t pitch more than a few innings; then it’s Andrew Painter and the bullpen.
Value
Lucas Spence, Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox ($2,700) — Spence was decent when he first got the call-up in July. He was demoted in August and didn’t return until September 23. Since then, he’s put up 2, 46, 0, 21 and 20 FPTS. L. O. L. Over that 22-plate-appearance span, he posted a 31.8% strikeout rate but an impressive 18.2% walk rate. His ISO in that span? A ridiculous .833. He’s slashing .333/.455/1.167 with four home runs, a double, and a triple during this sizzling stretch. He’s obviously unlikely to sustain that production, but he’s cheap and has power.
