We’ve got a two-game slate for Tuesday’s MLB Divisional 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 $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers ($10,000) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the best offenses in all of baseball. But good pitching often trumps good hitting and Sale is one of the best pitchers in MLB. He’s still averaging 96.2 mph on the fastball at age 37 while producing a 2.29 FIP and 26.1 K-BB%. He’s allowed only 10 home runs in 162.2 regular season innings. At home, the FIP is 2.39 with a 24.8 K-BB%. Sale faced the Dodgers twice during the regular season. All he did was put up 22.2 and 47 FPTS!
Value
Nick Pivetta, San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($7,500) — My first thought was to just pay up at pitching in both slots, primarily because of the uncertainty as to the number of pitches and innings Dustin May and Pivetta would go. In his last start of the regular season, Pivetta only went 3.1 innings while throwing 66 pitches. He had made four prior starts after returning from injury. That said, he did go 4.2 innings and threw 87 pitches two starts ago. I’m thinking he gets closer to 80 pitches in this one because it’s money time. In the 34.2 regular season innings, Pivetta posted a 2.21 FIP and 24.3 K-BB% while allowing only two home runs.
INFIELD
Stud
Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres ($4,100) — In 578 regular-season plate appearances, Bauers contributed 26 home runs, 93 runs, 86 RBI and 11 stolen bases. The average exit velocity was 92.1 mph with a 13.9% barrel rate and healthy 76.5 mph bat speed. The beauty with Bauers is that he hits left-handed pitching well, as the wRC+ is 148 with a .259 ISO. The slash is .267/.375/.526.
Value
Ethan Salas, San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($2,400) — Salas sat last game, but I think he slots in at catcher for this one. He saw only 40 regular-season plate appearances, but they were impressive ones, as Salas posted a .256/.275/.462 slash with a .205 ISO. The average exit velocity was 90.1 mph with a 25.6 degree launch angle. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 129 with a .250 ISO. Dustin May is the pitcher I’d pick on this slate, especially with lefties as the FIP is 4.06 with a 12.1 K-BB%. Granted, May may not last more than a few innings, but all the teams have excellent bullpens, so it’s better to face one earlier than one with the studs at the end chomping at the bit.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($4,600) — Merrill racked up 26 home runs, 86 runs, 87 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 664 regular-season plate appearances. The average exit velocity was 91.5 mph with a 12.4% barrel rate and 73.4 mph bat speed. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 105 with a .196 ISO.
Value
Gavin Sheets, San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($2,600) — Sheets hit 17 home runs and stole four bases in 419 regular-season plate appearances as the strong side of the platoon at DH. The Statcast numbers are meh, but the bat speed is a respectable 74.4 mph. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 116 with a .215 ISO.
