Today marks the second-to-last Sunday of the MLB season, with the playoffs just about having arrived. There is still plenty of competition over seeding taking place, and all 30 teams are in action today to help decide these. One of the more unique ways to play is with one of the newest features on DraftKings this year in Pick6 Fantasy Baseball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for today’s action. You simply choose whether each set statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my top three picks on today’s MLB slate.
Logan Gilbert Less Than 17.5 Outs Recorded
Coming off his first career All-Star appearance last year, Logan Gilbert has emerged as one of the more impressive young pitchers in baseball. The Mariners right-hander has a 3.53 ERA, a 1.050 WHIP, and 164 strikeouts with just 97 hits allowed across his 120.0 innings pitched this season.
However, Gilbert is not particularly known for his ability to pitch deep into games. He has only recorded 18 or more outs in seven of his 21 starts this season and thrown over 100 pitches just once all year. Gilbert failed to record more than 17.5 outs in back-to-back starts entering this game and will be facing an Astros lineup on the road today.
Houston ranks ninth in batting average, eighth in hits, 16th in total bases, and 17th in home runs. Gilbert faced the Astros in April and was limited to 17 outs recorded despite only allowing one earned run and striking out seven. This is an important game for playoff seedings as Seattle looks to fend off the Astros in the AL West race, but they hold a two-game lead. Expect the leash to remain on the shorter side for Gilbert and for Seattle to turn the ball over to the bullpen when danger begins to arise. Count on Gilbert to record fewer than 17.5 outs for the 15th time in his 22 starts.
Jason Alexander Less Than 5.5 Hits Against
On the other side of the pitching matchup, Jason Alexander will get the start for the Astros. On the season overall, Alexander is posting a 4.04 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 69 hits allowed across 71.1 innings pitched. But these numbers are a bit diluted from his four appearances with the Athletics to start the season, in which he gave up 12 earned runs in six innings pitched.
Since arriving in Houston, Alexander has a 4-1 record, a 2.76 ERA, and has allowed 57 hits while striking out 55 in 65.1 innings pitched. This is a favorable matchup for Alexander as he ranks in the top 30th percentile among quarterbacks in ground ball rate.
This is a concern for the Mariners, who are recording the fourth-highest groundball rate over the past month. Alexander has held opponents to fewer than 5.5 hits in 11 of his 16 appearances this season, including six of his past nine games. Expect Seattle to play to his strength and for Alexander to have success keeping the ball on the ground. In addition, this is a huge game for the Astros from a seeding perspective, and they will be sure to pull the plug early if they sense danger. If he allows a few early hits, expect the Astros to get him out of there. One way or another, count on Alexander to allow less than 5.5 hits tonight in this crucial matchup.
Jaren Duran More Than 1.5 Total Bases
In the final matchup of the night, the Tampa Bay Rays will host the Boston Red Sox with Joe Boyle getting the start for Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old enters with a 4.64 ERA on the season, with 33 hits allowed across his first 42.2 innings pitched.
This is a matchup that Jared Duran has had success against in the past. He is 3-for-4 against Boyle in his career, including 3-for-3 against him last season. Duran is slashing .261/.336/.450 on the season with 155 hits tallied across his 151 games played. He has tallied more than 1.5 total bases in 70 games this season, including eight of his past 13.
Duran is seeing the ball well at the plate, and this is a matchup he has had success against. The Red Sox are right in the Wild Card race and can use every win they can scratch up right now. Look for Duran to continue producing at the plate in search of this and tally more than 1.5 total bases for the 71st time this season.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you can not pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
