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Saturday features a 10-game main slate starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. There are plenty of good offenses to choose from, so let’s break down some of the top stacking options on today’s slate.
It’s important to note that you should always keep an eye on the news and lineup notes from @DKLive in order to best prepare for each slate. In addition, feel free to get at me on Twitter with any questions — @MattLaMarca.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K 18th Hole Special [$100K to 1st]
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers lead today’s slate with an implied team total of 5.5 runs, which will likely make them the highest-owned team on the slate. The Dodgers are taking on Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland ($7,600), who was absolutely dreadful in 2019. He pitched to a 6.73 ERA and 5.99 FIP over 22 starts and he was particularly bad against right-handed batters. He allowed opposing righties to post a .386 wOBA and .284 ISO over 84.0 innings.
The Dodgers have historically been at their best vs. right-handed pitchers – which is to be expected when you employ some of the best left-handed batters in the league – but L.A. is still capable of doing plenty of damage vs. southpaws. They ranked 10th in wRC+ and seventh in ISO vs. left-handers last season.
If you’re looking to target some of the right-handed batters for the Dodgers, Mookie Betts ($6,200), Justin Turner ($5,000) and AJ Pollock ($4,100) all fit the bill. Each player posted an expected wOBA of at least .371 in 2019. Kiké Hernández ($3,800) hasn’t been as effective as his teammates but he fits the description as well.
That said, you can definitely roster some left-handed batters for the Dodgers here too. Cody Bellinger ($5,500) led the team with an expected wOBA of .417 vs. southpaws last season and Max Muncy ($5,200) wasn’t far behind at .368.
Players to Consider
Mookie Betts ($6,200)
Cody Bellinger ($5,500)
Max Muncy ($5,200)
Justin Turner ($5,000)
AJ Pollock ($4,100)
Kiké Hernández ($3,800)
2. Cleveland Indians
The Indians are in a boom-or-bust spot today vs. Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd ($8,000). Boyd is capable of piling up strikeouts – he posted a K/9 of 11.56 over 185 1/3 innings last season – but batters have done serious damage against him when they’ve put the ball in play. He has allowed a whopping 3.09 HRs per nine innings, which is the worst mark in the league among qualified starters.
The Indians have been pretty mediocre offensively this season, ranking just 29th in wRC+ vs. left-handers this season but they’re still implied for 5.4 runs on today’s slate.
All the usual suspects are in play for the Indians – José Ramírez ($5,400), Francisco Lindor ($5,300) and Carlos Santana ($4,400) will occupy the premium spots in the lineup – but there are some other batters lower in the order who are viable options as well.
Jordan Luplow ($3,100) was quietly one of the best batters in all of baseball last year vs. southpaws. He posted a ridiculous .480 wOBA and made hard contact in 45.8% of at-bats.
Franmil Reyes ($4,500) had one of the best Statcast profiles in the league last season vs. left-handers. He posted an average exit velocity of 97.4 miles per hour and he generated an exit velocity of at least 95 miles per hour on 51.1% of balls put in play.
Players to Consider
José Ramírez ($5,400)
Francisco Lindor ($5,300)
Franmil Reyes ($4,500)
Carlos Santana ($4,400)
Jordan Luplow ($3,100)
3. Boston Red Sox
Don’t look now, but the Boston offense is starting to heat up. The Red Sox scored eight runs yesterday vs. the Orioles and they’ve scored at least six runs in four straight games.
They’re in another good spot today vs. Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb ($7,800). He was absolutely abysmal over 12 1⁄3 innings in 2019, posting a 10.95 ERA and 11.89 FIP. He struggled in particular with the long ball, allowing an average of 6.57 HRs per nine innings. That’s ridiculous!
He’s gotten off to a better start in 2020 but he’s definitely been lucky. Opposing batters have managed a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of just .218, so he seems due for some regression moving forward.
The Boston offense is top-heavy, featuring a bunch of expensive players who can do damage at the top of their lineup. It starts with Rafael Devers ($5,300), who was one of the best batters in baseball vs. right-handers last season. He posted a 153 wRC+ and an average exit velocity of 98.1 miles per hour in those matchups last season.
Players to Consider
J.D. Martinez ($5,800)
Rafael Devers ($5,300)
Xander Bogaerts ($5,200)
Mitch Moreland ($4,800)
Alex Verdugo ($4,600)
Jackie Bradley Jr. ($3,300)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
Each of the first three teams we talked about has been really expensive but that’s not the case with the Diamondbacks. Arizona only has two batters priced above $3,700 and neither of them costs more than $4,500. You aren’t sacrificing a ton of offensive production either since they’re implied for 5.1 runs.
The Diamondbacks are taking on Giants left-hander Tyler Anderson ($6,800), who is a mediocre pitcher at best. He pitched to a 7.62 FIP over 20 2⁄3 innings in 2019 and he’s followed that up with a 5.59 FIP over 22 1⁄3 innings in 2020.
Tim Locastro ($2,700) is expected to occupy the leadoff spot in the lineup and he’s one of the most interesting options on the slate. He’s not a particularly effective hitter but he makes up for it by being an absolute madman on the basepaths. He’s quite possibly the fastest man in all of baseball and has never been caught stealing in his entire career.
As far as the rest of the lineup, Christian Walker ($3,600), Ketel Marte ($4,500) and Nick Ahmed ($3,700) stand out as the top options. All three batters posted an expected wOBA of at least .362 vs. southpaws last season.
Players to Consider
Ketel Marte ($4,500)
Starling Marte ($4,200)
Nick Ahmed ($3,700)
Christian Walker ($3,600)
Eduardo Escobar ($3,500)Tim Locastro ($2,700)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Locastro is not in the lineup for tonight’s game vs. the Giants.
5. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are always an interesting target at Wrigley Field. The wind conditions are a huge factor: There could be a ton of offense if the wind is blowing out to center and minimal runs if the wind is blowing in. You’ll want to keep an eye on that before stacking the Cubs but the current conditions look promising.
The Cubs are taking on White Sox right-hander Reynaldo López ($5,700) and it’s definitely fair to say that his season got off to a rocky start. He didn’t even make it out of the first inning in his first appearance, allowing four earned runs over just two-thirds of an inning. He wasn’t particularly impressive in 2019 either, pitching to a 5.38 ERA and 5.27 xFIP. The Cubs rank ninth in wRC+ vs. right-handers this season, so they can do some damage in this matchup.
Ian Happ ($3,300) stands out as one of the top values on the Cubs. He crushed against right-handers last season, posting a .389 wOBA and a .321 ISO. He recently moved up in the lineup as well, so he seems underpriced.
Players to Consider
Kris Bryant ($4,900)
Anthony Rizzo ($4,900)
Javier Báez ($4,200)
Kyle Schwarber ($4,000)
Ian Happ ($3,300)
Jason Heyward ($2,700)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bryant is not in the lineup for tonight’s game vs. the White Sox.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K 18th Hole Special [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mlamarca) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.