Friday’s MLB DFS action is a little more sedate than Opening Day, with a calmer five-game featured slate beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo.
Before you lock in lineups, there are several Stokastic tools that can help identify daily MLB DFS Top Stacks, key pitchers and MLB DFS picks player projections and popularity for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups, including Robbie Ray and the Mariners offense in their matchup against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks
Spotlight Pitchers
Primary Pitching Target: RHP Cristian Javier vs. Chicago White Sox — 3.7 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $8,200 | FanDuel $10,100 | Yahoo $54
FanDuel and Yahoo have set the salary for Cristian Javier at a near-ace level tonight. This is a tall order, but one that the 26-year-old should be able to fill. This is the fourth season for Javier, who has spent time as both a multi-inning reliever as well as a starter in each of his first three MLB campaigns.
Every season thus far, the budding ace has seen his strikeout rate increase, culminating in a lofty 11.74 per nine innings last year. Of course, that is likely to fall back somewhat with a full-time starter role, but most of the notable projection systems have him between 10.4 and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings going forward.
Jose Abreu will be in the building tonight; however, this season he is wearing an Astros uniform. Andrew Benintendi will be replacing his bat in the White Sox lineup, and that is a major drop in power upside. For the projected lineup, only Eloy Jimenez (.215) and Andrew Vaughn (.184) had a .140 ISO or higher against right-handed pitchers. This iteration of the ChiSox looks to be a neutral strikeout team, but their lack of extra-base-hit upside is likely to have them on the short list most days to target with right-handed starters.
Secondary Pitching Target: LHP Robbie Ray vs. Cleveland Guardians — 3.3 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $9,200 | FanDuel $9,900 | Yahoo $40
Robbie Ray did see his production slide from his 2021 Cy Young season, but he still racked up 212 strikeouts in 189 innings during his first season in Seattle. Of course, just about anything was going to be a step back from that magical campaign that saw him leading the league in innings, strikeouts, WHIP, ERA, ERA+ and starts.
The Guardians once again have a pesky lineup, though they are better suited to face right-handed pitching, with lefties Andres Gimenez and Steven Kwan being two of their better hitters. If Ray can navigate Amed Rosario plus switch-hitters Jose Ramirez and Josh Bell in the heart of the order, he should be in line for a strong showing in the fantasy world.
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Top Stacks
Main Slate Target: New York Mets at LHP Jesus Luzardo — 3.8 implied runs
Gamers may stay away from this matchup, as the Mets are coming in with a mediocre 3.8 implied run total. Jesus Luzardo came to the Marlins by way of Oakland after the Athletics traded him for Starling Marte at the 2021 trade deadline. Luzardo was a solid prospect, and he is coming off a strong spring, striking out 19 hitters in 18.2 innings across five appearances.
The one weakness with Luzardo is his 1.52 home run per nine innings and .209 ISO allowed in his last 662 opposite-handed matchups. Pete Alonso is one of the best hitters against southpaws, with a stellar .279 ISO and 135 wRC+ over the last two seasons. Switch-hitters Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Escobar also fare well when swinging the stick from the right side of the plate.
This recommendation is all about going after home runs, so a mini-stack, pairs or one-offs are just fine. For those looking at a full stack, Mark Canha and the aforementioned Marte, who is now with New York, can be used to round things out.
Late Slate Target: Seattle Mariners vs. RHP Hunter Gaddis — 4.2 implied runs
We will not be alone in targeting the Mariners against Hunter Gaddis. In two late-season appearances last year, Gaddis was hammered by the Astros and White Sox, ceding seven home runs in 7.1 innings and an absurd 18 baserunners, turning into an unsightly 18.41 ERA.
Gaddis was tabbed to be in the bullpen after a decent spring, though the injury to Triston McKenzie unexpectedly thrust him into the Cleveland rotation. This is Gaddis’ age-25 season, and like many minor leaguers, he saw his workload and development knocked askew by the 2020 MiLB season being shut down by the Pandemic. He is far from a top prospect, though he does profile as a decent multi-inning reliever and occasional spot starter, with his substandard control and above-average power allowed being his undoing when going through an opposing lineup more than once.
Julio Rodriguez is coming off an amazing 25-25 season that saw him win the American League Rookie of the Year Award and earn a lucrative, early, long-term contract. Last year, some of his best games came against same-handed hurlers, which bodes well for his fantasy production tonight. Newcomers Kolten Wong and Teoscar Hernandez are a major boost to the Seattle offense, and catcher Cal Raleigh has some serious pop against lefties and righties while also taking care of the pesky catcher requirement on DraftKings and Yahoo.
Final Thoughts for Friday, March 31
Today the main slate locks at 6:40 p.m. ET. Be sure to get all the updated information on the Stokastic MLB Strategy, brought to you by Bet365.
