With Yahoo Fantasy launching single-game contests for MLB, we will be highlighting a featured matchup each Friday. This week we are taking a look at the opener of a four-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. These AL East division rivals each boast a plethora of young talent and offer several players to consider for MLB DFS picks in this contest.
Yahoo Single-Game MEGASTAR Pick: Randy Arozarena — $22
The Rays are riding high on a seven-game winning streak coming into tonight’s matchup. After struggling to hit as a team early in the season, Tampa Bay’s bats have exploded of late. The Rays averaged 10.67 runs per game over their three most recent wins. Randy Arozarena has certainly had a hand in the surge in production. After belting three home runs over the last two games, Arozarena is now tied for third on the team with seven this season. Those three homers are just part of a five-game stretch in which Arozarena has chalked up 11 total hits, driven in nine runs and scored eight times himself.
After delaying on announcing a starter for tonight’s matchup, the Blue Jays have opted to go with lefty Anthony Kay. It has been rough for him on the season, as he comes in with a 7.24 ERA and just 13.2 innings pitched across four separate appearances. As a right-handed hitter, Arozarena stands out among the multitude of hot Rays bats as having the best chance for success against Kay.
Yahoo Single-Game FLEX Pick: Ji-Man Choi — $13
Although the MLB DFS season is nearly two months old, Ji-Man Choi has played just four games. And what a quartet of games they were. Choi returned from a knee injury in Tampa’s series finale against the Mets last weekend. He promptly stroked three hits and scored a run in that game. In the ensuing three matchups against the Orioles this week, Choi provided five total hits (including a home run), five RBIs, three runs scored and four walks. He has five career at-bats against Kay and has a homer to show for it. It is impossible not to include Choi among tonight’s MLB DFS picks.
Yahoo Single-Game Value Pick: Danny Jansen — $7
It comes as no surprise that the majority of cheap-salary players in this single-game contest are Blue Jays. Given that Rays ace Tyler Glasnow will be on the mound, the Toronto lineup has its work cut out tonight. That being said, catcher Danny Jansen is at minimum salary and has some previous success against Glasnow. In six prior plate appearances against him, Jansen has two home runs. He also drew a walk, meaning he has safely reached base half of the times he has faced him. Jansen did not start Wednesday’s game behind the plate, so he should be in Friday’s starting lineup. It is not every day that a catcher serves as an MLB DFS picks value play, but Jansen is worth a look in this contest.
