MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Spotlight Pitchers & Stacks
MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Spotlight Pitchers
In two of his last three starts, RHP Emmet Sheehan suffered multi-home run games, though one of those outings was in Coors Field, and he still was serviceable with four earned runs offset by six innings, seven strikeouts and the win bonus.
Strikeouts have been surging for the 25-year-old, as he had six or more in each of his last four starts. Across 22.2 innings in this span, he had a hefty 29 strikeouts, despite averaging just over 90 pitches per appearance.
The projected Colorado lineup has six hitters with a 26% or higher strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season, and collectively it has a 24.7% strikeout rate. That matches up favorably with Sheehan, who has a 26.8% combined strikeout rate across 205 big league batters faced this season.
For those not enthralled with Sheehan, RHP Shane Bieber is in play as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Houston Astros. Tonight will be the fourth start of the season for The Biebs, who was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He worked up to 90 pitches in the minors, and in his three outings thus far he logged 87, 92 and most recently 98 pitches. That capacity is key since he does not have any sort of salary discount across the DFS sites.
The ‘Stros lineup is much improved with Yordan Alvarez healthy, plus the addition of Carlos Correa and Jesus Sanchez at the trade deadline. Only Christian Walker has a strikeout rate over 20% this season against right-handed hurlers, so Bieber has his work cut out for him in this matchup with major playoff implications for both squads, as the teams each have two-game leads in the American League East and West.
For those not enthralled with the uncertainty surrounding Matthews, LHP Robbie Ray and RHP George Kirby are pitching in their respective home parks. Ray has strikeout upside, though the projected lineup for Arizona has only three hitters with an above-league-average strikeout rate against southpaws. Ray had a rough go of things at Coors Field in his last start, and he allowed four or more earned runs in three of his last five games. On the flipside, his best start of the season was a two-run complete game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Similarly, Kirby was roughed up for eight runs last Wednesday, though that was at hitting-friendly Steinbrenner Field with only two doubles allowed — it was just one of those days. While he has not been nearly as efficient and effective as his first two years in the league, the Cardinals scored the sixth-fewest runs in the league over the last 30 days, with nine more than the Angels. Since that counted as a positive for Matthews, it should as well for Kirby.
MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Top Stacks
Main Slate Primary Target: Athletics
RHP Dustin May worked three innings as a reliever in his last appearance, with Boston looking to mix and match things down the stretch as the Red Sox cobble together two rotation slots via bullpen games, bulk pitchers and potentially MiLB call-ups, depending on the situation. Keep in mind that RHP Walker Buehler was released, which was probably overdue, though it created a void after Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello.
Prior to landing in the bullpen, May allowed 12 runs in 9.2 innings in starts against Pittsburgh and in New York against the Yankees. Once a top prospect for the Dodgers, a series of injuries and extended rehabilitation time derailed May’s career trajectory. For perspective, his 132.1 innings this year are more than the last three seasons combined.
Left-handed power has been an issue, particularly this season, as May has allowed a .367 wOBA and a .233 ISO to opposite-handed batsmen. This bodes well for rookie slugger Nick Kurtz, along with cleanup hitter Tyler Soderstrom and versatile Lawrence Butler. Even JJ Bleday is in the mix as a discount dandy, providing differentiation on the late slate.
Catcher Shea Langeliers and outfielder Brent Rooker are fine clicks as well, even with Boston having a decent bullpen.
Among the A’s starters, LHP Jeffrey Springs has been relatively effective at Sutter Health Park, though he is far from impervious to right-handed power. Rob Refsnyder is a pinch-hit risk, but he typically is in the cleanup slot against southpaws, with Romy Gonzalez and Trevor Story also profiling well when holding the platoon advantage. Alex Bregman has not been as effective against lefties as in the past, though he gets a mulligan for spending a chunk of the season on the injured reserve.
Main Slate Tertiary Target: Minnesota Twins
The Twins popped off for a dozen runs last night, though they had only four extra-base hits, including two home runs from Royce Lewis. This has been a tough season for the budding slugger as he once again dealt with a cavalcade of health issues. He had three extra-base hits in the last two games and four steals in the last six, so hopefully he will continue putting up fantasy points tonight.
Los Angeles has a bottom-5 bullpen over the last month, and the Halos are expected to keep churning through some of their minor leaguers in yet another lost season. Things are so bad, they have become the fifth team that RHP Jose Urena has pitched for this season. Yikes!
Back to the Minnesota boppers, Matt Wallner, Luke Keaschall, Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens are all fine options, along with Lewis. Catchers Ryan Jeffers (concussion) and Christian Vazquez (shoulder) are both out, and Byron Buxton is dealing with knee soreness. If Buxton plays, he is a recommended play in this desirable matchup.
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