MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Spotlight Pitchers & Stacks
MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Spotlight Pitchers
The Dodgers beat the Mariners 3-2 last night, which has Seattle now locked into the #3-seed as they do not have the tiebreakers against either the Toronto Blue Jays or New York Yankees who are now two games ahead for the best record in the American League. Los Angeles had very little motivation last night as they also are locked into the #3-seed in the National League and the only advantage they can still gain is to stay ahead of the Chicago Cubs, since the team with the better record would host the National League Championship Series if these were the last two teams remaining.
This has been a tough season for Atlanta in general, but specifically RHP Spencer Strider who looks like a shell of his pre-injury self. That still keeps him in the frontline starter category, though he may never recapture the lofty apex ace trajectory he was on to start his career.
After a seven runs in three innings meltdown against the Chicago White Sox, Strider has been solid in his last five starts. He has a 2.10 ERA across these 30 innings, ceding only two home runs, though his 3.81 FIP and 5.15 xFIP indicate he also has benefited from good fortune.
Oneil Cruz is day to day with an ankle injury, so if he is out again, that leaves only Bryan Reynolds and Spencer Hortwitz as the above average hitters in the Pittsburgh lineup. Unless Strider is efficiently cruising along, he will likely log five to six innings, with 90-to-95 pitches. Still that makes him the thrower to target tonight.
Texas has seen the starting lineup decimated by injuries and Josh Smith is on the paternity list. Wyatt Langford, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Evan Carter and Sam Haggerty are all out. That leaves Jake Burger, the slumping Adolis Garcia and enigmatic Josh Jung as the only hitters of note from the right side of the plate.
Manager Stephen Vogt will likely have a quick hook for Cantillo if he struggles, but against this lineup, we should see some fantasy goodness.
Cincinnati is tied with the New York Mets for the final Wild Card berth. The Reds hold the tiebreaker, but they are in Milwaukee against a motivated Brew Crew who can wrap up the best record in the National League with a win tonight.
LHP Andrew Abbott is worthy of being in the player pool, though the Cinci stalwart has failed to close out the fifth inning in three of his last four starts, despite throwing 86, 96 and 98 pitches in those games.
Across these 22 innings, he has only four walks, with three home runs and 20 strikeouts. He tends to nibble around the edges of the zone, attempting to induce week contact on flyballs. This is an effective strategy for the 26-year-old who is eighth overall with a 2.80 ERA and in the top-20 with his 1.161 WHIP, but it does not make for fun fantasy scores.
The Brewers are countering with the likely combo of RHPs Robert Gasser and Jacob Misiorowski, with the latter expected to work out of the bullpen. San Diego is all but locked in to the #5-seed, needing to win today and tomorrow, while the Chicago Cubs lose both days. The Cubbies play this afternoon, so with a win, the Padres would not have any motivation.
RHP Michael King has had two different stints on the injured list and this will be his fourth start since returning from his latest malady. Even if the Padres had something critical to play for, it would be a shock if King went more than 70 or so pitches. For reference, in his last three starts he has logged 63, 57 and 70 throws.
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez is someone to consider tonight as the veteran looks to finish a tough season on a strong note. He has held the opposition scoreless in three of his last five starts, ceding one run to Boston and getting waxed by San Francisco for five “Ernies” on the second-leg of back-to-back meetings. There is a chance that the Friars give a couple regulars a night off, similar to what the Dodgers did last night in Seattle
MLB DFS Optimizer Picks Today: Top Stacks
Main Slate Primary Target: Athletics
The overall body of work is fine, with a 4.00 ERA, a 4..28 xERA, with a 3.69 FIP and 4.57 xFIP. Unfortunately he does not strike out many hitters and while he doesn’t hand out many free passes, he does “pitch to contact” letting his defense do the heavy lifting. Wacha limits home runs, with only 47 in his last 83 starts, but in a hitters haven like Sutter Health Park against a power-laden A’s squad, he could be in for a long or short night, depending on one’s perspective.
One last enticement, Wacha has allowed 13 runs in his last two starts, spanning 7.2 innings with only one walk, but just four strikeouts.
The first wave of Athletic include Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler, with each swinging the stick from the left side of the plate. Wacha is the rare pitcher who actually does have “reverse splits” but this power trio should not be ignored. Shea Langeliers is the top catching option on DraftKings and Yahoo, and he should not be ignored on the blue site either. Brent Rooker is the straw that stirs the drink, while rookie Carlos Cortes has flashed plenty of power during his recent callup.
RHP Luis Morales had his start pushed back from Friday, giving him a brief respite from facing a tough Kansas City offense. Look to the usual suspects for the Royals, with Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino as the core four. Rookie Carter Jenson is a fine discount dandy at catcher and a solid backup backstop for teams not rostering Soderstrom.
Main Slate Alternate Target: Houston Astros
The 21-year-old looks like he will be a member of the rotation going forward, though he still has a steep learning curve ahead. In his last trio of starts, he has suffered a 7.53 ERA in 14.1 innings, mostly due to an obscene 11 walks. He has 18 strikeouts in this span and two of the games were on the road, against Milwaukee’s endless offense and a Coors Field Extravaganza.
Houston has to win tonight or the team will be eliminated from postseason contention. They trail the Guardians and Tigers by one game and do not have the tiebreaker against either team. Detroit plays in Boston this afternoon and Cleveland is the first game locking for the featured slate, so some of the cards will be turned over before the ‘Stros take the field.
Jesus Sanchez, Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Jose Altuve are the priority plays. Yainer Diaz is fine as the catcher in stacks and Carlos Correa can be sprinkled in as well.
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Thomas is more noted for his glove than his bat, with very little power and a career .234 batting average across 1,377 plate appearances. He does have a hit in around half of his starts this year, though going against King and the top-tier San Diego bullpen is going to be a long row to hoe.
