Saturday brings split-slate MLB action with one wave of games beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET and then a solid seven-game featured slate with a first pitch of 7:05 p.m. ET on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. Before you lock in lineups, several Stokastic tools can help identify daily MLB DFS Top Stacks, key pitchers and MLB DFS picks. Let’s dig into the player projections and popularity for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups, including RHP Shohei Ohtani in a home matchup against an anemic Kansas City offense, along with the Texas Rangers hosting LHP JP Sears.
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MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
Main Slate Pitching Target: RHP Luis Castillo vs. St. Louis Cardinals — 2.7 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $9,800 | FanDuel $11,000 | Yahoo $48
The St. Louis Cardinals are familiar with RHP Luis Castillo who spent his first 5.5 seasons in the National League Central Division with the rival Cincinnati Reds. Seattle acquired Castillo both for the stretch run last year and as their go-forward frontline ace. The 30-year-old has been a steady-hand throughout his entire career with a 3.51 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
In his last 752 same-handed matchups, Castillo has been outstanding with a 26.9% strikeout rate, a .130 ISO and a 57.7% groundball rate. For the most part he has held lefties in check as well with a 24.3% strikeout rate, a .132 ISO and a 46.0% groundball rate. Additionally, Castillo has allowed only 0.79 home runs per nine innings over the last two-plus seasons.
It is going to be another wet, cool evening in Seattle and while the T-Mobile Park retractable roof can protect the game from precipitation, it does not do much for the other elements. This should favor the pitchers and the home team is -160 moneyline favorites tonight which gives Castillo a reasonable chance at win points.
Secondary Pitching Target: LHP Andrew Heaney vs. Oakland Athletics — 3.7 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $8,800 | FanDuel $8,900 | Yahoo $42
It looks like the game in Baltimore between the Tigers and Orioles is at risk of being postponed. This is unfortunate as RHP Kyle Gibson profiles nicely against the visiting Detroit offense. LHP Framber Valdez and RHP Kyle Wright would be the next best options, but they are facing each other and of course the respective offenses backing them are juggernauts we would prefer not to tangle with tonight. That leaves LHP Andrew Heaney as the next man up and fortunately he is far from a consolation prize.
Injuries always seem to befall Heaney, just as he is putting everything together. He has long been a tantalizing pitching option, particularly against weaker opponents. While he was knocked around in his debut against Baltimore, he allowed just one unearned run in his next to meetings with the Royals at home and the Astros in Houston. In these 10 innings, he allowed only nine base runners with a wicked 14 strikeouts allowing him to dramatically drop his early season ERA.
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Oakland will be running out a mostly right-handed lineup, but this batting order makes the Washington offense look competent. Veterans Aledmys Diaz and Jesus Aguilar are not easy outs, but they do not keep opposing pitchers awake at night either. Youngsters Esteury Ruiz and Shea Langeliers have shown promise, but they are inconsistent at the plate. Brent Rooker is in a prominent role with the injury to Seth Brown, but there is a reason he only has 280 MLB at bats, despite this being his age-28 season.
The projected lineup for Oakland has a 25.1% strikeout rate against southpaws over the last season and change. Look to Heaney as a reasonable SP2 on DraftKings and Yahoo for “main” lineups and he is fine on FanDuel in the large field tournaments as well.
Early Slate Pitching Target: RHP Pablo Lopez vs. Washington Nationals — 2.7 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $8,100 | FanDuel $10,500 | Yahoo $45
It was a little surprising that these teams played through the bitter cold on Friday, though the forecast is really not much better through the weekend and this is the only time these squads will meet this season. It will be marginally warmer this afternoon, though temperatures are still unlikely to crack the low-40s. That is an advantage for pitching as it is funny/not funny watching the reaction of batters after awkwardly fouling of pitches and then dealing with stinging hands.
The Nationals offense is a mess and they have plated six or more runs only five times in 20 games. This is far from a daunting lineup with the best bats being Joey Meneses, who was a surprising success last season – as a 30-year-old rookie – and solid catcher/hitter Keibert Ruiz. The rest of the lineup would be reserves at best on any playoff bound team, with those on the younger side likely stashed in the minors.
RHP Pablo Lopez just signed a contract with the Twins that will earn him $73.5 million over the next four years. He was acquired this offseason in a deal that saw two-time and reigning American League batting champion Luis Arraez land with the Marlins. Lopez is coming off three strong seasons in Miami and he has been off to a sterling start thus far. In his four appearances, spanning 26.0 innings, he has compiled 33 strikeouts with a 1.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP Those numbers will be hard to maintain, but a quality start is seemingly all but assured against Washington this afternoon.
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MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks
Main Slate Target: Texas Rangers vs. RHP Shintaro Fujinami — 5.6 implied runs
The adjustment to The Show from the NBL has been a rough one for RHP Shintaro Fujinami. The 29-year-old should settle in at some point, but we can keep running out opposing offenses until that transition occurs. Some of the 11.37 ERA has been due to bad luck and hit sequencing with 16 of 21 base runners ultimately crossing the plate. The nine walks are concerning and in his last start and most promising start, he ceded both of his home runs to the Mets.
Travis Jankowski is back in the big leagues and he should be near the top of the order this afternoon, making him today’s punt du jour. Nate Lowe of course feasts in opposite-handed matchups and switch-hitting catcher Jonah Heim is locked in at the dish and bringing home run upside at a tough to fill position.
Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia and Josh Jung should each get a couple of chances to make hay against Fujinami. Then the beleaguered Oakland bullpen will enter the fray for more fun and fantasy potential.
Late Slate Target: Kansas City Royals at LHP Tyler Anderson — 44.2 implied runs
Gamers will be flocking to the Padres offense which is devastating on paper, now that Fernando Tatis Jr. has returned from his suspension. The next team up will be the Angels against RHP Zack Greinke, but keep in mind that the 39-year-old has ceded more than four runs only nine times in his last 59 (15.2%) appearances.
It seems that LHP Tyler Anderson’s glorious one season with the Dodgers was an aberration as he has suffered five home runs in his last two games. Strikeouts have never been a consistent part of his game, so when he is not able to pitch out of jams, home runs are usually of the multi-RBI variety.
Kansas City is a very top-heavy lineup, so looking to this team for duos and trios is the best bet. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are the best right-handed batsmen and adding in one of lefties MJ Melendez and Vinnie Pasquantino is a savvy strategy as the bullpen could see early action tonight and it will likely be a right-handed reliever entering the fray for Anderson. Hunter Dozier has light tower power, though making contact is always the challenge – he is tonight’s one-off recommendation for those hunting for longballs.
Early Slate Target: Los Angeles Dodgers at RHP Hayden Wesneski — 4.3 implied runs
On Friday afternoon, the Dodgers were embarrassed in a 13-0 loss to the Cubbies in Wrigley Field, where they were also nearly no-hit by LHP Drew Smyly who lost his bid with two outs in the eighth inning. In back-to-back starts against Los Angeles, Smyly now has 13.1 innings with 13 strikeouts and one lonely run, courtesy of a Chris Taylor tater. This is a strong bounce back scenario for the boys in blue against RHP Hayden Wesneski.
Last year in his debut, Wesneski performed well down the stretch, but we all know how watered down lineups can be in the final month of the season. The 25-year-old was an unheralded prospect, being selected in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft after starting at Sam Houston State for three seasons.
Like many players, the cancellation of the 2020 MiLB season interrupted his journey through the minors. Wesneski would be more effective as a reliever, however, Chicago is short on arms, so he figures to be in the rotation all season. Most projection systems have him peaking as a fifth starter with below average strikeouts and control, while allowing above average power.
Los Angeles is missing some key hitters with catcher Will Smith an shortstop Miguel Rojas both on the injured list and Chris Taylor is banged up enough that Mookie Betts moved into the shortstop role when he returned from paternity leave on Thursday. Yesterday he saw time in right field, and both middle infield positions. So season long gamers are rooting for him to pick up eligibility soon.
Betts and fellow MVP Freddie Freeman are always the primary targets in Dodger stacks and that is the case again this afternoon. Rookie James Outman should see a boost in the batting order with Los Angeles running out of options and this is a fine spot to take some chances on him in the DFS world. Veterans Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez are likely to be in the heart of the order and discount dandies David Peralta and Austin Barnes are in the mix at the end of the lineup.
Final Thoughts for Saturday, April 22 | MLB DFS Picks
The weather is messy again with the doubleheader in Cleveland looking dicey and heavy rain in forecast for Baltimore. Chicago also has an elevated precipitation risk, though there could be a few windows that allow the game to be played if the decision makers show patience.
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