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It feels as if the MLB season is hanging on by a thread but Commissioner Rob Manfred said on Saturday that “We are playing. The players need to be better, but I am not a quitter in general and there is no reason to quit now. We have had to be fluid, but it is manageable.”
We’ll see if that stays true but this slate has already lost the Cardinals-Brewers. That brings us down to a fairly small six-game slate, so we may have to get a bit creative with our stacks. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites on this slate, which locks at 1:05 p.m. ET.
As always, you can reach me on the ol’ Twitter machine @SBuchanan24.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K Relay Throw [$100K to 1st]
1. Tampa Bay Rays
Believe me, this is NOT going to be a sneaky stack by any means. The Orioles are going to be running out Tommy Milone ($7,300), who has made one start thus far against the Red Sox where he allowed four runs on four hits through just three innings. The Rays are a team that will strike out against lefties but they also have some really good power as well. Seeing as Milone isn’t much of a strikeout guy, I’m guessing it’s the power that will take over in this one, especially when this game is taking place at Camden Yards. Last season against righties, Milone allowed only a .301 wOBA but a 4.85 FIP and 15 of his 24 home runs.
Players to Consider
Hunter Renfroe ($4,300)
Yandy Diaz ($4,100)
Jose Martinez ($4,500)
Manuel Margot ($3,700)
2. New York Mets
The Braves will be starting Kyle Wright ($6,200) this afternoon in Atlanta as they continue their series against the Mets. Wright hasn’t pitched much in the majors, logging 28 2⁄3 innings over the past three seasons but it hasn’t exactly gone well. In the short sample, both sides of the plate have hit him hard, posting a 6.26 FIP against lefties and a 6.77 FIP against righties. I don’t imagine that Wright will last very long in this matchup, so I’m completely fine with going with the top of the Mets lineup as my stack.
Players to Consider
Brandon Nimmo ($4,100)
Peter Alonso ($5,100)
Michael Conforto ($4,800)
Jeff McNeil ($4,900)Yoenis Cespedes ($4,400)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Cespedes is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Braves.
3. Chicago Cubs
The Pirates are going with a bullpen game, as the plan is to open with the lefty Steven Brault ($6,500) and then be relieved by Chad Kuhl ($7,500). I don’t look at matchups against the lefty as they are likely in for an inning or two the most so I focus on the matchups against the right-handed Kuhl. Last season, he was specifically hit hard against lefties, posting a .365 wOBA with a 5.61 FIP and 10 of his 14 home runs allowed. He was better against righties with a .324 wOBA and a 3.74 FIP but I think this is a great spot for the Cubs overall. This has been one of the best offenses in the league up to this point and the .233 ISO they’ve combined for is second best to the league, behind only the Phillies at .240. Start with the lefties and fill in from there.
Players to Consider
Anthony Rizzo ($5,000)Ian Happ ($4,000)
Kyle Schwarber ($5,000)
Javier Baez ($4,900)
Willson Contreras ($4,300)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Happ is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Pirates.
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4. San Diego Padres
The Padres likely would have been a bit higher on my list if they didn’t melt into a puddle against Kyle Freeland of all people. They only somehow managed to score one run off the Rockies’ bullpen yesterday after being shutout through six innings. I’m hoping the Colorado bats saved all their offense for today against Antonio Senzatela ($5,900). Last season at Coors Field, Senzatela allowed a .357 wOBA with a 5.10 FIP and 10 of his 19 home runs allowed. Lefties hit him the hardest in these matchups at Coors, as he allowed a .390 wOBA and a 5.92 FIP. I’m really, really hoping the Padres can come through here, as I’m going to guess ownership will be a bit lower than yesterday with how bad people were burned by the Padres.
Players to Consider
Fernando Tatis Jr ($5,900)
Trent Grisham ($5,200)
Jurickson Profar ($4,900)
Manny Machado ($5,200)
Wil Myers ($4,800)
5. Kansas City Royals
This is more of a tournament stack than a cash but I’m digging using the Royals this afternoon. Thus far this season, they’ve been hovering around league average in most stats and have a team .170 ISO and a .306 wOBA. They’ll take on Dylan Cease ($8,400) who was atrocious in his 2020 debut against the Indians, allowing four runs on seven hits through 2 1⁄3 innings. Home runs have been an issue for him and the Royals have some decent power at the top of the lineup. He particularly has struggled against lefties, so someone like Ryan O’Hearn ($3,200) who’ll likely be batting cleanup, will be extremely under-owned but have that pop we’re looking for. If the Royals can come through in this game, you’ll be in a really strong position against the field.
Players to Consider
Ryan O’Hearn ($3,200)
Alex Gordon ($3,400)
Whit Merrifield ($4,800)
Jorge Soler ($4,500)
Salvador Perez ($4,400)
EDITOR’S NOTE: O’Hearn is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the White Sox.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K Relay Throw [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Steveazors) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.