Jared Levitt 
Welcome to Friday’s edition of Aces and Bases, where I’ll go through the top MLB DFS Aces and Stacks on DraftKings and Fanduel.
It’s Friday and I ain’t got &*(^ to do. That’s a lie, I have an article to write about a great 13-game slate of MLB DFS. At first glance, this is a great slate. We have solid pitchers in amazing spots and bats in even better spots. With 26 teams in action, we’ll have plenty of options on both the mound and at bat.
Let’s dig in and make some money!
MLB DFS Aces – Main
Justin Steele vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
I said the other day when I recommended Joey Lucchesi against the Diamondbacks that they were an average-at-best team vs. lefties. Lucchesi went on to pitch a gem and got us nearly 20 DK points. Tonight, they’ll face a much tougher task in a pitcher like Justin Steele who is currently in the Cy Young conversation. Steele has been brilliant.
Over the last month, he’s pitched to a 1.36 ERA and has a nearly 31% K rate. There are few pitchers in the game right now pitching as well as him. He’s in a spot tonight where he should crush and be one of the top pitchers on the slate. Nothing in life is safe, but I love Justin Steele tonight and he’s probably one of the safe pitchers on the slate.
Tarik Skubal vs. Los Angeles Angels
Tarik Skubal is back and healthy for the Tigers and is pitching like the dominant starter we saw last year. Over the last month, he’s pitched to a 2.7 ERA and a 33% K rate. Hitters have just a 67% contact rate vs. him which is great for Skubal and really bad for the hitters. He’s grown into an ace for the Tigers and I plan on using him whenever I can. He also gets a great matchup vs. a depleted Angeles team.
The lineup that they’ll throw out tonight will resemble more of a AAA team than it does an MLB team. They’ll be without Trout and Ohtani. That makes for an awful lineup. I plan on locking on Skubal in all of my lineups tonight. You should too!
I don’t mind Zach Eflin vs. the Orioles tonight or Jon Gray vs. Cleveland. That said, I’m not straying from Steel and Skubal. They just have too much upside and are in great spots.
MLB DFS Stacks – Main
Texas Rangers vs. Lucas Giolito
Lucas Giolito is the first pitcher since all the way back in 1899 to allow 8+ runs in a game for 3 separate teams in the same season. Let that stat sink in for a few seconds. He’s pitched for 3 teams this season and has allowed at least 8 ER in a game for each of the teams. That’s just astonishing and just plain bad.
Over the last month, we’re looking at an ERA close to 8 for Gio and he’s also allowed 10 homers in the 21 innings he’s pitched over that stretch. Against a solid lineup like the Rangers, I’m going to stack and stack and stack against him. Gio has been pretty bad vs. both sides of the plate this season so I’m not overly concerned with splits.
This lineup is on fire right now and I plan on going 5 deep with them. I plan on prioritizing Corey Seager and Robby Grossman. Both guys are hitting the ball just amazing right now and are some of the better hitters in the game over the last week. Seager is 12 for his last 30 and hit 3 balls over the fence. He also has 8 RBI and 10 runs scored over the last week.
Grossman has been a beast too and is just $3.2k tonight. Over the last week, Grossman is 8 for 17 and has 7 runs and 8 RBI. Both guys are balling. After them I’ll look to get in Nathaniel Lowe, Marcus Semien, Leody Taveras, and Mitch Garver. This lineup has a ton of potential against a struggling pitcher.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Jack Flaherty
As a Baltimore transplant it pains me to write up the Rays as a top stack tonight. They just get a great matchup vs. an overrate pitcher in Jack Flaherty. Flaherty has struggled with the Orioles. While the xFIP over the last month is respectable at just a smidge over 4, the ERA is not as it’s at 7.24. I don’t think there’s much positive regression coming his way. He just hasn’t looked good on the mounds in the games I’ve watched.
He gives up way too much contact and against a solid Rays lineup, that’s just not good. My priority with the Rays are going to be lefties. He’s been significantly worse against them this season as they have a .383 wOBA and a .180 ISO.
My Rays stack will start with Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, and Luke Raley. Each of these guys possesses power and has the potential to take Flaherty deep into Eutaw Street. Of the 3, Josh Lowe is probably my favorite right now. He’s not hitting for as much power, but he’s been getting on base and that’s what is in important for us here.
After the 3 major lefties, I’m going to look to guys like Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozerana, and Isaac Paredes. They aren’t lefties, but these 3 are probably the best hitters on the team and can get to any pitcher in the game. Look for the Rays to tie up the Orioles for the division lead by putting up a big number.
Other stacks I like tonight are the Mets vs. Greene and Giants vs. Anderson.
MLB DFS Summary
This slate has the makings of a fun one!
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Good luck and hope to see you in the green.
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