MLB DFS Winners and Losers: Sale, Peacock and More

There was a 15 game slate on Wednesday May 8th. I will look into some players who performed really well and a couple who underachieved. The Giants and Rockies game was postponed. Points are based on DraftKings.

Winners

Chris Sale (Bos)

If anyone was still questioning if Sale was back to true form, they are not anymore. Sale pitched eight full innings and racked up 14 strikeouts. The Orioles were only able to get three hits and one earned run against Sale, who threw 108 pitches in the game. He racked up 41 fantasy points for anyone who rostered him. This is Sale’s fourth game in a row with at least 23 points. Sale’s season ERA has improved every game since early April and it now sits at 4.50. His K/9 has been good all year and it rose to an impressive 11.45 which shows his immense upside.

Sale’s Outlook

Sale’s next start will come against the Rockies at Fenway Park. The Rockies have averaged 4.72 runs per game this year, ranked 16th, and have a team batting average of .239, which ranks at 23rd in the league. When looking at the Rockies you always need to view road splits because of their extremely hitter friendly home field. The Rockies have been worse on the road, as expected, with the run average at 4.4 and their team batting average of .217. Colorado also has the seventh most strikeouts in the league this year. This should be a great spot for Sale to continue his resurgence and domination. Roster Sale with confidence, even at max salary, in this high upside matchup.

Brad Peacock (Hou)

Peacock nearly matched Sale’s number in this game, putting up 40.75 fantasy points. Peacock gave up three hits and one walk over seven innings. He racked up 12 strikeouts on 98 pitches. Peacock has now started six games and pitched in relief in two. This game lowered his ERA to 4.30 and his WHIP to an impressive 1.09. Peacock bounced back well from his last start in which he gave up seven earned runs and only made it through 3.2 innings.

Peacock’s Outlook

Peacock’s next projected start will come on the road against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are averaging a miserable 3.46 runs per game this year and have a team batting average of .230. Detroit also has the 10th most strikeouts this year. Peacock’s K/9 is just above nine, which should make this a good matchup for him. Peacock’s salary is still pretty reasonable and as long as it stays that way I will continue to look to him when he makes a start.

Ryon Healy (Sea)

Healy led the Mariners against the Yankees on Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with a home run. He also added in three doubles to go with his two runs scored and two RBI. Healy had 33 fantasy points on the day. His batting average now is at .258 and his OPS is now at .833. He has now hit six home runs and has 24 RBI on the year. This performance was a bit of a surprise, as Healy has not put up over seven points in any of his last eight games.

Healy’s Outlook

The Mariners have one more game against the Yankees before heading to Boston to face the Red Sox. Thursday’s matchup will come against J.A. Happ, who has a 4.93 ERA and a record of 1-3. Happ is a lefty, which should favor Healy, who bats from the right side. Healy’s batting average this year is 29 points higher against lefties than righties. He will then face the Red Sox, who have the 21st ranked ERA in the league this year at 4.67. I will look to back Healy after his big performance.

Losers

Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY)

Jonathan Loaisiga of the Yankees was roughed up by the Mariners on Wednesday. He gave up six hits and two walks, which led to four earned runs. Loaisiga also gave up one home run. He threw 83 pitches and was only able to get in four innings. Loaisiga has not pitched much yet this year with only 10 innings going into Wednesday. He had pitched well with an ERA of 2.70 and had 10 strikeouts.

Loaisiga’s Outlook

Loaisiga’s next projected start will come at home against the Baltimore on Monday May 13th. The Orioles have only averaged 4.1 runs per game this year and have a team batting average of .242. Loaisiga is not someone I think I will be able to trust moving forward until he shows some long term success. In his three starts this year he has not registered more than 13 points in any of them.

J.D. Martinez (Bos)

Martinez was unable to reach base in Wednesday’s game against the Orioles. Even with this game going into extra innings, Martinez gave owners zero points. He had six at bats and struck out once. After this rough game Martinez’s average still is at a plump .309 and his OPS also looks good at .858. He has five home runs and 21 RBI on the year. He has only deliveted three hits in his last 21 at bats.

Martinez’s Outlook

Martinez and the Red Sox head back home to face the Mariners in a three-game series. They will get an off day on May 9th. Seattle ranks 18th in the league with a team ERA of 4.51. They They give up an opponent batting average of .261, which ranks them at 24th in the league. The Mariners have been a pretty good team this year but that has been because of the offense and not the pitching. Martinez has struggled lately but but he should start to pick it back up soon and this matchup is a great spot for that to happen.

Injury Report

Khris Davis returned to the lineup for the Oakland A’s on Wednesday but only played a few innings. He left the game with lingering hip soreness that came from crashing into the wall over the past weekend.

Austin Meadows of the Rays is expected to be activated off the injured list on Friday May 10th.