MLB DFS Winners and Losers: Verlander, Frazier and More

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There was a 15 game slate on Tuesday May 21st. The Royals and Cardinals game was postponed due to weather. I will go into detail on some players who performed really well and some who underachieved. Salaries and points are based on DraftKings.

Winners

Justin Verlander ($11,300)

Verlander pitched at home against the White Sox on Tuesday and had another really good game. The Astros’ ace pitched eight full innings and racked up 12 strikeouts. He only gave up one hit and one walk over 101 pitches. The hit was a solo home run in the seventh inning. Verlander improved to 8-1 on the year. He also bettered his already impressive numbers and his ERA is now at 2.24 and his WHIP is incredible at 0.73. Verlander is striking batters out at a high rate and averages over 11 per nine innings. He has only given up four hits in his last three starts combined, spanning 22 innings.

Verlander’s Outlook

Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year and there doesn’t seem to be anything slowing him down. His next start will come on Sunday May 26th at home against the Boston Red Sox. Boston is one of the teams in the league who will scare people away from Verlander, as they score 5.32 runs per game and have a team batting average of .257. They are top five in the league in both stats. They are also top five in strikeout avoidance with only under eight per game. Even with Boston’s offense performing well I will continue to ride Verlander’s hot start until he gives me a reason not to.

Clint Frazier ($4,200)

Clint Frazier of the Yankees, who hit seventh in the order Tuesday, went deep twice. Frazier went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI. The two home runs were his only two runs he scored on the day. Frazier has played well to start the year and now has eight home runs with 23 RBI. His batting average is now at .268 and his OPS is .818. He has struggled recently and came into this game with only one hit in his last six games and did not have a multi hit game since April 20th.

Frazier’s Outlook

Frazier and the Yankees have two more games in Baltimore against the Orioles. This could be a spot where Frazier could continue his bounce-back. Baltimore has the worst team ERA in the league at 5.63 and give up an opponent’s batting average of .266, bottom five in the league. They also do not strike out many hitters, averaging only 7.53 per game. Frazier has struck out a lot this year and has 31 Ks through 31 games played. I am looking for Frazier continue to get back to his early-season form.

Lance Lynn ($6,800)

Lynn and the Rangers faced off against the Mariners on Tuesday and Lynn picked up his sixth win of the year. He improved to 6-3. Lynn pitched seven complete innings and struck out 11. He gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk. He threw a whopping 120 pitches on Tuesday. Lynn improved his season ERA to 4.67 and his WHIP improved to 1.36. His K/9 is also at a healthy 8.77. Lynn has had a bit of an up and down year, as he has six games with two or less earned runs given up, but also has three games with five or more earned runs.

Lynn’s Outlook

Lynn’s next projected start will come on Sunday May 26th in LA against the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have an average offense this year and score 4.74 runs per game and have a team batting average of .253. They strike out by far the lowest rate in MLB and average only 6.15 per game. As strikeouts are the main source of scoring for pitchers, that stat scares me away from Lynn. He may pitch well, but you can not expect high a high strikeout number in this one. I will be fading Lynn after his big game and finding an alternative pitcher.

Losers

Eduardo Rodriguez ($8,900)

Rodriguez and the Red Sox played in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Rodriguez was hit hard all day and took the loss. He gave up six earned runs on on six hits and three walks. Rodriguez struck out five over five innings pitched. He also gave up three home runs. They Blue Jays hitters were tough to get out all day for Boston, as they scored 10 runs on 11 hits. Rodriguez only scored 3.85 fantasy points. There were a couple pitchers who scored less but none with the expensive price tag of Rodriguez. Rodriguez has struggled for the most part this year and has an ERA of 5.43 and a WHIP of 1.46. His K/9 is now at 10.05.

Rodriguez’s Outlook

Rodriguez’s next projected start comes against the Houston Astros on Sunday May 26th. It has been well documented how good the Astros offense has been this year. They average 5.44 runs per game this year and have the best team batting average in the league, which is .279. They’re also the second best home run hitting team in the league with 88 this year. The Astros also have a very good strikeout rate with only 7.17 per game. This is a definite stay away spot for Rodriguez.

Mitch Haniger ($5,100)

Haniger and the Mariners were only able to score three runs against the Rangers on Tuesday. Haniger went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. The Mariners lost 3-5. Haniger has struggled this year with a batting average of only .232. He has struck out 64 times already in 50 games. He does have some decent power numbers, with an OPS of .821 to go with his 12 home runs and 26 RBI.

Haniger’s Outlook

The Mariners have one more game at Texas before heading to Oakland for a three game series against the Athletics. Haniger will face off with Jesse Chavez as an opener followed by Adrian Sampson in Texas on Wednesday. Sampson has struggled this year with a WHIP of 1.55. I am looking for Haniger to bounce back immediately against Chavez and Sampson. He then gets the A’s, who have the 13th ranked team ERA in the league at 4.16. They give up an opponent batting average of .238. This is an interesting spot for Haniger against an average pitching staff.

Injury Report

Willie Calhoun left Tuesday’s game with left quad tightness. He will be evaluated Wednesday.

Khris Davis is going to be placed on the 10-day IL with a hip injury.

D.J. LeMahieu left in the sixth inning on Tuesday after fouling a ball off his foot. This is not expected to be serious but is something to monitor.