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Justin Smoak

MLB DFS Hitting Picks Of Destiny: August 4th

Nicholas Robert 5 years ago

written by Nicholas Robert

This Sunday August 4th slate is all about landing the right bats. Follow my studs and value plays and lock in the MLB DFS Picks of Destiny.

Check out our Data Driven Projections for FanDuel Hitters for Premium Gold Members.

MLB DFS Hitters: Crushing At Camden Yards

Catcher Stud:. Travis d’Arnaud ($3,600 FD; $4,200 DK). Catcher is a bit thin today so we have to choose a play against a pitcher we respect. Caleb Smith (L) is on the mound for the Marlins and has been slightly worse on the road with a 4.17 ERA. Travis d’Arnaud hits lefties at .337 ISO/.398 wOBA with nine home runs on the season. We should all know by now the d’Arnaud can win you a slate. He should be hitting cleanup this afternoon in the state rivalry game.

Catcher Value: Roberto Perez ($3,300 FD; $4,000 DK) has three home runs in his last three games and is hitting .237 ISO/.331 wOBA vs righties. He bats against Jaime Barria (R) and his 6.28 ERA. He has given up at least one home run in every game he has pitched in since April. Get this, Barria’s road ERA is an astounding 10.62! Indians all the way.

First Base Stud: Carlos Santana ($3,900 FD; $4,800 DK) also goes against Jaime Barria and should get in on the action. There are only a few pitchers I want to target today and Barria is one of them. Santana has 18 homers with .279 ISO/.397 wOBA on the season and has one of the best chances to go deep for the Indians. He is a great MLB DFS play.

First Base Mid/Value: Justin Smoak ($3,300 FD; $4,300 DK). The Toronto Blue Jays are one of my favorite stacks today because Tom Eshelman is pitching to them. He has a 8.68 road ERA and is in a hitters park in Baltimore. He has given up 16 runs in only five games. Smoak has 16 home runs and a .265 ISO/.375 wOBA on the season. I am expecting fireworks for the Blue Jays today. I will be listing several of them.

Second Base: Jose Altuve ($4,300 FD; $5,100 DK) vs a lefty is always a good MLB DFS idea. He is absolutely on fire as of late. His last FanDuel scores are as follow: 31.1, 28.7, 15.4, 9, 15.2, 31.7, 15.2. He goes against Tommy Milone (L) and his 4.39 ERA. He has given up seven home runs his last three games. He is, um, struggling. Altuve is truly in his MVP form right now. He hits lefties at .439 ISO/.546 wOBA. Lock.

Second Base Value: Cavan Biggio ($3,700 FD; $4,400 DK) I am targeting Tom Eshelman today as mentioned above. Biggio is in the two hole and hits .228 ISO/.346 wOBA vs righties and Eshelman is a bad one. Locking in a few Blue Jays stacks.

Shortstop Stud: Bo Bichette ($3,500 FD; $4,300 DK). Both of my shortstops are Blue Jays. I can’t be talked off them today. Bichette is batting first and hits .276 ISO/.428 wOBA (small sample size). He has played in six MLB games and has 11 hits and a double in his last four contests. I will roster almost guaranteed MLB DFS production.

Shortstop Mid: Freddy Galvis ($3,000 FD; $4,100 DK) has three home runs in his last four games. I like hot streaks in baseball. He is the cheap glue in my Toronto stacks at $3,000. He has a .207 ISO/.330 wOBA vs right handers. Again, target Eshelman.

Shortstop Honorable Mention: Carlos Correa

Third Base Stud: Alex Bregman ($3,900 FD: $4,800 DK) is hitting .327 ISO/ .408 wOBA with nine home runs vs southpaws this year. As noted above, Tommy Milone is on a home run giving spree and the Astros are about to reap all the benefits. Bregman statistically has one of the best chances to go yard.

Third Base Stud: Vladimir Guerrero Jr ($3,900 FD: $4,900 DK) vs Tom Eshelman. Mmmmk. He has a .208 ISO/.370 wOBA and is an absolute powerhouse at the plate slugging .964 in his last seven days. He has eight hits in his last four games. Let’s go Toronto!

Third Base Honorable Mention: Renaldo Nunez, I don’t have any value plays. Pay up today.

Outfield Stud: Yordan Alvarez ($4,100 FD; $5,700 DK) also gets the pleasure of hitting vs. Tommy Milone (L). Alvarez bats .462 IS0/.495 wOBA which surprisingly leads the Astros. He is batting fifth and has huge upside.

Outfield Honorable Mention: George Springer

Outfield Mid: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ($3,500 FD; $5,500 DK) vs Eshelman and his 8.68 road ERA in a hitters park. I feel like I’ve exhausted the point enough.. Gurriel Jr has eight homers and .230 ISO/.359 wOBA against righties so far this season and is batting third.

Outfield Mid/Value: Randal Grichuk ($3,100 FD; $4,100 DK) vs Eshelman. Grichuk is very boom or bust, but today I’m expecting the Blue Jays to boom. He has 14 homers on the season with a .205 ISO/ .303 wOBA. I will take all the Blue Jays exposure I can get.

Top Stacks:

Houston
Blue Jays
Cleveland

I primary used FanDuel when building optimal MLB DFS lineups.

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5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

7/31 DFS Hitting and Prop Picks: Trade Deadline Day

Mark Sheppard 5 years ago

written by Mark Sheppard

Today marks the trade deadline, so it’s going to be one of the most bizarre slates of the season. That means we’ll have a bunch of funky lineups and potential scratches, so be sure to check everything before submitting lineups. With that in mind, let’s get into our 7/31 DFS Hitting picks.

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7/31 DFS Hitting Picks

7/31 DFS Hitting Catcher

James McCann, DET at LAA

DK ($3,400) FD ($2,700)

McCann really deserves more credit for what he’s done this season, as he’s truly established himself as one of the best hitting catchers in the game. That’s made crystal clear by his .283 AVG and .800 OPS, which are easily career-high numbers. His numbers against lefties have been even better, with McCann providing a .359 OBP, .519 SLG and .877 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That makes these price tags really hard to figure, especially against a guy with a 5.35 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.

7/31 DFS Hitting First Base

Justin Smoak, TOR at KC

DK ($3,900) FD ($3,300)

Smoak has been a regular in my articles over recent weeks and recent results indicate that we’ve been getting things right. The simple fact is, this dude is inevitably due for some positive regression. His .342 wOBA and .427 SLG are way off of his .389 xwOBA and .513 xSLG. Those indicators tell us that this is one of the most dangerous bats in the game and his form since the All-Star break shows just that. Over his last 13 games, Smoak has four homers, nine runs scored, nine RBI and 11 walks en route to a .396 OBP and .548 SLG. That’s huge against a guy like Jakob Junis, as that puts Smoak on his favorable left side versus a pitcher with a 5.03 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

7/31 DFS Hitting Second Base

Max Muncy, LAD at COL

DK ($5,600) FD ($4,400)

After a couple of value plays, let’s get some studs in there for you to build off of. Muncy is just that, as his .290 ISO, .381 OBP, .555 SLG and .936 OPS since joining L.A. last season makes him one of the best bats in the game. Those fantastic numbers are even better against right-handers and his numbers in Coors Field are more ridiculous. In 55 at-bats in Coors Field, Muncy has four doubles, nine homers and 22 RBI en route to a .927 SLG and 1.343 OPS. He faces a pitcher who’s really struggling at home this season too, with German Marquez posting a 7.07 ERA and 1.70 WHIP at Coors.

7/31 DFS Hitting Third Base

Alex Bregman, HOU at CLE

DK ($5,200) FD ($3,800)

The power potential from this kid is simply amazing and we have to like the Astros against a pitcher like Adam Plutko. The Indians right-hander is currently pitching to a 4.83 ERA and 6.21 FIP, which is truly scary against one of the best lineups in baseball. That’s why Houston is projected for more than five runs and Bregman should play a huge part of that. The little third baseman is currently generating a .520 SLG and .913 OPS, as he’s also got a .404 OBP over his last 21 games.

7/31 DFS Hitting Shortstop

Javier Baez, CHC at STL

DK ($4,600) FD ($4,000)

It was tough to find value plays among the shortstops but Baez is too cheap. This guy has done nothing but rake since joining the Cubs and he’s particularly enticing in this circumstance. While Miles Mikolas is a solid pitcher, his inability to strike people out really adds to Baez’ value. The 29 percent K rate for Baez is one of the only things that’s slowed him down but Mikolas’ 17 percent K rate limits Baez’s risk. If you’re guaranteeing me that this talented hitter will get the ball in play four times, I’ll take those odds at this price tag. Baez is feeling it right now too, accruing three doubles, three homers, 11 runs scored and two steals over his last nine games played.

7/31 DFS Hitting Outfielders

J.D. Martinez, BOS vs. TB

DK ($4,900) FD ($4,100)

Don’t look now but Martinez is starting to heat up. Much like Smoak, this is a guy who’s due for some serious positive regression, as his indicators are some of the best in the game. In fact, Martinez .408 xwOBA and .588 xSLG rank him Top-20 in the game and it’s really no surprise that he’s starting to heat up. Over the last nine games, Martinez is hitting .375 while providing a .750 SLG and 1.155 OPS. There’s also a good chance that he’ll face a lefty here and that’s really frightening when you see his 1.301 OPS against southpaws this season.

Ian Desmond, COL vs. LAD

DK ($4,200) FD ($3,400)

Desmond has quietly had a resurgent season for the Rockies and he’s really one of the only Coors Field bats that comes at a value. Since May 7, Desmond is hitting .308 while generating a .925 OPS. That’s all you can ask for from someone in such a friendly ballpark and most of that damage has actually come against left-handed pitching. In fact, Desmond has a .975 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Hyun-Jin Ryu is a scary pitcher but his 9.15 ERA and 2.32 WHIP in five starts at Coors shows that no one is safe from those dimensions.

Justin Upton, LAA vs. DET

DK ($3,800) FD ($3,500)

Upton has been very disappointing this season since his return from the IL but he’s got way too much potential to be priced below $4,000 on DK. We’re talking about a guy who has a career .355 wOBA and career .209 ISO. This is a 31-year-old who still has a ton in the tank and it’s just a matter of time before he gets hot. Facing a weak lefty like Daniel Norris is a good way to start, with the Detroit southpaw pitching to a 4.89 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Those ugly numbers are going to make it tough to get Upton out, as he has a .230 ISO and .366 wOBA against left-handed pitching for his career.

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Monkey Knife Fight Pick of the Day

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Jakob Junis Over 4.5 Strikeouts

Junis is too good of a pitcher to be struggling the way he is and the K upside is huge here. This is a guy who has a 22 percent K rate and has struck out at least four batters in 14-straight starts. That’s huge against a Blue Jays lineup that ranks 20th in K rate, 22nd in runs scored, 25th in OPS and 28th in OBP.

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

7/29 DFS Hitter Picks: Making Room for Coors Bats

brgrewe@gmail.com 5 years ago

written by brgrewe@gmail.com

With only seven games on this small Monday slate, we’re going to take a different approach with this article. It would be easy to sit here and write about all of the players in the Dodgers-Rockies game in Coors Field but that’s too easy. I’m going to focus on all value plays and try to help you fill out a lineup with those Coors Field bats. It’s going to be imperative to stack that game in a seven-game slate, so hopefully, some of these cheap guys will make that build much easier. Let’s get into our 7/29 DFS hitter picks!

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7/29 DFS Hitter Options

Catcher

Carson Kelly, ARI at MIA

DK ($3,700) FD ($2,700)

I really don’t like to use anyone against Caleb Smith but we need to get creative on a seven-game slate. What makes Kelly such an attractive option here is that he absolutely destroys left-handed pitching. In fact, Kelly has a .475 OBP, .808 SLG and 1.283 OPS against southpaws so far this season. Kelly has also been a much better away from home, as his 1.021 road OPS is more than 300 points higher than his home OPS.

First Base

Justin Smoak, TOR at KC

DK ($3,900) FD ($3,200)

Smoak has been one of the unluckiest hitters in the league this season but the luck is finally turning around. Over his last 11 games, Smoak has four homers, seven RBI and 10 walks en route to a .435 OBP and 1.040 OPS. That’s the guy that we’ve been expecting all season, as his .385 xwOBA and .511 xSLG is way off his .339 wOBA and .423 SLG. That means positive regression is right around the corner and this recent hot stretch is hopefully the start of it. Getting to face Brad Keller should only help, with the Kansas City righty pitching to a 4.87 xFIP. It also puts Smoak on the left side and he has a .365 OBP and .857 OPS against righties despite the poor luck.

Second Base

Brian Dozier, WSH vs. ATL

DK ($3,400) FD ($2,400)

Dozier really deserves more credit and these sites need to raise his price. Over his last 43 games. Dozier has a .380 OBP and .890 OPS. That’s the former All-Star that we loved and this price doesn’t quite match up with that production. Getting to face a lefty is what really makes him hard to fade, with Dozier generating a .418 OBP, .625 SLG and 1.043 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. Not to mention, Dozier went 2-for-3 on Sunday, with a double, homer and two runs scored.

Third Base

Manny Machado, SD vs. BAL

DK ($4,600) FD ($4,000)

Machado should have a higher price and he’s easily one of the best 7/29 DFS hitter options on the board. This perennial All-Star is one of the hottest hitters in the game right now and he should be $500 more on each site. In fact, Machado is hitting .329 over his last 35 games while providing a .685 SLG and 1.058 OPS in that span. That’s obviously stupendous production and he should continue that success against a pitching staff that has a 5.53 team ERA. It’s unclear exactly who he’ll face but just the fact that this horrible pitching staff has to call someone up is a very promising sign. I also believe that Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe are too cheap on both sites and these three make for a beautiful stack against this putrid pitching staff.

Shortstop

Jonathan Villar, BAL at SD

DK ($4,000) FD ($3,100)

Villar is a personal favorite of mine and I really don’t like how these sites continue to disrespect him with these price tags. Any leadoff hitter with 20-30 potential should be much higher, especially when they’re hot. Not only does Villar have multi-hit games in four-straight, he’s also collected nine runs, two homers and five steals in that span. That equates to nearly 35 FanDuel points per game, which is downright absurd. Getting to hit on the left side is a huge bonus too, with Villar accruing a .350 OBP against right-handers this season while swiping 18 of his 22 stolen bases against them. Dinelson Lamet is talented but his 5.00 ERA and 1.39 WHIP make him a pitcher we can exploit.

Outfield

Shohei Ohtani, LAA vs. DET

DK ($5,200) FD ($4,200)

Ohtani has done nothing but rake against right-handers since being signed from Japan and he’s my favorite 7/29 DFS hitter. In fact, Ohtani has a .307 AVG, .373 OBP, .613 SLG and .987 OPS against righties since being signed. He also has 15 of his 18 career steals against them and it’s crystal clear just how much more comfortable he is from the left side. This happens to be a pitcher we definitely want to stack against too, with Jordan Zimmermann pitching to a 7.57 ERA and 1.71 WHIP en route to a disastrous 0-8 record.

Corey Dickerson, PIT at CIN

DK ($4,200) FD ($2,800)

Dickerson is in the same boat as Ohtani and he too loves to mash righties. So far this season, Dickerson has a .376 OBP, .538 SLG and .915 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That’s pretty close to the guy that we’ve seen throughout his career, with Dickerson attaining a .239 ISO, .361 wOBA and .861 OPS against right-handers for his career. That’s all you can ask for from a guy priced so cheaply who gets to hit in in a small park like Great American Ballpark should only help. If Dickerson misses this game because of a nagging groin, pivot to Jesse Winker atop the Reds lineup in the same price range.

Josh VanMeter, CIN vs. PIT

DK ($3,700) FD ($2,700)

VanMeter has been incredible the last few games and it’s time for these DFS sites to take notice. Four homers in his last eight games tells you everything you need to know, with VanMeter providing a .520 AVG, 1.120 SLG and 1.650 OPS over his last nine games. Those are Barry Bonds-like numbers, as he’s carried over his ridiculous numbers from the minors. At Triple-A this season, VanMeter hit .348 while generating a .669 SLG and 1.098 OPS. Getting the platoon advantage against Jordan Lyles is simply the icing on the cake, with the Pirates righty pitching to a 9.57 ERA and 1.99 WHIP over his last nine starts.

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Monkey Knife Fight Free Play

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

Stack Report for MLB Main Slate: Winning Edge for July 19

Daniel Wehr 5 years ago

written by Daniel Wehr

This report will provide recommended DFS stacks for today’s 14-game main slate. I will also include my favorite pitching picks.

**All plays are listed in order of preference. Please check back between 5-6 PM EST as some players can receive rest days or get limited at bats especially as we get closer to the postseason. Make sure you are watching the weather as well.

New York Yankees Stack

vs. LHP Kyle Freeland (COL): 6.90 Runs

I glared at the computer for awhile this morning trying to figure out how to get away from this Yankees chalk tonight and I can’t do it. Kyle Freeland is just downright terrible. He carries a 7.39 ERA, 6.13 FIP, and 5.18 SIERA on the season. He has allowed 43 earned runs across 53 innings to right-handed batters. Freeland is allowing a massive 2.27 HR/9 innings and 43% hard contact. Freeland is not at Coors, but he is in very hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have been slumping off just a bit coming off the break, but this team is jam packed with talent and it would be foolish to fade them. The Yankees are slashing to a .365 wOBA, .225 ISO, and 128 WRC+ over the last month. I’m typically an advocate against using the Yankees on most nights, but I feel confident using these right handed power bats this evening.

Cleveland Indians Stack

vs. LHP Mike Montgomery (KCR): 6.15 Runs

Mike Montgomery was a top prospect not long ago but has not had a good 2019 campaign. I doubt he’s stretched out all the way so he should be limited today. We have a small sample size to go off of here, but Montgomery carries a 5.67 ERA, 6.21 FIP, and 5.25 SIERA over 27 innings pitched this season. His splits indicate he struggles more with lefties. They are slashing to a .556 wOBA, .868 SLG, and .512 OBP. Montgomery is not much better against righties (thus far). They are slashing to a .336 wOBA, .464 SLG, and .338 OBP. Obviously these numbers are inflated due to limited action this season but most tend to go for the handedness matchup, so don’t be afraid to differentiate with some Cleveland lefties. Cleveland bats are red hot right now. They are slashing to a .369 wOBA, .255 ISO, and 128 WRC+ over the last couple of weeks.

Toronto Blue Jays Stack

vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (DET): 5.90 Runs

Jordan Zimmermann heads into tonight’s matchup carrying a 7.01 ERA, 4.64 FIP, and 5.35 SIERA. That ERA is a little elevated compared to his FIP and SIERA. That is because of his .344 BABIP and a lowly 58% LOB. Some of it can be attributed to bad luck but he also has a poor defense behind him, so that will drive his ERA up whereas FIP measures things only the pitcher can control. Bats are slashing to a .350 wOBA, .508 SLG, and .348 OBP on the season against him. Zimmermann has allowed 41 earned runs across 52.2 innings pitched. He has only allowed seven home runs in that span. Blue Jays batters are slashing to a .351 wOBA, .234 ISO, and 120 WRC+ over the last month. They have seen a dip in their batting averages recently, but this is a good spot for Toronto to do some damage.

Honorable Mention

Boston Red Sox Stack

vs. LHP John Means (BAL): 6.00 Runs

Preferred Stack: Christian Vazquez ($2800 FD|$4700 DK), Xander Bogaerts ($4500 FD|$5700 DK), Rafael Devers ($4400 FD|$5400 DK), and J.D. Martinez ($4000 FD|$4700 DK).

Pitching

RHP Jacob deGrom (NYM): 3.13 Runs
LHP Hyun-jin Ryu (LAD): 2.45 Runs
RHP Marcus Stroman (TOR): 4.20 Runs
LHP Brendan McCay (TAM): 3.29 Runs

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

DFS Top Hitters and Prop Picks for 7/15: Don’t Dodge the Tribe

Cora Baylis 5 years ago

written by Cora Baylis

This is my first DFS hitting article after the break and I’m ecstatic to be back. What I’m really excited about is to get back into the prop groove, with another Monkey Knife Fight pick for you. With the Rockies and Giants playing a doubleheader, we’re going to avoid that game. You all know that the bats are in play at Coors Field, so let’s find you some other values around the Majors.

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Catcher

Roberto Perez, CLE vs. DET

DK ($4,100) FD ($2,700)

It’s always tough to pick a catcher, but Perez makes for a great option with his recent form. Over his last 38 games, Perez has a .614 SLG and .980 OPS. Those are great numbers for anyone, let alone a catcher. What really makes him enticing here is that he gets to face a lefty, with Perez generating a .615 SLG and 1.018 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Daniel Norris is definitely a guy we want to stack against too, and we’ll go over that later in the article.

First Base

Justin Smoak, TOR at BOS

DK ($3,900) FD ($2,900)

Smoak is a guy that you need to keep an eye on for DFS purposes in the second half. This dude is literally the unluckiest hitter in the league and it’s just a matter of time before he sees some positive regression. That’s evident by the fact that he has a .513 xSLG and .389 xwOBA, which are way off his .413 SLG and .336 wOBA. That makes me believe that a hot streak is right around the corner and it could start against Rick Porcello. Not only does Smoak have a .374 OBP and .868 OPS against right-handers this season, Porcello is also providing an ugly 5.33 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

Second Base

Keston Hiura, MIL vs. ATL

DK ($4,600) FD ($3,300)

Hiura just usurped Travis Shaw as the second baseman for Milwaukee and it’s scary just how much potential this little masher has. Let’s start with his absurd minor league numbers, with Hiura generating a .330 AVG and 1.090 OPS at Triple-A this season. A .284 AVG and .882 OPS at the MLB level shows that it’s no fluke and it’s scary to think how good this guy can be. What we like here is that he gets the platoon advantage against Max Fried, who’s pitching to a 6.17 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over his last eight starts. Keep an eye on this guy for the future for both DFS and season-long formats

Third Base

Josh Donaldson, ATL at MIL

DK ($5,100) FD ($3,500)

Donaldson has been in more of my articles than any other player and this increase in price shows that we’re doing something right. It’s actually getting to the point where he’s hard to trust but we can’t fade a guy who’s this hot. Over his last 27 games, Donaldson has 13 homers and 26 RBI en route to a .740 SLG and 1.125 OPS. That’s the MVP Donaldson that we loved in his days with Toronto and it’s clear that his power stroke is fully back. Getting to hit in Miller Park should only help, as that’s easily one of the best hitter’s parks in the league.

Shortstop

Corey Seager, LAD at PHI

DK ($4,200) FD ($3,100)

Seager hasn’t given us a whole lot of reason to use him in DFS this season but this price is too cheap for someone of his abilities. We’re still talking about a guy with a career .297 AVG, .364 wOBA and .844 OPS. That’s way too good for someone priced this cheaply and it’s just a matter of time before he starts raking. Getting to face a weak righty in a hitter’s haven like Citizens Bank Park is a good way to start a hot streak, with Zach Eflin pitching to a 4.78 xFIP and 1.30 WHIP this season.

Outfield

Joc Pederson, LAD at PHI

DK ($4,200) FD ($2,600)

Pederson has been mired in a bit of a slump but he’s always worth using against a right-hander. Joc leads off against righties, which is huge for a lineup that is projected for more than five runs. Pederson has been doing some serious damage when facing righties, posting a .556 SLG and .904 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. As we discussed in the Seager write-up, Eflin is not a guy we’re worried about either.

Jordan Luplow, CLE vs. DET

DK ($3,900) FD ($2,500)

These DFS prices made my jaw drop to the floor and I’ll have more stock in Luplow than any other player on this slate. The simple fact is, Luplow destroys left-handers. In fact, the righty masher is posting a .417 OBP, .691 SLG and 1.108 OPS against southpaws so far this season. That’s why he typically bats cleanup in these circumstances and that’s huge against a guy like Daniel Norris. The Tigers lefty is pitching to 4.96 ERA and 1.42 WHIP and will surely struggle with Luplow.

Eloy Jimenez, CWS at KC

DK ($4,000) FD ($3,100)

Much like Donaldson, I have been on Eloy for DFS purposes for over a month now. As someone who follows prospects closely, I can tell you that this is one of the greatest hitters in our game. That was evident when he posted an ISO in the .300 range at the minor league level while approaching an OPS of 1.000. The power potential is clearly there and recent results would indicate that he’s finally getting comfortable at this level. Over his last 26 games, Eloy has collected 10 homers and 24 RBI en route to a .624 SLG and .976 OPS. That raving success should continue against Jakob Junis, who is pitching to a 5.33 ERA and 1.45 WHIP so far this season.

Monkey Knife Fight Pick of the Day

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Corey Seager/Cody Bellinger/Max Muncy Over 3.5 Hits

This one is self-explanatory when looking at the DFS writeups, as the Dodgers are one of the highest projected offenses on this slate. Zach Eflin’s 4.78 xFIP and 1.30 WHIP is the main reason why and they should cruise to double-digit hits in a ballpark like CBP.

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

DFS Hitting and Monkey Knife Picks: Independence Day Bats

Mark Paquette 5 years ago

written by Mark Paquette

A strange day for this Independence Day with the DFS contests split up at unusual times and games. And not every team is playing on this holiday? How does that happen? Well I guess Independence Day falling on a Thursday gives MLB some leeway as teams travel to get ready for the upcoming weekend series that start tomorrow.

Catcher:

Jason Castro, Twins at Athletics ($2,600 FD, $3,800 DK): One of the keys to the Twins’ fine season is how well their catchers have hit. At times this season, the Twins have seen three really good hitting catchers on their roster in Castro, Mitch Garver and Willians Astudillo. The first two names in this threesome have hit so well that the third player has spent much of the year in the minors even though he has performed well when asked to.

Back to today’s match-up, Garver played last night so Castro is likely to see his name on the scoresheet today. On the season, Castro has 10 HRs in 111 ABS vs righties and has an OPS of .934. In other words, he is an elite hitter against righties. Castro faces rookie Athletics right-hander Tanner Anderson who is really struggling right now.

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DFS First Base

Justin Smoak, Red Sox at Blue Jays ($2,700 FD, $3,900 DK): Both players chosen so far are extremely affordable to let us pay up for arms and big bats in smash spots. Smoak gets spot-starter Hector Velazquez of the Red Sox and gets to take his cuts against him from his strong side of the plate. For the season, Smoak’s OPS is .904 vs righties and only .572 vs lefties. With Velasquez not expected to go too long in the game and with the dearth of lefties in Boston’s bullpens, he will likely swing the bat as a lefty all game.

DFS Second Base

Gleyber Torres, Yankees at Rays ($3,600 FD, $4,900 DK): The Rays have a great pitching staff and their starter today (Chirinos) has been effective all season. So why do I like Torres today? First of all, he is an extremely talented player on the best hitting team in the majors. Secondly, his road splits are incredible, with a .999 OPS as compared to .782 at home.

Thirdly, someone standing up for him vocally might give him an extra spark. Yankee manager Aaron Boone backed his star player and blasted the A.L. for leaving Torres off the All-Star roster here. A particularly strong quote from Boone: “I think it’s a joke he’s not on that team. Gleyber Torres, not an All-Star? You can kick rocks on that one. That’s ridiculous.” Torres is red-hot, with hits in 12 of his last 13 games and multiple hits in three of his past five games.

DFS Shortstop

Jorge Polanco, Twins at Athletics ($3,700 FD, $4,500 DK): For DFS roster construction, having multiple Twins is probably a good idea. As mentioned before about Jason Castro, Tanner Anderson is struggling. So use Polanco, who has hit in six straight games and 15 out of 16. For the season, Polanco has a terrific OPS of .974 against righties.

DFS Third Base

D.J. LeMahieu, Yankees at Rays ($4,300 FD, $5,400 DK): Here is one of my “big bats to pay up for” written about previously. With as much talent as the Bronx Bombers have, this scrappy player is likely their MVP to-date. He just has hit the ball so consistently well all season long. LeMathieu is particularly hot right now, with multiple hit games in seven of his last eight. If the Yankees do damage in St. Petersburg late this afternoon and evening (which I think they will), LeMahieu will likely be a huge part of the fireworks.

DFS Outfield

Let’s go with one more Twins bat in Max Kepler ($3,700 FD, $4,600 DK). This German-born lefty hits righties very well and will likely bat leadoff. His OPS against right-handers is .915.

An old DFS saying of mine, well just for the past season, is to use Joey Gallo ($4,200 FD, $5,700 DK) at home against mediocre or young right-handed pitchers. The scheduled days off for pitchers for both teams is out of whack due to the tragic passing away of Tyler Skaggs. Griffin Canning starts for the Angels in a hot Globe Life Park where the ball will carry very well.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ($3,700 FD, $5,500 DK): You may say to yourself, that is expensive for him! Well, this guy is red-hot and faces the uncertain pitching situation of the Red Sox. Since June 20th, Gurriel Jr. has hit 7 HRs, which may have something to do with batting third in the order behind Valdimir Guerrero Jr. Lourdes has Expected Slugging and Hard Hit rates that both rank in the 87th percentile or better on the season. To make a long story short, these power numbers are not a fluke, folks.

Monkey Knife Fight Pick of the Day

Max Kepler/Jorge Polanco/Jason Castro Hits on the Day

Feeling safe? Go for double your $ and the trio combine for five or more hits. Risky? Put a 5X next to your money if they combine for seven or more hits. As you can tell in my writing, I like the Twins bats alot today!

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5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

DFS Winners and Losers: Smoak and Mirrors

Vincent Pensabene 5 years ago

written by Vincent Pensabene

We had a full 15-game DFS slate on Sunday June 30. All points and dollar amounts are based on DraftKings.

DFS Winners

Justin Smoak ($3,700)

Justin Smoak had a solid game against the Kansas City Royals yesterday, going 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored. He came off the DL with a bang.

Smoak’s DFS Outlook

Justin Smoak needed a game like he had yesterday after a layoff dating back to mid-June. The Blue Jays continue their series against the Royals and Glenn Sparkman has given up seven homers in his last four starts. If Smoak performs well again today you may have to keep him on DFS radar as he can provide DFS production in bunches.

Kevin Pillar ($3,700)

Pillar had one of his best games of the season. He finished 4-for-5 with a double, home run, five RBI and two runs scored. He upped his batting average to .240 while being in the bottom-third of the Giants’ lineup. Pillar should be in your DFS lineup for today’s slate.

Pillar’s DFS Outlook

Kevin Pillar isn’t known as a prolific DFS hitter but is batting .293 in his past 15 games. The Giants continue their series against the Padres. Pillar has similar lefty/righty splits but has more power against lefty pitchers. The Padres are using rookie Logan Allen so look for Pillar to get a few hits.

DFS Losers

Robbie Ray ($10,000)

Robbie Ray did not have his best stuff yesterday against the San Francisco Giants. He threw just four innings and gave up four runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He struggled throughout the entire game, throwing 83 pitches. Fade Robbie Ray in DFS into the All-Star break and hope he corrects his mistakes.

Ray’s DFS Outlook

Ray hasn’t been right throughout the month of June. He has posted a quality start in four of his six starts, but has a 1-4 record and 5.00 ERA. He is able to eat up innings but has not really been too productive in those starts as of late. Ray has 11 walks in his previous three starts, so control has been an issue as well. His next DFS start is Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies. Fade Ray and see how he comes back in the second half of the season.

Michael Chavis ($10,500)

Michael Chavis did not have a good game in London against the New York Yankees. He went hitless in five at-bats with three strikeouts. He also struggled in the field, committing two errors at first base. Look for Chavis to get it going in DFS when he’s on the field next.

Chavis’ DFS Outlook

Chavis had difficulties offensively and defensively. The makeshift field was a little bizzare for MLB players who are creatures of habit. Chavis is still hitting .294 with four home runs and 14 RBI in his previous 15 games. The only blemish is the 24 strikeouts in the same span. The Red Sox get an off-day before traveling to Toronto to face the Blue Jays. Trent Thornton is coming off a rocky start and I do not expect him to make a recovery here so start Chavis in DFS .

DFS Injury Update

Luis Severino of the New York Yankees has been shut down from his throwing program for a second time after feeling something in his right lat again. General manager Brian Cashman said Severino feels 90 percent right now and will continue to rehab once he feels fully healthy.

David Robertson of the Philadelphia Phillies threw 20 fastballs and a few changeups off a mound on Sunday. Robertson is currently on the 60-day IL and is eyeing a late July return.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Marcell Ozuna, who was placed on the IL on Saturday after injuring his fingers diving back on a pickoff attempt, has small fractures at the base of his third and fourth fingers on his right hand.

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5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

MLB DFS Winners and Losers: Smoaking

Sean Escobar 5 years ago

written by Sean Escobar

We had a 15-game slate for Sunday May 26th. Let’s go over some players who performed well and others who underperformed. All points and prices are based off DraftKings.

Winners

Brandon Woodruff ($6,600)

Woodruff looked special on the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday. He finished with eight innings and only had one hit against him, a solo home run off the bat of Andrew Knapp. He also reached 10 strikeouts and no walks. The Phillies rank in the Top-10 with a .332 OBP and only managed to get one baserunner against Woodruff.

Woodruff’s Outlook

This was the sixth consecutive outing that Woodruff has thrown at least five innings and given up two runs or less. In that same span, he has a 43:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has been quietly very good and DraftKings has him at low value for his production. His next scheduled start should be on Saturday in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Make sure to get Woodruff during that slate.

Justin Smoak ($3,900)

Smoak went 2-for-5 against the San Diego Padres yesterday and his two hits left the ballpark. He finished with five RBI and two runs scored, putting his point total at 34. At almost $100 per point, he was definitely an under-the-radar pickup for DFS players yesterday.

Smoak’s Outlook

Smoak has caught fire, hitting five home runs in as many games. However, it’s either out-of-the-park or just an out, as he totaled six hits in those five games. The Blue Jays play an afternoon game today against the Tampa Bay Rays, who lead the Majors with a 2.97 team ERA. I would fade Justin Smoak since the Rays keep runs at a minimum and Smoak only hits home runs.

Howie Kendrick ($4,100)

Howie Kendrick took advantage of facing the Miami Marlins, going 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two times crossing the plate. Add up all his production, you get 26 points. That would equate to $157 per point, which is incredible value. Kendrick has been slumping a bit as of late so I am wary of jumping on him in today’s slate.

Kendrick’s Outlook

Kendrick has been solid at the plate this season with a slash line of .303/.346/.549. However, he has been held without a hit in four of his last six games. The Nationals wrap up their series against the Miami Marlins today, but I would be cautious about counting on Kendrick to put up similar stats.

Losers

Domingo German ($10,100)

Coming into the game, German looked like a prime candidate for the AL Cy Young Award. However, the Kansas City Royals had his number, as he went five innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits. He did strike out six batters and didn’t allow a walk. Even so, German gave up four home runs throughout his outing and with the lofty price tag, he did not provide anywhere near enough value.

German’s Outlook

As stated, German has been great so far in 2019. It seems the Royals have his number, since they seem to hit him better than every other team he faced. He still has a 1.04 WHIP and is throwing more than one strikeout an inning, so German should be fine. German is penciled in to pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, so he should have a bounce-back outing.

Bryce Harper ($4,500)

Harper, like many of the Phillies, looked totally overmatched at the plate yesterday against Woodruff. Harper went 0-for-3 with all three at-bats ending in a strikeout. He has had a rough week at the plate and should be off people’s DFS radars until something changes in his approach.

Harper’s Outlook

Bryce Harper is still one of the best players in the league. However, he is in the midst of a putrid week where he is batting .179 with a .250 OBP. The superstar of an organization can ill afford to go into a bad stretch like this. Harper wasn’t going to snap his cold strreak against what Woodruff was throwing. Harper and the Phillies get a much-needed day off before starting their next series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Injury Update

Kris Bryant exited yesterday’s game after colliding with center fielder Jason Heyward in the outfield. Bryant was struck on the side of the head and neck, but is traveling with the team to Houston.

Chris Paddack was scratched from his start on Sunday due to a stiff neck. The injury is not considered serious and he is scheduled to start on Wednesday against the New York Yankees.

Chris Davis was placed on the IL, retroactive to Saturday, with left hip inflammation.

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

MLB DFS Winners and Losers: Smoaking

Sean Escobar 5 years ago

written by Sean Escobar

We had a 15-game slate for Sunday May 26th. Let’s go over some players who performed well and others who underperformed. All points and prices are based off DraftKings.

Winners

Brandon Woodruff ($6,600)

Woodruff’s Outlook

Justin Smoak ($3,900)

Smoak’s Outlook

Howie Kendrick ($4,100)

Kendrick’s Outlook

Losers

Domingo German ($10,100)

German’s Outlook

Bryce Harper ($4,500)

Harper’s Outlook

Injury Update

Chris Paddack was scratched from his start on Sunday due to a stiff neck. The injury is not considered serious and he is scheduled to start on Wednesday against the New York Yankees.

Chris Davis was placed on the IL, retroactive to Saturday, with left hip inflammation.

5 years ago 0 comment

MLB

50 Top Hitters

Jason Mezrahi 5 years ago

written by Jason Mezrahi

50. Trea Turner – From a pure hitting standpoint, Trea is very solid sporting a .344 OBP along with an average of .271. However, it is on the base paths where he really does his damage, stealing 43 bags last season and making him a very solid SS target on most slates.

49. Joey Gallo – Mr. HR or go home is always a nice GPP option with massive HR upside, but he can also strikeout 4 times and leave you dead in the water.

48. Justin Upton

47. Justin Smoak

46. Shin Soo-Choo – The platoon specialist SSC is always a solid option in DFS when he is facing off against right handers that struggle against lefties. However, we always have to factor in the element that he may only bat 2 or 3 times before being pinch hit for if the opponent pulls out a lefty reliever.

45. Kyle Schwarber – Although the strikeouts are a major issue, there is no denying the power and potential possessed by Schwarber.

44. Edwin Encarnacion

43. Cody Bellinger

42. Yasmani Grandal – As far as catchers go, Grandal is easily top 10, but he falls to #42 on my list of total hitters with a respectable .349 OBP and a .466 SLG performance in his 2018 campaign.

41. Ben Zobrist

40. Travis Shaw

39. Didi Gregorius – As someone who can really take advantage of the Yankee Stadium design, Didi is a promising target as he heads in to his age 29 season hoping to improve on his 27 HRs from last season by finally hitting the big 30 mark.

38. Tommy Pham

37. George Springer

36. Matt Olson – Coming off a solid season where he was 1 homer shy of 30, Olson returns to a pretty stacked A’s lineup that can pack a serious punch and should be a popular stack when they are facing gas cans that have a fly ball tendency.

35. Andrew McCutchen

34. Aaron Hicks

33. Andrew Benintendi – While I wanted to put him a bit higher, Benintendi can not yet quite call himself one of the top 25 bats in all of the MLB. Improving on his power will certainly get him there in 2019, especially given the juicy stolen base upside he possesses.

32. Joey Votto

31. Scooter Gennett

30. Jose Altuve – The Houston speedster narrowly edges out the 2 Great American Small Park sticks, mainly due to that stolen base upside. He also is more patient at the plate and struck out over 20 fewer times than Votto/Gennett and as long as he can stay healthy, it is tough to see him slowing down.

29. Anthony Rizzo

28. Nicholas Castellanos

27. Nelson Cruz – At the ripe young age of 38, Cruz just continues to get it done. Spanking an impressive 37 homers to boost his OPS to .850, one of the top 30 highest figures in all of the majors. It is fair to expect a slow down at some point, but assuming the production does not fall off a cliff, Cruz could still reach the 30 HR mark this season.

26. Charlie Blackmon

25. Giancarlo Stanton

24. Matt Chapman – A member of the low-key loaded Oakland A’s lineup (Which unfortunately just took a big hit with the Matt Olson injury), Chapman will look to break the 30-homer mark as he fell just 6 shy in the 2018 season.

23. Rhys Hoskins

22. Francisco Lindor

21. Michael Brantley – Two Clevelanders back to back on the list. Mr. Brantley is getting up there in age, but has shown that he still has plenty left in the tank. Sporting a respectable .832 OPS, Brantley boasts a low strikeout rate and a solid .300+ average, but will need to leave the park a lot more in 2019 to crack the top 20.

20. Miguel Andujar

19. David Peralta

18. Javier Baez – Javi had a very impressive 2018, a year in which he reached on 176 hits, made it around the bases 101 times, and also jacked up 34 homers. Not someone that we typically consider a major power hitter, Javi benefits from playing in Wrigley, especially when the wind is in our favor.

17. Jesus Aguilar

16. Eugenio Suarez

15. Xander Bogaerts – The X man did not have an amazing 2018, but it was certainly a strong one and his position on this list also has a lot to do with potential. Bogaerts is a player that goes on streaks – Both hot and cold. If he can steady his production he should be able to improve on his power, although he was a double hitting machine in the small Fenway Park last season.

14. Freddie Freeman

13. Matt Carpenter

12. Manny Machado – Mr. Money Bags Manny Machado signed a contract heard around the world late this offseason (At least until Trout said hold my beer). So, 2018 clearly was a good year for him to reach nearly a 4 digit OPS, along with 37 home runs and 188 hits which tied him for 3^rd place in the majors.

11. Alex Bregman

10. Trevor Story

9. Paul Goldschmidt – Goldy was another streaking player in 2018, but when the dust settled he finds himself in the top 10 of many 2019 hitter lists. While the humidor is always a hot topic in Arizona, MLB’s PG still posted .533 SLG and 83 RBIs, although the strikeouts (173) were a major problem area that he will need to improve on.

8. Jose Ramirez

7. Nolan Arenado

6. Bryce Harper – The last of the 3 massive contract trio is the Home Run Derby hero Bryce Harper, who will be in Philly for the LONG haul. Although his OPS was a shade under 900 and his average left much to be desired, Bryce drew a ton of walks in 2018, and if pitchers will throw him hittable pitches at just a slightly higher rate, expect that 100 RBI figure to shoot up.

5. Khris Davis – Yet another A’s batter to make the list, Khris Davis just continues to get the job done each season. After nearly breaking the 100 run, 150 hit marks in 2018, Khris sneaks into my top 5 due to the whopping 48 dingers that he smacked in the 2018 season.

4. Christian Yelich – With a top 4 OPS in the entire MLB (and one of only 4 players that finished in 4 digits), it would be tough to leave Yelich out of any top 5 hitters list. However, that is exactly what plenty of top hitter rankings are doing heading in to 2019. Yelich is my sleeper top 5 hitter in the league for the 2019 season.

3. J.D. Martinez – There are a few players in the league that it feels like hit a home run at every one of their at-bats, and JDM is certainly in that group. While he did lose the HR race in 2018, he still ended up with 43 dingers, along with the 3^rd highest OPS in the entire MLB. Playing half of his games in the friendly little confines of Fenway Park should lead to another amazing 2019 season for Martinez.

2. Mike Trout – It is crazy for me to put the hitter with the highest OPS in the league in 2^nd place, but from a fantasy perspective that is what I must do. Trout is headed straight to the HOF, and his hitting numbers are up there with the all-time greats. He is one of the most complete MLB players that we may ever see, and should be in the top 2 of any best hitters list.

1. Mookie Betts – Did anyone really expect me to put Trout over the GOAT Mookie Betts? I know I am in the minority here but hear me out. Yes, Trout does have a better OBP than Mookie, but many would be surprised to hear that Mookie actually has a higher SLG AND AVG than the all-star Angel. He also has the speed edge, reaching the coveted 30 SB mark in 2018, while almost never striking out, and winning that whole World Series thing. Mookie Betts is my #1 hitter for the 2019 MLB season. Go Sox!

5 years ago 0 comment

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