Baseball is officially back! After the first “two Opening Days”, we now head into the weekend with all 30 MLB teams in action. Barring any more postponements, of course. With that in mind, it is time to start diving back into MLB DFS. On this Saturday, we will be looking at the main late slate starting at 7:05 p.m. EST. In that slate, there are five games going on. Let’s get into the top picks for arms, bats, and stacks.
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Arms
Justin Verlander ($9,600 DraftKings, $10,400 FanDuel)
After recovering from Tommy John surgery, the now 39-year-old former Cy Young winner makes his return. While it was only spring training, Verlander looked good in his four starts, surrendering two runs in 13 2/3 innings. The right-hander also struck out 15 batters while walking four and allowing 11 hits. He looks set for his start against the Los Angeles Angels, who struggled to score runs on Opening Day against Framber Valdez. Meanwhile, Verlander has the Angels’ number in his career. In 29 starts, he is 15-10 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, and 198 strikeouts in 195 innings. Also, Mike Trout is only 5-for-40 against him in his career. Although, two of those hits were homers. Shohei Ohtani is 4-for-17 with two homers against him and Kurt Suzuki is 14-for-42, but outside those two no one else has either faced him or done much damage.
Joe Musgrove ($9,400 DK, $10,000 FanDuel)
For the second straight game, the Arizona Diamondbacks were no-hit through at least six innings. On Friday, newest Padre Sean Manaea no-hit Arizona through seven after Yu Darvish no-hit them for six on Thursday. The Diamondbacks lineup is just not very good outside a couple of names. Musgrove threw a no-hitter last season, the Padres’ first in history. Against Arizona, he has recorded 42 strikeouts to 11 walks and a 1.209 WHIP in nine games. At this point, we should be starting every starting pitcher against the Diamondbacks in MLB DFS.
SAN DIEGO KID JOE MUSGROVE THROWS THE FIRST NO HITTER IN PADRES HISTORY pic.twitter.com/IhfNIFXCch
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 10, 2021
Bats
Austin Riley ($4,700 DK, $3,900)
Riley went 3-for-4 with a homer on Opening Day and walked twice in five plate appearances while scoring a run on Friday. Against right-handers in his career, the third baseman has an .874 OPS and 78 homers which included a .941 OPS and 30 homers last season. On top of that, the slugger had a 146 wRC+ against right-handers as he’s actually got reverse splits. Look for Riley to continue to perform well at the plate as he and the Braves face right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez, who is going into his sophomore season.
Austin Riley – Atlanta Braves (1) pic.twitter.com/q06wKTp5x4
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 8, 2022
Kris Bryant ($4,900 DK, $4,000 FD)
The former Chicago Cub and San Francisco Giant went 1-for-4 with a double and walk in his Colorado Rockies debut. Bryant went 3-for-3 in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers last season and has hit 11 homers and posted an .810 OPS in 50 career games.
*HR Call
.@KrisBryant_23's first in purple pins👏 pic.twitter.com/Zn01WEqYHT
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2022
MLB DFS Sleeper
Joan Adon ($4,000 DK, $7,600 FD)
The Mets have scored 12 runs over the first two games against the Nationals. The 23-year-old righty Adon is making just his second career start. However, the Dominican-born pitcher struck out nine in his MLB debut against the Boston Red Sox, who are a very dangerous lineup to face. He could easily be the stopper for the Nationals to avoid the sweep. Adon rose quickly through the system, making just three starts at Double-A and one at Triple-A. The inexperience could easily backfire here, but the cheap price tag makes this a steal if he works out.
Joan Adon, Dirty 83mph Breaking Ball. 😨
8th K thru 4. pic.twitter.com/ypvAyOmIc8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 3, 2021
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