It’s a slim schedule for MLB DFS today. With about half the teams in the league getting a day off and a four-game slate during the day, that leaves us just three contests for the night slate beginning at 8:05pm EDT. Beggars can’t be choosers, and there are still plenty of intriguing matchups from which to build our lineups for tonight. Time to find some value plays before filling out your card with a few heavy lifters.
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***All prices listed are from DraftKings***
On the Hill
Dylan Cease – vs New York Yankees ($10,000)
Pitching against the Yankees is always a tall order. With several dart throws in the pitching ranks tonight, It’s worth the money to spend on Cease. Your opponents likely will, and the last thing you’ll need is to get buried early because you didn’t spend on the best pitcher in a short slate. Cease can be scored on, but still rolls into this one with a 2.38 earned run average and 1.00 WHIP. He may not win this game, thanks to the White Sox’s terribly inefficient offense. With that said, Cease’s enormous strikeout upside is what has made him one of the most reliable DFS pitchers thus far. With 47 punchouts in 34 innings and at least eight in five of his first six starts, he’ll score points no matter what.
Jonathan Heasley – at Texas ($5,200)
Going to throw a dart on Heasley as the most inexpensive pitcher on the slate. The 6’3″ righty was up for a cup of coffee with Kansas City last year that amounted to a 1-1 record in three starts. In the minors this year, he holds a 4.44 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in 26.1 innings while amassing just six walks. He get a Rangers squad that sits right near the middle of the pack (No. 17) in runs scored/game. On top of that, they have scored less than three per game in their last three contests, and score below their overall average when playing at home (3.93/game). Heasley will likely have a short leash and may only pitch five-plus innings. If he can do that while allowing three runs or less and sitting down five via strikeout, he’ll be in line for a road win at a bargain price.
In the Field
José Abreu, 1B – vs New York Yankees ($4,700)
The powerful first baseman has had a troubling line so far this season, slashing just .217/.294/.349 (.643 OPS). However, prior to a two-game 0-fer against the Guardians on Monday and Tuesday, he had been showing some signs of life. He is too good of a hitter to let these numbers continue. The three-time All-Star is a career .288 hitter with a career .860 OPS over nine seasons. He’ll check into the box tonight facing Yankees prospect Luis Gil, who is getting a spot start on the road. Gil has high-end velocity, but has not been able to make that translate into key outs in the minors this season. He comes up with an 0-3 record on the back of a surprising 9.53 ERA and an ugly 1.77 WHIP. This could be just what the doctor ordered for the savvy Abreu to have a big game.
Nick Castellanos, OF – at Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,400)
This price should be taken all day long. Castellanos is quietly putting together another solid campaign this season with Philadelphia. With so many stars having trouble hitting in 2022, somehow the outfielder is flying under the radar. All he has done is hit .300 with an .875 OPS backed by five dingers and eight two-baggers. He has also scored 16 times and driven in 18. Find a place for him in your lineup against Dodgers pitcher Tyler Anderson, who has solid numbers, but they can be a little deceiving. Two of the lefthander’s appearances (including one of his wins) came in relief, and he has pitched five full innings just twice this season. His 2.78 ERA and 0.97 WHIP are impressive, but do not tell the whole story.
Justin Turner, 3B – vs Philadelphia ($4,000)
In lineups tonight, I’m stacking Dodgers all over the place against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies. Those who keep going back to the well for Turner hoping for a breakout should be rewarded handsomely very soon. In fact, he might already be on that road. A 4-for-5 game with a trio of doubles and four RBI on Tuesday may show Turner is turning the corner. He went hitless the following night, but you can’t win ’em all. Wheeler is coming off of the COVID list to make his first start in over a week. While he has surely been throwing during his time off, not having a true bullpen session or facing live batters can certainly set a pitcher back. Not only that, Wheeler was not exactly impressive prior to his mini-vacation. He’s collected just one win and owns a 4.10 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He had finally gotten stretched out (6 IP and 7.2 IP) in his last two starts, but this little sabbatical has probably stunted that progress. Look for fireworks in Los Angeles.
Stud Finder: Will Smith/Austin Barnes (C – LAD), Corey Seager (SS – TEX), Mookie Betts (OF – LAD), Rhys Hoskins (1B – PHI), Luis Robert (OF – CWS)
Lots of opportunities to mix and match your studs for tonight’s lineups. There may only be three games on the slate, but there is the possibility of a lot of runs being scored in those contests. Best of luck tonight, go make that money.
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