After cranking out the early slate DFS options, I’m back for the main slate. There are some weather concerns, so I did my best to avoid those games. The game in Atlanta seems like it’ll go off without a hitch although it sounded sketchy earlier. Let’s dive in and keep the cash flowing!
Hurlers
Ian Anderson ($8,900 DK, $8,600 FD)
In his first start of the season, Anderson proved that his 2020 postseason wasn’t a fluke. The young righty dominated with a 0.96 ERA and 24 Ks in 18.2 IP in the postseason. This time, he gets to face the team he just faced, the Philadelphia Phillies, where he allowed only one earned run in five innings and struck out seven. Pitching is kind of thin tonight, but I think Anderson will provide what we need.
Garrett Richards ($6,700 DK, $5,700 FD)
Richards allows you to do whatever you want price-wise from a stacking perspective. He had a tough time in his first out against these Baltimore Orioles, only pitching two innings and giving up six earned runs. However, it was his first outing with his new ball club and it was a bit uncharacteristic. He only had one game last year where he allowed more than four earned runs. I think he bounces back here and pays off his salary.
Other Options: Jeff Hoffman, Julio Urias, Chris Paddack
Boppers
OF – Tim Locastro ($3,000 DK, $2,400 FD)
Locastro’s price is dirt cheap and he’ll be leading off tonight for the Dbacks. Jeff Hoffman had a rocky go of it during his time in Colorado, but he is a former first-round draft pick. He dazzled in his first outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, tossing five innings of one-run ball while striking out six. Nonetheless, Hoffman has struggled against right-handed batters, and Locastro has hit righties better than lefties with a career .272 AVG and .374 OBP compared to a .222 AVG and .333 OBP versus southpaws.
OF – Tyler Naquin ($3,400 DK, $3,000 FD)
Who would’ve predicted that Tyler Naquin would be leading baseball in home runs 10 days into the season? That’s right, Naquin is displaying a surge of power with five jacks. For some reason, he’s still a good price and will be leading off for the Cincinnati Reds tonight. Riley Smith will be making his first career start for the Diamondbacks. He seemed to get a bit lucky, allowing a 52.9 percent Hard Hit rate in five innings of work against the Padres. Naquin is in the top one percent in a ton of StatCast categories (exit velocity, barrel percent, xSLG, xwOBA, HH percent, etc.). Let’s plug him into lineups until he cools down or his price reaches and an outrageous level.
Other Options: Trent Grisham, Eugenio Suarez, Enrique Hernandez
Home Run Call of the Day: Will Smith
Stack Em’ Up
Cincinnati Reds vs. Riley Smith
I mentioned that Smith will be making his first career big league start. He’s pitched in big league games, but nerves could be a little high in this one, and the Dbacks’ bullpen has been shaky, with a 5.40 BB/9 rate. My gut tells me he won’t last all that long against a professional lineup featuring some patient hitters like Nicholas Castellanos and Joey Votto who can work deep counts. I’ll be stacking the Reds.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Patrick Corbin
It sounds like Corbin will make the start for the Washington Nationals. His velocity was down a tick last year and that led to a lot of hard contact. I don’t think much changed in the spring. The Dodgers aren’t a team to play around with. We know that by now. Stack ’em’ up against Corbin making his season debut.
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