This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We'll close out the weekend with 15 games in the majors Sunday, 10 of which will make up the main afternoon slate on DraftKings. There are some exciting matchups, including the Astros taking on the Red Sox and the Yankees facing the Rays. Let's highlight some of the better options to consider when crafting your DFS entry.
Pitching Overview
Few pitchers are off to a better start than Hyun-Jin Ryu ($10,700), who owns a 2.51 xFIP and a 0.73 WHIP across his first eight outings. He has been aided by a .230 BABIP allowed, but he's also walked just three batters in 52.1 innings. Keeping batters inside the ball park has also been one of his strengths throughout his career and this season has been no different with hitters taking him deep just six times. He'll have a favorable matchup against a Reds team that enters with the league's sixth-lowest OPS at .677, so expect him to have a high ownership percentage.
In terms of second-tier options, Shane Bieber ($9,000) stands out as a great choice for his matchup against the Orioles. He's allowed more than three runs in only two of his first nine starts and has done an excellent job limiting baserunners with his 1.09 WHIP. The Orioles come in scoring the eighth-fewest runs at 176 and don't have many imposing hitters in their lineup, leaving Bieber with an excellent opportunity to continue his strong start.
If you're looking to take a chance on a cheap pitcher in tournament play, Reynaldo Lopez ($6,900) is a viable target. His 5.48 xFIP is concerning, but his 23.7 percent strikeout rate is over four percentage points higher than his career mark. While he's risky, a matchup against a Blue Jays team tied for the second-lowest OPS at .652 makes him DFS-relevant.
Key Values/Chalk
The Dodgers could provide plenty of value on the offensive side, based on their matchup with Tanner Roark. While his ERA sits at 3.50, he has a 4.64 xFIP to go along with a 1.47 WHIP. Even though he does a good job of limiting home runs, the Dodgers could still put up a crooked number in this contest.
Another lineup that stands out for this slate in the Cardinals. They'll have the benefit of playing in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington and they get to face Drew Smyly, who has been awful with a 5.44 xFIP and a 1.73 WHIP. To make matters worse, he's allowed six home run across only 23.2 innings. Expect several of the Cardinals' hitters to be among the ownership leaderboard.
The Tigers didn't start out the season with much depth in their starting rotation, which has come back to haunt them already because of some injuries. Gregory Soto is set to make his third start after allowing nine runs over six innings in his first two outings. He hadn't pitched above Double-A before being recalled, so it's not a big surprise he's struggled. Look for the A's to take advantage of his inexperience to produce some juicy stat lines.
Stacks
Dodgers vs. Roark (Reds)
Cody Bellinger (1B/OF - $5,700), Corey Seager (SS - $4,300), Alex Verdugo (OF - $4,400)
Bellinger is showing no signs of slowing down, hitting 15-for-35 (.429) with two home runs and three doubles across his last 10 games. He's the player to build around for a Dodgers stack. Seager and Verdugo are two cost-effective options who will help balance out your budget while providing value. Verdugo has taken full advantage of added playing time to produce a .371 wOBA.
Cardinals vs. Smyly (Rangers)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B - $4,400), Paul DeJong (SS - $4,800), Jose Martinez (OF - $4,100)
Loading up on right-handed hitters is the way to go with Smyly, so this trio is extremely appealing. Even though Goldschmidt isn't firing on all cylinders out of the gate, he boasts a career 165 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. Martinez has been just as good with his career 164 wRC+ versus lefties. DeJong also brings plenty of upside with his .241 ISO.
Athletics vs. Soto (Tigers)
Matt Chapman (3B - $4,200), Marcus Semien (SS - $4,100), Mark Canha (OF - $4,100)
Rolling with an A's stack won't cost a ton, so it could be the best route to take if you want to spend up at pitcher. Chapman is in a bit of a power drought with one home run across his last 12 games, but he's still one of the most dangerous hitters in their lineup. Semien possesses better career numbers against left-handed pitchers and Canha also handled lefties to the tune of a .390 wOBA last year. Just as encouraging is that Canha has three home runs across five games since being activated from the IL.
Mets vs. Sandy Alcantara (Marlins)
Pete Alonso (1B - $5,600), Jeff McNeil (2B/3B - $4,500), Robinson Cano (2B - $3,800)
After recording a 5.16 xFIP during his brief stint in the majors last year, Alcantara's struggles have continued this year with his 5.55 xFIP. He walks a lot of batters and only has a 14.1 percent strikeout rate, which is not a recipe for success. Alonso brings the power to this stack with his .323 ISO and McNeil gets on base a lot, leaving him with a .399 wOBA. Cano is having a subpar year by his standards, but he might still be worth the risk based on this matchup at this cheap price.
