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Hopefully everyone is rested up after the Memorial Day holiday and is ready for some DFS action.  I know I am.  There’s a slew of aces with mint match-ups throwing tonight, so I’ll be digging past the Clayton Kershaw vs. the Braves and Jacob deGrom (Are his initials written as J.d., J.deG. or J.G.?  These are the things I think about) vs. the Phillies and getting into the nitty gritty.  These guys are great, if you can afford them, by all means.  I generally like to pair an ace with a cheap option with high strikeout upside.  My favorite pairing option will be Clay Buchholz tonight.  Alright, you can stop snickering now.  Clay, of course has the ability to make me look like a complete moron tonight and go 1.2 IP and give up 8 ER, but, it’s the upside that intrigues me.  It’s always a risk vs. reward vs. price battle with DFS and I like the potential return.  Grey already gave you the Buchholz buy recommendation a few weeks ago.  Since then his ERA is 2.49 and he’s struck out 18 in 21.2 IP while only walking 5.  A funny thing happened on the way to everyone burying Clay and leaving him for dead.  First, his insane .407 BAbip straightened out (.236 over the last 3 starts).  Next, his luck leaving men on base normalized a bit.  After two starts early in the year where he only left 12% and 28% of men on base (If you got on base, you scored basically) he’s stranded no less than 70% the last three starts, which is about league average.  Finally, he got his Bullfrog sponsor back *insert rim shot*.  Really though, the biggest thing we care about for DraftKings scoring, the strikeouts have been there all along.  Clay is rocking the sunscreen as well as a 9.85 K/9.  The Twinkies are bottom 5 in team OPS vs. right handers and the price is right tonight at $7,700.  Let’s take a look at the rest of the picks and all make some Buchs tonight, shall we?

New to DraftKings? Scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond? Well try out this 25 teamer of Razzball writers and friends to wet your DK whistle. Just remember to sign up through us before you do. It’s how we know you care! If you still feel helpless and lonely, be sure to subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays.

Before we get there though, a shoutout to last week’s Razzball Friends & Family league winner, LoneRiders.  LoneRiders squeaked out a 1.4 point win thanks to a nice pitching performance by Jason Hammel in San Diego.  LoneRiders only used one player from the Coors field game, Nick Hundley who homered and helped the cause.  Nice work, hope to see you in there again this week.

Danny Salazar, SP: $9,100 – K-Zar is right on the cusp of the ace pricing, but still checks in cheaper than Julio Teheran facing the Dodgers in LA.  Danny gets the Rangers at home and besides Clayton Kershaw has the highest strikeout potential on the night.  I mean, the rehab windmill himself should be good for at least 3 strikeouts.  For the third biggest Vegas favorite, I’ll gladly take the 6th highest SP price.

Alex Colome, SP: $5,600 – The Seattle vs. Tampa Bay game is basically a pick’em in Vegas, with Tampa getting the slight nod due to being at home.  It is, however, one of three games with a 7 over/under.  Getting a cheap piece of this low scoring affair would make for some nice salary relief if you want to load up on some bats tonight.  It’s been a mixed bag so far for Colome, but if you take out the horrid start vs. the Yankees, things don’t look quite so bad.  He hasn’t flashed huge strikeout totals, but man am I a sucker for guys that don’t give up free passes.  Colome has only walked 3 batters in his 24.1 IP.  Three.  Douchey one word sentence alert.  For half the price of the top aces, I’d roll with Colome, stack some big bats and cross my fingers hoping for a 2-1 game.

J.A. Happ, SP: $7,200 – No, I’m not suggesting you Cross Streams, just the opposite in fact.  While you may be tempted to get a piece of this game on the other side, I have a word of warning.  Despite being a rather putrid offense, the Rays have actually mustered the 5th highest OPS vs. left handed pitchers so far this year.  I’d just be a little wary of Happ’s seemingly nice matchup.

J.T. Realmuto, C: $3,200 – I like my coffee black and my catchers cheap.  Realmuto is nothing fancy, but he has been inching his way up the Marlin’s lineup (6th yesterday).  When I’m looking for a punt play, lineup position is a big factor, gotta work those ABs in.

Chris Colabello, 1B/OF: $3,400 – Sound the must play alarm.  I’m going to be squeezing as many Blue Jays bats into my lineups as I possibly can tonight.  Awful John Danks is making the trip north of the border and our friends up there happen to own the best team OPS vs. lefties by a large margin.  Colabello, batting 5th, in the middle of a 6 game hit streak that has included two homers is ridiculously underpriced.  You can pick your poison and play him at first or in the outfield, but please, please roster him tonight.

Mark Trumbo, 1B/OF: $3,800 – Mark Trumbo facing a lefty is always in play.  Trumbo supplies elite power and feasts on southpaws.  Four of his six homers have come off lefties and he’s batting a robust .343 against them.  Chip Hale will most likely bench him, but if somehow he outsmarts himself, look Trumbo’s way.

Logan Forsythe, 2B: $3,100 – There are so many hidden gems around here it’s like playing Legends of Zelda.  I mentioned above how well the Rays have done vs. LHP.  Logan Forsythe is sluggin a nice .571 against them, not too shabby at the keystone.  He’s only gone hitless 4 times in May and the Rays were batting him clean-up vs. lefty Roenis Elias yesterday.  All that for $3,100?  It just seems too good to be true.

Danny Valencia, 2B/3B: $3,100 – Again, I’m pointing out all the cheap exposure to John Danks as I can.  It’s not sure thing Valencia is in the lineup, but keep your eyes open.  For this price and his BvP numbers (8 for 23 with a HR) I’d be all over him.

Manny Machado, 3B: $4,400 – Speaking of BvP, here is your BvP special of the night.  Machado has hit in 8 straight and is 5 for 8 with 2 homeruns and a steal vs. Scott Feldman.  If you can’t get Donaldson in there (you should try), look at the Macho Man, oooh yeah.

Alexei Ramirez, SS: $3,600 – First off, a completely unrelated side note.  Does anyone think it’s a bit odd that DraftKings has Carlos Correa, Miguel Sano and Francisco Lindor all priced in the thick of the SS ranks?  $3,900 for Correa and $3,800 for the other two.  I get they don’t want to get caught when these guys get the call, but it seems a bit much for guys that have don’t zilch at the big league level.  Anyway, Alexei is cheaper than all three of them and is a much better play tonight.  This analysis brought to you by Captain Obvious.  I’m giving you another BvP play.  I’m not a HUGE BvP guy, but I don’t ignore it either, it’s a piece of a large puzzle.  That said, when the data is against an anomaly of a pitcher like R.A. Dickey, my interest is piqued.  Alexei is 4 for 10 with 2 homers off the knuckler.  That home run total is almost double his typical season output.  Data like that is worth a look in my eyes.

Joc Pederson, OF: $3,700 – It seems like everyone forgot about Joc for a bit there, but look who’s heating up again.  It helps that every ‘pert and their mom is writing an article about how Pederson’s HR/FB ratio is unsustainable and how he’s a “sell-high”.  Well no kidding.  DraftKing’s pricing seems to reflect this attitude and I say, pounce on it.  He’s still hitting leadoff and while his HR/FB ratio will drop, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be unusable for two straight months or anything.

Kevin Pillar, OF: $3,400 – My last Blue Jay recommendation, I promise.  John Danks, #NeverForget

Yasmany Tomas, OF: $3,900 – All he does is hit…if he plays.  The D-Backs have been a top 5 offense in May and Tomas seeing the field has been a big reason why.  The home runs haven’t come yet, but he’s been batting clean-up and should see plenty of RBI chances tonight with Trumbo getting on ahead of him.  Jaime Garcia doesn’t impress me much and we could see him blown off the field tonight.  Now you’re humming Shania Twain, it’s OK, embrace your inner Shania.

I’m Only Happy When It Rains

The Rockies vs. Reds game has the highest likelihood of rain with around 50% chance of showers until midnight there.  I’d say the offenses are safe there though, and that’s most likely the only reason you’d be looking at that game.  Games in Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are all worth keeping an eye on as they feature 20%+ chance of rain with thunderstorms scattered about.  If we have eyes on the ground in any of these cities as game time draws near, please give us a weather report.  Amatuer meterologist is the worst role to play while setting lineups.

Doing Lines In Vegas

Shockingly, Clayton Kershaw dominates the Vegas odds.  The Dodgers are -240 favorite in a 6 o/u game.  The highest scoring affairs should be found in Toronto and Baltimore tonight.  John Danks, you have been advised.