I had one of my better betting Saturday’s last week…kind of. My offensive lineup hit and hit a lot. My issue was with my starting pitchers. Both had excellent outings but neither offense supporting them could break the mid-inning ties, so both Strider and Gilbert departed with no chance at wins.
Though discouraged at the time, I have mentally recovered because you, the people, need me to help you today. Not to say I am going chalk today, but I am going with some tried and true concepts to create the ideal line-up from my perspective. I am going High-K, Low-WHIP starting pitching and focusing on pitchers facing lineups not known to mash. On the offensive side of the ledgers, I will focus on hitters that have solid lefty vs. righty/right vs. lefty matchups.
As I am drafting this edition, the news pops that THE JROD SHOW just inked a 14-year deal worth up to $400M (club options down the line). As a Mariners fan (see the pen name), I could not be happier about this move. This is not a move the Seattle front office is known to make and I am here for it! The M’s outfield depth is legit top flight and I can see both Kyle Lewis and Jarred Kelenic being dealt in the off-season. The pitching staff, with R. Ray, L. Castillo, L. Gilbert, and G. Kirby has me giddy, though I am not starting Castillo below (you should absolutely consider using him).
As much as I want to recommend all of my Mariners today in celebration of the contract extension, I will stick with my original plan. See below for my recommendations for DFS Saturday. Spoiler Alert: There is one Mariners player at the very bottom.
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Brandon Woodruff, SP: DK: $9,600 / FD: $10,400 – Can you believe this is the first time I am recommending Woodruff? It seems odd as he entered 2022 as one of the surefire aces. I guess he just never looked as good as I needed earlier in the season. That changes today! Facing division rival Chicago, Woodruff should cruise through the lackluster Cubs lineup and post double-digit K’s and is in line for a win with the slightest of Milwaukee offense. Considering the Brewers offense is facing off against retread Drew Smyly, I feel very good about this perfect storm for Woodruff.
Yu Darvish, SP: DK: $10,400 / FD: $10,600 – The Padres have not been good of late. They seem to be taking the Tatis suspension as the end of their season, even after the Soto/Bell/Drury/Hader acquisitions. Darvish, on the other hand, has been pretty solid all season. He brings an ERA under 3.40 and WHIP below 1.00 to this match-up against the less-than-impressive Royals lineup in a pitcher-friendly Kaufman Stadium. With his K/9 almost at 9 and the Royals swing-and-miss squad, I like Darvish on Saturday night.
Adley Rutschman, C: DK: $5,000 / FD: $3,400 –I could easily copy last week’s Rutschman recommendation, word for word. That would be lazy and someone would catch me speeding and blast me on the web. Nobody, specifically me, wants that. With that being said, Rutschman is still the name especially facing RHP Jose Urquidy in hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park. If it were not for The JROD Show, Rutschman would be in line for the AL ROY. Even with JROD, Rutschman is making a case as he continues to rake at the top of the blossoming O’s lineup.
Pete Alonso, 1B: DK: $5,200/ FD: $4,100 – Keeping with the righty vs. lefty theme, Alonso at home against Kyle Freeland certainly fits the bill. 30+ HR, 100+ RBI shows the Polar Bear just keeps on keeping on. As far as power hitting 1B only Paul Goldschmidt ranks higher in my opinion. The major difference is Goldy is hitting 60+ points higher…WOW! I digress. You are going to pay up for Alonso, but against a lefty is well worth the investment.
Marcus Semien, 2B: DK: $5,300 / FD: $3,600 – My bet to be the third player to hit the 20/20 mark (after Adolis and JROD), Semien is raking after a really, REALLY rough start to 2022. His average (<.240) pushes him down some lists, but I have recency bias and like the Rangers bat coupled with a match-up against oft-injured Eduardo Rodriguez and a Tigers team that cannot keep opponents from scoring runs.
Max Muncy, 3B: DK: $4,400 / FD: $2,700 – I am going against the grain here by selecting a batter facing a true ace. Muncy can hit anyone. His current average does not support my statement, but I want the lefty bat against the righty arm even if that arm is Sandy Alcantara. The easier path, to stay on theme, would be to recommend JRam as the switch-hitter stud 3B, but I will not do so against Luis Castillo. Let’s hope Muncy finds lightning in a bottle Saturday since you know he will not be a chalky player and should provide some salary relief.
Willy Adames, SS: DK: $4,900 / FD: $3,600 – In support of our guy Woodruff, pencil in Adames against Smyly and welcome the results. Willy brings a low average (.225-ish), but where he lacks in average he makes up for in power (25 HR), second only C. Seager’s 26 HR. I am playing the righty bat versus the washed lefty arm and you should consider doing the same.
Bryce Harper, OF: DK: $5,500/ FD: $4,100 – The reigning NL MVP is baaaaaaacccccck from an extended injury absence. You know the dude and what he can do. Mix in his lefty bat against RH Pirates starter Tyler Beede. Seriously, Beede could not stay in the Nationals rotation. Let that sink in. Harper will eat on Saturday and Beede will provide the buffet.
Julio Rodriguez, OF: DK $6,200 / FD: $3,700 – My guy just signed his $400M extension so he gets the final spot in the lineup today even though he does not fit the righty/lefty narrative. I do not care and you will not change my mind. The Mariners rarely deliver news like we read Friday, so consider me on Cloud 9 popping all the bottles in celebration of the 14-year extension. Now, we just need JROD to keep being JROD against Zach Plesac. Should not be that tough, right? 4.43 ERA/1.36 WHIP/11 losses = field day for JROD!
There it is…the lineup to help you make some money this weekend. No true stacks this time around, but one player on offense to help our starting pitcher in Milwaukee move toward a win. Best of luck today and let me know how your plays look at the end of the night.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
No weather to report for Saturday.
Doing Lines In Vegas
In celebration of the JROD contract and a repeat of my earlier advice, get some money on Julio for AL ROY!
