Happy Friday, DFSers! Tonight is round two of DFS Wars, a contest with a bunch of fellow DFS degens, hosted by Heath Capps, on DraftKings, where we battle it out for a little cash, many bragging rights, and raise some money for charity. Razzball’s very own, Juice, took down our first contest with yours truly landing in third. Overall, a nice showing for Team Razz. I’ll start my prep a little early (Thursday night) and share my strategy and some of my picks, which are subject to change before lineup lock. I’m kicking things off with Shane McClanahan ($10,200). Shane is the most expensive pitcher on the slate tonight and I’m OK with that. DFS Wars has 17 participants this year and in a relatively small field like this, I like to find that balance between cash game safety (especially since we total all eight weeks) and sprinkle in those tournament plays we hope hit. I’m fine going double aces in a field of this size but more importantly, I’m not looking to shy away from the highest-priced stud. Shane’s game log is a little concerning with only 11 strikeouts over the last three outings total, but I’m OK with looking for the rebound tonight against KC. While Vinnie Paz has been scorching, the rest of the Royals have been…what’s the opposite of scorching…UNscorching? Let’s go with that. Over the last 30 games, the Royals are also fourth in the league in strikeouts. I’m hoping recency bias keeps others off McClanahan tonight and I can ride a 6 IP, 0 ER, 9 strikeout performance to a win, and plenty of DK points.
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Patrick Sandoval, SP: $7,200 – I like Blake Snell in this spot too, at home, facing the triple-A Nats, but for $2,000 less, I’ll take a shot on Sandoval taming the Tigers. The Tigers are just too dreadful to pass up a match-up with. They are DFL in team OPS on the season and over the past 30 games while leading the league in strikeouts over that span. Sandoval has the stuff to own this match-up, we just need to help he can make it five innings.
Joey Bart, C/1B: $2,500 – Ah, a Coors night! I can partially taste the Rockies already. The strategy on Coors nights is either, full-stack, mini-stack, or full fade and hope the game is a dud. With Jose Urena and his 5.64 FIP on the mound for Colorado, a dud seems unlikely. The Giants also have very affordable price tags, as seen with Bart at sub 3K. Bart has also been pretty hot of late and he’ll be my first Coors play of the night.
Matt Olson, C/1B: $4,600 – I will likely end up with Brandon Belt here for $2,800 but I don’t want to fill this column with my Coors stack. McCullers looked good in his first start back, which was arguably a rehab start against the A’s. The Braves are not the A’s and I think they pound on McCullers a bit here.
Thairo Estrada, 2B: $4,000 – Cheaper than Gavin Lux and in Coors…say what? This is too good to pass up.
Rafael Devers, 3B: $5,600 – Devers is the top play on the night, facing Jordan Lyles, who is the definition of “meh” in Camden Yards where Raffy is rocking a .906 OPS.
Oneil Cruz, SS: $3,900 – This is just too cheap for the upside of Cruz. This is one of those tournament plays I mentioned that we have to hope hits and no one else has him rostered.
Wynton Bernard, OF: $2,000 – This lineup leaves us with $4,000 per player to round out our OF. Take a peak at the lineup and see if maybe we can squeak in Wynton Bernard. Bernard made headlines with this callup and has been playing in the short side of the platoon. Alex Wood is a lefty and Bernard gives us that sweet Coors exposure at min price.
Juan Soto, OF: $6,100 – Saving with Wynton means we can pay up for Juan Soto’s REVENGE GAME narrative. Everyone loves narrative street and what a time this would be for Soto’s signature game in a new uni. I’ll leave my last player off in case Juice is peeping in to steal my lineup tonight, but I’m digging the looks of this squad right now.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
As of Thursday night, it looks like smooth sailing for Friday baseball.
Doing Lines In Vegas
No surprise at all that the Giants have the highest team implied total on the night at 6.25 runs. With their prices so cheap, there will be MANY SF stacks out there tonight, be advised. SD might be a nice pivot with a 5.19 implied total.
