Early season DFS can feel like a crapshoot. We have nothing but history , some spring training games and hunches to go by. One of those hunches is that Joe Musgrove ($8,600) is going to be a top 30 starter this season. Joe upped his K-rate in a major way last season and did enough to catch the eye of A.J. Preller. To be fair, it appears half the league caught Preller’s eye, but still. I am excited to see what Musgrove can do with an actual offense behind him and the most pitcher-friendly of parks. While I’m not sure the 12.5 K/9 of last season (in 39.2 IP) will stick around through a 162 game season I do think we can expect 10+. Arizona has some talent, but it’s still some time away from being a force to be reckoned with, leaving Musgrove a clear path to a win, a half dozen or so strikeouts and a whole bunch of FanDuel points. He’s the top pitcher on the board today and we get him as the fourth priced option. It’s an early season gift.
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Corbin Burnes, SP: $9,200 – It’s slates like this that I’m happy FanDuel only requires one starting pitcher. If I were looking to diversify my portfolio a little bit, Burnes would be my second choice. I won’t argue too much if you’d rather go Berrios, but Burnes is at home and that’s enough for me to spring for an extra $400. Those 6 points for the win can be massive.
Corey Kluber, SP: $8,400 – I’m going to be focusing mostly on the Main slate here, but if you happen to be playing the early slate, Kluber gets my vote there. It’s kinda bonkers to me that Tanner Houck is priced more than Kluber. Talk about hype, yeesh. Give me the old man, at home. There’s just something about these grizzled vets in the early going of a season.
Andrew Vaughn, C/1B: $2,000 – Apparently, the hype train hasn’t caught up to Vaughn on FanDuel (they are just running on the Houck track). Min price, for a heart of the order bat. This is almost an auto-lock. Muncy and Bellinger are the top plays, but Bellinger can find his way to OF and Muncy to 2B. Zigging when others zag can payoff big.
Jared Walsh, C/1B: $2,200 – I don’t understand why the Angels have decided that Walsh should only get 100 ABs this season and instead trot out the corpse of Albert Pjuols for 500 ABs, but here we are. If, by chance, the Angels smarten up and stick Walsh in the lineup, he’s a nice value play with the platoon advantage on Lance Lynn.
Chris Owings, 2B: $3,200 – It looks like we’re also getting 600 ABs out of Owings, because Rockies gonna Rockie. I”m sure this Sam Hilliard fella is just going to turn out to be another David Dahl anyway. If Owings is sitting, Lux should be playing for the Dodgers and is priced $200 cheaper.
Nick Madrigal, 2B: $2,200 – With these prices I think I’m talking myself into a little White Sox stack against Alex Cobb. Cobb is far from scary and the White Sox are drool-worthy.
Yoan Moncada, 3B: $3,400 – This seals the deal, I’m all-in on the White Sox as my anti-Coors stack of the night.
Kyle Seager, 3B: $3,200 – Maybe you aren’t buying the Chi Sox. In that case, take a little walk with me down narrative street if you will, it’s lovely this time of year. On this street, we have the adage that veteran players need less time to get in the groove and therefore jump out to quicker starts at the beginning of the season. Are you buying what I’m selling here?
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS: $4,300 – We’re not getting cute at SS, play either of the Coors plays, or snag Tatis, either way, there should be fireworks.
Tim Anderson, SS: $3,500 – This is as cute as I’ll get tonight, if we’re stacking Sox, we have to sneak Timmy in there.
Raimel Tapia, OF: $3,200 – I’m very high on Tapia this year and we’re lucky that Bud Black hasn’t decided to hose him out of playing time…yet.
Shohei Ohtani, OF: $3,000 – As noted in my pick for a bust this year, Lance Lynn does nothing for me. Meanwhile, Ohtani has me all *Rocket Ship Emoji*
Taylor Trammell, OF: $2,500 – With all the Coors plays, we’re going to need some cheap options here and there and I love the SB upside of Trammell against Logan Webb.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
No rain appears to be in the forecast. If you’re playing the early slate, we have a day game at Wrigley and a STRONG wind out to center expected. You know what to do.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Clearly, Vegas knows what to do with that info as the Cubs/Pirates game has an 11 run over/under, second only to the Coors game with 11.5. Yowza! Buehler and the Dodgers are the biggest favorites (-220) on the slate, but Musgrove and the Padres are right behind them (-200).
