Y’all ready to get a little crazy on this FanDuel Friday? FanDuel has us set up for an seven-game main slate and truth be told, the pitching is not phenomenal on this slate. So, I’m turning this slate on its side and getting wild by making Trent Thornton ($7,400) my main recommendation. “Who?”, you ask. Whelp, prior to his start on March 31st (5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 Ks), he was best known as that @$$hole that hit Bryce Harper in the ankle in Spring Training. The least he can do to pay me back is give me a repeat start against the Cleveland Indians. Last years’ AL Central champion is currently tied for the third least runs scored (behind the Reds and Astros) on the year. I guess that’s what happens when you lose Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion, and Yonder Alonso and only replace them with Carlos Santana. Add on the Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis injuries, and you get, well, a poor offense. Trevor Thornton combines a 94 mph fastball with a nasty curveball, which should be enough to carve his way through this AAA lineup + Jose Ramirez. Let’s take a look at the rest of the FanDuel slate.
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Shane Bieber, SP: $8,900 – Bieber gets his first start of the year versus the struggling, “we almost got no-hit” Blue Jays. Bieber has an elite BB%, but that comes at the expense of him leaving fastballs in the zone just a little too much. I think he’d benefit from throwing his fastball to the corners, as opposed to giving in on 3 ball counts and just laying a fastball in the zone and letting the BABIP gods choose his fate.
Rick Porcello, SP: $7,900 – This is super boring but as safe as it comes. Porcello faces the Diamondbacks and should put up something like 6 IP, 2 ERs, 5 Ks, which if he gets the win, might be good enough for the top pitcher score on this slate. Le sigh.
Kevin Gausman, SP: $7,200 – Try not to barf. Try not to barf. Try not to barf. Oops, barfed. This is prettttttttty much how I feel about this slate. No aces, not a lot of high upside options, so I guess we can turn to Gausman and his decent matchup versus the Marlins. But seriously, barf.
Mitch Moreland, 1B: $3,100 – Mitchy Two-bags and the Red Sox get a prime matchup against Mr. 2.00 WHIP himself, Zack Godley.
Justin Bour, 1B: $2,800 – Bour’s had a chilly start to the season, but I don’t see him hitting .120 all year. Enter Lance Lynn, the perfect medicine for early season struggles.
Adam Frazier, 2B: $3,500 – Frazier will bat leadoff for the Pirates and I’m willing to roll him out versus Sonny Gray to see if Gray’s made any changes from his struggles of 2018.
Rougned Odor, 2B: $3,300 – Second base is not very deep on this slate, but Odor has a decent matchup against Felix Pena.
Rafael Devers, 3B: $2,900 – He’s cheap and hitting in the middle of the high octane, Red Sox lineup.
Jean Segura, SS: $3,700 – Segura’s just a professional hitter. Low strikeout rate, high contact rate, and batting second in the beast Phillies lineup. The Phillies face Jake Odorizzi, who struck out 11 lowly Indians in his first start, but I don’t see him having that same level of success today.
Bryce Harper, OF: $4,900 – I just love him. That is all.
Andrew Benintendi, OF: $4,100 – Benintendi has had a rough start to the season, but he’s also faced lefties, aka his kryptonite, in half his games this year. Zack Godley to the rescue.
Kole Calhoun, OF: $2,900 – Leading off for the Angels, I just love Calhoun’s price.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There’s light rain throughout the day in Philadelphia, so keep an eye on the Phillies/Twins. The temperatures in the Phillies/Twins, Reds/Pirates, and Blue Jays/Indians games will be in the low 50s, so give a little bump up to the pitchers in those games.
Doing Lines In Vegas
Kevin Gausman and the Braves are the biggest favorites on the slate at -175. The highest total on the slate is in the Red Sox/Diamondbacks game, which currently sits at 9 runs.
