Pitching: Woodruff (Optimal), deGrom (GPP #1), Snell (GPP #2), Ragans (value)
Hitting: MIA (Optimal), NYY (GPP #1), COL (GPP #2), KC (GPP #3)
Weather: Chances for delays in KC/SEA, LAD/PHI but nothing that would harm DFS
The optimal pitcher for this slate is Brandon Woodruff, who faces the Los Angeles Angels. He has K-rates of 29% against LHH and 33% against RHH. He will face NINE hitters with K-rates above 25%. The advanced stats also look great, as he holds lefties to a line of (.085/.217) and righties to (.174/.274). This is as elite a matchup as you can get for a cash game play.
The next pitcher on our radar is Jacob deGrom, who takes on the Houston Astros. He has K-rates of 29% against LHH and 24% against RHH. These K-rates will help him overcome an Astros team that only has four players with K-rates over 20%. The advanced stats look great, though, as he holds lefties to (.187/.303) and righties to (.135/.280). This is one of the more interesting plays on the slate.
Let’s discuss Blake Snell, who faces the Philadelphia Phillies. He has K-rates of 31% against LHH and 25% against RHH. He will face eight hitters with K-rates above 23%, which provides significant upside. The advanced stats also support this play, as he holds LHH to (.074/.255) and RHH to (.103/.313). This is our favorite GPP play on the slate.
The value play of the slate is Cole Ragans, who takes on the Seattle Mariners. In his limited time this year, he has K-rates of 28% against LHH and 39% against RHH. He will face five hitters with K-rates above 23%. The advanced stats are also promising, as he holds lefties to a line of (.058/.271) and righties to (.160/.264). This is a great way to free up salary to spend elsewhere.
The optimal stack on this slate is the Miami Marlins, who take on McCade Brown and his poor sinker at Coors Field. Jakob Marsee (.287/.480), Liam Hicks (.493 wOBA), Otto Lopez (.383 xwOBA), Heriberto Hernandez (.358 xwOBA), Troy Johnston (.391 xwOBA), Connor Norby (.370 xwOBA), and Graham Pauley (.250 ISO) have all had success against that pitch. Augustin Ramirez (.190/.342) is also viable, given his moderate success against RHP. Our favorite options are Marsee and Johnston.
Next, we have the New York Yankees, who take on Taj Bradley and his poor fastball. Trent Grisham (.298/.415), Aaron Judge (.527/.520), Ben Rice (.323/.430), Cody Bellinger (.205/.333), Giancarlo Stanton (.319/.430), Jazz Chisholm (.363/.412), Ryan McMahon (.331/.451), Anthony Volpe (.229/.332), and Austin Wells (.271/.363) have all had success against that pitch. Our favorite options are Judge and Stanton.
On the other side of the Miami game, we have the Colorado Rockies, who face Ryan Weathers and his poor changeup, along with their success against LHP. The priorities here are Hunter Goodman (.254/.344), Jordan Beck (.461/.515), Brenton Doyle (.377 xwOBA), and Orlando Arcia (.438 xwOBA), who have had success against the changeup. Kyle Farmer (.196 ISO), Blaine Crim (.340 ISO), and Ezequiel Tovar (.241/.399) are also in play, given their success against LHP. Our favorite options are Beck and Tovar.
Our last stack to discuss is the Kansas City Royals, who face Bryce Miller and his terrible fastball. Mike Yastrzemski (.241/.348), Bobby Witt (.287/.422), Vinnie Pasquantino (.265/.375), Maikel Garcia (.187/.397), Salvador Perez (.299/.392), and Jonathan India (.187/.347) have had the most success against that pitch. Jac Caglione and Kyle Isabel are nice cheap pieces you can include in your lineup if they fit. Our favorite options are Perez and Witt.