There will be a main table of six games on Saturday starting at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Let’s go position by position and break down everything you need to know to determine your lineups.
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JUG
breed
Chris Paddack, San Diego Padres at the Texas Rangers (9,200 USD) – Joe Musgrove made history for the Padres last night, creating the first no-hitter in franchise history. Paddack has come very close to that performance in the past, taking the hill against the Rangers on Saturday. It’s an excellent match-up with the Rangers only finishing 27th in wRC + against right-handers last season. The Rangers’ implied team total of 4.0 runs is the second lowest mark on the chart, and Paddack is also a formidable favorite of -174 DraftKings Sports Betting.
Other options – Ian Anderson ($ 8,900), Zach Eflin ($ 8,300)
value
Jeff Hoffman, Cincinnati Reds at the Arizona Diamondbacks (6,900 USD) – Hoffman put together a strong first start this season, ending with six spikes and just one deserved run over five innings. The result was 23.45 DKFP at just $ 5,400.
He got a bit more expensive after that outing, but he has a cheap matchup against the Diamondbacks. Their line-up was not expected to be very good earlier this season and their best batsman is currently on the IL. Overall, their planned starting line-up has recorded a WOBA of 0.268 and a strike rate of 30.9% against right-handers over the past 12 months.
Other options – Garrett Richards ($ 6,700), Riley Smith ($ 6,200)
CATCHER
breed
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals (4,400 USD) – We’re still not sure who will actually start for the Nationals, but that’s probably not a good sign of his success against the Dodgers. The Dodgers line-up is an absolute juggernaut that ranks first in wRC + against right-handers and in eighth place against left-handers in eighth place last season.
Your lineup is absolutely full of big names, but don’t sleep on Smith. He’s been a terrific batsman for a catcher since he hit the big leagues, posting a 132 wRC + in 2019 and increasing that to 163 in 2020. He’s got another fantastic start this season and a 201 wRC + with two home runs through his first six games. Expect him to have the advantage over whoever gets the ball for the Nationals.
Other options – Travis d’Arnaud ($ 4,600)
value
Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Angels (2,700 USD) – Kirk still gets wet at the MLB level, but he stepped into the season as number 74 in the league. He is known as someone who can wreak havoc with the bat, and he will be on the positive side of his divisions tonight against Jose Quintana ($ 7,800). The Blue Jays also top the list with an implied team total of 5.6 runs.
Other options – Danny Jansen ($ 3,400), Tucker Barnhart ($ 3,100)
FIRST BASE
breed
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Angels ($ 4,800) – Guerrero is facing a monster season. He is in the best shape of his life which should scare opposing pitchers. Once considered the best vantage point in baseball, he has scored a 219 wRC + in his first eight games this season. He’s posted a .411 WOBA and .364 ISO against Südpfoten in the past 12 months, so he has the edge over Quintana in this matchup.
Other options – Trey Mancini ($ 4,700), Shohei Ohtani ($ 4,600)
value
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks ($ 4,000) – Votto isn’t the same batsman as he was in his prime, but he’s still capable of making things happen against right-handed pitchers. Votto scored 121 wRC + in those matchups last season, and nine of his eleven home runs were right-handed.
Votto also benefits from hitting in the middle of one of the best lineups in baseball. He’s surrounded by people who absolutely can rake, and the Reds lead the league averaging 9.0 runs per game this season.
Other options – Albert Pujols ($ 3,300), Bobby Dalbec ($ 3,200)
SECOND BASE
breed
Marcus Semien, Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Angels ($ 4,600) – Let’s keep rolling with the Blue Jays. Semien has become one of the better shortstops in baseball – he finished third in the 2019 AL MVP vote – and demonstrated his might in his first year with the Blue Jays. He has completed three home races in his first eight games and has shown a lot more power against left-handers in the past. He scored an ISO of 0.265 against Southpaws last season after hitting a 0.230 mark in those matchups in 2019. Semien should also take the starting spot against Quintana which makes him a prime target.
Other options – David Fletcher ($ 4,500), Jake Cronenworth ($ 4,300)
value
Kiké Hernández, Boston Red Sox at the Baltimore Orioles (4,100 USD) – Hernández is expected to take the starting place on Sunday as well and he will be on the positive side of his divisions too. He competes against Orioles left-handed Bruce Zimmermann ($ 7,500)and Hernández has historically done very well against Südpfoten. He has posted 119 wRC + against left-handers over the course of his career, and Zimmermann has posted a 6.78 FIP against right-handers in his short MLB career.
Other options – Marwin Gonzalez ($ 3,600), Jonathan India ($ 3,500)
THIRD BASE
breed
Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels at the Toronto Blue Jays ($ 4,800) – The Angels have had one of their best starts in the recent past, finishing fifth in the league in runs per game. Blue Jays left handed Steven Matz ($ 8,700) has made a great start this season but will face a tough test in this matchup.
In particular, Rendon is a player to fight with. Matz allowed right-handers to release a .448 WOBA last season, and Rendon has been at his best against left-handers in the past. He has posted 142 wRC + against Southpaws over the course of his career, including .403 wOBA and .270 ISO in those matchups over the past 12 months.
Other options – Manny Machado ($ 5,500), Cavan Biggio ($ 4,400)
value
Maikel Franco, Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox ($ 3,900) – Franco was once a highly respected prospect, but he never made the reckoning at the MLB level. Even so, he posted one of the best seasons of his career with the Royals in 2020, and Garrett Richards ($ 6,700) is not a particularly impressive mug. He was lit on his first start that season, allowing six earned runs over just two innings. Last season he had a FIP of 4.58 with the Padres. It seems like a good day to pay at the position, but Franco has some appeal when you need to save some cash.
SHORT CIRCUIT
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Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Angels ($ 4,800) – The Blue Jays are clearly the top target on today’s schedule, and Bichette could be their best option. He dominated 2019 as a rookie with a 142 wRC + and has been ridiculously good against left-handers throughout his career. He posted a 156 wRC + and a .242 ISO in these matchups.
Other options – Xander Bogaerts (USD 5,500), Eugenio Suarez (USD 4,400)
value
Josh Rojas, Arizona Diamondbacks v Cincinnati Reds ($ 3,900) – Shortstop is another position without loads of value options on Saturday. Rojas has never been a particularly good batsman, but at least he will be on the positive side of his divisions against Hoffman. Hoffman has posted fewer strikeouts and more walks against left-handers, so Rojas has the potential to get base a few times in this matchup.
Other options – José Iglesias (US $ 3,700), Ha-Seong Kim (US $ 3,000)
OUTSIDE FIELD
breed
Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks ($ 4,200) – Winker isn’t a suspension to play on Saturday after leaving the game on Friday with leg cramps, but he does have an elite advantage for his price when he’s on the line-up. He has completely destroyed right-handed pitching throughout his career and achieved a value of 148 wRC + and .304 ISO in these matchups last season. He deserves to have a price closer to $ 5,000 on a right winger, so he’s an elite option with $ 4,200 at the top of the Reds lineup.
Editor’s Note: Winker is not on the line-up for today’s game against the Diamondbacks.
Other options – Mike Trout ($ 5,900), JD Martinez ($ 5,600)
value
Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers ($ 3,200) – The Padres are facing a massive loss at the moment. Fernando Tatis Jr. is out with a shoulder injury, and Profar has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s moved up in their lineup and will take second place against Ranger’s right-handers Jordan Lyles ($ 6,000). Lyles was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last season, recording just 5.62 strikeouts per nine innings and an ERA of 7.02.
Other options – Lourdes Gurriel ($ 3,600), Hunter Renfroe ($ 3,500)
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