Today’s MLB slate is a seven- gamer that locks at 7:20 p.m. ET on DraftKings. Using Stokastic’s MLB DFS Top Stack and Top Pitchers tools, let’s dive into the player pool to discuss the best MLB DFS contrarian picks and stacks for today’s action.
One of the keys to building a winning MLB DFS lineup is differentiation, so without contrarian picks like the ones below, you’ll struggle to separate from the pack in tournaments. Subscribe today for access to our industry-leading resources, including our lineup generator (available for NFL, NBA, MLB and PGA), our DFS simulation tools (available for NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA and MMA) and our industry-leading projections for every sport.
MLB DFS Contrarian Picks Today: Monday, April 22
MLB DFS Contrarian Pitcher
Blue Jays-Royals: Brady Singer
Stokastic’s Top Two Pitcher Rate
DraftKings: 12.9%
DFS Salary
DraftKings: $9,200
With only seven games on tonight’s docket and weak pitching options scattered throughout the slate, ownership is pretty concentrated, with Dylan Cease and Reid Detmers projected to be by far the two highest-owned pitchers on the slate. Cease and Detmers are the top arms on the slate, but almost every other pitcher is coming in with positive leverage, with Royals right-hander Brady Singer leading the way. Coming into tonight’s start averaging 21.3 DraftKings points per game, Singer has been rock solid to start the season, and he’s getting completely forgotten about on DraftKings.
Singer only allowed four runs in 23.1 innings through four starts this season, all coming via the long ball. Overall, he is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and seven walks. While he got the benefit of facing the White Sox twice, he’s also pitched well against Houston and dominated the Twins on Opening Day. Coming off a less-than-stellar outing against Chicago, Singer is still the most expensive pitcher on the slate, and the field has no interest in building around him in a tough spot and in a tough spot against the Blue Jays.
As of this writing, Singer is far and away the highest-graded leverage pitcher in Stokastic’s tools, with a 12.9% top-2 pitcher projection but just 2.2% ownership.
MLB DFS High-Priced Contrarian Stack
Padres-Rockies: Rockies
Stokastic’s Top Stack Projection
DraftKings: 5.4%
Top Value Projection
DraftKings: 1.3%
Coors Field will be a popular place for DFSers to go for offense tonight, but most of that ownership will come from the San Diego side. Matched up with Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber, the Padres look like the top stack on the board. That said, San Diego getting love will be a surprise to no one, and this article highlights contrarian options. Looking at the other side of this game, Colorado stands out as a high-priced, contrarian stack on DraftKings.
Stacking the Rockies these days can often feel like pulling teeth, but they still have big upside at home and are popping in Stokastic’s tools. Not only is Colorado coming in under-owned compared to its top stack percentage, but it also offers a ton of leverage against an uber-popular Cease. Although it’s still unlikely that the Rockies will be the top-scoring stack, the path to the top of tournaments is an easy one if they are.
There is opportunity cost in prioritizing the Rockies over teams like the Padres and Braves. However, Colorado is falling through the cracks, projecting to be stacked in just 2.6% of lineups and coming in as the top stack 5.4% of the time this slate plays out.
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MLB DFS Low-Priced Contrarian Stack
White Sox-Twins: White Sox
Stokastic’s Top Stack Projection
DraftKings: 3.7%
Stokastic’s Top Value Projection
DraftKings: 22.0%
Although Colorado is the top tournament stack on the board, the White Sox aren’t far behind, matched up with Chris Paddack in Minnesota. The White Sox’s upside might not be that of the Rockies in Coors Field, but they are significantly cheaper and much easier to stack with expensive pitching. Coming off back-to-back tough matchups in Philadelphia against Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, there’s a lot to like about the White Sox today in a much easier spot against Paddack.
If stacking the Rockies feels like pulling teeth, then stacking the White Sox must be the equivalent of a root canal. Sometimes root canals are needed, however, and if there was ever a spot to back the White Sox, it’s tonight against a struggling Paddack. Not only are the White Sox the top leverage stack in Stokastic’s tools, but they also are projected to be the top value stack a whopping 22.0% of the time this slate plays out. Paddack has been atrocious, and stacking the White Sox opens up paths to lineup construction.
The White Sox’s floor might be lower than some other teams in their price range due to the fact that they are awful; however they also have real upside in this spot, and the field isn’t interested in getting to them on DraftKings. Chicago is projected to be the top stack 3.7% of the time this slate plays out and are pulling just 2.8% ownership.
