MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks | April 21
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
Lodolo has had poor injury luck, missing most of the 2023 season with what ended up being a stress fracture of his left tibia; this also impacted his availability at the beginning of 2024. That was followed by a strained groin in May, a blister issue on his left index finger prior to the All-Star Break and then a sprained middle finger on that hand in August that ended his season.
Over the three preceding seasons, when healthy, Lodolo posted a terrific 10.67 strikeouts per nine innings, though he does tend to allow power with his propensity to challenged opposing batsmen. Miami is expected to see a pair of prospects make their MLB debut in utility gloveman Ronny Simon and catcher Augustin Ramirez. Simon has been in the minors with four different organizations, and Ramirez is the No. 50 prospect in the Miami system.
The projected lineup for the Marlins has just two players who have more than 85 plate appearances against lefties over the last season-plus, leadoff man Xavier Edwards and the overmatched cleanup hitter Otto Lopez. This duo doesn’t strike out against southpaws, but they have a collective .070 ISO, which benefits Lodolo.
Toronto is in the bottom third of the league with just 3.9 runs per game and second-to-last with a dreadful dozen home runs, though the Blue Jays have the second-fewest strikeouts, behind only San Diego. Fortunately, Brown is able to make his own magic, and his 25.3% combined strikeout rate this season is right in line with his 25.5% from last year.
The 26-year-old has allowed only four “Ernies” on the season while currently working on a 17-inning scoreless streak, with two runs in the first inning in Minnesota on April 3 being the last time an opposing team crossed home plate. He is carrying a significant salary cap hit when considering the lack of easy strikeouts from Toronto, but anything less than a quality start (six innings with three or fewer earned runs) is going to be a disappointment.
MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks
Main Slate Primary Target: Atlanta Braves
That got Fedde a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox, who traded him to the Cardinals in a three-team deal at the deadline last year.
Walks were an issue for Fedde while he was with the Nationals, averaging 3.78 per nine innings in his 454.1 frames, along with a hefty 1.55 home runs and anemic 6.97 strikeouts per nine.
While he was with the NC Dinos in Korea, Fedde added a slider to his repertoire of sinkers and cutters, but it seems like hitters are now not swinging at anything outside of the zone, already racking up 11 walks in 21 innings, with just 10 strikeouts.
The weather in Atlanta is unlikely to be enough to cause a postponement or suspended game, so it is not a worry for the offense.
Alex Verdugo was signed last month, to help replace Jurickson Profar during his suspension. The soon-to-be 29-year-old was available after looking washed-up in his lone season with the Yankees. After an extended spring training to knock the rust off, Verdugo has been at the top of the order for the last three games.
This lets fellow lefty Michael Harris II slot lower in the order while he works out his early-season hitting woes. That still leaves the core four of Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna and Ozzie Albies as the priority, with Verdugo, Harris, catcher Sean Murphy and former Seattle prospect Jarred Kelenic all in play for those crafting full stacks.
Main Slate Secondary Target: San Diego Padres
Across 100 innings at Triple-A over the last two-plus seasons, Montero recorded just over 10 strikeouts per nine innings, though he had only 7.05 last year. San Diego is a concentrated offense with Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and journeyman Gavin Sheets.
Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth and Jason Heyward are all out with injuries, and yesterday Luis Arraez was injured in a collision at first base, which had him leaving the game on a stretcher and going to the hospital. Fortunately, he was released after being examined, though it would not be a surprise if the three-time batting champion got a few days off.
Sheets is a major discount dandy for his likely slot in the heart of the order, and veteran Xander Bogaerts is better against lefties but also at a low salary on FanDuel and Yahoo. The bottom of the order is pretty punchless, led by soon-to-be 41-year-old Yuli Gurriel, with journeyman Tyler Wade and rookie Tirso Ornelas not providing any power at all. This makes sense as half of the opening day lineup is injured and also why we are likely to look to RHP Jack Flaherty tomorrow as a starting pitcher.
Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks
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Nola projects for 5.6 strikeouts, but that is still below the six needed for this under to fail. He has a tricky matchup against the New York Mets, who have the fourth-fewest strikeouts in the league this season. Everyone is aware that Nola is a certified ace, and it needs to be pointed out that he has collected more than his share of punchouts this season with eight, seven, two and eight in his three starts. The counter is that the projected New York lineup has a low 17.2% strikeout rate this season against right-handed hurlers, while the same collection of bats was comfortably below average last year.
