Yahoo DFS Baseball: Saturday Picks

Yahoo DFS Baseball: Saturday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.

PITCHER

Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs. NYM ($49): There aren't a lot of promising pitching options on this slate, but Gonzalez is one with some upside. He comes in with a 2.39 ERA after allowing just three runs in his past five starts, striking out 31 in that span. Meanwhile, the Mets have a bottom-10 wOBA and the sixth-highest K% against lefties.

Sonny Gray, NYY vs. SEA ($44): I'm not fond of spending $44 on a pitcher who failed to record a strikeout in his most recent start, but sometimes these guys are just off. Gray hasn't been great since his trade to the Yankees, but he hasn't been hammered and he's usually been good for between five and eight strikeouts. That's what I'm hoping for out of Gray when he faces the Mariners, who are a bottom-half team in wOBA against righties this season.

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CATCHER

Yadier Molina, STL vs. TB ($16):Blake Snell looked like Cy Young in his last outing, but I'm not sold that a guy carrying a 4.42 ERA can duplicate that effort on the road against a good lineup. Molina has a .388 wOBA against lefties this season, which trails Tommy Pham among Cardinals, who make for an interesting stack for tournaments.

FIRST BASE

Eric Thames, MIL at LAD ($16): It's been a long time since Thames was under real consideration, but with his price down in the mid-tier and facing a right hander, it's looks like the right time. Ross Stripling takes the hill for the Dodgers, and considering he hasn't been stretched out in awhile, this look like a game that will be pieced together by the bullpen. Even though Thames' production has dipped since the first couple months of the season, he still holds an impressive .385 wOBA against righties.

SECOND BASE

Jose Pirela, SD at MIA ($16):Odrisamer Despaigne takes the hill for the Marlins and if one was looking to play a contrarian stack, the Padres could prove to be wise. Despaigne has a 4.42 ERA, which isn't terrible in the age of the home run, but he's one of those guys who has spent a lot of time in the bullpen and on the occasion that he gets a start, it usually doesn't end well. Pirela provides a middle-tier option with high upside as he enters with a .371 wOBA against righties this season.

THIRD BASE

Anthony Rendon, WAS vs. NYM ($17):Robert Gsellman has allowed seven runs in two of his past five starts, pushing his ERA up to 5.65 ERA. The Nationals are a solid stacking option against Gsellman, and with the absence of Bryce Harper, there's a good chance you can fit all of their big bats into a lineup. Rendon is the most cost effective of the bunch, yet he's second on the team with a .381 wOBA against righties.

SHORTSTOP

Didi Gregorius, NYY vs. SEA ($17):Yovani Gallardo enters with a 5.75 ERA, yet he's somehow managed to escape the blowups, for the most part. He was hit hard two starts back, but his normal routine is to give up about three runs in less than six innings, which is fine because the bullpen is usually good for a couple runs as well. A visit to the Bronx could result in a blowup, as the Yankees have plenty of bats that can get to Gallardo, including Gregorious, who has a .371 wOBA against righties.

OUTFIELD

Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. BAL ($20): The Red Sox as a whole aren't great against righties, but with a struggling Kevin Gausman (5.25 ERA) on the hill for the Orioles, it would be wise to find a batter or two from the Boston lineup. Benintendi enters with a .355 wOBA against righties, which isn't great but it's the best the Red Sox have to offer.

Justin Upton, DET at CHW ($25):Carlos Rodon has pitched well for the White Sox this season, but Upton enters with a .481 wOBA against lefties this season, which is fifth-best in the majors. With the way Rodon has pitched recently, I certainly don't recommend a Tigers stack, but Upton is one to consider if you have money to spend.

Domingo Santana, MIL at LAD ($12): As mentioned earlier, with Stripling on the mound for the Dodgers, and some long relievers likely to play, there is some opportunity with the Brewers' bats. If you are looking for someone with decent upside and a low price, Santana, who has double-digit fantasy points in four of his past six games, could be your guy.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Greg Vara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: lennykarl1, DraftKings: lennykarl1.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg Vara
Vara is the lead golf writer at RotoWire. He was named the FSWA Golf Writer of the Year in 2005 and 2013. He also picks college football games against the spread in his "College Capper" article.
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