Full Slate Breakdown for MLB DFS 8/22:
Get your MLB DFS research started with DFS Army’s Full Count! Pitching advice, stack strategy, home run calls, and everything you need.
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My Take on a Consistent MLB DFS Process – Looking at Pitchers
I always start an MLB slate by looking at pitching, not only do you get a grasp on who the pitchers are that you want to target, but gives you a holistic look at the slate as well. Breaking down pitching also gives you an idea of what offenses are in good spots against bad/vulnerable pitchers. I start my research by going straight to the MLB Carnage Report this is where we can analyze all the pitchers on the slate in a compact, yet detailed manner. Below are the three pitchers that jumped out to me at first glance, good or bad.
- Steven Matz
- Touki Toussaint
- Adam Wainwright
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Miami Marlins @ Cincinnati Reds (-140)
Pitchers:
Marlins – Sandy Alcantara
Reds – Vladimir Guttierez
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. I really think this game has an under-the-radar feel to it. That’s not because of the offenses but because of what the SPs are capable of doing. We know that the Reds can hit RHPs, especially at home, so there is some volatility to the pitching in this ballpark. I just think people will blindly stack CIN at home, without thinking about how solid Alcantara can be.
MIA 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Jazz Chisholm Jr.
GPP Note: Team ISO of .141 against RHPs this season.
CIN 5-star plays: Tyler Naquin
4-star plays: Aristides Aquino
GPP Note: Team ISO of .189 against RHPs this season.
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-195)
Pitchers:
Mets – Marcus Stroman
Dodgers – David Price
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. The Dodgers could show up or they could do just enough to pick up another win. Stroman is a better pitcher than Rich Hill is so I am not as high on the Dodgers on Sunday as I was on Saturday. The Mets offense is struggling quite a bit and Price should be in a decent spot, as long as he avoids Alonso.
NYM 5-star plays: Pete Alonso
4-star plays: Kevin Pillar
GPP Note: Team ISO of .137 against LHPs this season.
LAD 5-star plays: Trea Turner
4-star plays: Justin Turner, Max Muncy
GPP Note: Team ISO of .182 against RHPs this season.
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies (-177)
Pitchers:
D’Backs – Taylor Widener
Rockies – Jon Gray
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 11.5. I suggest you go read yesterday’s Full Count article and notice what I had to say about the pitching in this game. While I don’t think we see the same domination from the SPs on Sunday, I do think we see a game with under 11 runs scored. Gray is in a very good spot against ARI despite some BvP in a few of the D’Backs favors (they had strong BvP on Saturday). Widener has had success in a very small sample against COL.
ARI 5-star plays: Ketel Marte
4-star plays: David Peralta
GPP Note: Team ISO of .136 against RHPs this season.
COL 5-star plays: CJ Cron
4-star plays: Charlie Blackmon
GPP Note: Team ISO of .156 against RHPs this season.
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Seattle Mariners @ Houston Astros (-177)
Pitchers:
Mariners – Tyler Anderson
Astros – Framber Valdez
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. I am addicted to using Framber Valdez and unfortunately, rehab isn’t going to help me. I know the Mariners can surprise and they have enough power against LHPs that I should be worried about, but I just can’t quit the guy. Houston should be in a great spot but their offense has been all over the place of late. I much prefer them against RHPs at this point but we could see guys wake up a little bit.
SEA 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Mitch Haniger, Ty France
GPP Note: Team ISO of .165 against LHPs this season.
HOU 5-star plays: Yuli Gurriel
4-star plays: Carlos Correa, Jake Meyers
GPP Note: Team ISO of .164 against LHPs this season.
Atlanta Braves (-157) @ Baltimore Orioles
Pitchers:
Braves – Touki Toussaint
Orioles – John Means
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 10. I have mixed feelings about this game as I really like both SPs. Toussaint has plenty of talent and ability while getting a pretty decent match-up despite a high total. Means is capable of shutting down any offense he encounters but I think this is a tough spot for him. The Braves have really started to turn things on, even if they kind of let us down yesterday. I will be going right back to them against an LHP today.
ATL 5-star plays: Ozzie Albies
4-star plays: Freddie Freeman, Jorge Soler
GPP Note: Team ISO of .186 against LHPs this season.
BAL 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle
GPP Note: Team ISO of .154 against RHPs this season.
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Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays (-125)
Pitchers:
White Sox – Reynaldo Lopez
Rays – Chris Archer
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. This is such an interesting game but it’s one that I just can’t figure out. Archer will be making his return from the 60-Day IL and while he seems to be stretched out enough, I think we could see him limited to around 3-4 innings if things go decently for him. Lopez is being stretched out while starting and has gotten up to 5 innings. I wouldn’t say he’s good for 6 because those 5 innings were very clean so if he sees some troubles, I just don’t know how long he can go yet. Archer can give up plenty of HRs so I would look for the CWS power while the Rays might be the better full-stack.
CWS 5-star plays: Luis Robert
4-star plays: Yoan Moncada, Zack Collins
GPP Note: Team ISO of .164 against RHPs this season.
TB 5-star plays: Austin Meadows
4-star plays: Brandon Lowe, Nelson Cruz
GPP Note: Team ISO of .195 against RHPs this season.
Washington Nationals @ Milwaukee Brewers (-210)
Pitchers:
Nationals – Sean Nolin
Brewers – Adrian Houser
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. At first glance, I just don’t see a lot to get excited about in this game. The Brewers’ bats get a plus match-up but they are so hard to trust against an LHP as they don’t have a great average against them despite a decent team ISO. On the other side, the Nationals lack real punch in their lineup overall (outside of Soto, obviously). Houser has been on the COVID-IL for 2.5 weeks so I just don’t know what to expect out of him in this one.
WSH 5-star plays: Juan Soto
4-star plays: Victor Robles
GPP Note: Team ISO of .152 against RHPs this season.
MIL 5-star plays: Eduardo Escobar
4-star plays: Avisail Garcia, Christian Yelich
GPP Note: Team ISO of .164 against LHPs this season.
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San Francisco Giants @ Oakland Athletics (-111)
Pitchers:
Giants – Logan Webb
Athletics – Frankie Montas
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 8. My initial thought is to use the SPs in this one as I think both Webb and Montas get overlooked from a DFS standpoint. Webb has been really solid and while he doesn’t have the same ceiling as Montas, I think his floor is safer. Montas has impressive upside but he also is capable of giving up a bunch of hits in an inning. Since I like both SPs a bit, I will be staying away from full stacks but I do like some mini-stacks of both sides.
SF 5-star plays: Brandon Crawford
4-star plays: Alex Dickerson, LaMonte Wade Jr
GPP Note: Team ISO of .200 against RHPs this season.
OAK 5-star plays: Starling Marte
4-star plays: Matt Olson, Mark Canha
GPP Note: Team ISO of .174 against RHPs this season.
Los Angeles Angels @ Cleveland Indians (-130)
Pitchers:
Angels – Jose Suarez
Indians – Cal Quantrill
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9. I am not a huge fan of this game and it makes it worse that this is the Sunday Night game. I really like the Indians’ side in this game, especially their offense. Ramirez has been rolling at the plate and I have decided to make him my Dong of the Day call, which kind of sucks since it’s the night game. Quantrill has been really solid in the rotation for the Indians and the Angels lineup leaves plenty to be desired.
LAA 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Shohei Ohtani
GPP Note: Team ISO of .164 against RHPs this season.
CLE 5-star plays: Jose Ramirez
4-star plays: Amed Rosario, Franmil Reyes
GPP Note: Team ISO of .168 against LHPs this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates @ St Louis Cardinals (-213)
Pitchers:
Pirates – Steven Brault
Cardinals – Adam Wainwright
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 8.5. If you are an avid reader of my MLB content, you will know that I LOVE using Wainwright when he’s at home. Add in the fact that he has allowed just 1 run in 15 innings against PIT this season and you get one of my favorite SPs on the main slate. Brault is capable of doing just enough to annoy us from a stack perspective so I would look at STL as just a mini-stack or one-off team in your builds.
PIT 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Colin Moran
GPP Note: Team ISO of .129 against RHPs this season.
STL 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman
GPP Note: Team ISO of .178 against LHPs this season.
Texas Rangers @ Boston Red Sox (-310)
Pitchers:
Rangers – Kolby Allard
Red Sox – Nathan Eovaldi
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 9.5. We get Boston has a MASSIVE favorite again today (E-Rod let us down in a HUGE way yesterday). I think they actually show up today and that could be bad news for Allard. The Rangers lineup has become one of those pesky ones filled with younger guys trying to make a name for themselves and that makes them dangerous. With that said, I think Eovaldi cruises in this match-up, and the Red Sox win this game like 8-2.
TEX 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Brock Holt, Andy Ibanez
GPP Note: Team ISO of .152 against RHPs this season.
BOS 5-star plays: JD Martinez
4-star plays: Hunter Renfroe, Xander Bogaerts
GPP Note: Team ISO of .169 against LHPs this season.
Philadelphia Phillies @ San Diego Padres
Pitchers:
Phillies – Kyle Gibson
Padres – Craig Stammen
Rundown:
Waiting on the Vegas information for a bullpen game from San Diego.
PHI 5-star plays: Andrew McCutchen
4-star plays: Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto
GPP Note: Team ISO of .160 against RHPs this season.
SD 5-star plays: Manny Machado
4-star plays: Eric Hosmer, Fernando Tatis Jr
GPP Note: Team ISO of .136 against RHPs this season.
Kansas City Royals @ Chicago Cubs (EVEN)
Pitchers:
Royals – Carlos Hernandez
Cubs – Alec Mills
Rundown:
Waiting to see the game total. I will start out by saying that Hernandez made my initial line-up build. Bubic shut down the Cubs yesterday despite coming into the game in a funk on the mound. Hernandez has been strong enough to make me believe he has a ton of value as an SP2 on DK. I will have to look into the wind at Wrigley to get a better feel. Mills is capable of doing enough to be viable but I am not sure I can go there, even against a so-so KC offense.
KC 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Whit Merrifield, Andrew Benintendi
GPP Note: Team ISO of .142 against RHPs this season.
CHC 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Frank Schwindel, Ian Happ
GPP Note: Team ISO of .162 against RHPs this season.
Detroit Tigers @ Toronto Blue Jays (-245)
Pitchers:
Tigers – Drew Hutchison
Blue Jays – Steven Matz
Rundown:
This game has opened with a total of 10.5. Matz should be fairly popular and for good reason after seeing what Ryu did against this DET offense on Saturday. The Blue Jays find themselves at the top of my stack rankings for what seems like the 135th time this season. Hutchison has dealt with so many injuries over his career that he just doesn’t have much left in the tank. Just an all-around great spot for the Blue Jays.
DET 5-star plays: NONE
4-star plays: Jonathan Schoop
GPP Note: Team ISO of .157 against LHPs this season.
TOR 5-star plays: Vlad Guerrero Jr, Teoscar Hernandez
4-star plays: Corey Dickerson, Marcus Semien
GPP Note: Team ISO of .198 against RHPs this season.
Stacks of the Day: Main Slate
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Chicago White Sox
- Houston Astros
MLB Dinger of the Day – Jose Ramirez, Cleveland
As always I appreciate everyone who gave the article a read! Feel free to mix it up with me in our coaching forums as news breaks and lock approaches.
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