This opening month has been amazing. We’ve seen some shocking things, but it’s remarkable how everything comes back to the mean. Many of the good players have stayed healthy, and we’ve been fortunate to avoid too many injuries thus far. It felt like a big-name player was hitting the IL every week this year, and we’re hoping these guys will remain healthy as long as possible. The injuries are inevitable, though, and it’s one of the major reasons we prefer DFS over season-long leagues!

Starting Pitcher Rankings

Starting Pitcher Strategy

While we loved the pitching slate yesterday, today isn’t as pretty. It was challenging to find four pitchers we wanted to recommend because many are in tough spots. That’s why we have some risky guys in the GPP section because it’s a good day to gamble on some cheap pitchers and build around some expensive hitters.

Cash Game Recommendations:

Yu Darvish (SD) vs. SF

Darvish has been one of my favorite pitchers for a decade. The righty has some of the nastiest stuff around, amassing a 3.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over the last four years. He’s paired those averages with an elite K rate and shouldn’t have any issues against the Giants. In their most recent matchup, Yu allowed just one run and five baserunners across seven sparkling innings. We are scared of the Mexico City elevation, but that should keep Darvish’s ownership low.

Sonny Gray (MIN) vs. KC

Gray might be the frontrunner for AL Cy Young right now. The veteran has a 0.62 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 10.6 K/9 rate. That’s the best month-long stretch this guy has had, and he’s done that damage despite facing teams like the Astros and Yankees. The Royals is his easiest matchup of the season, with KC ranked 29th or 30th in OBP, wOBA, and runs scored. That’s why Sonny is a -210 favorite in this sensational spot!

GPP Recommendations:

Nick Lodolo (CIN) at OAK

The last two starts have been horrific from Lodolo, but this is an excellent spot for the lefty to bounce back. The A’s rank near the bottom of every offensive metric and play in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks around. All we need is Lodolo to recapture his early-season form, providing a 2.12 ERA and 14.3 K/9 rate through his first three starts. We saw him do that for the final two months of last year, and it’s just a matter of time before this youngster starts rolling.

Josiah Gray (WAS) vs. PIT

This is a risky option, but Gray is looking like a potential breakout. This was once touted as one of the best prospects just two years ago, and sporting a 1.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across his last four starts has us extremely encouraged. He’s keeping the ball in the ballpark, which is the most important thing since he’s allowed the most home runs over the last two years. The Pirates have been a massive surprise this year, but their offense is far from scary.

Top Lineup Stacks

Milwaukee Brewers (vs. Jose Suarez)

• Home (Miller Park)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/MIL-130

It’s wild that Los Angeles is keeping Suarez in their rotation. This lefty has been the worst pitcher in the sport through the opening month, tallying a 10.26 ERA and 2.28 WHIP. I’ve seen slow-pitch softball players with better averages, and facing this stingy lineup in Miller Park is a recipe for another blowup.

Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. Jake Woodford)

• Home (Dodgers Stadium)
• Value: Low
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/LAD -145

The Dodgers have been a good stack since I was born. This team always has one of the most potent lineups in baseball, and that’s certainly the case since they rank second in homers and seventh in runs scored. Woodford is not the sort of guy who’s going to lower those numbers, with the Cards righty collecting a 5.47 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.

Baltimore Orioles (vs. Spencer Turnbull)

• Road (Comerica Park)
• Value: High
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/BAL -140

The Orioles have developed into one of my favorite teams. They have one of the most dynamic lineups, ranked Top-10 in OBP, and runs scored. That’s terrible news for a struggling slinger like Turnbull, totaling a 7.25 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. We also love that the O’s have a ton of cheap bats because that’s a great recipe with some of the expensive studs we’re about to mention!

Core Studs

• Judge has been the top-scoring player in fantasy since the start of last year, and he’s the safest option on every slate. He’s got a .415 OBP and 1.077 OPS since the beginning of last year and gets the platoon advantage against a struggling lefty. Perez has a 1.45 WHIP and will labor to navigate through this righty-heavy Yankees lineup if Judge is able to play.
• If Judge has been the best player in the AL since the start of last year, Freeman might be the best in the NL. Since struggling through his opening month in LA, Freeman is flirting with a .400 OBP and 1.000 OPS since then. He’s also clobbered righties and should roll through Woodford’s 5.47 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.
• Adames has been a different player since joining Milwaukee. He’s been one of the best power-hitting shortstops in baseball, posting a SLG above .500 since joining the Brewers. That’s awesome since he faces the worst lefty in the sport right now, giving Adames the platoon advantage from the right side.
• Mullins has been mauling right-handers for the last three years. The O’s leadoff hitter has almost all of his steals against righties, registering an .846 OPS against them since 2020. He’s also got at least 12 FanDuel points in four straight outings and couldn’t be hotter against a pitcher with a 7.25 ERA.
• Chapman is quietly one of the hottest hitters in MLB. The Blue Jays cleanup bat is hitting .370 en route to a .448 OBP and 1.111 OPS. Those are some of the best averages around, and he should slice through a southpaw like Marco Gonzales. Chapman’s OPS is nearly 100 points higher against lefties throughout his career. In 37 at-bats against Marco, Chapman has compiled a .378 AVG and 1.017 OPS.

Value Plays/Punts

• Many people don’t realize it, but Anderson is one of the most improved players in our sport. The Brewers third baseman has a .810 OPS in what’s developing into a breakout year. That’s earned him a prominent spot in this lineup, and he should do well since he hits from the right side against Suarez.
• Muncy can be risky with his high K rate, but this guy is scorching right now. He’s got 10 homers over his last 14 games, providing a .528 OBP in that span. That’s hard to even fathom, but he should be the primary piece to a Dodgers stack since he gets the platoon advantage against Woodford.
• Polanco has been a sneaky bat for the Twins for years and is off to an incredible start. After missing the first three weeks, Jorge has a .367 AVG and 1.067 OPS since rejoining the team. That’s why he always bats third, which makes him enticing against a righty with a 6.67 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. In 23 at-bats against Brady Singer, Polanco has provided a 1.010 OPS.
• Duran is one of the highest-touted rookies for the Red Sox, and he’s looking like a stud in the early going. The youngster is hitting .436, generating a 1.173 OPS. We don’t expect that to continue, but a stretch like that makes him tough to avoid against anyone. Logan Allen looks good, but he’s only made one start, and we don’t really know if he can navigate a tough lineup like the BoSox.
• The Rockies have the worst pitching staff in baseball, and it’s sad that they have to pitch in Coors Field. It’s particularly distressing for Austin Gomber, accumulating a 9.28 ERA and 1.92 WHIp this year. That’s frightening when looking at Marte’s monstrous splits, sporting a .968 OPS against lefties over the last three years. He’s also got a .878 OPS over his last 17 games and looks amid a bounce-back season. Not to mention, Marte has an absurd 1.819 OPS in 11 at-bats against Gomber.

Hitter Strategy

This slate is going to be a breeze from a lineup constriction standpoint. We have a ton of cheap pitchers that we love and even more cheap hitters that we adore. That should make these lineups simple to build, with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Twins, Brewers, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Orioles looking like the best teams to stack.

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.