MLB DFS & Player Props Picks: Saturday (4/6)

We had a successful first week back, and it finally feels like we’re back in the MLB grind. Fantasy baseball is actually my favorite fantasy sport to play because no other sport rewards attention like fantasy baseball. Grinding every day along with these players puts you in the best position to be successful from a DFS standpoint, and these articles always help me just as much as you guys! With that in mind, let’s break down this Saturday slate!

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Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Joe Ryan (MIN) vs. CLE
Ryan struggled in the second half last season, but that’s common for a guy getting his first full workload. The right-hander had a 2.98 ERA and 0.91 WHIP through his 15 starts last year and kickstarted this season with 5.1 one-run innings. This is one of the most talented arms in the game, and he shouldn’t have any issues at home starting against Cleveland. He allowed two runs or fewer in all three matchups with the Guardians last year, with Cleveland ranked 27th in wOBA.

Michael King (SD) at SF
King had an ugly showing in Korea in his Padres debut, but that’s an outlier. The righty has a 2.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over the last two years, surrendering just two runs in his most recent start. That was against these Giants, with San Fran sitting 22nd in wOBACON last season. ORACLE Park is also one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in baseball, with San Fran projected to score just 3.5 runs.

Garrett Whitlock (BOS) at LAA
This Red Sox staff has been one of the best in baseball through the opening week, with Whitlock scoring 42 FanDuel points in his first start of the season. That’s less surprising when you look at Whitlock’s career averages, posting a 3.47 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That makes him an easy option against LA because they have one of the worst lineups after losing Shohei Ohtani.

Kenta Maeda (DET) vs. OAK
Oakland is the best matchup in baseball, and they will be a team we exploit every day. The A’s were 29th or 30th in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA last season, but it could be even worse this year. That’s scary against this revamped Tigers rotation, with Maeda being an underrated arm throughout his career. The righty had a horrid outing in his debut with Detroit but has a 3.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP throughout his career.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

Tampa Bay Rays (vs. Ryan Feltner)

• Road (Coors Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 12 Runs/TB -160

The Rockies might be the worst team in baseball, and it’s sad that their home opening series is against the Rays. Tampa always possesses one of the most underrated lineups in baseball, projected to score over six runs in this spot. That’s the highest-projected total on this slate, and it’s scary to think about what they could do against a pitcher like Feltner. The Rockies righty has a 6.04 ERA and 1.52 WHIP throughout his four-year career!

Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. Jordan Wicks)

• Road (Wrigley Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/LAD -190

We stacked against Wicks last week, and we’re going right back to the well. The Cubs lefty allowed eight baserunners across four innings in that ugly showing, sporting a 4.42 ERA and 1.34 WHIP throughout his career. We could stack this daunting Dodgers lineup against anyone, but they’re an easy choice against someone like Wicks.

Core Studs

• If we’re going to stack Tampa, we have to use Arozarena. The Rays best bat has two homers and two steals in the opening week, averaging 12 DK points per game across his last five fixtures. That makes him an easy option against Colorado because the Rays are projected to score over six runs, the highest team total on this slate.
• Freeman could be in this section every day. The MVP candidate is guaranteed a .400 OBP and 1.000 OPS every year, averaging 11 DK points per game this season. Most people might fade him since he faces a lefty, but this is one of the few players where splits don’t matter. Freeman had a 1.008 OPS against southpaws last season.
• Witt just had a game where he hit the ball nearly 110 MPH on three different plate appearances. That shows just how much potential he has, projected to finish with 30 homers and 50 steals. That’s the form we’ve seen so far this season, with Witt averaging 13 DraftKings points per game. A matchup with Chris Flexen should keep him going, with Flexen posting a 6.92 ERA and 1.69 WHIP since the start of last year.
• Alvarez was slow to get going, but the perennial All-Star has found his groove. The slugger hit two homers just two days ago, finishing with 38 DK points in that masterclass performance. We love that when evaluating his splits, sporting a 1.027 OPS against righties over the last three years. He faces a struggling one here, with Jon Gray allowing five runs and 10 baserunners in his 2024 debut.

Value Plays/Punts

• We always have Mountcastle in here when he faces lefties. The O’s bat always bats third or fourth in these circumstances, totaling a .398 OBP, .655 SLG, and 1.052 OPS against lefties last year. That looks even better when looking at his recent form, amassing a .935 OPS so far this season. Facing Bailey Falter is the icing on the cake, compiling a 5.74 ERA and 1.44 WHIP since the start of last season.
• There aren’t many affordable bats in this Tampa stack, but Siri is one of them. He’s turned into an everyday player with Josh Lowe sidelined, scoring at least 7.0 DK points in all but three games this year. He also has a 1.009 OPS against righties this year and gets to face a terrible one in Coors Field!
• Burger was horrid through the opening week, but two dingers on Thursday is just what the doctor ordered. That’s the power potential we’ve been waiting to see, with Burger accruing a .906 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor last season. That should bode well against Steven Matz, maintaining a 4.56 ERA and 1.35 WHIP since 2020.
• Kiriloff has always been a talented hitter, and we love that he’s finally getting a full-time role with the Twins. The versatile first baseman has a 1.112 OPS through the opening week of the year, accumulating a .373 OBP and .858 OPS against right-handers last year. Those splits are hard to overlook against Carlos Carrasco, who’s collected a 5.21 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over the last three years.

Saturday’s Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Jake Irvin: 5.5 Strikeouts – Lower

We had this play last weekend, and we’re going right back to the well. Irvin had just four strikeouts last week and finished below 5.5 in 16 of 24 starts last year. That’s even more problematic against Philly, who possess one of the best offenses in baseball.

Steven Matz: 6.0 Strikeouts – Lower

I was shocked to see this total. Matz had just three strikeouts in his debut and has a 4.56 ERA and 1.35 WHIP since 2020. He only surpassed six strikeouts three times last season! That’s scary since Miami has the eighth-lowest K rate in baseball.

Carlos Carrasco: 5.0 Strikeouts – Lower

Cookie Carrasco used to be an ace, but that was a long time ago. The righty had just three strikeouts in his first start with Cleveland, compiling a 5.21 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over the last four years.

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