Saturday slates are always some of the best cards of the week because every team is always in action. The tricky part is that we have games spread throughout the day. We have two MLB DFS main slates to dissect, so let’s go ahead and get started. Here are our top MLB DFS picks for Saturday.
Saturday slates are always some of the best cards of the week because every team is always in action. The tricky part is that we have games spread throughout the day. We have two MLB DFS main slates to dissect, so let’s go ahead and get started. Here are our top MLB DFS picks for Saturday.
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Triston McKenzie (CLE) at CWS
It’s tough to fade any pitcher who faces the White Sox. Chicago sits last in runs scored, OPS, and wOBA this season. That’s bad news with the way McKenzie has been pitching recently, providing a 2.57 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across his last four starts. He also threw 5.2 scoreless innings against them earlier in the year, scoring at least 67 FanDuel points in two of their last three matchups.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs. STL
Peralta is right there at the top of the NL Cy Young race, registering a 3.49 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9 rate. Those numbers were even more ridiculous before posting some subpar numbers across his last three starts, but he should recapture his early-season form against the Cardinals. St. Louis sits 27th in wOBA and 29th in runs scored.
Justin Steele (CHC) at PIT
Steele has only made two starts this season, but he’s been superb in those outings. The southpaw has a 0.96 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, after providing a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP last season. We know this guy has nasty stuff and should mow down this pitiful Pittsburgh lineup. The Pirates have been the lowest-scoring team in baseball over the last month, projected to score just three runs in this game.
Paul Skenes (PIT) at CHC
Skenes might see some restrictions in his first start at this level, but it’s hard to overlook what this kid was doing at the lower levels. The Pirates’ top prospect had a 0.99 ERA and 0.92 WHIP at Triple-A, striking out 45 batters across 27 innings. Those are Mariano Rivera-like statistics, and this might be the cheapest price we see Skenes at if he carries that form over into this level!
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Rangers had the highest-scoring offense in baseball last season and are second in scoring this season. That makes them a worthy stack anywhere, but facing Colorado in Coors Field is unfair. The Rockies rank last in ERA and WHIP, with Feltner totaling a 5.54 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. That’s why Texas is projected to score six runs, the highest team total on this slate!
Baltimore Orioles (vs. Ryne Nelson)
Baltimore has developed into one of the best offenses in baseball, ranked first in home runs and fifth in runs scored. That’s no surprise when looking at the depth of this lineup, and we love that in a matchup with Ryne Nelson. The Arizona righty has a 5.23 ERA and 1.60 WHIP this year, and this could be his final start if the struggles continue.
Core Studs
- If we want to stack Texas, Garcia has to be the first guy in our lineup. The beefy outfielder has about 100 homers and 50 steals over the last three years, providing a .493 SLG and .813 OPS this season. He’s also got a hit in nine of his previous 11 games and should have a big weekend in Coors against the worst pitching staff in baseball.
- Henderson is a Top 5 player in fantasy right now, registering a .344 OBP and .907 OPS. He’s also got better splits against right-handers, posting a .877 OPS against them since his call-up. If we use the O’s against Nelson, Henderson needs to be your top priority.
- Ohtani is the best hitter in baseball right now. He has 11 homers and nine steals, posting a 1.103 OPS. His recent form is even more ridiculous, totaling a .460 OBP and 1.233 OPS over his last 30 games. He’s also flirting with a 1.300 OPS against righties this year and can wallop Matt Waldron‘s 5.82 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.
- Ramirez got off to a slow start this season, but he’s starting to find it. The perennial All-Star has scored at least 18 FanDuel points in four of his last five games. This 30-25 player will be the best hitter in baseball for a month, and this could be the start of it. He faces Mike Clevinger, who’s got a 13.50 ERA after one horrific start.
Value Plays/Punts
- There aren’t many cheap Texas players we can recommend, but Smith is one of them. He’s been hitting sixth in this terrifying Texas lineup, amassing a .423 OBP and 1.059 OPS across his last 14 outings. He also hits from the left side, and we don’t want to fade all of that in such a magical matchup.
- O’Hearn is a platoon player, but he’s always batting cleanup when the O’s face a righty. It’s easy to see why, with O’Hearn accumulating a .398 OBP and .987 OPS against right-handers this year. It’s rare to see splits like that for such an affordable player, especially against such a putrid pitcher.
- Schwarber always finds himself in the GPP section because he’s a homer-or-bust player. The Phillies leadoff hitter has barely hit over .200 over the last four years but has a .496 SLG and .838 OPS in that span. Most of that damage has come against right-handers, which is incredible since he faces one with a 7.50 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.
- Haniger has been a borderline All-Star in the past, and we love that he’s been hitting cleanup for Seattle recently. He comes into this matchup amid a three-game hitting streak and gets the platoon advantage against one of the worst lefties in baseball. Alex Wood has a 5.30 ERA and 1.74 WHIP!
Saturday’s Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props
Bo Bichette: 1.5 Total Bases – Under
Bichette has been horrid this season and shouldn’t be sitting at 1.5 total bases. He’s only cleared this total in 11 of his 34 games and faces a righty with a 1.74 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
We mentioned some other Baltimore bats earlier in that matchup with Nelson, but Mullins also gets the platoon advantage. He’s hitting well over .250 against righties over the last four years and only needs one knock to clear this total!
This total is a bit high, but it’s hard to overlook what McKenzie has done recently. He’s cleared this total in four straight starts and has sliced through Chicago in the past. He’s got 29 Ks across 20.2 innings in his last three starts against the White Sox.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
