MLB DFS Preview Early Slate 4/20/24

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

• Time/Ballpark: 1:05 PM EDT at Yankee Stadium
• Pitching Matchup: Zach Eflin (RHP) vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP)
  • Eflin Insights: With a SIERA of 3.33 and a strong K% of 26%, Eflin shows potential for high strikeouts. His GB% at 49% suggests he keeps the ball in the park, minimizing damage.
  • Cortes Insights: Despite a rough ERA of 4.85, Cortes maintains a decent xWOBA of .291. His lower K% and high flyball rate might be a concern against a power-hitting Rays lineup.

Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins

• Time/Ballpark: 2:10 PM EDT at Target Field
• Pitching Matchup: Reese Olson (RHP) vs. Bailey Ober (RHP)
  • Olson Insights: Olson’s xERA of 4.34 and K% of 24% make him a mid-tier option. Watch for his BB% and how it could affect his pitch count.
  • Ober Insights: A troubling ERA of 6.46 overshadows his decent SIERA (3.89). His susceptibility to giving up hits can be risky for DFS.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

• Time/Ballpark: 2:15 PM EDT at Busch Stadium
• Pitching Matchup: DL Hall (LHP) vs. Miles Mikolas (RHP)
  • Hall Insights: Hall struggles with control (BB% of 7%) and a high xERA (6.66), suggesting volatility that could either be a boon or bust for DFS.
  • Mikolas Insights: Mikolas’ lower strikeout rate (16%) and higher ERA indicate potential issues. He might not be the safest pick in today’s matchups.

Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals

• Time/Ballpark: 4:05 PM EDT at Nationals Park
• Pitching Matchup: Ronel Blanco (RHP) vs. Trevor Williams (RHP)
  • Blanco Insights: Impressive with a xERA of 1.72 and a controlled SS% of 15%. Blanco might be a solid choice given his ability to manage hits and runs.
  • Williams Insights: His xERA of 3.75 and SIERA of 5.01 suggest inconsistency. High risk might not yield the high reward with his current form.

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Time/Ballpark: 4:05 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
• Pitching Matchup: Jose Butto (RHP) vs. Gavin Stone (RHP)
  • Butto Insights: A promising young arm with a xERA of 2.71. His ability to strike out batters (24% K%) paired with a solid GB% suggests a potentially strong DFS performance.
  • Stone Insights: Struggling with a high ERA (8.08) despite a decent xWOBA (.301), Stone is a risky play against a strong Mets lineup.

Boston Red Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Time/Ballpark: 4:05 PM EDT at PNC Park
• Pitching Matchup: Kutter Crawford (RHP) vs. Mitch Keller (RHP)
  • Crawford Insights: Boasting a low xERA of 2.28 and a healthy K% of 26%, Crawford could be a sleeper pick in today’s DFS lineup.
  • Keller Insights: Despite a xERA of 4.34, his control issues (BB% of 7%) and high hit rates could be problematic.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants

• Time/Ballpark: 4:05 PM EDT at Oracle Park
• Pitching Matchup: Zac Gallen (RHP) vs. Kyle Harrison (LHP)
  • Gallen Insights: With a strong xERA of 3.35 and K% of 26%, Gallen is a solid option. His ability to manage hits and runs effectively makes him a top DFS pick.
  • Harrison Insights: An xERA of 4.55 and issues with allowing hits could hinder his effectiveness against the Diamondbacks’ hitters.

Chicago White Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies

• Time/Ballpark: 6:05 PM EDT at Citizens Bank Park
• Pitching Matchup: Mike Soroka (RHP) vs. Zack Wheeler (RHP)
  • Soroka Insights: Struggling significantly with a xERA of 7.23 and a high HC% suggest Soroka might be an unfavorable option unless seeking a contrarian play.
  • Wheeler Insights: A strong performer with a xERA of 2.61 and a solid strikeout rate (27%). Wheeler’s ability to dominate could be key for DFS players.

Overall DFS Strategy:

• Seek Value in Underrated Matchups: Players like Kutter Crawford and Ronel Blanco could provide value.
• High-Risk/High-Reward Options: DL Hall and Gavin Stone present potential for either high points or high disappointment.
• Solid Picks: Zac Gallen and Zack Wheeler offer reliability and potential for high DFS scores.

This analysis provides a foundation for today’s MLB DFS slate, focusing on pitcher matchups to anticipate potential game outcomes and their implications for fantasy baseball. Adjust your lineups accordingly and stay tuned for the top hitters and stacks analysis to complete your DFS preparations!