Please use caution on a small slate with only five on tap tonight in MLB DFS. Of course, with one in Coors (and the threat of some rain) it makes it a slippery slope. Play light, back up GPP's with cash contests and build solid lineups using all of our coaching columns along with the value vault plus the playbook. Best of luck!
Top Tier
Austin Riley, Atlanta - 3B - ($5,600 on DraftKings, $3,700 on FanDuel)
At a much more tolerable price point on FanDuel, it makes sense targeting him on either site. Many will see a right-handed pitcher on the mound for Colorado and load up on left-handed Atlanta bats, but Chi Chi González actually struggles more with right-handed hitters giving up a .405 wOBA against them and a .302 isolated power. Riley's launched 26 of his 28 home runs this season off of right-handed pitching with a .276 isolated power and .965 OPS. Plus, he enters Coors with a .349/.364/.512 slash line over the last two weeks in a smash spot tonight in a must-win contest. Giddy up. Also can be paired with Dansby Swanson in a mini-stack or another recommended hitter below on his team.
Mid Tier
Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs - OF ($4,400 on DraftKings); 2B/OF ($3,000 on FanDuel)
Both algorithms lean on the year's struggles by Happ and not his recent uptick in production. He's crushed three home runs in his last 11 games over two weeks with eight RBI, two stolen bases and a .324/.375/.676 slash line. He also owns tremendous career numbers facing tonight's starter, Mitch Keller going 5-for-8 with two home runs, a .488 xBA, a ridiculous 1.475 xSLG and .776 xwOBA in the previous match-up along with drawing two walks in 10 plate appearances. His average exit velocity of a batted ball event in previous meetings, 101.3 MPH. Yes please.
Jorge Soler, Atlanta - OF ($4,000 on DraftKings, $3,600 on FanDuel)
Remember the numbers cited above for Gonzalez against right-handed hitter then apply them with Soler. He's recorded five home runs in his last 11 games with eight runs, nine RBI and a .316/.386/.701 slash in them. This results in a robust .395 isolated power and sets him up for success if he's in tonight's lineup. Confirm this, but he's been hitting second and could hit one a long way in Coors Field.
Raimel Tapia, Colorado - OF ($3,900 on DraftKings, $2,500 on FanDuel)
Fresh off the injured list and priced accordingly, Tapia could be a nice pivot while most flock towards Charlie Blackmon in tonight's slate. However, Tapia owns a .303/.363/.500 line at home versus right-handed pitching and Touki Toussaint averages 1.93 home runs per nine against left-handed hitters with an 8.7 K-BB percentage. Not known as a power hitter, he's only hit five home runs this year, all at home. Sneaky pivot kids.
Bargain Bats
Yoshi Tsutsugo, Pittsburgh - 1B/OF ($2,600 on DraftKings); 3B/OF ($2,600 on FanDuel)
Here's the boom or bust option for GPP players on this slate. Keegan Thompson of the Cubs gives up two home runs per nine innings against left-handed hitters and Tsutsugo's cracked five home runs over his last 11 games with a .296/.355/.963 slash line. This fuels a ridiculous .667 isolated power and .511 wOBA during his last 31 plate appearances. Speculating on a blast tonight from a player who makes the think of Genesis every time I type his name.
Frank Schwindel, Chicago Cubs - 1B ($3,300 on DraftKings); OF ($3,300 on FanDuel)
A safer option on FanDuel perhaps, Schwindel's homered in three straight games and gets a pitcher at home notorious for serving up power versus right-handed hitters. This sets up Schwindel well entering tonight's game with a 47.1 hard-hit rate over the last two weeks and a .262 isolated power. He, Happ, and Wisdom could be a sneaky mini-stack on this slate with most gravitating towards Coors Field for hitters.