Covering the Bases: Sunday, April 23
STLCardinals84, one of the best tournament players in the game, is here to cover the bases for the upcoming MLB DFS slate. Whether you are looking for the top pitchers or the best stacks, Cards has you covered with an extensive deep dive into his MLB DFS picks.
Happy Sunday, everyone! Even though it’s April 23, it feels like Groundhog Day to me, as my Cardinals lost yet another gut-wrenching game last night. Ho hum. I am becoming numb to their bad start. Let’s hope that today is the day they start to turn it around.
As for the daily fantasy world, we have our usual plethora of day games on this Sunday. We also have Jacob deGrom pitching today. Hey, things are already looking up! Let’s take a look at some of my favorite MLB DFS picks for today!
Sunday Pitching: MLB DFS Picks on FanDuel & DraftKings
The Top Options
(NOTE – For now, all statistical references for pitchers are for 2022 full season data given that we still only have two starts for 2023 for most of them. I will probably switch to 2023 data next weekend).
Jacob deGrom vs. Rangers – 3.08 ERA, 1.53 xFIP, 43% K, 3% BB
Clayton Kershaw vs. Cubs – 2.28 ERA, 2.83 xFIP, 28% K, 5% BB
Kevin Gausman vs. Yankees – 3.35 ERA, 2.75 xFIP, 28% K, 4% BB
Corbin Burnes vs. Red Sox – 2.94 ERA, 2.85 xFIP, 31% K, 6% BB
Given that he is so often injured, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how good Jacob deGrom is. His numbers are video game stuff when he’s healthy. You just don’t see strikeout rates over 40% and a 1.53 xFIP in this day and age. A wrist injury caused him to exit his last start after four no-hit innings, but it sounds like everything is fine.
When Jacob deGrom is healthy, you play him.
When Jacob deGrom is healthy and facing the 2023 A’s that are 4-17, you DEFINITELY play him. I will likely just hit the lock button here.
It’s not like the other pitchers in this tier are slouches; they most certainly aren’t. However, they are not Jacob deGrom facing the A’s. Keep them in your GPP pool if you are building a ton of lineups today, but the projections simply don’t compare. It’s deGrom and then everyone else. Gausman has a tough matchup. Kershaw doesn’t come at enough of a discount. Burnes has regressed so far in 2023 and has been injured.
Play the obvious choice.
