DFS Alerts

Coors Field is the only area of concern in Monday's latest MLB weather forecast

The only trouble spot comes to us at Coors Field, where there is currently widespread thunderstorms and hail. However, it appears that the worst of the storms are already over and Kevin Roth currently has the game between the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies classified as ORANGE, meaning that a rain delay is still likely at some point during the game and a postponement still can’t be entirely ruled out. The good news is that Kevin still believes that the game is more likely to play through than not, so it still remains a good spot to attack with hitters in tournaments if willing to take on the risk. Be sure to check out Kevin’s full forecast on the MLB Weather page linked below. Also, don’t forget to follow Kevin Roth on Twitter, as he will be posting updates and answering questions there all season long, @KevinRothWx.

RH Baltimore bats and Nate Karns project for low ownership rates tonight

Gary Sanchez and Brett Gardner are the only non-Coors bats that break into the 10 highest projected ownership rates among bats tonight, according to the Projected Ownership page. Players looking for potentially much less popular pivots, could consider middle of the order Baltimore bats, particularly Manny Machado (131 wRC+, .203 ISO vs LHP since 2015) and Trey Mancini (128 wRC+, .294 ISO vs LHP career) against Gio Gonzalez (RHBs .321 wOBA since 2015). While the Orioles have struggled more than expected against LHPs as a team the last several years, there are couple of potent bats vs southpaws in tonight’s lineup. Neither is projected to be in more than 10% of lineups on either site tonight. Jacob deGrom and Trevor Cahill should be the pitchers in the most lineups tonight. Nate Kans could comes close to matching them via strikeout rate (Rays 25.9 K% vs RHP). He is the cheapest of the three and projected to be in fewer than 10% of lineups on either site as well. Premium subscribers can find ownership rate projected for all players on our Projected Ownership page.

Are potential weather conditions and an 18 inning Sunday night affair enough to fade Coors tonight

While the Cubs and Rockies are the only offenses implied for more than five runs tonight, there are several reasons to consider fading Coors tonight, more so than most nights. The easier part is the Rockies, who have just a team 87 wRC+ at home, 75 wRC+ vs RHP, and 90 sOPS+ vs power pitchers (Baseball-Reference). Then add in Kevin’s early forecast for weather wet enough to cause anything from a delay to a PPD, and you have enough firepower to consider not exposing your daily fantasy lineups to any Rockies. On the other side, Cubs bats still look imposing against Antonio Senzatela (5.1 SwStr%, 4.64 SIERA), but in addition to the weather, consider that they just played an 18 inning Sunday night game in Chicago. Although, if Kevin’s later forecast looks more optimistic, multiple lineup players are going to find it hard to go without any Bryant, Schwarber and Rizzo exposure.

Several Oakland bats (Alonso, Joyce) project as top values on DraftKings

Bryce Harper (168 wRC+, .286 ISO vs RHP since 2015) and Corey Seager (159 wRC+, .223 ISO vs RHP since 2015) break through the Coors bats to each project among the top five overall hitters via tonight’s RotoGrinders Player Projections. This is interesting partially because Harper faces a severe reverse platoon split righty (LHBs .290 wOBA vs Kevin Gausman since 2015), but one who has greatly struggled all around this year. Each can be paired with a red hot teammate (Ryan Zimmerman, Cody Bellinger) in potentially potent mini-stacks tonight, particularly if Bellinger bats leadoff tonight. A scenario occurs when sorting by value projections (Pt/$/K) on DraftKings that puts four Oakland bats at the top, though not all are projected to start. The projections see Yonder Alonso (5 HRs over the last week, 51.5 FB%, 39.7 Hard% this year), Matt Joyce (121 wRC+, .210 ISO vs RHP since 2016), Chad Pinder (223 wRC+ over the last week) and Jaff Decker ($2K on DK) as potential top values against Ricky Nolasco (RHBs .347 wOBA, LHBs .313 wOBA since 2015). All four of these bats cost $2.8K or less. Min-priced bats Joey Rickard (127 wRC+, .162 ISO vs LHP career) and Tommy Pham (369 wRC+, 55.6 Hard% last seven days) grab top value spots on FanDuel, along with $2.3K lefty-masher Wilmer Flores (180 wRC+, .338 ISO since 2015).

The Giants currently own the lowest implied run total (3.2) on Monday's slate

Jacob deGrom is coming off a disappointing start his last time out against the Atlanta Braves, allowing five earned runs in just five innings pitched. However, outside of some control issues (10.3% BB%), there is no reason to believe that this performance is the beginning of a trend going forward. In fact, 11 of deGrom’s 16 walks allowed this season have come in just two starts, further implying some positive regression towards his career 6.4% walk rate. On the year, deGrom has notched a career-high 31.6% strikeout rate that is backed up by a career-high 15.6% swinging strike rate, leading to a solid 3.25 SIERA that aligns closely with his career average. Tonight, deGrom is set to take on a San Francisco Giants squad that has been one of the worst offenses in the Majors thus far, ranking dead last in ISO versus right-handed pitching and are second-worst in wOBA and wRC+ as well. The Giants also have a low 7.1% walk rate, and while there seems to be a general consensus that they are a low-strikeout team, they are still punching out 20.1% of the time. Despite this matchup not being the highest upside matchup in terms of strikeouts, it’s obviously difficult to find a better one from a safety perspective given the Giants current ranks against right-handed pitching. With that said, there is still significant upside in the arm of deGrom, no matter opponent, evidenced by three consecutive double-digit strikeout performances prior to his poor outing against the Braves his last time out, making him the top starting pitcher in all formats on Monday’s slate from a raw projected fantasy points standpoint.

Only one batter (Matt Joyce) has more than one HR against the pitcher they are facing tonight

Matt Joyce has homered twice in 18 career PAs against Ricky Nolasco, but has just an 87.3 mph aEV on five Statcast recorded BBE in the matchup. There’s not much BvP help for players tonight, as no other hitter has more than one HR against the pitcher they are facing tonight. Among those with more than 10 BBEs against tonight’s opponent, only Albert Pujols (93.8 mph aEV on 18 BBEs) and Kole Calhoun (94.9 mph aEV on 18 BBEs) have an aEV above 91 mph against the pitcher they are facing tonight. Each only has a single HR and just two extra-base hits against Kendall Graveman, who has generally kept the ball on the ground in the past (50.6 career GB%), but has just a 40.2 GB% this season.

Trevor Cahill has a 57.3 GB% and at least a 24 K% in every start

Trevor Cahill is on the verge of a breakout season. He’s still allowing runs on occasion, but a 57.3 GB% and 29.8 K% (13.3 SwStr%) has made him a prominent DFS value nearly every start. He’s struck out at least 24% of batters in each start and sits third on the RotoGrinders Daily K Predictor tonight with 6.47 projected, while he’s one of the top projected values via RotoGrinders Player Projections on either site tonight. He still costs less than $8K on either site, facing a Texas offense at Petco that has a 23.4 K% vs RHP. Nathan Karns faces a potentially tougher offense (Rays 103 wRC+, 15.2 HR/FB vs RHP), but one that strikes out a lot as well (25.9% vs RHP). That gives him the top spot on the Daily K Predictor tonight (6.92) at a cost slightly below Cahill. After starting slow, 18 of his 26 strikeouts for the season have come in his last three starts. Jake Arrieta, although in Colorado tonight, sits second on the K Predictor (6.67). The Rockies have just a 75 wRC+ against RHP and he has a career high 21.8 K-BB%. Jacob deGrom is fourth (6.27), but has the top pitcher overall projection (RotoGrinders Player Projections) on either site. He just snapped a streak of three straight with at least 10 strikeouts and takes a 31.6 K% (15.7 SwStr%) in against the struggling Giants (68 wRC+, 5.9 HR/FB vs RHP).

Yonder Alonso has a 51.5 FB% and 11 Barrels this year, five HRs over the last week

The hottest bats on tonight’s slate (min. 10 PA over the last seven days) are not only cheap, but also avoid tonight’s top projected offenses for the most part. Tommy Pham (111 wRC+, .197 ISO vs LHP since 2015) has a 369 wRC+ (55.6 Hard%, 3 HRs) over the last week and faces erratic LHP Adam Conley tonight (RHBs .318 wOBA career). Yonder Alonso (339 wRC+, 41.2 Hard%, 5 HRs) has become a different hitter this year. He’s increased his fly ball rate to 51.5% with a 39.7 Hard%. He now has nine HRs and 11 Barrels. Steven Pearce (333 wRC+, 60 Hard%, 3 HRs) has been playing against RHP lately (RHBs .321 wOBA vs Trevor Bauer since 2015). Trey Mancini (329 wRC+, 36.4 Hard%, 1 HR) has been crushing LHP (128 wRC+, .294 ISO) and Gio Gonzalez has been merely average vs RHBs (.321 wOBA since 2015). Ryan Zimmerman (295 wRC+, 75 Hard%, 2 HRs) continues to crush everyone and faces the reverse platoon RHP Kevin Gausman tonight (RHBs .362 wOBA since 2015). Cody Bellinger (295 wRC+, 55.6 Hard%, 3 HRs) has made the majors look easy and faces fellow rookie Trevor Williams (LHBs .372 wOBA).

Right-handed Washington stack an alternative to top projected offenses tonight

While the top two projected offenses are once again playing in Colorado, the Rockies may be a bit over-valued with just an 87 wRC+ at home and 75 wRC+ vs RHP, facing Jake Arrieta. Further consider that the Cubs played 18 innings last night and the Yankees, fourth with an implied run line of 4.6, played those same 18 innings with them and players might be more confident in looking for bats outside those lineups tonight. Cody Bellinger (235 wRC+, .533 ISO vs RHP) should be a bat players seek out tonight, both for his tremendous power and cost savings ($3.6K or less on either site). Fellow rookie Trevor Williams has generated just a 24.3 GB% against LHBs in just a few major league innings. Trey Mancini (128 wRC+, .294 ISO vs LHP) is another low cost 1B or OF option on DraftKings, facing Gio Gonzalez (RHBs .321 wOBA, 31.3 Hard% since 2015). Ryan Zimmerman (100 wRC+, .198 ISO vs RHP since 2016) gets a shot at a reverse platoon pitcher, Kevin Gausman (RHBs .362 wOBA since 2015) in that same game. Projected for 4.4 runs, the Nationals seem like a prime contrarian stacking opportunity, now more cost friendly with Trea Turner out as well. Savvy players could also omit an expensive LHB like Daniel Murphy do to the pitcher platoon split. Ryan Schimpf (133 wRC+, .313 ISO vs RHP career) is another interesting 3B or 2B pivot in Texas tonight (Nick Martinez LHBs .329 wOBA since 2015).

Alex Wood to start on Monday night for LAD, not Brandon McCarthy

Wood will stay on schedule and start Monday, while McCarthy’s path is unclear for the remainder of the series at this time. While he’s been pitching well of late, Wood is a bit too pricey on both FD and DK to consider for cash games, but he has some GPP appeal as a fairly large favorite against a team that doesn’t tend to hit LHP all that well.

Nate Karns a viable GPP option facing strikeout prone Rays

The Rays visit the Royals tonight in a game that has a very modest 7.5 run total and while most DFS touts will be looking towards the Rays pitcher Blake Snell because of his upside, the better play of the two SPs from that game could very well be Royals pitcher Nathan Karns. The young right-hander struck out seven in his last outing against the White Sox and has struck out 18 over his last three starts. He has above-average stuff that misses bats but does have some limited upside as he doesn’t top six innings or 100 pitches.

That said he gets to face a Tampa Bay team extremely vulnerable to the strikeout (25.9% K rate versus right-handed pitching) in a favorable park at Tampa. He’s also had a massive increase in his ground ball rate (59%) which should help him against a Rays lineup that has a 15.2 HR/FB rate against RHP. At or around $7K on the two major sites, he’ll likely be underowned and could provide great return on that modest price tag.

Can you fade the Cubs in Coors today?

Most people would laugh at the thought of fading a team with the highest run total of the day, especially considering they are playing in Coors but there is certainly some merit to that discussion today after a late night in Chicago last night that saw the Cubbies lose an 18-inning marathon to the Yankees.

Antonio Senzatela has also been impressive at home thus far, although to be fair only one game was against an offense with any punch. That said, outside of that game against the Nationals where he gave up four runs in six innings (still not terrible), he has been extremely effective. This is the defending World Champions he is facing, however, and they are capable of exploding at any time given their powerful lineup. That said, only Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Ben Zobrist have a .350 wOBA or higher over the past two seasons against RHP and only Bryant comes in swinging the bat well.

On the mound for the visiting team is ace Jake Arrieta and he’ll be expected to pitch deep into the game after the bullpen was depleted last night. In his only career start at Coors, the young right-hander was rocked to the tune of thirteen hits and nine runs. With expected high ownership and high price tags, and not to mention a team weary after a long Sunday, making the decision to avoid the Cubs bats could be a difference maker.

10-game MLB slate highlights Monday's DFS action; one NBA game on tap

Anytime there is a game at Coors Field, the MLB slate for the day is an interesting one. To fade or not to fade is the question and that’s a question many will certainly be asking themselves today as the Cubs are coming off a grueling 18 inning loss to the Yankees last night, had to fly across the country to Denver, and will have to rely on Jake Arrieta to shoulder the load with an exhausted bullpen. Add in a somewhat effective SP for the Rockies thus far this year in Antonio Senzatela and there are questions aplenty as to how to approach this slate. There is only one other game with a run total at 9 runs or higher (Washington at Baltimore) so pitching will be a focal point for building lineups. Jacob deGrom would appear to be the clear top SP of the day facing the punch-less Giants offense but arms like Matt Moore of the Giants, Trevor Cahill, Brandon McCarthy, and Blake Snell are all viable in their own right. The highest Vegas run totals outside of the Coors Field game are the Nationals, Orioles, Dodgers, and Yankees and all four teams have viable bats you can utilize in your lineups. The Blue Jays also look to return to form as they likely get both Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki back in the lineup today.

The NBA has a small two-day, two game slate that will get started tonight when the Golden State Warriors look to close things out in Utah. Draymond Green will look to continue his excellent playoff performances but there should be plenty of places to look in a game that should be close as the Jazz strive to fight off elimination. The big names like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Gordon Hayward, and Rudy Gobert will all be popular options but it’s finding value from the role players that will make the difference. Make sure to read all of our NBA Playoff content to get the skinny on who the viable options are and who to avoid.

Today's LAD-SD game has been postponed due to inclement weather

This afternoon’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres has officially been postponed due to inclement weather. The game has already been rescheduled for September 2nd as a part of a doubleheader. Obviously, it is imperative to remove any and all Dodgers and Padres players from your daily fantasy lineups, as they will not accrue fantasy points this evening.

Danny Valencia scratched from Mariners lineup; Taylor Motter will replace him and bat sixth

Valencia has officially been scratched from the Seattle Mariners lineup for today’s game against the Texas Rangers. However, a reason for the lineup change was not provided by the team at this time. Taylor Motter will replace him at first base and remain at the sixth spot in the order, effectively keeping the rest of the Mariners batting order intact.