This series uses the FantasyLabs Tools to analyze three key MLB players in the day’s slate. The series does not provide play or fade recommendations. It provides analysis.
Corey Kluber: Pitcher, Indians
Kluber is one of the top pitchers in the Bales Model, and he has very favorable Vegas data. Per our Vegas Dashboard, Kluber is a slate-best -207 moneyline favorite, as the opposing Athletics are implied for only 3.3 runs. Pitchers with comparable Vegas data have historically done well on DraftKings (per our Trends tool):
Since he’s returning from an injury Kluber could have a reduced ownership, and in his two starts prior to the injury he struck out nine and ten batters. Kluber has the all-day slate’s second-highest K/9 with 9.887 over the last 12 months, and he leads the slate with a 7.8 K Prediction. Of course, he also might be on a pitch count, so he’s more of a play in guaranteed prize pools than cash games.
Albert Pujols: First Baseman, Angels
As seen on our Lineups page, the Angels currently have the highest DraftKings Team Value Rating at 79. Pujols is expected to bat third and is in great form with a recent batted ball distance of 225 feet, exit velocity of 93 miles per hour, hard hit of 53 percent, and fly ball rate of 42 percent. Players with similar batted ball form have historically recorded a + 1.45 Plus/Minus with a 44.1 percent Consistency Rating and 6.1 percent ownership rate on DraftKings.
Over his last ten games Pujols has been hitting the ball well:
Despite his recent production, our DFS Ownership Dashboard indicates that Pujols has not been a popular option for DFS players. Check out the dashboard for yourself!
Max Kepler: Outfielder, Twins
With our Lineup Builder, it’s easy to incorporate stacks into DFS rosters. The Twins are implied to score 4.4 runs and have several of the top DraftKings stacks in the Bales Model, and Kepler is a key yet affordable member of each stack. Kepler has excellent recent form with a batted ball distance of 244 feet, exit velocity of 94 mph, hard hit rate of 41 percent, and fly ball rate of 45 percent:
Kepler has a respectable ISO of .233 vs. righties, and he’s facing Angels righty Alex Mayer, who has troublesome recent form with a batted ball distance of 238 feet, exit velocity of 93 mph, and hard hit rate of 40 percent. His ownership will likely be relatively low.
News Updates
After this piece is published, FantasyLabs is likely to provide news updates on a number of players herein mentioned. Be sure to stay ahead of your competition with our industry-leading DFS-focused news blurbs:
