This series uses the FantasyLabs Tools to analyze three key MLB players in the day’s slate.
Shohei Ohtani: Pitcher, Angels
Aaron Nola is the highest-priced pitcher on both sites. If you do not want to pay all the way up for Nola, consider Ohtani as an alternative. He’s especially cheap on FanDuel with a 98% Bargain Rating. Ohtani stands out with his slate-high 7.9 K Prediction and also has the lowest recent exit velocity (84 mph) among today’s starting pitchers. Historically, pitchers with comparable K Predictions and Statcast numbers have been exceptionally strong options on FanDuel (per our Trends tool):
The Angels have slate-high -253 moneyline odds, and the opposing Royals are implied for a paltry 3.1 runs, the lowest total on the slate (per our Vegas Dashboard). The projected Royals lineup owns a low 22.0% strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months, but Ohtani has a slate-high 11.55 SO/9: He still has plenty of upside.
Eduardo Escobar: Third Baseman/Shortstop, Twins
Team Value Rating (TVR) is a FantasyLabs metric that measures which teams offer the most value based on their implied team totals and player salaries. The Twins are tied for the highest DraftKings TVR, and their implied total of 5.1 runs is the third-highest mark:
Minnesota has a prime matchup against White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago, whose 1.76 WHIP and 2.23 HR/9 over the past 12 months are the worst marks on the slate. His 232-foot batted-ball distance and his 44% fly-ball rate are also bottom-three today.
Batting cleanup, Escobar has an excellent matchup and boasts impressive recent batted-ball data with a 236-foot average distance, 93-mph exit velocity and 52% fly-ball rate. Historically, hitters with similar lineup spots, implied totals, and recent batted-ball data have averaged a +1.12 DraftKings Plus/Minus. If you add to the trend his Recent Batted Ball Luck of +60 it spikes to +1.92.
Matt Olson: First Baseman, Athletics
With the Lineup Builder, it’s easy to incorporate stacks into DFS lineups. The top four-man FanDuel stack in the Bales Model belongs to the Athletics, who are implied for 5.4 runs and have a slate-high 88 TVR:
The Athletics have a prime matchup against Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon, who owns an atrocious 5.71 SO/9 over the past 12 months and a slate-worst 51% hard-hit over his last two starts.
Projected to bat fifth, Matt Olson stands out with unreal Statcast numbers, including a recent batted-ball distance of 244 feet, exit velocity of 99 mph and hard-hit rate of 63%. He’s also on the positive side of his splits with an elite .419 weighted on-base average and .358 ISO against righties over the past 12 months.
Good luck, and be sure to check out The Action Network if you’re looking for more baseball coverage!
After this piece is published, FantasyLabs is likely to provide news updates on a number of players. Be sure to stay ahead of your competition with our industry-leading DFS-focused news blurbs.
Pictured above: Matt Joyce (23) and Matt Olson (28)
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
