Fansided

FanDuel Lineup and Picks for Saturday, April 14

By Adam Strangis

WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Welcome into the Saturday edition of the FanDuel daily fantasy baseball column. We have a nice split slate on tap for the day, so let’s dig in.

Before we dive into Saturday’s fun split slate, let’s talk about Friday. it was a touch annoying because the chalk was so high. The Nationals and almost all the Red Sox were well over 50 percent ownership. Gerrit Cole was over 60 percent, but that was to be expected. We should have gotten across the line in almost all 50/50’s and in a weird twist, we still dipped into tournaments. Normally a 160.2 is going to coast into money, not struggle right at the line. Any night we don’t lose money is a solid night. Hopefully you guys got into the money as well, and we’ll look to keep this streak alive.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 08: Jameson Taillon #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on April 8, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 08: Jameson Taillon #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on April 8, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Starting Pitcher, High End Spend

Early

Max Scherzer, $11,500

.262(16 for 61), 25.0 strikeout rate

There’s virtually no other choice in cash games if you’re playing the early slate. I’m as annoyed as anyone about the absolute chalk from the SP spot lately but it’s too risky to fade Scherzer in cash. He’s been awesome to start the season, with a .90 ERA, .80 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. On top of that, the Rockies haven’t been very good on the road against righties so far. They’re hitting for a .210 average with a .600 OPS and a .266 wOBA while striking out 19.4 percent of the time. The only stat that is above average is the strikeout rate, and that’s one thing you don’t worry about with Scherzer. Eat the chalk and be different with your hitters.

Main

Jameson Taillon, $9,200

.100(1 for 10), 27.3 strikeout rate

Taillon will be the chalk on this slate and he should be. he’s coming off a one-hit masterpiece his last time out and draws the Marlins tonight. They’re striking out against righties at the fifth highest rate in baseball and carry an average of .205, an OPS of .562, and a wOBA of .259. All of those stats are 28th or worse and Taillon draws them in Miami. Aside from tournaments, there is no real reason to not play Taillon tonight. His strikeout rate is up and his hard contact is down. He’s in a great spot this evening.

Mid-Range

Early

Sean Newcomb, $6,800

.278(5 for 18), 35.0 strikeout rate

This one is purely a GPP play because Newcomb has a very low floor. He is coming off a dominant outing in Colorado, which is very impressive. The Cubs are about average in a lot of offensive categories against lefties, but Newcomb shouldn’t have done well in Colorado by the numbers and averages either. The biggest concern is the Cubs are the best team agains the fastball so far this year and that’s the pitch Newcomb relies on most. However, if he can get that pitch working, Chicago is 24th or worse against the slider and change. His range of outcomes is massive and he is not a cash play. Sometimes fortune favors the bold.

Main

Garrett Richards, $8,000

.243(9 for 34), 9.3 strikeout rate

Kansas City ranks very low in almost all offensive categories, even though they’re not striking out at a massive clip. The Royals are 24th and 29th in the league against the fastball and slider, respectively. Considering that’s the two pitches that Richards leans on the most, he need to be in consideration tonight. Richards has seen his strikeout rate rise this season and his ground balls are through the roof as well. Richards has a very high ceiling tonight.

Value

Early

You can make a run at Hector Velazquez at $6,100 but it’s not where I’m going. The Orioles have been utterly putrid against righties so far. Still, they have too much power for me to walk that road.

Main

Much like the Early slate, there isn’t a value that seems to make much sense on paper.