Yahoo Fantasy has launched single-game contests for MLB. Every Friday, I will break down the featured matchup of the day and highlight some of the top MLB DFS picks in the contest. For tonight, the Blue Jays are taking on the Phillies in a fun game to take us into the weekend.
– MLB $1.5K Phillies vs. Blue Jays [$300 to 1st]
– MLB YSRP [Freeroll]
If you are new to Yahoo, use the promo code AWESEMO when making your first deposit. This will earn you 6,000 YSRP (Yahoo Sports reward points) applied upon first deposit. The 6,000 YSRP allows a user to join $30 worth of paid contests on Yahoo DFS. Also, make sure to check out the Awesemo MLB DFS and fantasy baseball page for more great MLB DFS picks, articles and cheat sheets.
Yahoo Single-Game MEGASTAR Pick: Bo Bichette — $21
For those new to the Yahoo single-game format, two roster slots get multipliers. There is the MEGASTAR slot where the player earns 2x fantasy points and the SUPERSTAR slot where the player earns 1.5x fantasy points. For these positions, this article will focus on upside. The players rostered in these positions don’t have increased salary, so it makes the most sense to focus on hitters with power and home-run upside.
In the early going of the season, Vince Velasquez is really struggling against right-handed hitters. He’s allowing a .372 wOBA to righties compared to a .316 wOBA to lefties. For this season, I expect the the big right-handed bats in the Blue Jays’ offense to find success. This starts with Bichette, whose speed could present an issue for Velasquez. Not only is he struggling against righties, he’s having an issue throwing strikes. Velasquez is walking 6.08 hitters per nine innings and Bichette already has six stolen bases this season. Giving up singles or walks to Bichette can quickly lead to him getting in scoring position.
Yahoo Single-Game FLEX Pick: Rhy Hoskins — $16
After a strong start to the season, Steven Matz is starting to regress in a big way. He’s allowed a total of 14 earned runs in his last three starts after allowing just three earned runs across his first three starts of the season. When considering that Matz posted a 9.68 ERA last year, this should come as no surprise. This also makes this a matchup that Hoskins can take advantage of. Against righties, Hoskins is struggling this season, but he’s mashing against lefties. Hoskins has a 172 wRC+ against southpaws this year.
Yahoo Single-Game Value Pick: Lourdes Gurriel — $7
Since both of these offenses are so loaded, it’s hard to find many cheap hitters that I expect to start. Of the guys that are expected to start, we are mostly looking at weak hitters like Andrew Knapp and Danny Jansen. Gurriel is off to a horrendous start this season, but at least he has a track record of performing at a high level. He’s never finished a season with a wRC+ under 100 and he had a career-best 135 wRC+ last year. I expect him to turn it around sooner rather than later and we are certainly buying low on him since he is at a minimum salary.
