MLB DFS Picks for Saturday April 14

Happy Saturday DFS folks! The main slate on FanDuel comes with several pitchers off to ace-level starts to the season. The obvious standout is Jameson Taillon, but there are a few that are worthy of consideration. On the other hand, there are a lot of ways you can go on offense and I will provide you with my favorite stacks for tonight. Lets get right into it and take a look at my DFS picks for Saturday, April 14th on FanDuel.

Elite Pitcher: Jameson Taillon ($9,200) vs. Miami Marlins

Jameson Taillon has been amazing this year. Coming fresh off a complete game one-hit shutout, Taillon has earned a 10.05 K/9, 1.26 BB/9, and an amazing 16.1% hard contact rate. The Miami Marlins on the other hand are not doing well, hitting a lowly .232 with a National League worst .318 slugging percentage. The Pirates should provide decent run support coming into tonight’s game as the second best offense in baseball this season. They will be facing off against right-handed Trevor Richards who has given up 14 hits, eight earned runs, and walked four in just 8 ¹⁄₃ innings in 2018. This matchup is just too good to pass up in my opinion as the clear cut best play of the day.

Mid-Range Pitcher: Rich Hill ($8,200) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

I considered Garrett Richards in this spot but the righty has struggled with his control this year and the Kansas City Royals are the second hardest team to strikeout this season. That leads us to Rich Hill, the most underrated pitcher in baseball over the last couple of years. He is facing off against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fourth in the National League in strikeouts with 127 so far. Arizona is also hitting just .238 as a team this season, and just .188 with a .293 slugging percentage as a whole against Rich Hill. The left-hander is off to a good start this season sporting a 9.90 K/9 and a 2.70 ERA despite being a little unlucky in the BABIP department. All of the damage done against Hill came in his first start when he was hit hard and was only able to go just four innings. Hill looked sharp when he bounced back in his second start against the Giants, throwing six shutout innings and striking out six. Arizona has some dangerous hitters but considering the rest of the options, $8,200 for Rich Hill seems like a bargain.

Value Pitcher: Derek Holland ($6,300) vs. San Diego Padres

This is certainly a big risk. Derek Holland is coming off a year in which he posted a 6.45 FIP and 5.00 BB/9 and looked especially terrible doing it. So why bother here? Well for starters he is not pitching bad in the early going, carrying a 1.96 FIP and 9.82 K/9 in the early going. I am not suggesting he is in for a good year, just that he is off to a decent start. He will face off against the San Diego Padres who are batting just .223 as a team with a .377 slugging percentage. Combine that with the fact that they are missing their best weapon in right-handed hitting Wil Myers and all of a sudden Derek Holland looks like a decent value play at $6,300. To be clear, I advise that you take Jameson Taillon or one of the other higher priced options today. However, if you feel like living dangerously and stacking some all-star hitters tonight then Derek Holland is your man. Good luck.

Elite Stack: Oakland Athletics vs. Marco Gonzales (SEA)

The A’s power hitters are off to a great start this season. Matt Chapman ($4,000) leads the league in WAR while hitting .358 with five home runs and 12 RBI and held a .220 ISO vs. southpaws last season. Seattle starter, left-handed Marco Gonzales holds a .523 slugging percentage and .392 wOBA against right-handed hitters for his career. He is also getting absolutely blistered this season with a 5.01 FIP, 2.08 HR/9, and 53% hard contact rate. In addition to Chapman, you are going to want to stack Khris Davis ($3,600) and his career .264 ISO and 124 wRC+ vs. left-handed pitching. A’s second baseman Jed Lowrie ($3,700) is off to a .310/.517/.882 start with three home runs, 11 RBIs and a .387 wOBA. Yes please.

Mid-Range Stack: San Francisco Giants vs. Clayton Richard (SD)

Breaking News: Clayton Richard is awful against right-handed hitters. In 2017 they held a 527 slugging percentage while Richard held a .512 FIP for the entire season against them. So with that being said, let’s go shopping for some right-handed Giants. Andrew McCutchen ($3,400) is 4-for-10 with a home run off of the Padres’ southpaw while Giants’ catcher Buster Posey ($3,500) is 12-for-29 with two home runs and two doubles. I’ll take both. Evan Longoria ($2,700) is off to a slow start this year, but Clayton Richard may be the spoonful of sugar that helps him get into a groove.

Value Stack: San Diego Padres vs. Derek Holland (SF)

Hey! You suggested we take Holland against the Padres just a minute ago. What’s up with that? Well I did call it “living dangerously.” Do I think Holland can pitch well against San Diego? Sure. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they put on a laser show against the left-hander. If you are looking for a a value stack the Padres have a few decent right-handed hitting options such as: Jose Pirela ($2,800), Hunter Renfroe ($2,700), and Austin Hedges ($2,300) that I wouldn’t mind taking a flyer on against the southpaw. In 2017 right-handers slugged .574 with a .408 wOBA against Derek Holland, ouch.

Overview

Tonight should be interesting in the main slate with a lot of good pitchers and a lot of bad pitchers going. Taillon should see a ton of attention in tournament play, but he is far and away the best option on paper. I can’t see going in another direction other than to take advantage of matchups on offense against some pretty terrible left-handed pitchers. The only problem is that there is not a ton of cheap value if you want to save at the starting pitcher position. Tough call, but I would roll with Taillon and take advantage of the some value bats for my lineup. Good luck tonight.