This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
As of right now, this is going to be a Saturday with every team in action and no doubleheaders on the slate. That means you have a full 30 teams worth of players to choose from. Don't be overwhelmed. I have some recommendations to try and make your decisions easier on a busy Saturday. First game kicks off at 4:10 p.m. EDT. Be prepared!
PITCHING
Mike Clevinger ($47) caused a kerfuffle earlier this year by breaking COVID protocol, which may have made it easier for Cleveland to ship him out to San Diego. In three starts with the Padres, he's posted a 2.52 FIP and is getting more offensive support now that Cleveland's punchless offense has been replaced by Fernando Tatis Jr. and company. The Mariners come in with a bottom-10 offense and play in a pitcher-friendly park, so Clevinger's San Diego career should keep going well.
The expectation is that Dallas Keuchel ($43) will return to action Saturday to start against the Reds. It's a favorable matchup to return for the veteran, as Cincinnati claim the majors' worst team batting average. Keuchel has also been really impressive, given that his 2.19 ERA in nine starts.
Kwang Hyun Kim ($38) was not a big name coming over from the KBO, but you'd better be aware of him now. He hasn't allowed a single run over his last four starts. Will that continue forever? Of course not. Kim is facing the Pirates, who have scored the fewest runs in the majors. Even if his shutout streak ends, he likely won't allow many runs in this outing.
TOP PICKS
Brandon Lowe's ($21) batting average has dropped a bit from last season when he hit .270, but his OBP (.365) and slugging percentage (.571) have risen and he's produced 13 homers and three stolen bases. The Rays roll out plenty of lefties in their lineup - Lowe included - so it's always encouraging when a righty is on the mound. Baltimore's Jorge Lopez is a righty and enters with a career 5.80 ERA.
Xander Bogaerts ($18) has managed a slugging percentage over .500 the last two seasons, and his slugging percentage is now at .497. He's faced limited appearances against lefties this year, but has put up a 1.057 OPS versus southpaws. J.A. Happ is a lefty and has struggled to a 5.11 FIP after a 5.21 last season.
VALUE PLAYS
Eddie Rosario ($15) doesn't walk much, but boasts a career .277 batting average and hit 32 homers last season. When I tell you he's facing Alec Mills, you might be saying: "But didn't he just throw a no hitter?" Sure, but he's also posted a 4.84 FIP this season and has allowed 1.37 homers per nine innings. Don't read too much into that one start.
Cavan Biggio ($18) has a penchant for getting on base with a career .364 OBP, which may be why he often leads off for the Blue Jays. When he gets on base, he can also do some damage as well with six stolen bases after swiping 14 in 100 games last season. We know who Phillies pitcher Vince Velasquez is at this point, with a career 4.74 ERA and a 6.46 mark this year.
STACKS
Dodgers vs. Chi Chi Gonzalez: Corey Seager ($26), Justin Turner ($21), Max Muncy ($22)
The Dodgers are at Coors Field this weekend, so I would not blame you if you want to stack the men in Dodgers Blue through Sunday. In fact, I would encourage it. Gonzalez managed a 5.29 ERA last season - his first with the Rockies - and that's risen to 8.68 this year. Seager is hitting like never before by slashing .312/.361/.597. Turner recently returned from injury, and he's produced a slugging percentage over .500 in each of his previous three seasons. Muncy is experiencing a down season, but hit 35 homers in each of his last two seasons and has 10 in 50 games this year.
Astros vs. Luke Weaver: Alex Bregman ($16), Carlos Correa ($10), Michael Brantley ($15)
Weaver's season has been puzzling, but the fact remains he's got a 6.70 ERA through 10 starts. A big part of the problem is allowing 1.94 homers per nine innings. Weaver has also allowed a .278 batting average to lefties since 2018. I've only chosen one lefty, but I still like this stack. Bregman's power has decreased this season, but I trust a man who hit 41 homers last year and also offers a career .383 OBP. Correa's power has also been missing, but he posted an 1.034 OPS at home in 2019. Brantley is the one lefty I've selected and he's done well with a .911 OPS versus righties since 2018.
Cardinals vs. Mitch Keller: Paul Goldschmidt ($17), Paul DeJong ($14), Tommy Edman ($16)
Keller had terrible luck last year with a 7.13 ERA a 3.18 FIP in 11 starts as a rookie. He's been unlucky again this season, mostly due to injury and has only been able to make three starts but has slumped to a 5.06 ERA and 9.00 FIP. Goldschmidt has looked more like his normal self this season, slashing .310/.432/.490 with six homers. Double down on Pauls by including DeJong, who hit 30 homers last year with a .233 batting average and is at .281 this year. In 95 games as a rookie last season, Edman hit 11 homers and stole 15 bases. In 45 games this year, he's managed four long balls and two swiped bags.
