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Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.
Pitchers
Justin Verlander ($10,500) - Houston's veteran was relatively sharp on 80 pitches in his first appearance last week, producing a 8.8% swinging strike rate, seven strikeouts, and a 3.22 expected Field Independent Pitching (xFIP) rating in five innings.
Verlander will have a favorable matchup on Saturday against a Seattle Mariners' team with a 30.0% strikeout rate and 0.292 weighted on-base percentage (wOBA) against right-handers including five projected starters with K-rates over 25.5%.
The 35-year old stands as numberFire's second rated pitcher with a 28.3 FanDuel point projection and 4.9 expected strikeouts.
Steven Matz ($9,000) - Despite an ugly 21.0 Earned Run Average in first start, Matz produced better underlying statistics with a 1.22 expected FIP and a 12.0% swinging strike percentage on 75 total pitches.
The Cardinals' left-hander will have an ideal opportunity to fully rebound versus a Milwaukee squad with a 27.0% overall strikeout rate and the lowest weighted on-base average against left-handers among today's main slate with a .265 mark.
Matz should be able to attack a projected lineup with 66% of their projected hitters with high strikeout rates above 21% and low contact marks below 74%.
Noah Syndergaard ($8,000) - "Thor" was solid but unspectacular in a score-less five inning performance, recording a 75% ground-ball rate and a 5.19 expected FIP.
Despite producing only one strikeout, Syndergarrd should see some positive regression in this important fantasy producing factor after the right-hander induced a 14.5% swinging rate on 76 pitches.
The Angels' right-hander will face off against a Texas Rangers lineup with 55% of their lineup with strikeout percentages above 22% and overall poor 72.6% contact rate.
Stacks
In baseball's most favorable offensive environment, the Rockies should be today's most popular stack with their top matchup against a 31-year old veteran making his 12th career start.
The last time the baseball world saw Mark Leiter Jr. in the majors, the right-hander was not effective in 23.1 innings during the 2018 season, producing a 10.0% swinging strike percentage and a 6.98 FIP.
Today's expected lineup offers several hitters with value salaries and ideal current form including Connor Joe (9.5% barrel rate, .307 expected batting average), C.J. Cron (13.6% barrel rate, .297 expected average), Brendan Rodgers (7.1% barrel rate, $3,100) and Ryan McMahon (.365 expected wOBA, 15.4% barrel rate).
With Colorado's stack likely attracting attention, the Cubs could easily go overlooked despite their lofty 5.8 implied total and favorable matchup against Antonio Senzatela.
After a relatively-average 2021 season, Senzatela really struggled in his first outing last week despite his 2.70 Earned run Average, recording a 5.70 expected FIP and a poor 3.3% swinging strike rate.
Several intriguing pieces of Chicago's lineup offer salary flexibility against Colorado's overrated right-hander including Willson Contreras (.344 expected average, 15.4% barrel rate), Seiya Suzuki (.270 expected average, 28.6% barrel rate), Ian Happ (.274 expected average, 6.7% barrel rate) and Nick Madrigal ($2,900, .275 expected average).
Outside of Coors Field, the Bronx Bombers offer a high ceiling in their road opportunity against Baltimore's right-hander Tyler Wells.
In his first outing despite producing a 11.1% swinging strike rate, the 27-year old journeyman accounted for an unsightly 6.00 expected FIP and a 50.0% hard hit rate.
New York's stack is filled with top options at several positions including in the infield: DJ LeMahieu (.303 expected average, 10.5% barrel rate), Gleyber Torres (.304 expected average, 11.1% barrel rate) and the outfield: Aaron Judge (.316 expected average, 27.3% barrel rate) and Giancarlo Stanton (.329 expected average, 28.6% barrel rate).