Slate Breaker: FD MLB DFS (3/31)

Top Pitchers

Play of the Day: Chris Sale, Braves (@ Phillies)

Chris Sale is the obvious name that pops out when looking at Sunday's pitchers. He has the best raw stuff that is second to none so the only real obstacle that stands in front of him is himself. He was a bit inconsistent last year, but his strikeout ability was still on display with a K9 over 11. His strikeouts provide a strong fantasy floor regardless of opponent but the Phillies are a plus matchup since they struck out at the 8th highest rate in the 2023 season. Sale was in strong form over the spring with a K9 over 14 so expect a strong game from Sale as he makes a good first impression with his new team.

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (@ Rays)

Gausman would normally be able to project higher than Chris Sale, but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Gausman to open the season. He did not have much of a Spring Training due to shoulder fatigue, but he was able to show his sharpness by striking out 7 over 3 innings on Monday. I still doubt that Gausman is quite ready to step into a full workload so I am not quite ready to start him in fantasy due to his capped upside. Gausman will still provide stellar stats on his limited pitch count so he cannot be completely overlooked but I would temper expectations to begin the season.

Tyler Wells, Orioles (vs Angels)

Wells was one of the best stories of the 2023 stories as he opened the season on fire and looked like one of the MLB's next budding aces but the season proved too long for him and he eventually succumbed to the dog days of summer falling out of the rotation. Injuries to other Orioles starters has given Wells another shot at the rotation so hopefully he can come out sharp and deliver on this second chance. Wells could not have gotten an easier task in his return to the rotation as he gets to play the Angels so if he can keep Mike Trout in check, he is in line for a huge day.

Carlos Carrasco, Guardians (@ Athletics)

We are definitely in the twilight of Carrasco's career as he regressed from his All Star form with an ERA over 6.00 in 2 of his last 3 seasons, but maybe a return to Cleveland will give him an injection of new energy allowing him to wrap up his career on a high note. He looked strong in his first spring back with the team allowing just 4 ERs. If Carrasco is going to succeed this season, it will start on Sunday as he gets a very young and inexperienced A's team so if you want to test the waters with Carrasco now is the time to do it.

Top Stacks

Marlins (vs Pirates)

The Marlins have a lot of players who absolutely rake against left handed pitching and now they get a matchup against a lefty who has struggled to find any real footing in the majors. Over 3 big league seasons, Bailey Falter has an ERA over 5.00 in 2 of his last 3 seasons so veterans like Josh Bell, Jake Burger and Bryan De La Cruz should be able to rake in the series finale. 

Guardians (@ Athletics)

The Guardians are loaded with talented left handed hitters. They have lefties that come in all shapes and sizes with a strong contact guy in Steven Kwan, a slugger in Josh Naylor and the hard swinger in Andres Gimenez; heck even the switch hitting Jose Ramirez is better from the left side. While all these guys are extremely different hitters, they all mash right handed pitchers so when they play a middling righty like Paul Blackburn expect fireworks out of the top half of this lineup.

Diamondbacks (vs Rockies)

Targeting the Rockies pitchers is going to become a trend in 2024. Who do they even have? Freeland is decent I guess; but with 4 pitchers who are liabilities, the Rockies are going to be getting teed up on a regular basis. In the series finale they have Ryan Feltner taking the mound who has faced the Dbacks before but that was 2 years ago when they were nowhere close to the offensive juggernaut they have become, but Feltner still got rocked giving up 9 ERs over just 7 innings so expect this dangerous Dback lineup to crush the Rockies.

One Offs

Christian Yelich, Brewers (@ Mets)

Tylor Megill has very extreme splits as he is a very good pitcher against right handed batters allowing a .238 career average, but he really struggles to keep left handed batters in check allowing them to hit at a .297 clip. Christian Yelich is the only lefty in the Brewers lineup who will be able to routinely deliver on a plus matchup like this but other left handed Brewers could also be productive.

Byron Buxton, Twins (@ Royals)

Brady Singer has moments of dominance, but he has yet to find any kind of reliable consistency so it is always good to give his opponents a quick look over when he takes the mound. Well when evaluating this matchup, one name certainly jumps out. Byron Buxton has crushed Singer over his career going 7 for 13 with 4 XBHs. It is a Sunday Day game so who knows if Buxton will even be in the lineup but if he is, he demands fantasy consideration in all formats.

Mark Canha, Tigers (@ White Sox)

Canha is off to a hot start to the season. He had a dominant game on Saturday going 3 for 5 and finishing a triple away from the cycle. Heck, he even showed off his 35 year old wheels by swiping a base. Canha has always been a plus hitter in this league but he feels like the perfect puzzle piece to follow up the youthful core of the Tigers. Expect Canha to continue to add valuable output from the middle of the lineup on Sunday as he matches up against Erick Fedde who he has a strong track record against hitting .714 with a homer. This Tigers lineup will not always be a reliable output of offense but Canha will do his best to establish some kind of consistency. 

Dream Team

SP: Chris Sale, Braves (@ Phillies)

1B: Josh bell, Marlins (vs Pirates)

2B: Edouard Julien, Twins (@ Royals)

3B: Austin Riley, Braves (@ Phillies)

SS: Orlando Arcia, Braves (@ Phillies)

OF: Christian Yelich, Brewers (@ Mets)

OF: Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins (vs Pirates)

OF: Adam Duvall, Braves (@ Phillies)

UTL: Byron Buxton, Twins (@ Royals)

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