Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Jennifer Piacenti

MLB DFS: 7 Tips to Help Build Winning Lineups This Weekend

If you’re looking to play some cash games or enter a GPP this weekend, here’s a quick checklist of seven things to consider when you’re creating a build. Using these tips, you can also generate a lineup using Sports Illustrated’s custom DFS Lineup Optimizer.

Let’s get to it!

1. There is a series at Coors Field this weekend. Games at Coors have the highest totals this year (subtracting the two played in Mexico City) at an average 11.88 runs per game. There is also a series at Fenway this weekend. Games at Fenway have averaged 11.45 runs per game -- the third-highest in the league. Target hitters from these games.

2. Games with the highest run totals on Friday include:

    • Phillies-Rockies
    • Cardinals-Red Sox
    • Giants-Diamondbacks
    • Padres-Dodgers

    Target hitters from these games.

    3. Games with the lowest totals on Friday include:

      • Cubs-Twins
      • Reds-Marlins

      Target the value pitchers in these games, instead of just paying up for an ace.

      Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

      4. Randy Arozarena is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, but he has been ice cold in his career vs. Gerrit Cole. In 24 career at-bats vs. Cole, Arozarena is hitting .174 with nine strikeouts and only one extra-base hit. Consider spending up for a different stud on Friday.

      5. Manny Machado faces Julio Urias on Saturday. In 21 career at-bats vs. Urias, Machado has an OPS of 1.246 and four home runs.

      6. Aaron JudgeDJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo are all ice cold vs. Shane McClanahan. Don’t break the bank to put them in your lineup on Saturday. Consider spending up for McClanahan instead.

      7. Aaron Nola has been strong to start the season, but he’s pitching at Coors on Sunday and Charlie Blackmon and Kris Bryant are batting over .300 vs. Nola. Don’t spend up for him in cash games. He’s a fun contrarian play for GPPs, though. 

      Sign up to read this article
      Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
      Already a member? Sign in here
      Related Stories
      Top stories on inkl right now
      One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
      Already a member? Sign in here
      Our Picks
      Fourteen days free
      Download the app
      One app. One membership.
      100+ trusted global sources.