Welcome to the Playbook for Friday, April 28th
 

We’ve got ourselves as full slate Friday!  So many options out there and we’ll do our very best to provide you with the top point producers of the day and a few value plays for both cash games and tournaments. We are almost a full month into the season so we’re getting returns from players that we can start to really analyze. This makes things both easier and more difficult at the same time.  Being a Friday, we have some new series and that’s news because the Nationals are no longer at Coors Field where they scored 42 runs in three games. The two teams combined put up 63 (!) runs in three games. That will throw DFS contests for a loop. The Rockies go to Arizona where there will be quite a few runs scored as well.
 

Starting Pitcher Fades
There are some big name starting pitchers that you won’t find in the Playbook today. I think it’s valuable to try to identify those high-priced and high-ownership arms to avoid. Sure, it’s risky, because they are all very on the surface.

 

Jake Arrieta -- @ Boston --- I just don’t like the matchup and the ballpark. Sure, Arrieta can go out and dominate every time out there, but with this price, we’ll fade him.

Jacob deGrom - @ Washington --- The Nationals are surely going to have a hard time duplicating the output in Colorado but they matchup well against deGrom and the Mets are just a mess. I’ll stay away.

 

Robbie Ray -- vs. Colorado --- Too much hard contact and while the strikeout totals are intriguing and probably enough to play in a GPP especially, we’ll look elsewhere tonight.
 

Position Strength Analysis
The corner infield positions (1B & 3B) are areas to spend. There are plenty of solid options at these positions and since you only need one, don’t go bargain hunting here. It will set you back.  Shortstop appears to be the weakest position and outside of Posey at catcher - there aren’t too many great options there either. Second base and outfield are right in the middle so you can do what you’d like there.  Bottom line: Spend at 1B & 3B & find the values / punt at SS & C. Fill in with 2B and OF.

 

Value Plays
There are a few players that I didn’t do a full write-up on, but like for value plays and may make it into my Optimal Lineups. They include:

 

C - James McCann (DET) - DK & FD

C - Jeff Mathis (ARZ) - DK / FD / Y!

1B - C.J. Cron (LAA) - FD / Y! (if you must)

2B - Whit Merrifield (KC) - FD

2B - Tyler Saladino (CWS) - FD & Y!

3B - Mike Moustakas (KC) - DK (if you must)

3B - Eduardo Nunez (SF) - FD (if you must)

SS - Tim Beckham (TB) - DK / FD

SS - Tim Anderson (CWS) - FD

OF - Matt Holliday (NYY) - FD

OF - Corey Dickerson (TB) - DK

OF - Carlos Gonzalez (COL) - FD
 

Injuries
You may want to stay away from the following players due to lingering injuries:

 

1B - Jose Abreu (CWS)

1B - Eric Thames (MIL)

2B - Jose Altuve (HOU)

3B - Brandon Drury (ARZ)

3B - David Freese (PIT)

OF - George Springer (HOU)
 

Weather Report

I used to do a write-up here, but now we have this AMAZING Weather Center. Check it out.

To summarize though, the only true threat is in St. Louis tonight, but they should get that one in too.

Stacks

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