Welcome to SuperDraft. Are you tired of salary cap based DFS contests? In the mood for something refreshing and new? At SuperDraft, you can start any player available on the slate and receive differing multiplier bonuses based on the players you use.
For example, Mookie Betts has a 1.1x multiplier. However, if you start an inconsistent player with upside like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., you can get a 1.45x multiplier. The multipliers vary, making for some interesting strategy sessions as you have to pit raw production against multiplier production when making lineup decisions.
Tonight’s slate features contests from 4:05 pm EST onward only. This means the slate shrinks to six games instead of eight. It is important not to get too cute in setting lineups by chasing high multipliers only, as a combination of high floor, and high multiplier based upside usually leads to ideal results as far as finishing in the money. Let’s take a look at some of tonight’s top plays.
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Mike Clevinger (SP – SD): 1.6x multiplier
Mike Clevinger will make his San Diego debut against a familiar foe in the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have been one of the worst teams in the league this season, and they currently sit at 12-25 on the year. While the baseball world knows that Clevinger is a near ace when at the top of his game, he’s in the midst of his worst season since his rookie year. He is 1-1 with a good enough 3.18 ERA, but an unsightly, uncharacteristic 1.37 WHIP. The move to the National League should serve him well, as despite being called the senior circuit, it’s actually the easier league to both pitch and hit in.
The 1.6x multiplier here is great, but it becomes more questionable when we see that Clayton Kershaw has a 1.65x multiplier. Clevinger has put up 15 fantasy points per game this season — a number that gets bumped up to 24 fantasy points with the SuperDraft multiplier. Plugging in Clevinger in his debut is all about believing in the talent and his new ceiling in the NL.
From a strict value basis, there may be some other pitchers, most notably Kershaw, who should be your first pitcher tap. With that said, we must start two pitchers, and yes, I believe in Clevinger, especially against the Angels. But why a pitcher with a 1.37 WHIP you ask? Clevinger got rocked in his lone road start this season. In his three home games, he has been much better. His strikeouts are still down from what we expect from him, but he sports a Cy Young candidate level 1.93 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Roll with Clevinger today.
Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD): 1.65x multiplier
Clayton Kershaw is a no-brainer start against the 14-23 Arizona Diamondbacks. He comes with a highly attractive 1.65x multiplier, and he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. Back to his perennial Cy Young candidate form, Kershaw has put up 23.8 fantasy points per game, a total that jumps to an alluring 39.3 fantasy points with the SuperDraft multiplier.
Kershaw currently sports a 4-1 record, a 1.80 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP, and a 9.9 K/9 rate. His .176 batting average against is the lowest mark of his Hall of Fame career. If you play fantasy baseball, either season-long or DFS, you shouldn’t need any more convincing about the merits of plugging Kershaw into one of your two pitcher spots at SuperDraft.
Manny Machado (3B -SD): 1.4x multiplier
Arguably the player with the hottest bat over the last two weeks, Manny Machado looks highly attractive at his 1.4x multiplier. He is in the midst of his best season since moving to the National League, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. Over the past 14 days, Machado has posted 16 runs, five home runs, 15 RBI, one stolen base, and has hit .479 in 48 at-bats.
He has been rock-solid on the season from a fantasy perspective, as he’s scored 10.4 per contest — that’s good for a 14.6 total after the multiplier. He has an easy matchup tonight, which is something that helps make his multiplier look all the more appealing.
He faces off against Andrew Heaney. Heaney has been poor this season, and he has posted a 4.62 ERA, and a 1.25 WHIP. He has been a replacement-level type for most of his career, but he is coming off of a good start against the Oakland Athletics. Machado will likely be s chalk play, but he’s also a player you may need to have in your lineup to finish in the money.
Jose Abreu (1B – CWS): 1.1x multiplier
Like Machado, Jose Abreu has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the last two weeks. He has recorded 11 runs, seven home runs, 16 RBI, and a .388 average over the last 14 days (49 at-bats). I have absolutely no clue why his multiplier is so low, but there is no way he is not making my SuperDraft lineup today. We start six hitters, so pairing Abreu with Machado is imperative to not get drowned when/if these players go off tonight. Abreu is in the midst of the best season of his career, as his full-season pace would put him ahead of his terrific rookie year.
He faces the Kansas City Royals and Danny Duffy tonight. Duffy is an interesting pitcher, but he has always been too inconsistent to count on. His 1.06 WHIP suggests that he may have finally got a handle on his command issues, but we will have to see how he fares against one of the hottest hitters, and one of the hottest teams in the league. Abreu has recorded 10 fantasy points per game on the season, but unfortunately, his low multiplier only brings that number up to 10.5. Regardless, Abreu is someone to strongly consider for at least one of your SuperDraft lineups this evening.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.
