There was a fiery first game of a potential NLCS preview between the Dodgers and the Braves last night. Freddie Freeman returned and hit a home run vs. his former club. Tonight, Juan Soto will be returning to Washington and will hope to replicate Freddie’s NL East homecoming. We have another highly touted young pitcher with the surname Miller making their debut tonight. Will Bobby Miller perform for the Dodgers as well as Bryce and Mason did in their debuts? He will be going opposite Spencer Strider in Atlanta. 

There has been a change in starting pitchers as Kodai Senga will now start against the Cubs tomorrow. Tylor Megill will be starting in his place for the Mets.

This is for the 5/23 4:05 PM PST slate. As always, make sure to check lineups before first pitch. 

Writer’s record

15-15-1

Colorado Rockies ML vs. Miami Marlins (+105) 

The Rockies are home dogs vs. rookie sensation, Eury Perez. This will be Perez’s first road game in the majors, and what a place to have it, at Coors. There are professional hitters throughout this Rockies lineup and the Marlins lineup is not that intimidating right now, missing some key guys.

Orioles @ Yankees over 7.5 (-115)

Gerrit Cole takes the mound and that’s why this number is on the low side. Cole has given up over six hits, on average, over his last five starts. The Orioles have a high-powered lineup that can knock the ball out. In a three-game series last month between these two teams, two of the three games went over this number. 

DFS Pillar Plays

Eduardo Rodriguez

Position: P

Salary: $8,800

The veteran left-hander will be looking to get back on track vs. the Royals. The Royals have given some pitchers their best outings of the season. The pitching slate is a little tricky today, as you have some big priced guys who have underperformed of late. Rodriguez has been one of the best pitchers this year when it comes to results. The Royals have the fifth-most strikeouts over the last 15 days. 

Jorge Soler 

Position: OF

Salary: $5,400

This game sets up nicely for the Marlins slugger. He’s ninth in MLB with 12 home runs. He crushes lefties and the Rockies’ left-hander, Austin Gomber, will be taking the mound. Soler is hitting .406 with seven home runs in 32 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this year. Soler is +190 to hit a home run tonight, which are lower odds than Aaron Judge (+240).

Aaron Judge

Position: OF

Salary: $6,300

Aaron Judge is on one of his runs right now. He got the day off Sunday, but the game before that, he went 4-for-4 with three RBIs. Before that, he got seven homers in seven days. Judge is averaging 21.17 fantasy points over his last six games. You could make an argument for Acuña or Yordan, but when Judge is on fire like this, he’s a must-play for me. 

Sean Murphy

Position: C

Salary: $4,900

The catcher spot is difficult to find value in. The higher priced catchers are worth the money compared to their relative potential production. It came down to Will Smith vs. Sean Murphy, and the Dodgers will be debuting young prospect Bobby Miller, which tilts things in Murphy’s favor. If d’Arnaud plays, he could also be considered for $1,000 less than Murphy. Miller has some impressive stuff, but this is a difficult spot for him to make his debut, against one of the top lineups in the league.  

DFS Value Plays (<$3000 Salary)

Mark Vientos/Eduardo Escobar

Position: 3B

Salary: $2,600/$2,500

Vientos is only 23 years old. He came straight into this Mets lineup and hit a home run in his debut, in a win against the Rays. He is part of why this team is now referring to themselves as the “baby Mets.” They will be going to Chicago to take on Drew Smyly who, outside of his no-hit bid vs. the Dodgers, has been just okay. Something to look out for is if the Mets choose to start Eduardo Escobar, due to the fact that he has killed Smyly in the past. In only 14 at-bats, Escobar has eight hits and four home runs vs. the veteran lefty. 

Marcell Ozuna

Position: OF

Salary: $2,700

Ozuna extended his hit streak to nine games last night and has reached base safely in his last 17 games. Things got a little spicy between him and Will Smith yesterday, but that could cause Ozuna to come out looking to punish the Dodgers tonight. It’ll be a rookie taking the mound for the Dodgers for the second night in a row.