MLB DFS Recapalooza: Opening Week Edition

Baseball is back! All the things we love are finally here, day drinking, swearing at Joe West, and watching players leave games early due to a bruise. Regardless of these big softies, we love baseball, and we are glad it is back in our lives. It has been a maddening opening week in the daily fantasy world, and I am positive Mat Latos has sent a few newcomers back to season long island. You'll be back... They always come back... Let's recap!

Opening Day Repeat

In 2014,Trout went yard in the first inning off Felix Hernandez. In 2015, he did the exact same thing. Hernandez and the Mariners do get the last laugh though, as King Felix mowed down Angels with double-digit strikeouts. He also did that on Opening Day last season, striking out 11. If this happens in 2016, best of luck to everyone, because the world may end.

Hey Cincinnati, What Is Your Return Policy?

I assume pitches from Latos looked a lot like this on Tuesday, when he gave up seven runs in two-thirds innings against the Braves. The Cardinals-Cubs game was rained out, and Los Angeles actually had rain in the forecast. This pivoted players to use Mat Latos more than one should. It took about twenty minutes for the Twitter world to express their anger towards Latos, as he left the game with negative points all around the industry. Not a good start for Latos in Miami.

Adrian "Not One, Not Two, But Three" Gonzalez

It seems Gonzalez is carrying over his spring training stats into the regular season, or just mashing baseballs like nobody's business! Man, he has five home runs already this season, and hit three in Wednesday's game. Wednesday's game he produced 20 FanDuel points, and 47 points on DraftKings. If you rode his coattails in that first series, well done.

Adrian Gonzalez has more home runs than Yankees, Brewers, Braves, Pirates, Twins, Rangers, Cubs, Astros, Mets, Cardinals & Marlins…combined.
— YCPB (@cantpredictball) April 9, 2015

Fool Me Once, Shame On You. Fool Me Four Times, Shame On Me.

No Lowrie, you struck out four times, not two. Players strikeout all the time, and multiple strikeout games happen, but Lawrie did something impressive. He fanned four times on twelve pitches, yes the bare minimum it takes to strikeout in four at-bats. Lawrie looked exactly like Serrano, from Major League, trying to hit an off-speed pitch. It was painful and hilarious to watch at the same time, but he is a ball player, and had three hits the game after. Way to regroup Lawrie!

Ian Desmond: Helping Opposing Teams Since 1985

If you had Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg in your lineups this week, Ian Desmond was zero help. On Opening Day, Desmond made two errors which led to three unearned runs in Max Scherzer's Washington debut. They lost 3-1, and Scherzer took the loss despite allowing zero earned run. Not totally to blame, the Nationals offense only managed to score one run off, professional food eater, Bartolo Colon. Two days went by, and Zimmermann was able to get his win without any problems from Desmond, but then came Strasburg's day... The Mets were putting balls in play, nothing substantial, but he was working his way around his own messes. Desmond strikes again, an inning-ending double play ball was fumbled away by Ian, which led to four New York runs. Washington could not touch Matt Harvey, so a Strasburg win was never in much contention to begin with.

This Week's Studs

Matt Harvey - Welcome back! Harvey mowed down nine hitters, over six scoreless innings in a win against Washington. He was moderately priced this week, so also welcome back his high price tag.

Clay Buchholz - Clay Buchholz, more like Clayton Buchholz. He struck out nine batters over seven scoreless. He got some offensive help from Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, and Mookie Betts, who combined for five long balls.

Kyle "Freaking" Kendrick - The Brewers stack was a popular Opening Day choice, and Kyle Kendrick crushed those stacks. He went seven scoreless and struck out six. I am not sure how many more times we will see him in the studs section.

Adrian Gonzalez - He has his own section as the top stud, but worth mentioning again. Five home runs in three games, you are pretty good Mr. Gonzalez.

The Royals Offense - 21 runs in three games, Kansas City was one of the top daily fantasy teams this week. They matched up with Detroit and Colorado, who do not surprise when they put up numbers like that.

This Week's Duds

Mat Latos - You know what you did.I was going to write more, but I could only finish two-thirds of this section.

Brad Ausmus - The Tigers won 4-0 Opening Day, and Price was one out away from a complete-game shutout. He allowed two runners to reach with two outs, and out came Brad Ausmus to bring in Joe Nathan. This was a little upsetting, a complete-game shutout bonus would have helped my lineups greatly.

Jose Bautista - Jose, where are you? Bautista has eight strikeouts in his first fourteen plate appearances, Not the start we are looking for from a top-tier outfielder.

The Twins - It has been a rough start to the season for the Twins. They have scored just one run in three games. They did face David Price and Anibal Sanchez, but come on. Minnesota scored the seventh most runs as a team in 2014.