In a wild game at Coors Field, the Washington Nationals edged out the Colorado Rockies, 12-11, marking Colorado's seventh consecutive loss. The Rockies, struggling with an abysmal 3-16 record, faced off against a Nationals team that jumped to a 12-2 lead before the Rockies rallied with a strong seventh inning, narrowing the gap to 12-10. Key performances included Sean Bouchard's two-run triple and Jordan Beck's three-run triple, although the Rockies ultimately fell short despite having the tying run at third base in the ninth.

Chase Dollander, touted as a future ace for Colorado, endured a challenging outing, allowing four home runs and ballooning his ERA to 7.36. Meanwhile, Washington's MacKenzie Gore dominated the Rockies' lineup, striking out 13 batters. The teams are set for a split doubleheader on Sunday, following a snowed-out game the previous day.

Today's MLB player prop bets are centered around strikeout props, showcasing several pitchers with favorable matchups. Logan Gilbert of the Seattle Mariners is a standout with over 5.5 strikeouts expected, having struck out 32 batters in his last four starts. Ben Lively is projected for over 3.5 strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have a high K rate against right-handed pitchers. Garrett Crochet's over 7.5 strikeouts against the White Sox looks promising, and Shane Baz's over 6.5 against the Yankees could be a solid play too. MacKenzie Gore and Michael King are also favored for high strikeout totals, while Chris Sale faces the strikeout-prone Twins.

As the season progresses, understanding matchups is crucial for making informed bets. With several pitchers showing a trend of success in recent outings, leveraging those insights can be the key to capitalizing on today's betting opportunities. Good luck to those following these picks!

Saturday brings a hefty 11-game slate to DraftKings and eight games to FanDuel, providing fantasy players a wealth of options for their MLB lineups. Key pitchers include Garrett Crochet, who dazzled in his last outing against his former team, and MacKenzie Gore, who faces off against a Rockies lineup struggling against lefties. Each player shows a solid strikeout percentage and has favorable matchups, providing potential for high fantasy points.

In the infield, Cal Raleigh is heating up with seven home runs in 11 games and faces Jose Berrios, while Pete Alonso's patient approach against lefty Matthew Liberatore presents a promising opportunity for fantasy fans. Jonathan Aranda's excellent start to the season makes him a must-add against Carlos Carrasco. Outfielders like Nick Castellanos and Oneil Cruz are also set to deliver against favorable pitching matchups.

April 18 presents a 11-game MLB DFS slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Players are advised to monitor injury news and starting lineups diligently as they build their fantasy rosters.

Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto stands out against Texas, boasting a high strikeout rate and excellent run prevention metrics. Alternatives include MacKenzie Gore at Coors Field, who has shown solid metrics and faces a struggling Rockies lineup.

Among infielders, Ozzie Albies is a strong pick against Chris Paddack, while Junior Caminero is heating up with power against Carlos Rodon. Ryan Mountcastle is another value option against Andrew Abbott.

In the outfield, Randy Arozarena shows promise against Bowden Francis, while Austin Hays and Sal Frelick are expected to perform well given their favorable matchups. Stacking the Baltimore Orioles against Andrew Abbott is recommended due to the high projected run total.

The MLB season's early weeks serve as a predictive window for pitching performance, often revealing breakout talents. A year ago, Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal showcased their potential with impressive ERAs and strikeout rates, foreshadowing their eventual successes. As fantasy managers, it's crucial to analyze these small samples closely, balancing skepticism with the potential for significant gains.

Identifying pitchers to target is essential, as five players in particular are emerging as key assets this season. Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves, despite workload concerns post-Tommy John surgery, is proving to be a Cy Young contender with a refined pitching repertoire. Cristopher Sanchez of the Phillies is another standout, showing a remarkable increase in sinker velocity and command. Meanwhile, MacKenzie Gore is leveraging secondary pitches effectively to improve his strikeout rates.

Casey Mize and Jesús Luzardo present intriguing opportunities as well; Mize is enhancing his game with a revamped splitter, while Luzardo, despite injury history, is showcasing elite fastball velocity. Managing these pitchers carefully can result in significant fantasy rewards as the season progresses.