This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have a 12-game slate featured on DraftKings Saturday. Three aces sit atop the pitching pool heap, with not much separating their viability. The biggest challenge will be identifying an SP2, as no one below the $7500 mark appear to be very safe options at first glance.
Pitching
Lucas Giolito, CWS at KC ($10,500): You can really make a case for all three pitchers over 10K, but I'll give Giolito the slight advantage as Gerrit Cole will be in a hitter friendly ballpark and Kenta Maeda just saw these same Tigers in his last start. Other than that, they all have been fairly comparable this season. However, Giolito faces a Royals' team only above the Rangers in runs per game at 3.89. They are also middle of the road averaging eight strikeouts per game and have a .189 combined batting average over their last three. Giolito fans nearly eight batters per outing and can usually exceed 100 pitches in any given start. He will also enjoy the win equity in his favor, with the White Sox able to hang runs in bunches.
Justus Sheffield, SEA vs. TEX ($7,600): It will be difficult to pay up for two 10k pitchers with some expensive bats in favorable spots on this slate. Jumping down to Sheffield as an SP2 frees up plenty of salary without feeling like you have to hold your breath. He's looked solid to start the season, seeing around 90 pitches per start and offering decent strikeout ability by averaging close to five per outing. Sheffield's opponent is the main attraction here, as the Rangers sit last in just about every offensive category, including 3.64 runs per game and a .211 batting average.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. WAS ($5,300): Simply put, Freeman mashes right handed pitching. He's batting .326 this season with a 1.048 OPS and five home runs. He faces Erick Fedde here, who isn't great to either side of the plate, but is especially poor against lefties allowing a .333 batting average since 2019. He posses little strikeout ability, with four being his top mark in any game this season. Fedde should find himself in trouble early with Freeman having the opportunity to knock in some runs.
Max Muncy, LAD vs. COL ($5,100): Staying at first base with the optional third base designation, Muncy takes on German Marquez. In 13 head-to-head at-bats, Muncy has produced three extra base hits that includes two home runs and three RBI. He should provide a great opportunity to pad those BvP stats, as the Dodgers frequently find themselves with runners on base as their second in the league rank of runs per game of 5.70 would indicate.
Value Plays
Josh Donaldson, MIN vs. DET ($3,700): A power hitter under 4k in the potent Twins' lineup seems like a great combination. It feels even better when you factor in opposing pitcher Tarik Skubal and his .407 batting average allowed to right handed batters this season. He's not striking anybody out with only eight total, and his uninspiring 1.61 WHIP make this an ideal spot for Donaldson to display his strength at the plate with the capability of hitting multiple home runs.
Michael Brantley, HOU at LAA ($3,500): Brantley has been featured here many times and will continue to as long as he remains below 4k. He's normally at the top of the batting order and gets the platoon advantage here against Griffin Canning. Canning is a capable real-life pitcher, but may struggle early against the Astros and allow Brantley to rack up fantasy points like he's been doing on a consistent basis of late.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays vs. Mike Kickham: Teoscar Hernandez ($4,800), Lourdes Gurriel Jr ($4,400), Danny Jansen ($3,600)
Toronto gets Kickham today, a journeyman who finds himself with a rotation spot due to multiple injuries to the Red Sox' pitching staff. Prior to his start against the Braves, he hadn't seen any big-league action in years and will face a Blue Jays' team featuring four to five righties. Hernandez and Gurriel historically crush left-handed pitchers, with both near a .300 batting average since 2019. Jansen rounds out the stack with him filling a catcher position and offering the ability of flashing some power as he's displayed with three home runs this season. Even if the Jays chase out Kickham early, they will get a struggling Red Sox bullpen.
Twins vs. Tarik Skubal: Nelson Cruz ($5,800), Miguel Sano ($5,000), Josh Donaldson ($3,700)
I highlighted the appeal of Donaldson previously, so adding two more lefties against Skubal feels like the optimal play in this scenario. Cruz has been raking this season versus left handed pitching to the tune of a .472 batting average and 1.558 OPS percentage, while Sano - who has been struggling this season - still has great success against lefties with a .284 batting average and 1.007 OPS, respectively. He also fills an infield spot like Donaldson, which is always helpful in making any stack work.
