This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have a few early start times Saturday, but we have a bevy of options to choose from thanks to an 11-game main evening slate on DraftKings. With a mostly underwhelming group of starting pitchers set to take the mound, runs could be bountiful in several games. Here are some of the top players to target for your lineup.
Pitching Overview
If you are playing in a cash contest, rolling out Justin Verlander ($12,400) as one of your pitchers is probably the way to go. He's coming off his third career no-hitter and owns a microscopic 0.77 WHIP. His 35.1 percent strikeout rate also leaves him with tremendous upside, especially when you factor in the Mariners having struck out the third-most times in baseball.
Andrew Heaney ($11,500) endured a rough outing versus the Red Sox in his last start, giving up four runs and two home runs across five innings. However, he had allowed five runs - with four earned - over 21 innings in his previous three outings. One of them was against the White Sox, a team that he will face again Saturday. Heaney enters with a 29 percent strikeout rate, which makes him even more appealing when you consider the White Sox rank fifth-worst when it comes to striking out.
With the Dodgers coasting their way towards the playoffs, they've made some changes to their starting rotation. Tony Gonsolin ($8,600) is one of the young players who has received an opportunity down the stretch and has made the most of it by allowing five runs over 24 innings. He's produced a 0.88 WHIP during that stretch, which included facing the Braves, Yankees, Diamondbacks and the Rockies at Coors Field. Now he will take a Giants' team that possesses one of the more lackluster lineups, making him a prime target in tournament play.
Key Values/Chalk
The Dodgers' lineup figures to be one of the most popular to pursue for this slate. Trying to slow them down will be Tyler Beede, who enters with a 5.43 FIP and a 1.59 WHIP. Left-handed hitters have posted a .371 wOBA against him for his career, making Cody Bellinger ($5,500), Joc Pederson ($5,400) and Corey Seager ($4,300) a potentially devastating trio.
Another top-tier lineup that will be in play is the Astros for their matchup against Yusei Kikuchi. They have hit him hard in two previous meetings, scoring 11 runs - including nine earned - over 11.2 innings. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering Kikuchi has posted a 5.79 FIP on the year. Alex Bregman ($5,300) and Jose Altuve ($5,100) represent two potent right-handed hitters to consider paying up for if you spend down at starting pitcher.
The Braves and Nationals will play an important series over the weekend with the two teams battling for the division lead in the NL East. If the Nationals are going to make their move, it's now or never. Things might not be that easy for them with Austin Voth scheduled to start. He is expected to throw no more than 75 to 80 pitches in place of Joe Ross, who was scratched with forearm soreness. The Nationals' bullpen has recorded a 5.01 FIP for the season, so Ronald Acuna Jr. ($5,400) and Freddie Freeman ($5,600) could both be in line for monster performances.
Stacks
Angels vs. Dylan Covey (White Sox)
Mike Trout (OF - $5,700), Brian Goodwin (OF - $4,300), Kole Calhoun (OF - $4,500)
Whether he has started or come out of the bullpen, Covey has struggled. He enters with a 6.10 FIP and a 1.61 WHIP, making this a matchup to exploit. Left-handed hitters have registered a .429 wOBA against him, making Goodwin and Calhoun two excellent options. Not much of an argument needs to be made to deploy Trout, who is sporting a career-high .353 ISO. Be sure to monitor Trout's status, since he left Friday's contest with toe discomfort.
Mets vs. Drew Smyly (Phillies)
Pete Alonso (1B - $5,200), J.D. Davis (OF - $4,500), Wilson Ramos (C - $4,300)
Smyly has remained a member of the Phillies' starting rotation despite giving up 23 runs - with 21 of those earned - over his last 30.1 innings. He allowed 10 home runs during that stretch and his propensity for giving up the long ball could end up being his downfall against Alonso. Davis and Ramos also make great options for a Mets' stack since they own a .372 wOBA and a .414 wOBA versus southpaws, respectively.
Pirates vs. Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
Josh Bell (1B - $4,900), Bryan Reynolds (OF - $4,900), Adam Frazier (2B - $4,200)
With Wainwright's 4.99 FIP and 1.62 WHIP on the road, even the Pirates underwhelming lineup is in play. In two previous games against him at PNC Park this season, they scored eight runs in nine innings. Wainwright has also allowed a .372 wOBA to lefties overall, leaving each of these three players on the Pirates as viable targets. Frazier enters this one swinging a hot bat having hit .432 with two home runs, four doubles and two triples over his last 11 contests.
