This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have an eight-game slate featured on DraftKings. A clear cut ace takes the mound in Baltimore, with a couple safe mid-range options making up the pitching player pool. From a hitting perspective, it seems more wide open than usual - shedding Coors Field will tend to do that. You'll have to be different with your team stacks and that should make it an interesting slate to have a chance at a big field tournament takedown. Let's see if we can identify a few pieces to help get your process started.
Pitching
Max Scherzer, WAS vs. BAL ($10,800): There is no denying this Baltimore team is pesky. They made easy work of Patrick Corbin on Saturday, touching him up for five runs over as many innings and continue to surprise coming in at sixth in runs scored per game for the season at 5.26. Max Scherzer, however, is in another tier. He's been his usual dominant self outside of an early exit against the Mets, to which he responded in his next start facing the same group with a 24.7 fantasy point performance. The Orioles are capable of deploying a mixed platoon batting order, but Scherzer still should see four to five righties, a side of the plate he held to a .193 batting average in 2019. Paying for the floor he provides on a smaller slate and as one of the few arms exceeding 100 pitches per game with regularity, this seems like an easy choice at first glance.
Lance McCullers, HOU vs. SEA ($8,700): Coming off a five strikeout, 86-pitch gem against the Giants, McCullers gets a team he faced in his first start of the season and was equally impressive throwing 92 pitches on his way to six strikeouts and 20.7 fantasy points. The Mariners have shown a little life to start the season, but rank bottom of the league in runs per game at 3.95 and are middle of the road averaging over eight strikeouts - with nine in their latest outing. McCullers should be able to navigate this lineup again and also benefits from the powerful Astro bats behind him adding to his floor with the potential of a win.
Top Targets
Bryce Harper, PHI vs. NYM ($5,300): Always a top one-off on any slate, Harper has been proving it recently going 10-for-23 over his last six games which include two home runs and seven RBI. He receives the platoon advantage Sunday against Rick Porcello and should have an opportunity to knock in some runs, as he looks to continue his hot streak at the plate.
Brian Anderson, MIA vs. ATL ($4,300): Despite the Marlins dealing with some early season obstacles, they have played well and Brian Anderson has been a big part in that success. Normally batting clean up, he often finds himself with opportunities to drive in runs as his 14 RBI on the season would indicate. Anderson will face a Braves pitcher making his second start of the season, as Robbie Erlin has typically been in a relief role for most of his career. Anderson should be able to exploit the southpaw's weaknesses from the first at-bat.
Value Plays
Ian Happ, CHC vs. MIL ($3,300): Even though Happ usually appears at the bottom of the order, it still hasn't stopped him from producing with great consistency to start the season after batting .309 while delivering 11 RBI and an OPS percentage of 1.015. With most opting to roster the top of the Cubs order, adding Happ as part of a wraparound stack also makes it more of a unique construction.
Jon Berti, MIA vs. ATL ($3,900): Berti has been another bright spot for the Marlins this season, averaging over seven fantasy points per game. What he lacks in power, he makes up for with speed and has produced four stolen bases to add an extra element to his overall upside. Berti also gets the platoon advantage today against Braves' pitcher Robbie Erlin.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Justus Sheffield: Jose Altuve ($5,100), Alex Bregman ($5.400), Yuli Gurriel ($4,400)
This is the second day in a row the Astros have been featured here. They failed to deliver on Saturday, but no reason not to go right back to them. Any of the righties will do here facing lefty Justus Sheffield, who allowed a .328 batting average to the right side of the plate in 2019. The Astros are third in the league in runs per game this season with 5.47 and can hang double-digits runs on any given night. The trio listed also fill infield positions making them an appealing stack to roster since you don't have to forfeit any outfielder spots.
Miami vs. Robbie Erlin: Jonathan Villar ($4,300), Jesus Aguilar ($4,200), Francisco Cervelli ($4,000)
You may have sensed a theme, and you'd be right. The two Marlins highlighted previously, along with this three-man stack, can combine to make a five-player unit facing left hander Robbie Erlin. They fill all infield positions and have the platoon advantage against Erlin's .313 batting average to righties this season. They should be able to get to him early here and hopefully continue to a score runs, despite Atlanta possessing an above average bullpen in 2020.
