This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Thursday brings several day games across baseball, which leaves only six night games for the main slate on DraftKings. Let's dive into the matchups and discuss some pitchers and hitters to target for your lineups.
Pitchers
Coming into 2021, Dylan Cease ($9,200) had allowed 1.9 HR/9 in both of his first two seasons in the league. That's one of the main reasons that he finished with a FIP of at least 5.19 in both campaigns. He looks to have rectified that issue this season, allowing just three home runs over 45.1 innings. In addition to that, he has a career-high 29.0 percent strikeout rate. That makes him an intriguing option for his start against the Orioles.
Chris Bassitt ($8,300) doesn't generate a lot of headlines, but he's been a reliable member of the A's rotation in recent seasons. He's recorded three straight seasons of an ERA no greater than 3.81 and he's on pace to do that again this season with a 3.69 ERA and a 3.16 FIP across his first 10 starts. He has a 3.18 FIP and a 1.12 WHIP at home since he joined the A's, so he's someone to at least consider for his start there against an Angels team that is still missing Mike Trout (calf).
It's difficult to find appealing pitching options for this slate, especially ones with reduced salaries. If you want to take a chance on someone in tournament play, then rolling with Chris Flexen ($6,200) might not be crazy. Yes, he gave up eight runs across 1.2 innings in his last start against the Padres. However, he'll be facing a much easier foe in the Rangers and he'll have the benefit of playing them at home. Flexen has made four starts at home this season and didn't allow more than three runs in any of those outings.
Top Targets
Alex Wood ($6,900) is off to a fantastic start with a 1.93 ERA and a 2.93 FIP. The schedule has certainly worked in his favor, though, with six of his seven starts coming against the Marlins (twice), Rockies (twice), Rangers and Pirates. He did hold the Dodgers to two runs across six innings in his last start, but this could still be a night to roll with Mookie Betts ($5,800). He went 2-for-4 with a double when Wood last started against them and he has a career 134 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers.
Staying with that same matchup, Justin Turner ($4,700) is also an appealing option. He entered Wednesday with a .361 wOBA and he has recorded a wOBA of at least .385 against left-handed pitchers in three of the last four seasons entering 2021.
Bargain Bats
The Dodgers have decided to go with a bullpen game for their matchup against the Giants, which makes Brandon Crawford ($4,100) a viable target. He had a power resurgence last season with a .209 ISO and he's carried that over into this season with a .284 ISO entering Wednesday. He's also used a 9.3 percent walk rate to help build a .374 wOBA.
If you decide not to take a chance on Flexen, then it doesn't get much more appealing than Adolis Garcia ($3,600) in terms of bargain bats. How is his salary still this cheap? He hit another home run Wednesday, giving him 16 for the season to go along with a .397 wOBA.
Stacks to Consider
White Sox vs. Bruce Zimmermann ($6,000), Orioles: Jose Abreu ($5,300), Tim Anderson ($5,500), Andrew Vaughn ($2,500)
Zimmermann remains a member of the Orioles' starting rotation despite having a 5.59 ERA and a 5.70 FIP. He has a 1.55 WHIP and has allowed 2.1 HR/9, so it's not a surprise that he's struggled. Although his salary is expensive, Abreu could be a key player to build a White Sox stack around given that he has a career 150 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers.
Cardinals vs. Seth Frankoff ($4,900), Diamondbacks: Nolan Arenado ($5,700), Paul Goldschmidt ($4,100), Dylan Carlson ($3,100)
The Diamondbacks' starting rotation has been hammered by injuries, which means that Frankoff could get the starting nod for this contest. He hasn't been able to replicate the success that he had in the KBO in 2018 and 2019 and was hit hard in his last start, giving up five runs and two home runs across four innings against the Rockies at Coors Field. The Diamondbacks may start Matt Peacock ($4,000) instead, who has a 4.91 ERA and a 4.54 FIP across 10 appearances, two of which were starts. Arenado and Goldschmidt are the two big names on the Cardinals to target while Carlson is someone to consider at a cheaper salary. After a lackluster 2020 debut, he entered Wednesday with a .343 wOBA this season to go along with 26 runs scored in 46 games.
Mariners vs. Kolby Allard ($4,000), Rangers: Mitch Haniger ($5,300), Kyle Lewis ($3,700), Ty France ($2,900)
The Rangers didn't have many quality starting pitching options to begin with and now they are down both Kyle Gibson (groin) and Kohei Arihara (shoulder). That should mean a return to the starting rotation for Allard, who started in eight of his 11 appearances last season. He didn't take well to the job, though, posting a 7.75 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Even though they entered Wednesday with the worst OPS in baseball, this may be one of the few times to try a Mariners stack.
