This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
It's a full slate Friday night, though not one that's heavy on pitching. The high-end options are scarce, which means you'll need to hit on the right bats if you want a chance of winning cash games. And for maybe the first time all week, there isn't a major worry for rain.
PITCHING
If you want to bank on pitching, that's still possible with the expensive options reasonable plays. Patrick Corbin ($11,400) has hit seven innings in three of his last four starts, but the Reds have a 17.6 K% against southpaws in the last month. I'd rather bank on Chris Sale ($11,200), who gets somewhat of a break as the Yankees have been brutal against lefty arms with a 27.5 K% and .251 wOBA since May 1. Trevor Bauer ($10,500) has the matchup, but given his struggles this year, probably isn't worth the money. Caleb Smith ($9,800) makes a little more sense even though he gave up five runs last outing. He's hit at least 30 fantasy points in every other start and the Padres have a 28.1 K% against lefties this month.
The mid-range options are hit-or-miss, though some will look to guys like Zack Wheeler ($9,400), Jose Berrios ($9,100) or Kenta Maeda ($8,900) with hopes of big strikeout numbers. I'd rather take my chances on a value arm like Joey Lucchesi ($7,600), who hasn't allowed more than five hits in his last four outings. He also gets the Marlins, who sport a .258 wOBA against lefty hurlers in the last month.
The chalk value play will likely be Mike Foltynewicz ($7,300) because he faces the Tigers, who have no good numbers against righties this month with a 25.6 K% and .270 wOBA. And while Foltynewicz has had some issues, he turned things around last start going six scoreless to go with his first win. Tyler Mahle ($7,200) is similarly inconsistent, but he's shown 40-point upside and the Nationals have a .135 ISO and .286 wOBA against righty arms since May 1.
If you want to go all in with hitting, you could stretch for Zack Godley ($6,000) or Ariel Jurado ($5,800) since their matchups aren't terrible, but I'd rather not bank on them.
KEY VALUES/CHALK
While there are some big over/unders Friday, none of them compare to the Toronto-Colorado game. Surprisingly, only two starters are more than $4,000, which means a lot of lineups will focus on these teams. Edwin Jackson has allowed 20 hits and 14 runs in three starts (14 IP), while German Marquez has a .350 wOBA allowed at home. Jackson is allowing a .424 OBP to righties and Marquez is slightly worse against lefties. Instead of the expensive Colorado guys, Ian Desmond ($3,700) has a .500 BABIP in his last 49 plate appearances against righties and Brendan Rodgers ($3,200) has the same number in half as many plate appearances. For the Blue Jays, Justin Smoak ($3,900) has a .409 wOBA in his last 70 PA against righty arms, while Freddy Galvis ($3,300) and Brandon Drury ($3,000) are a little better at getting on base.
The Kansas City-Texas matchup is next with an over/under of 10.5 runs. However, the matchups aren't as favorable so I'd be a little more wary of those plays, especially for stacks. Danny Duffy has a solid .290 wOBA allowed to righties, though Ariel Jurado has struggled against lefties in his two years with a .365 wOBA allowed. That points to KC's string of lefty bats with Adalberto Mondesi ($3,800) and Alex Gordon ($3,600), but also cheaper guys in Nicky Lopez ($2,900) and Ryan O'Hearn ($2,500).
If you prefer that value route, there are decent plays for the Angels against Mike Leake, who has allowed a wOBA above .350 to both sides of the plate in addition to 12 runs in his last two starts. Kole Calhoun ($3,500) is the perfect power option in this spot with Tommy La Stella ($3,300) and Shohei Ohtani ($3,200) close behind. That's a decent stack and you could throw Albert Pujols ($2,900) in for cheap.
Milwaukee and Pittsburgh are both trying to force their pitchers into success with Jhoulys Chacin and Chris Archer. Chacin has been slightly better, though isn't a guy that's going to mow down a lineup, while Archer is getting smashed every outing with at least three runs given up in his last five. Both have oddly been worse against righties and that makes for some decent value plays in Ryan Braun ($2,900), Keston Hiura ($2,800) and Kevin Newman ($2,500). I mentioned Orlando Arcia ($2,400) in this spot last week and he homered so let's hope that happens again.
The other game that stands out to me is Chicago against St. Louis with Miles Mikolas and Yu Darvish both having allowed wOBAs above .380 to lefty bats. The best value culprits are Kyle Schwarber ($3,300) and Jason Heyward ($3,000), but Dexter Fowler ($2,600) is worth a look if you need to save money.
STACKS
Astros vs. Mike Fiers (Athletics)
(SS Alex Bregman - $4,100), (3B Yuli Gurriel - $2,900), (OF Jake Marisnick - $2,400)
This is a bit against the grain with an over/under at eight runs, but it's hard to ignore the numbers. Four of the last 11 hits Mike Fiers has allowed have been home runs, which is highlighted in his 2.12 HR/9 allowed to righties. I know the Astros are beat up, but they still have a solid roster with numerous power bats. No matter what, Bregman needs to be in the stack and you can add any of the lefties if desired. I'd also consider Robinson Chirinos ($2,800) and Tyler White ($2,400) to save cash.
Orioles vs. Drew Pomeranz (Giants)
(2B Hanser Alberto - $2,600), (3B Renato Nunez - $3,700), (OF Keon Broxton - $2,500)
Even if you don't stack against Pomeranz, you need at least one bat against him. He's given up 17 runs in his last four starts and has a .418 wOBA allowed to righty bats. This stack is a nice combo of guys that can get on base with a touch of power. Alberto has a .393 OBP in his last 61 PA against lefties and Nunez is at .348 in his last 69. Pedro Severino ($2,800) is also in the mix if he starts, though I don't oppose using any Oriole in a lineup full of righty bats.
Mariners vs. Tyler Skaggs (Angels)
(OF Mitch Haniger - $3,900), (1B Edwin Encarnacion - $3,400), (OF Domingo Santana - $3,400)
Skaggs doesn't have terrible overall numbers, but he's been bad on the road with a .375 wOBA allowed and that number is higher against righties. This stack is all about power at the top of the order with Haniger and Santana sporting an ISO close to .300 in the last two months against southpaws. If you need to cut someone, Encarnacion is the guy due to recent struggles, but this is a good chance to turn things around. If you want to take the on-base route, Tim Beckham ($3,200) and Tom Murphy ($2,200) provide decent value.
