This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Friday's DFS action on FanDuel starts at 2:20 p.m. EDT with an early-only slate to include the Brewers/Cubs tilt at Wrigley Field. There's also the one-game option for those looking for action in just that early game. The main slate kicks off at 7:05 p.m. EDT with the other 28 teams in action.
Pitching
There are two main pitching options for cash games starting with the Phillies' Aaron Nola ($10,400). He'll be at home facing the Mets and had games of 45 and 55 fantasy points the last two times he's faced them. While the Mets are a league-average team facing right-handed pitching on the road, Nola has been excellent at home with a 2.94 ERA and a 10.7 K/9 rate. Usually Shane Bieber ($10,600) would be an option for cash but on the road in Tampa and at that price, he's a pass.
The other option for cash games is the Giants' Madison Bumgarner ($9,200). Out of the seven highest-priced pitchers on the slate, only Nola and him have home matchups. The Padres have the seventh-highest strikeout rate (24.4 percent) against southpaws and Bumgarner has been dominant at home. In San Francisco, Madison has a 2.95 ERA supported by a 0.93 WHIP and his 8.9 K/9 is his best split in the last three seasons. This game has the lowest over/under of the slate at 7.5 runs and Bumgarner is a -130 favorite.
One of the better GPP options is the pitcher facing Madison Bumgarner, the Padres' Dinelson Lamet ($8,200). Lamet has hit 24 or more fantasy points in seven of his nine starts and his worst outing still netted him 18 fantasy points. In a limited sample, he's been better on the road this season and has a great matchup against San Francisco. The Giants have the fourth-lowest wOBA against right-handed pitching (.302) and their 24.2 percent strikeout rate at home against that handedness is the eighth-highest.
Key Values/Chalk
Players from the Colorado/Pittsburgh game will be in high demand and the Rockies' Sam Hilliard ($2,900) is an affordable way to get a piece of a game with a 14.5-run over/under. Over 126 games at Triple-A this season he swatted 35 home runs and swiped 22 bases displaying both power and speed. He should hit seventh again in the lineup and find himself in some good RBI opportunities with the team facing Dario Agrazal.
Quietly, the Marlins' Jon Berti ($3,200) has pushed himself into fantasy relevance becoming a legitimate leadoff guy. He's has a .341 wOBA since joining Miami and has gone 8-for-9 in the stolen base department. Anibal Sanchez (3.81 ERA) has done a decent enough job this season but his 5.00 xFIP suggests some negative regression is in the near future.
An interesting punt play will be the Athletics' Sheldon Neuse ($2,000). He just had his contract purchased and should make his first start in Yankee Stadium. He'll have the advantage of being a right-handed batter facing CC Sabathia and had a .939 OPS at Triple-A. Sabathia has allowed a .370 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season (.387 at home); just make sure Neuse is in the lineup.
The Twins' Luis Arraez ($2,800) is one of many players for Minnesota who are on the radar tonight facing Edwin Jackson. Arraez has been very good against right-handed pitching with a .376 wOBA while Jackson has been predictably terrible. Arraez's most impressive stats since his call-up are his 10.1 percent walk rate while striking out only 8.2 percent of the time.
The Red Sox' Sam Travis ($2,500) should be on the radar anytime Boston takes on a southpaw. That'll be the case when they face Jose Suarez who owns a 6.67 ERA. Not surprisingly Suarez has struggled against right-handed hitters surrendering a .429 wOBA to that side of the plate. The Red Sox will likely be overlooked with there being a game in Coors Field but they have an expected run total of over five.
Stacks
Minnesota at Detroit (Edwin Jackson)
Arraez (2B - $2,800), Jorge Polanco (SS-$3,900), Max Kepler (OF - $3,900), Nelson Cruz (OF - $3,900)
Keep an eye on Kepler's status as he's missed the last three games but worked out on the field before Thursday's game. Cruz's wOBA against right-handed pitching is .407 while Polanco's sits at .382 (.404 on the road). Edwin Jackson (8.70 ERA) just gave up six earned runs in five innings last Saturday to these same Twins.
Oakland at New York (CC Sabathia)
Neuse (3B - $2,000), Marcus Semien (SS - $4,000), Matt Chapman (3B - $3,900), Jurickson Profar (2B - $2,600)
Chapman has a nice .385 wOBA against lefties and Semien has a 1.154 OPS over the last 14 days (.351 wOBA). Profar has a .332 wOBA which is respectable given his position and price. Sabathia, considering his age and athletic prowess, could very well be tiring after a long season allowing home runs in six straight starts.
