This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Saturday's main MLB slate begins at 7:15 PM Eastern time and features just five games. Despite the limited selection, certain individual pitchers and hitters stand out from the pack as value plays, and there are strong lineup stacking options to be found as well.
Pitching Overview
There are only 10 teams in action, but the starting pitchers in this slate land all over the price and quality spectrums - with a few studs in action in addition to some very vulnerable arms.
Hyun-Jin Ryu ($53) is easily the most expensive pitcher in this slate, but he's earned that distinction thanks to a minuscule 1.26 ERA this season. He should keep rolling at home against a Rockies offense that drops off by over two runs per game outside of Coors Field.
Rangers righty Lance Lynn ($43) brings a streak of eight consecutive quality starts into this matchup with the White Sox, and he's posted a robust 11.35 K/9 over that stretch to boot.
Owners looking to spend big on hitters should consider rolling the dice on Washington's Anibal Sanchez ($33) at home against Atlanta. The Braves' potent offense drops to a middling 13th on the road, and Sanchez has been on fire since returning from a hamstring injury. In four subsequent starts - beginning with six one-hit, shutout innings in Atlanta - Sanchez has yielded just four runs over 23.1 innings while posting an 18:3 K:BB.
Value Plays/Chalk
The Rangers and Diamondbacks are both facing extremely hittable pitchers in this slate, while the Yankees' righty-heavy lineup should spell trouble for Astros southpaw Wade Miley. In addition to that trio of stackable offenses, certain individuals stand out as options to target.
If you have the funds, it's hard to go wrong with Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger ($24) against rookie Rockies righty Peter Lambert. Lambert's coming off a three-inning, eight-run disaster against the Padres while Bellinger boasts a tremendous .458 wOBA against right-handed pitching - which climbs to nearly .500 at home.
Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon ($22) leads the team with 17 home runs and sports a wOBA well over .400 in righty-on-righty matchups. He has a great opportunity to add to his home run total against Mike Foltynewicz, who has already allowed 15 home runs in 55.1 innings while also surrendering a .371 wOBA to right-handed batters.
While Lynn has been terrific of late, it's difficult to pass up White Sox shortstop and two-hole hitter Tim Anderson at just $12 with his .361 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups this season.
Stacks
Rangers vs. Odrisamer Despaigne (White Sox)
Willie Calhoun (OF - $14), Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $22), Ronald Guzman (1B - $12)
For the second night in a row, the explosive Rangers lineup will face an exploitable White Sox righty. Through two starts with Chicago, Despaigne has allowed 10 earned runs in 10.1 innings. All three of the recommended Texas sluggers bat from the left side and will have the platoon advantage against Despaigne. Calhoun's off to a blistering start against righties with a wOBA well over .400 in limited action, while Choo's wOBA in that split is just under .400. Guzman comes cheap for a first baseman, but his wOBA against righties at home sits at a solid .388.
Yankees vs. Wade Miley (Astros)
DJ LeMahieu (2B - $20), Gary Sanchez (C - $21), Edwin Encarnacion (1B - $21)
It can get tricky figuring out which Yankees will be in the lineup ahead of time given the depth they've built up while battling numerous significant injuries, but the ones that play should find success against Miley and his 4.68 road ERA. LeMahieu has been tremendous throughout his first season in pinstripes, and his success in the Big Apple includes a .384 wOBA against left-handed pitching. Sanchez comes in with a wOBA over .400 against lefties, and Encarnacion has compiled a wOBA over .370 against pitchers from both sides.
Diamondbacks vs. Tyler Beede (Giants)
David Peralta (OF - $17) Ketel Marte (OF - $27), Jarrod Dyson (OF - $16)
Left-handed hitters have crushed Beede this season, producing a .444 wOBA over 54 at-bats against, so this trio of Arizona batters should be primed to add to the 26-year-old righty's struggles. Peralta has recorded a .374 wOBA against righties, and the switch-hitting Marte has a .375 mark when batting left-handed. Dyson registers a step below his two teammates, but the leadoff man promises a good chance of reaching base against Beede and is capable of wreaking havoc on the base paths with 16 steals this season.
