This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Friday brings a packed main slate on DraftKings consisting of 13 games. With so many options to wade through, let's get right down to business and highlight some pitchers and hitters to target for your lineups.
Pitchers
Carlos Rodon ($10,700) is not showing any signs of slowing down. He's allowed one or no runs in five of his last six starts, which included tough matchups against the Astros and Blue Jays. Friday brings a much easier for in the Mariners, who have the second-worst OPS in baseball. The last time he faced them, he recorded nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
To say that Framber Valdez ($10,200) has pitched well since coming off the IL would be an understatement. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts, posting a 0.99 WHIP along the way. Those stats are even more impressive when you factor in that his five opponents were the Padres, Red Sox (twice), Twins and White Sox. He'll look to keep things rolling against the Tigers, who have scored the seventh-fewest runs in baseball.
Is Chris Paddack ($8,800) back on track? After a tumultuous beginning to the season, he's allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last eight starts. He had a 1.07 WHIP during that stretch and recorded 46 strikeouts over 40.1 innings. The stars might be aligning for him to have another valuable start given that he'll be starting at home versus a Diamondbacks team that has a .634 OPS on the road.
Top Targets
The Braves have had a ton of injuries to their starting rotation this season, so the fact that Drew Smyly ($7,100) has been able to make 12 starts has been significant. However, they haven't exactly been great starts given his 5.11 ERA and 5.74 FIP. He's also allowed 2.2 HR/9, which could be problematic for his matchup against Nick Castellanos ($5,000), who has a .251 ISO to go along with his .420 wOBA.
At this point, how can you not take a chance on Kyle Schwarber ($4,500)? He won't exactly be facing an easy starting pitcher in Pablo Lopez ($9,300), who has a 2.86 ERA and 3.26 FIP. However, Schwarber is locked in at the plate, hitting 17-for-49 (.347) with 12 home runs over his last 13 games.
Bargain Bats
Wil Crowe ($6,900) did not pitch well at Triple-A in 2019, recording a 5.46 FIP and a 1.70 WHIP. His first significant stint in the majors is not going well, either, with him posting a 5.78 FIP and a 1.57 WHIP across 10 outings. If you want to try and exploit this matchup, while also not destroying your budget, then Tyler O'Neill ($3,400) and Dylan Carlson ($3,300) are both viable targets. O'Neill has hit for plenty of power with his .305 ISO and Carlson has shown an improved eye at the plate, dropping his strikeout rate by more than five percentage points compared to last season.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Wily Peralta ($5,000), Tigers: Jose Altuve ($6,000), Yordan Alvarez ($6,000), Michael Brantley ($4,500)
Peralta was hammered in his first start against the Angels, allowing five runs and two home runs across five innings. Prior to that, he had only made one appearance this season, which came in relief. He's generally been an underwhelming option, posting a 4.53 FIP and a 1.46 WHIP for his career. That could mean a big night is coming for the Astros, who have the highest OPS in baseball. Altuve is a top option for an Astros stack given his 146 wRC+.
Blue Jays vs. Matt Harvey ($5,200), Orioles: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($6,100), Bo Bichette ($6,100), George Springer ($3,900)
Harvey faced the Blue Jays in his last outing Sunday and allowed four runs on nine hits across 4.1 innings. He's allowed at least four runs in seven of his last eight starts, thanks in large part to his bloated 1.78 WHIP. Look for the Blue Jays to have similar success in their rematch. Springer is an interesting option who has a cheaper salary. Injuries have limited him to six games this season, but he's clearly a dangerous hitter when healthy given his career 134 wRC+.
Padres vs. Corbin Martin ($5,400), Diamondbacks: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($6,400), Trent Grisham ($4,100), Jake Cronenworth ($4,800)
The Diamondbacks are just trying to patch together their starting rotation after a bevy of injuries have left them with few options. Martin enters with a 2.04 WHIP across four outings, two of which were starts. In his brief Major League career, he's allowed 11 home runs over just 35 innings. Tatis could go wild in this matchup, while Cronenworth is also an intriguing option given his .353 wOBA.
