This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
A week that has been full of deals culminates with the trade deadline looming Friday. All 30 teams are scheduled to be in action, so we could see several games altered by moves. As if all of the potential trades weren't exciting enough, we could see some excellent pitching performances with Lance Lynn, Aaron Nola and Kevin Gausman all expected to take the mound. Let's try to help you navigate through all of the options by highlighting some players who could capitalize on favorable matchups.
Pitchers
Not only is Lynn ($10,300) one of the biggest names available for this slate, but he also has an excellent matchup against the Indians. They have the seventh-worst OPS in baseball and further compromised their lineup by trading away Cesar Hernandez on Thursday. Lynn has allowed one or no runs in five straight starts, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see that streak continue for at least one more game.
The Marlins have already been one of the least potent offensive teams in baseball, sporting the fourth-worst OPS. Things are likely to go further downhill moving forward, too, after they traded away Starling Marte to the A's. This could be a great matchup to deploy Jameson Taillon ($8,700), who has bounced back from a rough stretch to post a 2.59 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over his last seven starts. He had some tough matchups during that span, too, facing the Astros, A's and Red Sox (twice).
Logan Gilbert ($7,200) has been impressive for the Mariners, recording a 3.81 ERA and a 2.94 FIP across his first 12 starts in the majors. He's allowed just five home runs across 56.2 innings, and he has a stellar 1.04 WHIP. A matchup against a Rangers team that has the worst OPS in baseball means Gilbert could provide significant value.
Top Targets
Mitch Haniger ($5,400) continues to be one of the better hitters on the Mariners, posting a .245 ISO and a .347 wOBA. He's really thrived against left-handed pitchers with a .292 ISO and a .371 wOBA. That makes him a prime target for his matchup against Kolby Allard ($5,100), who has allowed 1.6 HR/9 for the season and has given up at least four runs in five of his last six starts.
The Nationals have torn down their roster, trading away Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Brad Hand. They still have Juan Soto ($6,100), though, and he's scorching hot right now. Since the All-Star break, he's 19-for-46 (.413) with seven home runs and two doubles. Up next is a favorable matchup against Trevor Williams ($8,600), who has allowed a .374 wOBA to left-handed hitters.
Bargain Bats
His salary isn't overly cheap, but Patrick Wisdom ($4,200) could still end up being a bargain. He's earned himself a regular spot in the Cubs' lineup with a .338 ISO and a .393 wOBA. Up next is a matchup against Jon Lester ($7,000), who has allowed 14 home runs across 75.1 innings to go along with a bloated 1.59 WHIP. The last time he faced the Cubs, he allowed five runs over 5.1 innings.
Abraham Toro ($3,100) made an immediate impact with his new team, homering in both games since being traded to the Mariners. Going back even further, he's hit a home run in four straight games. With Allard's struggles already highlighted, Toro is also an interesting option.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays vs. Daniel Lynch ($5,200), Royals: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($6,000), Bo Bichette ($5,500), George Springer ($5,200)
After a disaster first three starts in the majors, Lynch was sent back down to Triple-A. Despite his 5.84 ERA and 4.60 FIP at that level, he was recalled to start last weekend. He certainly made the most of his opportunity, logging eight shutout innings against the Tigers. With that being said, taking on the Blue Jays is a much tougher assignment. Springer is someone who stands out for a Blue Jays stack given his career 146 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers.
White Sox vs. J.C. Mejia ($5,800), Indians: Tim Anderson ($5,700), Jose Abreu ($4,900), Gavin Sheets ($3,300)
Mejia probably hasn't been as bad as his 7.52 ERA would lead you to believe, but his 5.27 FIP is still a problem. He's been hurt by the long ball, allowing nine home runs over 40.2 innings. That could be a big problem against Abreu, although it will be important to monitor for updates regarding his status given that he sat out Thursday with a neck issue. This game being played in Chicago is a bonus for Anderson, who has a .372 wOBA at home, compared to a .293 wOBA on the road.
Tigers vs. Matt Harvey ($5,000), Orioles: Eric Haase ($5,000), Akil Baddoo ($4,400), Robbie Grossman ($3,100)
Somehow, Harvey is coming off of two consecutive starts in which he went six innings and didn't allow a single run. He still has a 6.65 ERA and a 4.43 FIP, which just illustrates how poorly he's pitched as a whole. With his 1.58 WHIP, he's still someone to consider stacking against. Baddoo could be a key part of any Tigers stack while Haase is also appealing with his .305 ISO.
