This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Major League Baseball closes out the work week with a packed schedule that is full of meaningful games. Among the series between teams in playoff contention are the New York Yankees hosting the Seattle Mariners, the Philadelphia Phillies taking on the New York Mets, and the Milwaukee Brewers facing off against the San Francisco Giants. There are some potential duds on the schedule, too, including the Miami Marlins playing the Colorado Rockies. Let's dive into the matchups and highlight some players to consider for your DraftKings lineup.
Pitchers
Chris Bassitt ($9,800) has been stellar for the A's, recording a 3.28 ERA and a 3.52 FIP this season. While it's still not a huge number, he also has a career-high 24.9 percent strikeout rate. He should be a popular DFS target in a matchup at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Rangers, who have the worst OPS in baseball. He's started against them three times this season, allowing two runs and recording 14 strikeouts over 21 innings.
Despite having no shot at the playoffs, the Rockies were quiet at the trade deadline. They probably could have received a massive haul for German Marquez ($8,400), who has a 3.51 ERA and a 3.38 FIP despite starting his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. He only has a 1.15 WHIP at home this season, which makes him an appealing option for a home start versus the Marlins, who have the third-worst OPS in baseball.
Another bad lineup to attack is the Pirates, who have the second worst OPS in baseball. Trying to exploit that matchup will be Wade Miley ($8,200), who is having a very good season with a 2.92 ERA and a 3.62 FIP. The last time he faced the Pirates, he had six strikeouts and allowed a total of three base runners across six innings. Like Bassitt, he should be a popular option, and rightfully so.
Top Targets
Jose Ramirez ($6,400) has hit into some bad luck this season. He only has a .237 BABIP, which is 45 points lower than his career mark. That's despite posting a career-high 11.4 percent barrel rate. His batting average could be on the rise as we play out the final couple of months and he's in a favorable spot to be productive Friday against Matt Manning ($5,300), who has a 4.97 FIP and a 1.45 WHIP.
Few hitters in baseball are as hot as George Springer ($5,700) is right now. Finally healthy, he's 27-for-68 (.397) with eight home runs and nine doubles over his last 17 games. That left him with a whopping .882 slugging percentage during that stretch. While a matchup against Nathan Eovaldi ($7,900) isn't exactly a walk in the park, Springer's hot streak still makes him appealing. Also, Eovaldi has a 3.49 FIP on the road, compared to a 2.20 FIP at home.
Bargain Bats
The Astros will face another young Twins' starter, and this time it will be Bailey Ober ($6,900). He's made 11 starts during his first season in the majors, posting a 4.94 ERA and a 4.98 FIP. He's been done in by the long ball, allowing 2.1 HR/9. This could be a matchup that favors Kyle Tucker ($3,700), who has a .251 ISO.
Adding Jo Adell ($2,000) at his cheap salary can go a long way to helping balance out your budget. Since being called up, he's 4-for-12 with two doubles and a stolen base. Maybe just as important is that he's only struck out two times. He provides a unique combination of power and speed, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him provide value in a matchup versus David Price ($5,800).
Stacks to Consider
Athletics vs. Mike Foltynewicz ($4,900), Rangers: Matt Olson ($5,300), Starling Marte ($5,000), Mark Canha ($4,300)
Foltynewicz is giving up home runs at an alarming rate. Across 111 innings, he's already been taken deep 31 times. That includes him allowing 12 home runs over 24 innings across his last five starts. The A's could do plenty of damage in this matchup, including Olson. He's having arguably the best season of his career, posting a .295 to go along with a .393 wOBA. He's even dropped his strikeout rate to 16.2 percent.
Braves vs. Erick Fedde ($6,300), Nationals: Freddie Freeman ($5,800), Austin Riley ($5,100), Joc Pederson ($4,300)
With the Nationals having traded away some of their best players at the deadline, Fedde's spot in the starting rotation is secure despite his disappointing 5.01 ERA and 4.71 FIP. He's had control issues, posting a 10.1 percent walk rate on his way to a 1.38 WHIP. Left-handed hitters have a .366 wOBA against him, so Freeman and Pederson could be two of the better options for a Braves stack.
Mets vs. Kyle Gibson ($7,400), Phillies: Pete Alonso ($5,100), Javier Baez ($5,700), Brandon Nimmo ($3,800)
Gibson made a great first impression with his new team, allowing two runs across 6.2 innings against the Pirates. This is a much tougher matchup against the Mets, though, especially after they acquired Baez from the Cubs. He's made an immediate impact, hitting two home runs in his first six games with the team. Nimmo is an intriguing option because, although he doesn't bring much power to the plate, he has a .369 wOBA.
