This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Buckle in for a full slate of night games Friday. We have a couple of series that could shape up to be epic mismatches, including the Rays facing the Orioles. Another potentially lopsided affair could take place when the Dodgers host the Rockies. The good news is, we do have some exciting series mixed in, as well, headlined by the A's hosting the Yankees. That contest will also feature an appealing pitching matchup between Gerrit Cole and Sean Manaea. Let's get down to business and highlight some players to target while crafting your lineups on DraftKings.
Pitchers
Aaron Nola ($10,200) has had his ups and downs this season on his way to a 4.33 ERA that would be the second-highest mark of his career. He does have a 3.50 FIP, though, and has missed plenty of bats on his way to a 29.3 percent strikeout rate. There's the potential for him to provide significant production in that department in a matchup with the Diamondbacks, who have struck out the eighth-most times in baseball.
It feels odd to be making a case for J.A. Happ ($8,000) in DFS given the season that he's had. He's been nothing short of a disaster, posting a 5.88 ERA and a 5.26 FIP. Still, a matchup against a Pirates team that has the second-worst OPS in baseball means he might be worth taking a chance on. He has faced them two times over his last three starts, allowing a total of three runs to go along with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings.
Working our way further down the salary scale, Logan Gilbert ($7,700) might be able to provide value. He hasn't pitched as poorly as his 5.16 ERA would lead you to believe given his 3.74 FIP. Also, he's posted a 26.6 percent strikeout rate. Facing him will be a Royals team that has the sixth-worst OPS in baseball.
Top Targets
The Rangers will continue to try and patch together their starting rotation by starting Glenn Otto ($5,300) against the Astros. This will be his big-league debut after he logged 30.1 career innings at Triple-A. It's certainly a tough opponent to debut against, so don't be surprised if the Astros hang a crooked number in this game. Among their more appealing hitters is Yordan Alvarez ($5,600), who has a .250 ISO and a .371 wOBA.
The good news for Kyle Freeland ($7,000) is that he doesn't have to pitch at Coors Field on Friday. The bad news is that he has to face the Dodgers. One of the top options to target on the Dodgers is Justin Turner ($5,500), who has recorded a wOBA of at least .366 against left-handed pitchers in four of the last five seasons.
Bargain Bats
Not a lot has gone right for the Twins this season, which is why they turned into sellers at the trade deadline. One of their few bright spots down the stretch has been Jorge Polanco ($3,900), who is 41-for-126 (.325) with 11 home runs and seven doubles over his last 31 games. That hot streak could make him someone to consider in a matchup with Eric Lauer ($9,000), who isn't exactly an overwhelming force with his 23.0 percent strikeout rate.
The Astros have a lot of big names in their lineup, so the recent hot streak by Jake Meyers ($2,400) hasn't exactly garnered a lot of headlines. With that being said, he's 16-for-47 (.340) with three home runs and two doubles over his last 12 games. If you can't squeeze Alvarez's salary into your lineup, Meyers could be an alternative option to try and exploit the Astros' matchup with Otto.
Stacks to Consider
Rays vs. Matt Harvey ($5,400), Orioles: Nelson Cruz ($5,300), Wander Franco ($5,300), Austin Meadows ($4,700)
After his surprising streak of three straight starts without allowing a run, things have been ugly again for Harvey of late. Over his last four starts, he's allowed 14 runs and recorded a 1.58 WHIP over 19 innings. That included an outing against these same Rays in which he allowed five runs over 4.2 innings. Given that the Rays have scored the second-most runs in baseball, they could have similar success in their rematch. After initially struggling when he was called up from the minors, Franco has settled in to hit 30-for-88 (.341) with three home runs, nine doubles and two triples over his last 11 games.
Red Sox vs. Logan Allen ($4,700), Indians: J.D. Martinez ($4,800), Xander Bogaerts ($5,700), Enrique Hernandez ($4,300)
Cleveland is running out of healthy starting pitchers, which necessitated them recalling Allen from the minors. His first seven starts with the team certainly left a sour taste in their mouths given that he recorded a 9.13 ERA and a 8.73 FIP. A start against the potent Red Sox's lineup is not an easy spot for Allen to try and right the ship. This matchup really works in the favor of Hernandez, who has a .379 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.
Blue Jays vs. Matt Manning ($5,800), Tigers: Vladimir Guerrero ($5,800), Bo Bichette ($4,700), Teoscar Hernandez ($4,800)
Despite an 8.07 ERA and 6.50 FIP over seven starts at Triple-A, Manning has received his first taste of action in the majors. It hasn't exactly gone well given his 5.91 ERA and 4.86 FIP. Of major concern is his miniscule 12.0 percent strikeout rate. His inability to miss bats could be dangerous against the Blue Jays, who have the second-highest OPS in baseball. Guerrero and Bichette are two of the biggest names in their lineup, but don't forget about Hernandez and his .366 wOBA.
