This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The afternoon game between the Cubs and White Sox is not included for daily fantasy purposes, but 28 teams still give you plenty of options Friday.
Here are my recommendations…
PITCHER
Rich Hill, LAD vs. SD ($9,500): Hill has scuffled a bit recently, but he's having a decent year, and he's racking up the strikeouts. The veteran hurler has whiffed 10.31 batters per nine innings. This is a great matchup for Hill, at least. The Padres have a .297 OBP as a team, which is tied for worst in the majors.
GPP Fade: Trevor Bauer, CLE vs. BOS ($10,300): Don't look at Bauer's numbers. Instead, look at the situation. Bauer is returning from a broken leg, and he's expected to make a short start. There is almost no chance he will pitch long enough to get a win. That's if he's even able to pitch well, and this matchup is a tough one to step into. The Red Sox have the best offense in the league by a pretty wide margin, so Bauer is going to need to be on the top of his game, even though he's missed more than a month of action.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Wei-Yin Chen, MIA vs. CIN ($6,800): Believe it or not, Chen has been excellent at home this year. He actually has a 1.77 ERA at home, and he's struck out 8.4 batters per nine innings in those games as well. The Red rank 22nd in runs scored, so Chen could easily stay hot at home, which would make him a potential steal at this price.
CATCHER
Evan Gattis, HOU vs. LAA ($3,600): Gattis, as you likely know, has a ton of power. He's hit 25 homers in 120 games, and he's particularly good at hitting lefties. The 32-year-old has a .518 slugging percentage versus southpaws. Andrew Heaney is a lefty, and he has a 4.62 away ERA as well.
FIRST BASE
C.J. Cron, TAM at TOR ($4,100): Cron has a .485 slugging percentage, the highest of his career. He's also hit 27 homers, with 18 of those coming on the road. Sean Reid-Foley has only made five starts in the majors, but in that time he has a 5.70 FIP and has allowed 2.08 homers per nine innings.
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor, TEX vs. SEA ($4,200): Odor has struggled on the road, but at home he has a slash line of .290/.372/.500. Not only does Odor get to be in his own ballpark for this game, but he has a rather favorable matchup as well. Erasmo Ramirez has a woeful 6.53 FIP and has allowed 2.72 homers per nine innings this season.
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman, OAK vs. MIN ($4,100): Chapman has averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game, so it's odd to see him at this price. Sure, he's been less good at home, but on the other hand he has a .912 OPS against righties. Jose Berrios is right handed, and he has a 5.23 ERA on the road in his career. As for this season, he has a 3.98 FIP and has allowed 1.20 homers per nine innings.
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura, SEA at TEX ($4,300): Segura has a .306 batting average, putting him on pace to have a batting average of .300 or better for the third straight season. He's also stolen 20 bases for the sixth straight year. The Rangers are using Connor Sadzeck as an opener, but beyond him the team doesn't have much going for them from a pitching perspective.
OUTFIELD
Brandon Nimmo, NYM at WAS ($4,700): Nimmo has excelled versus righties (.958 OPS) and on the road (.975 OPS). Not only is this game on the road, but Washington starter Joe Ross is right handed. Ross has only made one start this year, and it was mediocre, but last season he had a 5.03 FIP.
Shin-soo Choo, TEX vs. SEA ($4,600): Choo has gotten on base with frequency this year, as he's posted a .382 OBP through 140 games. He's also hit 21 homers, with 19 of them coming against righties. Not only is Erasmo Ramirez right handed, as previously noted he has a 6.53 FIP in 2018.
Ender Inciarte, ATL vs. PHI ($4,300): Inciarte isn't known for his power, though he does have double-digit homers for the second season in a row. What he does have is a career .288 batting average and talent on the basepaths. In 149 games this year he's stolen 27 bases. Nick Pivetta has a 4.67 ERA, but on the road that number is an even worse 5.14.
