This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
It's the final weekend of September and the final weekend of the MLB regular season. This went by in the blink of an eye. There are 18 games Friday, but that includes a couple doubleheaders. Unfortunately, those doubleheaders rob you of the opportunity of using any Rockies or Padres (or Giants, Diamondbacks, Brewers and Cardinals). You still have plenty of options for your lineup as you try to end the regular season on a high note. Here's some of my picks.
PITCHING
It's nice to see the classic Carlos Carrasco ($10,400) back, as he's posted a 2.90 ERA through 11 starts while striking out double-digit batters per nine innings for the fourth season in a row. His last start of the season is likely to go quite well, as the Pirates are last in the majors in runs scored.
Jose Urquidy ($7,100) has only made four starts for the Astros, but in that time he's managed a 2.78 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. We probably have seen enough of Texas' new ballpark to know if it's going to be less offensively friendly than its old one, but its offense ranks 29th in runs scored and OPS.
Chris Bassitt's ($7,900) home ballpark has always been good to him. He has a 2.44 ERA at home since 2018. In 2020, though, Oakland's pitcher has a sterling 0.89 ERA in his own ballpark. I'm happy to take him at home against almost anybody, but certainly against the Mariners, who rank in the bottom 10 in runs scored.
TOP PICKS
Andrew Heaney is a lefty, and the Dodgers are heavy on the southpaws, so this is maybe not the day for a stack. However, Heaney has a 4.02 ERA and a 5.28 ERA on the road. Given that, I'm still happy to recommend MVP candidate Mookie Betts ($6,000). It's clear why Boston fans are sad he's gone, given that he has a .293/.363/.567 slash line with 16 homers and nine stolen bases.
Speaking of MVP candidates, Jose Ramirez ($5,600) has hit 17 home runs and stolen 10 bases, the fifth season in a row since he's reached double digits in both categories. That's with him batting .292 as well. Dylan Cease has a 3.52 ERA, but with a 5.91 FIP. That's because he walks over five batters per nine innings and has allowed 1.51 home runs per nine innings as well.
VALUE PLAYS
Miguel Rojas ($3,900) has hit four homers and stolen five bases, and he's showing more power than he ever has before. His .504 slugging percentage is by far a career high. While it's a small sample size, the shortstop has a 1.576 OPS versus lefties this season. J.A. Happ is a lefty, and he also has a 4.35 FIP in 2020.
With Adalberto Mondesi ($4,800), it's all about speed. I'm taking a shot on him because of the potential for a hit or two, and for the high likelihood of a stolen base. The 25-year-old has 22 swiped backs in 56 games after stealing 43 last season. Spencer Turnbull hasn't allowed a lot of homers, but that's not an issue with Mondesi. I like him in this matchup because Turnbull has a 5.79 ERA on the road.
STACKS
Braves vs. Chris Mazza: Freddie Freeman ($5,400), Dansby Swanson ($4,100), Adam Duvall ($4,800)
Mazza is getting another start for the Red Sox, and it's not like they have anything to play for. That's how you can justify trotting out a guy with a career 5.44 ERA. He's also allowed a .315 average to lefties in his career and a .311 average to righties. Freeman is established as an elite hitter, but this year he is going to have an OPS over 1.000 for the first time in his career. Swanson hasn't hit lefties at all for some reason (he's right handed), but he has an .845 OPS against righties (and a .955 OPS at home). Duvall has power, that much is clear. He had a .567 slugging percentage in 2019 and has a .565 slugging percentage in 2020.
Athletics vs. Yusei Kikuchi: Ramon Laureano ($4,100), Stephen Piscotty ($3,600), Mark Canha ($4,400)
The A's actually don't have a ton of bats that really excite me, especially against a lefty like Kikuchi. However, Kikuchi provides such a good matchup I was happy to grab a few Oakland players for this stack. The southpaw has a career 5.55 ERA, and this year he has a road ERA of 7.36. In his MLB career he's given up a .291 batting average to righties, and all these of these hitters are righties. Laureano is having a down year, but he hit 24 homers and stole 13 bases last season. Piscotty has an .823 OPS versus lefties since 2018. Canha has a .366 OBP, and while his power is down he had a .517 slugging percentage last season.
Twins vs. Tyler Mahle: Max Kepler ($4,000), Josh Donaldson ($4,100), Eddie Rosario ($4,100)
Mahle is striking out a lot of batters, but his 3.57 ERA is a product in part because of his .240 BABIP. It's a small sample size this season, and on his career Mahle has a 4.69 ERA and 4.61 FIP. Also, this year the 25-year-old has a 4.97 ERA on the road. Kepler has been awful against lefties, but he has an .860 OPS versus righties and he hit 36 homers last year. Donaldson has been dealing with injuries, but he has a .376 OBP and .475 slugging percentage, and his career OPS is .877. Lastly, there's Rosario, who doesn't walk but has a career .277 batting average. He's also struggled against lefties but has an .863 OPS versus righties.
