This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There is only one MLB game Friday, the New York Yankees taking on the Tampa Bay Rays in a win-or-go-home affair. Because of this fact, DraftKings' contests are taking Showdown form. Here's how that works, if you're unfamiliar. You select a lineup of six players from this game. One of them is your captain, and while they cost 1.5 times their regular salary, they also provide you with 1.5 times the points. As we gear up for the 7:10 p.m. ET start between these teams, I have selected a lineup that will actually work if you are looking for players to select. I will note I am not recommending either starting pitcher. Both Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow are on short rest, and they were making a big deal about how Cole has never pitched on three day's rest before on the broadcast Thursday. I do not expect either of these pitchers to go late enough into the game to qualify for a win, so I don't think either is worth it.
Captain
Brandon Lowe, TAM vs. NYY ($12,000): I decided to go with Lowe because I like his upside, but he doesn't have the highest salary of any of the players I selected. Given that, you can save a little money by making him your captain. The lefty posted a .916 OPS this year with 14 homers in only 52 games. Cole is a righty, so I'm good with making a left-handed batter my captain. However, the Yankees can't necessarily rely on putting a lefty on the mound against Lowe either. The second baseman had an 1.137 OPS against southpaws this season.
Utility
DJ LeMahieu, NYY at TAM ($9,000): LeMahieu has one of the elite batting eyes in baseball. In a time when batting averages are down, the 32-year-old has a career .305 average. In fact, this season he led the majors by hitting .364. He's no slap hitter either, as LeMahieu has had a slugging percentage over .500 since joining the Yankees in 2019. Also, if the Rays try and use lefty Blake Snell in this game, LeMahieu has a .982 OPS versus lefties since 2018.
Randy Arozarena, TAM vs. NYY ($8,600): I know this feels like a bet on the small sample size of the postseason. A guy with little national profile has exploded for an 1.580 OPS in six playoff games with three homers. The Cuban is hitting .500 in the postseason. Yes, that's not sustainable, but Arozarena is also the only really hot bat in the Rays' lineup. Also, you may not have noticed it during the regular season since he was limited to 23 games, but the 25-year-old slashed .281/.382/.641 this year, so it's possible this may just be a rising bat in the majors.
Aaron Judge, NYY at TAM ($8,200): We're talking about one game here, and in a situation like that one home run can be enough to make a fantasy impact. Few players have as much potential power in their bat as Judge. While the slugger has had issues staying healthy, his power is incredible. He has a career .558 slugging percentage and he hit nine homers in only 28 games this season. The upside every time Judge swings his bat is exactly what you want in a Showdown contest such as this.
Gleyber Torres, NYY at TAM ($7,400): Torres' power disappeared during the regular season, but I'm not worried about that. He had a personal-best OBP (.356) and his career slugging percentage is still .493. Also, power has not been an issue in the playoffs, as during the postseason, Torres has a .750 slugging percentage. His bat has heated up, and the shortstop is starting to look more like the guy who hit 38 homers in 2019.
Ji-Man Choi, TAM vs. NYY ($4,200): Somebody has to be the low-salary player with upside, and on this occasion I'm going with Choi. When there's a lefty on the mound, Choi is out of luck. However, he has an .865 OPS versus righties since 2018. The Yankees are beginning the game with a righty on the mound in Cole, and even though he's an elite pitcher, Choi might be able to rack up a hit, and maybe even go deep. The new rule about relief pitchers could also help Choi, since he can't be targeted with a LOOGY. At this salary, you don't need much from the first baseman for him to pay off.
