This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Clayton Kershaw is head-and-shoulders above the other pitching options on Saturday's seven-game evening slate, but those who want to avoid paying up against a strong offense will find three other options to choose from below.
Pitchers
It seems every time I recommend Alex Cobb ($9,400), he puts up a negative DraftKings score. Still, I'm not about to ignore the 2.79 xFIP over 54 innings this season. This is particularly true when he is facing the Orioles, who hold a bottom-5 wOBA against right-handed pitching to go along with a 25 percent strikeout rate. Recent form and an elevated salary could steer people away from Cobb in this spot, giving us leverage on a hurler in a favorable situation.
Sammy Long's ($8,100) 4.95 ERA may not look like much, but there's a lot to like about the 25-year-old including his control (2.70 BB/9) and ability to throw groundballs (51 percent rate). It's also worth noting he finished his minor league career with a 2.96 ERA in 156 innings. The D-Backs have hit well against left-handers overall, but have put the ball on the ground 45 percent of the time that will give Long some sneaky appeal.
Marco Gonzales ($7,700) has been solid at home this year with a 3.81 ERA across 28.1 frames. Meanwhile, the Rangers maintain a bottom-10 wOBA away from the friendly confines of Arlington. Gonzales has experienced issues keeping the ball in the park this season, but that should be less of a concern in this matchup as the Texas lineup has only produced a .137 ISO on the road.
Top Hitters
Nolan Arenado ($5,900) has excelled in his first season not in a Rockies' uniform. He'll return to Coors Field with a .289 ISO and .396 wOBA in 57 at-bats against southpaws. Kyle Freeland's return to the mound after leaving his last start with a hamstring cramp is positive for potential stackers, as he's surrendered a .591 slugging percentage against right-handed hitters from 22 innings.
Paolo Espino may have a shiny 2.02 ERA in 18 games (three starts), but I'm willing to chalk that up to small sample size since the 34-year-old hasn't posted an ERA under 4.50 at any level of professional baseball over the last four seasons. Max Muncy ($5,600) has hit the ball well against both righties and southpaws this year, resulting in a .301 ISO and .416 wOBA in 219 at-bats.
Eli Morgan will almost certainly not carry a 4.50 HR/9 rate all season, but it's difficult to wait for a stat correction in a daily format when a pitcher has allowed a .818 slugging percentage to same-handed opposition in 10 innings. Carlos Correa ($5,300) has a reverse split with a .264 ISO and .396 wOBA against righties.
Bargain Bats
One has to think that if it were not for a stay on the DL, Franmil Reyes ($3,400) would not have been tagged with such a low salary since the 25-year-old boasts a .363 (!) ISO against right-handers from 91 at-bats. Jake Odorizzi hasn't allowed much in terms of rate stats, but has still produced a 1.40 HR/9 rate against righty hitters across 20 frames.
Yonathan Daza ($3,500) may not have found his power stroke yet, but the 27-year-old has hit well against southpaws with a .364 wOBA in 75 at-bats. Wade LeBlanc has been torched to the tune of a .426 wOBA against righties over 10 innings. While most Colorado bats will force you to break the bank on Saturday, Daza represents an affordable option with the ability to pile up points.
Jordan Lyles has limited the damage done by left-handed hitters to this point, but that trend is unlikely to continue if the 5.47 xFIP he's kept against lefties is to be taken as an indicator of things to come. Jake Fraley ($3,100) represents someone who should be targeted against most right-handed hurlers at this salary thanks to a .308 ISO across 52 at-bats.
Stacks to Consider
Cardinals against Kyle Freeland: Nolan Arenado: ($5,900), Yadier Molina ($4,300), Harrison Bader ($3,300)
If the plan is to stack a Rockies game at home, then you better work in some manageable salaries. We have two of those here, with Molina entering with a .657 slugging percentage in 35 at-bats against left-handed pitching and Bader with a slugging percentage over .800 over 32 at-bats against his opposite hand dating back to last season. The sample sizes may be small, but prospective poolies should take the opportunity to get as many hitters as possible in a lineup against Freeland.
Mariners against Jordan Lyles: Mitch Haniger: ($4,700), J.P. Crawford ($3,700), Jake Fraley ($3,100)
The nice thing about favoring a Mariners' stack is we get to keep costs down, as the most expensive Seattle hitter on the board doesn't crack $5,000. That doesn't mean we can't find potential gems, as Crawford finished the month of June with a .928 OPS in 108 at-bats.
