This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
It may be a bit difficult to find viable low-salary pitching options on Saturday's 10-game evening slate, but we have identified a play under $7,000 who could bring home plenty of points. For those looking to load up on talent, a leadoff hitter near the minimum salary should help with flexibility.
Pitching
James Kaprielian ($9,300) has enjoyed a solid year by most metrics, but it may not be immediately obvious that he deserves to be one of the top salaries on a big slate. This becomes clear when we look at his numbers at the Oakland Coliseum, where the 27-year-old has posted a 1.42 ERA with a .226 wOBA against opposing hitters over 38 innings. The Rangers hold the lowest wOBA in the league against righties while striking out against them a shade less than 25 percent of the time.
Hyun Jin Ryu ($8,400) lasted just 3.2 frames in his last start against the Red Sox, but the veteran appeared to be building solid momentum prior to that outing considering he logged at least 23.1 DraftKings points in four of his previous five outings. The Mariners are a bottom-5 offense against southpaws according to wOBA and should have trouble doing damage against a groundball pitcher like Ryu, as they have hit the ball on the ground at a 45 percent clip this year.
Kenta Maeda ($6,700) is another hurler who has thrown the ball well at home this season, as evidenced by the 2.53 ERA in 32 innings. The Rays are a formidable offense, but the 26 percent strikeout rate they carry against right-handed pitching gives us an opportunity to rack up points. Maeda may not be the strikeout pitcher he was last season, but he still holds a respectable 25 percent rate from 96 frames.
Top Hitters
It's not often I'll pay up at the catcher's spot, but Salvador Perez ($4,800) leaves me little choice thanks to the .383 ISO and .453 wOBA against lefties in 120 at-bats this season. Jon Lester has been absolutely hammered in August with a 9.58 ERA across 10.1 innings (49 batters faced).
Jordan Lyles has done a better job preventing runs against left-handed hitters in 2021, but a look under the hood tells us that may not last much longer as he's struggled to a 6.05 xFIP against his opposite hand in 49.1 frames. Matt Olson ($5,700) has punished both righty and lefty pitchers this season, resulting in a .283 ISO over 396 at-bats.
Taijuan Walker began the year looking like a fantastic addition to the Mets rotation, but the wheels have come off after the All-Star break with a 9.86 ERA and .711 slugging percentage against in 21 frames. Max Muncy ($5,600) has hit opposite-handed hurlers well in 2021 with a .268 ISO and .390 wOBA across 246 at-bats.
Bargain Bats
Injuries have limited Josh Donaldson ($3,600) to just 89 games this season, but the 35-year-old has been productive when on the field producing a .218 ISO and a .348 wOBA in 289 at-bats. Michael Wacha has experienced problems with same-handed hitters, as we can see from the .539 slugging percentage they have managed against from 47.1 innings.
Connor Joe ($2,300) has been fantastic against left-handed pitching since being recalled in July with a .257 ISO and .353 wOBA over 35 at-bats. While he's struggled along with the rest of his teammates on the road, his salary makes for an attractive punt play against Sammy Long and a 5.40 xFIP against right-handed hitters in 15.1 innings.
Luis Urias ($3,700) has performed like an elite hitter since the All-Star break posting a .303/.403/.606 slash line across 66 at-bats. Meanwhile, Mitch Keller has been torched in his home ballpark allowing a .532 slugging percentage to opposing hitters over 33.2 frames.
Stacks to Consider
Cardinals against Brad Keller: Nolan Arenado ($4,800) Paul DeJong ($3,800) Tyler O'Neill ($3,400)
Prospective poolies can find low-salary bats in a nice stack opportunity here, as Keller has allowed a .639 slugging percentage to hitters in eight innings (49 batters faced) this month. O'Neill representa a power hitter who struggles to make contact, but he should breathe a bit easier in this matchup considerinf Keller has only recorded a 15 percent strikeout rate against righties.
Dodgers against Taijuan Walker: Max Muncy ($5,600) Cody Bellinger ($4,400) AJ Pollock ($4,300)
Walker has allowed at least two homers in four consecutive games, making him a prime target against a powerful Dodgers offense. While we don't have much in the way of money-savers, all three of our selections have the ability to put the ball over the fence. This includes Bellinger, who has come on strong this month by hitting four homers over nine contests.
