This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The players featured in this piece will be building blocks that can work in several lineup configurations (cash and GPP). With only four early games Saturday, the main evening slate in DFS is packed with 11 games to pick from.
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STARTING PITCHER
Zack Godley, ARI at SD ($8,700): Godley sports an unsightly 1.42 WHIP this season, but owns a respectable 4.20 ERA, which could actually be a little better based on his 3.74 FIP. He's only allowed 0.8 HR/9 and he's a valuable source for strikeouts with a 9.4 K/9. He's been on top of his game of late, allowing four runs (three earned) to go along with 23 strikeouts over 21 innings in his last three starts. In his previous two starts against the Padres, he allowed three runs and recorded 15 strikeouts across 11.1 innings. Considering the Padres struggle to score runs and entered Friday with the third-most strikeouts in baseball, Godley could be in for another valuable performance.
GPP Fade: Andrew Heaney, LAA at TEX ($8,500): Heaney has been excellent for the Angels, posting a 3.88 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 22 starts. He's already pitched a career-high 134.2 innings and has shown great control by issuing only 2.3 BB/9 to go along with an 8.6 K/9. However, a lot of his success has come at home, as his 2.90 ERA and 1.02 WHIP will show. He hasn't been nearly as successful on the road with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The Rangers entered Friday with the fifth-highest OPS at home (.792) in baseball, so this might be the night to avoid Heaney.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Matt Harvey, CIN vs. SF ($6,500): Harvey is still nowhere near the pitcher he used to be, but he's performed better since joining the Reds. His 1.24 WHIP since being traded would be his lowest mark since 2015 and his 4.61 ERA would be his best since 2016. He's not a big strikeout pitcher anymore and he allows too many home runs, but he's still someone who can provide value in the right matchup. The Giants are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and entered Friday with a meager .671 OPS on the road, leaving Harvey as a cheap option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER
Salvador Perez, KC at CWS ($4,200): The Royals don't score a lot, but they still could be a stacking option with Dylan Covey starting for the White Sox. Covey has been horrible this year with a 6.06 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP to go along with a paltry 6.5 K/9. Perez has already hit at least 20 home runs for the fourth-straight season and could prove to be troublesome for Covey in this contest.
FIRST BASE
Ryan Zimmerman, WAS vs. MIA ($4,700): Wei-Yin Chen will start this game for the Marlins and he has some extreme home/road splits this year. He's been stellar with a 2.05 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP at Marlins Park, but he has struggled with a 10.27 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP on the road. Zimmerman has followed up his 162 wRC+ against lefties last year with a 229 wRC+ this season entering play Friday, making him someone to target for your entry.
SECOND BASE
Jedd Gyorko, STL vs. MIL ($4,000): Gyorko has largely experienced a disappointing campaign, entering Friday batting .254 with only nine home runs. He hit 30 homers just two seasons ago and launched 20 last year, but he just hasn't been able to get his power stroke going so far. He could provide value against Wade Miley, considering the hurler has a 168 wRC+ against lefties.
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon, WAS vs. MIA ($4,600): With Chen on the mound, the Nationals will likely be one of the more popular stacks of the evening. Zimmerman isn't the only one who is mashing left-handed pitchers this season as Rendon sports a .397 wOBA against them entering Friday.
SHORTSTOP
Adalberto Mondesi, KC at CWS ($4,300): Mondesi entered play Friday batting .267, but he's only drawn three walks in 140 plate appearances. Even with his struggles to get on base, he has still managed to steal 15 bases. While he's known for his speed, he's chipped in four home runs and eight doubles as well. With the amount of baserunners Covey has allowed, Mondesi could wreak havoc in this game.
OUTFIELD
A.J. Pollock, ARI at SD ($4,600): The Padres will start Clayton Richard in this game, who has allowed 22 runs across 26 innings over his last five starts. Not only did Pollock enter Friday with at least one hit in five of his last six games, but he also enters with a .377 wOBA against lefties this year.
Harrison Bader, STL vs. MIL ($4,600): After the Cardinals traded away Tommy Pham and saw Dexter Fowler and Tyler O'Neill both land on the DL, Bader had a clear path to an everyday role. He sure hasn't disappointed, entering Friday hitting .367 with three home runs and four doubles since Aug 1. He should also benefit from facing Miley based on his .406 wOBA against left-handed pitching.
Whit Merrifield, KC at CWS ($4,000)): Merrifield may only have seven home runs entering Friday, but he has still flashed some power with 31 doubles. He has improved his walk rate over four percentage points from last year and he continues to hit for a high average at .300. With his ability to get on base, he's a great cheap option with upside against Covey.
