This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Thursday's eight-game main slate is pitcher-friendly, containing options in all ranges with the potential to put up big points. That leads me in the direction of one lineup that you might not associate with stacking, as well as a few big bats that may still be under the radar.
Pitching
Shane Bieber, CLE at PIT ($10,600): I generally try not to recommend the highest-priced pitcher on the slate, but there is no way I can avoid highlighting Bieber against the Pirates. The right-hander has notched a 1.30 ERA and a 43 percent (!) strikeout rate through 34.2 innings this season (five starts). Pittsburgh ranks last in a number of offensive categories in 2020, including wOBA and ISO against right-handed pitching. They also hold the second-lowest RAA in the league against the curveball, a pitch Bieber has thrown 26 percent of the time.
Dinelson Lamet, SD vs. TEX ($8,500): This price seems almost too good to be true for Lamet, who has kept a 1.59 ERA to go along with a 32 percent strikeout rate in 28.1 innings (five starts) this season. The Rangers are a bottom-5 team against right-handed pitching according to wOBA. It is also worth noting that they rate as a bottom-5 team when it comes to RAA against the fastball, and Lamet's 5.0 RAA ranks as a top-10 mark among all qualified starters.
Kevin Gausman, SF vs. LAA ($6,500): Gausman's well-chronicled struggles with the home run ball are the only thing keeping him from being a bonafide ace this season, as evidenced by the 32 percent strikeout rate, five percent walk rate, and 3.14 xFIP he has notched in 25.2 frames. The Angels have hit the ball well overall this season but have not performed well on the road, as we can see from the .276 wOBA they've kept in 370 plate appearances.
Top Hitters
Mike Yastrzemski, SF vs. LAA ($5,300): Jose Suarez will slide into the Angels' starting rotation after it was announced that Julio Teheran was moving to the bullpen. Suarez has yet to pitch in a game this season but finished 2019 with a 4.60 xFIP against left-handed hitters in 24 innings. Yasztremski may just be one of those rare hitters who will have long-term success as a lefty bat against southpaws. After notching a .232 ISO in 82 at-bats against left-handed pitching in 2019, he has backed it up this year with a stunning .517 ISO in 29 at-bats.
Fernando Tatis Jr, SD vs. TEX ($5,100): Tatis may well be considered value at this price. The second-year phenom has put a hurting on right-handed pitching this year, tallying a .416 ISO and a .415 wOBA in 77 at-bats. Kyle Gibson has kept left-handers in check but has been hit hard by same-handed opposition, allowing a .535 slugging percentage in 10 innings.
Mitch Moreland, BOS at BAL ($4,800): Moreland is the best hitter no one seems to talk about, as we can see from the astounding .556 ISO he has logged against right-handed pitchers in 36 at-bats. Asher Wojciechowski has been absolutely stung in his home ballpark this season, having allowed a .694 slugging percentage in 10 innings.
Best Values
Anthony Santander, BAL vs. BOS ($4,400): Santander is another surprising name at the top of offensive leaderboards in 2020 due to the .425 ISO and .439 wOBA he has tallied against right-handed pitching in 89 at-bats. Seemingly nothing has gone right for Nathan Eovaldi on the road in 2020. He will come into this contest sporting an 8.22 ERA away from his home park in 15.1 frames.
Mark Canha, OAK vs. ARI ($3,700): Alex Young survived his first start of the season after officially replacing Madison Bumgarner in the rotation, but the home run problem that troubled him last year seems to be back in full force in 2020, as he has allowed three homers to right-handed hitters in nine innings. Meanwhile, Canha boasts a .286 ISO in 14 at-bats against southpaws after logging a .229 ISO against them in 2019.
Christian Walker, ARI at OAK ($3,500): Walker has come alive in his small sample against lefty pitching this year, notching a .286 ISO and .439 wOBA in 14 at-bats. While we don't have much from 2019 to substantiate that number, the price makes him worth a shot against Sean Manaea, who has kept a .508 slugging percentage against righty hitters in 15 innings.
Stacks to Consider
Orioles against Nathan Eovaldi: Pedro Severino, ($4,600) Anthony Santander ($4,300) Rio Ruiz ($3,700)
We've covered that Eovaldi has been terrible on the road, but the real source of his pain has been right-handed hitters, against whom he has allowed an enormous .685 slugging percentage in 12 innings. The combination of Severino and Ruiz helps us cover our bases, as Ruiz takes care of the power (.269 ISO against righties) while Severino has notched a .415 wOBA against same-handed pitchers in 55 at-bats.
Giants against Jose Suarez: Mike Yastrzemski ($5,300) Donovan Solano ($4,900) Wilmer Flores ($3,800)
Suarez hasn't shown he is ready for this level after a decent minor league career, which allows us to line up three bats that have done well against left-handed pitching this year. Solano has notched a .366 wOBA in his 23 at-bats against southpaws, while Flores has been something of a lefty specialist, tallying a .240 ISO in 25 at-bats.
