This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday brings a packed slate with 15 games across baseball. Among the three day games is a matchup between the Mariners and Astros that has playoff implications. Also, the Giants will look to provide an offensive outburst when they take on the Rockies at Coors Field. The AL East will once again take center stage in the evening with the Yankees facing the Blue Jays and the Red Sox hosting the Rats. The game between the Blue Jays and Yankees features a matchup between two exciting young starting pitchers in Alek Manoah and Luis Gil. Let's highlight some players to consider as you craft your lineups on DraftKings.
Pitchers
There will be a lot of good lineups in action for the main evening slate, which might make for some tricky pitching decisions. Adam Wainwright ($8,100) has to face one of the best lineups in baseball when he takes on the Dodgers. However, he could still be worth pursuing. He's had a spectacular season with a 2.91 ERA and a 3.50 FIP, thanks in large part to his 1.03 WHIP. Also, he's allowed only 0.9 HR/9. Working in his favor is that the game will be played in St. Louis, where he has a career 3.20 FIP and 1.14 WHIP.
Another starter who might be worth pursuing despite a tough matchup is Nathan Eovaldi ($9,500). While his 3.88 FIP and 1.36 WHIP on the road aren't great, he has a 2.36 FIP and a 1.07 WHIP at home. He has faced the Rays there twice this season, allowing two runs and recording 17 strikeouts over 14 innings.
Two favorable matchups against the Marlins and Tigers didn't provide good results for Vladimir Gutierrez ($7,700), who allowed nine runs (eight earned) across 6.1 total innings. However, prior to those two outings, he had allowed two or fewer runs in six straight starts. That included two outings against the Cubs in which he pitched 12.2 innings and allowed four total runs. Another matchup against the Cubs could make Gutierrez someone to consider.
Top Targets
Starling Marte ($5,600) has been locked in since joining the A's, hitting 48-for-144 (.333) with three home runs, 10 doubles and a whopping 21 steals. He is up to 43 steals for the season, which is only four away from his career high. He could find himself on base a time or two in a matchup against Dallas Keuchel ($5,600), who has a 1.45 WHIP.
There are two splits that are working in Ryan Mountcastle's ($4,300) favor for a matchup at home against left-hander Mike Minor ($6,700). First, Mountcastle has a .359 wOBA versus lefties. Second, he has a .368 wOBA at home. His salary is also reasonable, which makes him even more appealing.
Bargain Bats
Staying with the Orioles matchup against Minor, Austin Hays ($3,100) is someone to consider at a cheap salary. He's currently on a 14-game hitting streak that has seen him go 19-for-51 (.373) with three home runs and four doubles. With his .367 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he has a favorable opportunity to continue his hot streak.
The rebuilding Nationals have given Lane Thomas ($3,100) an opportunity for regular playing time and he has taken full advantage. Over his last 21 games, he is 24-for-76 (.316) with three home runs and five doubles. He's shown a good eye at the plate, generating an 11.5 percent walk rate and a 21.8 percent strikeout rate during that stretch. He might be worth a look against Touki Toussaint ($7,300), who enters with a 5.12 FIP.
Stacks to Consider
Braves vs. Sean Nolin ($5,900), Nationals: Ozzie Albies ($5,100), Austin Riley ($5,400), Adam Duvall ($4,200)
Prior to this season, Nolin hadn't appeared in the majors since 2015. However, his 3.80 ERA and 4.17 FIP at Triple-A has made him a viable starting option down the stretch for the rebuilding Nationals. The problem is, he has a 1.67 WHIP through his first four starts with the team. A matchup against a Braves team that has the seventh-highest OPS in baseball likely won't help matters. With the lefty on the mound, building a Braves stack around Albies could be key given his career 147 wRC+ against southpaws.
Reds vs. Alec Mills ($6,300), Cubs: Nick Castellanos ($5,000), Joey Votto ($4,600), Tyler Naquin ($2,900)
After a masterful performance in which he shut out the White Sox across 8.1 innings, Mills followed it up by allowing five runs (two earned) and three home runs across 5.2 innings against the Pirates. He can be prone to blowups like that given his 1.41 WHIP and 17.1 percent strikeout rate. He tries to get by through inducing weak contact and ground balls. That could be a tall order against the Reds, who have the fifth-highest OPS in baseball. One of their leaders has been Votto, who has a .426 wOBA versus right-handed pitchers.
Royals vs. Matt Harvey ($5,300), Orioles: Salvador Perez ($6,000), Adalberto Mondesi ($4,400), Nicky Lopez ($3,700)
Harvey continues to start for the Orioles because, frankly, they don't have better options. He's struggled yet again, with his 1.51 WHIP contributing to his 6.28 ERA. His FIP is considerably better at 4.66, but he doesn't leave himself with much of a margin for error given his 16.6 percent strikeout rate. He could be in plenty of trouble against Perez, who is having a career year with 41 home runs and a .268 ISO.
