This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Pitching rules on the nine-game main slate Wednesday, with several high and mid-range arms in play. This may make finding offense a bit more difficult, but we can identify several stack options that are worth investing in.
Pitching Overview
Max Scherzer ($10,900) features a devastating combination of an elite strikeout rate, pinpoint control, and a solid groundball profile. The Cardinals are a top-5 team against righties this season according to wOBA, which could give some reason to fade the former Cy Young Award winner in GPPs, but he is sure to garner plenty of attention from prospective owners.
Jacob deGrom ($10,200) didn't quite look himself in his first start since recovering from an elbow injury but was still able to strike out seven Brewers in four innings. He will take on a Reds offense that has logged the third-lowest wOBA in the league against right-handed pitching.
Speaking of pitchers who don't look like themselves, Corey Kluber ($9,400) has seen his walk rate climb nearly six percent since the end of 2018 and his elite offerings turn into slightly above-average pitches. Luckily for him (and us), he gets to face the Marlins on the road, which should make him very popular at under $10,000.
Hyun-Jin Ryu ($9,200) has posted 20 or more DraftKings points in four of his five outings this season, with the only blemish coming in an outing against the Cardinals in which he suffered a groin injury. DFS players should expect more of the same as he takes on a Giants team that currently holds the lowest wOBA in the league against left-handed pitching.
After a shaky start to the season, Aaron Nola ($9,000) has now fired off back-to-back solid starts against the Rockies and Marlins. There are still concerns regarding his walk and strikeout numbers, but things seem to be trending in the right direction ahead of a matchup against the Tigers, who hold a 27 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching.
Heavy reliance on the curveball seems to be producing results for Marcus Stroman ($8,800), who holds a 1.43 ERA in six starts this season. While he may not feature overly impressive strikeout numbers, Stroman's heavy groundball rate should come in handy as he faces a formidable Angels offense.
It appears the secret is out on Caleb Smith ($8,600), as he comes in at a season-high price ahead of his matchup against the Indians. The 27-year-old has always gotten his strikeouts but appears to have gotten the walks under control in 2019, which has contributed to a 2.17 ERA in five starts. He will face a pitcher in an Indians' lineup that has already logged the fourth-lowest wOBA in the league against lefty hurlers.
One nightmare outing has essentially accounted for Collin McHugh's ($8,300) mediocre 4.78 ERA this season, as he has scored at least 20 DraftKings points in each of his other five starts. We've spoken before about how the Twins are a bad matchup for most starters thanks to their high wOBA and contact rate, but the way McHugh has been putting up numbers in 2019 shouldn't be ignored.
Finally, it's worth discussing Max Fried ($7,800) who put up a quality total despite a mediocre outing in Colorado on the strength of eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Fried has struggled so far this season against top offenses, but the Padres are more of a middle-of-the-road offense who have struck out 26 percent of the time against lefty pitching.
Key Values
Daniel Norris has featured mediocre strikeout rates and high home run totals for most of his major league career, and 2019 is no exception. Rhys Hoskins ($5,500) has started the year strong against southpaws, notching a .408 wOBA in 23 at-bats.
Pete Alonso ($5,300) continues to roll in 2019, having logged a .250 ISO against right-handed pitching in 60 at-bats. Anthony DeSclafani has been hit harder by lefties than righties to begin the year but has still allowed three homers to same handed-hitters in 18.1 innings.
George Springer ($5,200) has put the hammer down in his first 24 at-bats against lefties this season, notching a .417 ISO over that span. Martin Perez has been known to put together occasional solid starts, but his mediocre walk and strikeout rates make him someone who should always be targeted against high-powered offenses.
Juan Soto ($4,900) should be able to take advantage of the spike in Miles Mikolas' home run rate. While he has yet to show the power against righties that was evident in 2018, he still holds a solid .363 wOBA in 71 at-bats.
Chase Anderson has allowed four runs to left-handed hitters (two home runs) in just 9.2 innings this season. This should allow Daniel Murphy ($4,800) to put his .280 ISO against right-handed pitchers to good use.
Dansby Swanson ($4,400) is worth a look as one of the few Braves offensive players who isn't overpriced. Swanson's .230 ISO against right-handed hitters should play well against debutant Cal Quantrill, who features mediocre strikeout rates, and finished his season with Double-A San Antonio last year with a 5.15 ERA in 117 innings.
Eric Sogard ($4,300) was removed from Tuesday's game with an illness but should be a crowd favorite if he can make it into the lineup Wednesday due to the stunning .503 wOBA he has tallied against right-handed pitching in 35 at-bats.
Stacks
Mets vs. Anthony DeSclafani (Reds)
Pete Alonso (1B - $5,300) Jeff McNeil (3B/OF - $4,200) Michael Conforto (OF – $4,700)
I mentioned above that DeSclafani has trouble against lefty hitters, and we can exploit the five runs and six walks he has allowed to his opposite hand in seven innings with a combination of power hitters and guys who can get on base.
Phillies vs. Daniel Norris (Tigers)
Rhys Hoskins (1B- $5,500) J.T. Realmuto (C – $4,500) Maikel Franco (3B – 4,500)
Norris makes for a very intriguing stack target in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. This could also be a good spot to get some scarcity on Realmuto, who has struggled but figures to hit in the middle of the lineup against a vulnerable arm.
Braves vs. Cal Quantrill (Padres)
Dansby Swanson (SS – $4,400) Nick Markakis (OF – 4,300) Tyler Flowers (C -$3,900)
I've said before that I love attempting to pile on debuting pitchers with questionable minor league resumes, and Quantrill comfortably fits that description. While I listed Flowers, Brian McCann ($3,900) would also be an acceptable option if he is the one who enters the lineup.
