This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's eight-game main slate has pitchers we can stack against in odd places, as well as a couple of nice, cheap arms we can plug in for salary relief. A few openers on the docket make it a bit harder to plan on offense but we can take a look at a recently traded pitcher as a strong stack target.
Pitching Overview
Jacob deGrom ($11,800) may be one of the most reliable DFS assets on the planet at the moment, having put up at least 20 DraftKings points in seven of his last 10 starts. He has notched at least 30 points in three of those appearances. He will face a White Sox offense that has logged the third-lowest wOBA against right-handed pitching this season while striking out more than 26 percent of the time.
By contrast, Jose Berrios ($10,700) hasn't lit the world on fire of late for DFS purposes, eclipsing 20 points just once in his last six starts. While he doesn't have the overwhelming strikeout numbers of someone like deGrom, Berrios remains a solid arm with a great matchup against the Marlins, who hold the second-lowest wOBA against righty pitching this year. Berrios should also benefit from the fact that he will not face a designated hitter in Marlins Park.
Lucas Giolito's ($10,300) breakout season has been bookended by two incredibly tumultuous months. He will head into his last start of July having logged a 7.06 ERA and a .547 slugging percentage allowed in 21.2 innings. The 4.43 xFIP he has logged over that span indicates that there should be some level of correction but the Mets may not be the lineup to test that theory, as they fall just outside the top 10 in wOBA against righty pitchers.
Mike Minor ($9,900) is having a great season for the Rangers but a look at his solid, but unspectacular 25 percent strikeout rate and 4.45 xFIP may have prospective owners thinking twice about rostering him against the Mariners, who hold a .195 ISO against southpaws in 2019.
Most people probably wouldn't consider Jeff Samardzija ($8,100) as a viable option against the Phillies but it's worth noting that the Shark has logged a 2.48 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 32.2 frames in July and the Phillies own just a .313 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Vince Velasquez ($7,500) has given up far too many homers to be considered a trustworthy asset but a strikeout rate greater than 27 percent makes him an intriguing play against the Giants at this price, as they have logged a bottom-10 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Jose Urquidy ($7,000) may not be a familiar name to some DFS players but the rookie has been impressive in his four starts for the big club this year, logging a 29 percent strikeout rate while throwing groundballs at a 49 percent clip. The Indians have been a middle-of-the-road team against righties this year but it's tough to pass on a skill set like Urquidy's at this price.
Key Values
Pete Alonso ($4,600) has done his best work against lefties in 2019 but the .296 ISO and .380 wOBA he has logged against same-handed hurlers can't be ignored. It seems as though we have been given a little discount on Alonso based on the caliber of pitcher taking the mound against him, which could be a great opportunity to take advantage of Giolito's recent struggles.
Eddie Rosario ($4,600) has shown a tremendous amount of power against right-handed pitching this season, logging a .247 ISO in 263 at-bats. Sandy Alcantara has gotten good results against lefty hitters this year but the 5.71 xFIP he carries indicates that he is living dangerously against them.
It seems clear that Rougned Odor ($4,400) won't be winning any batting titles in the near future. He needs to be given a look Wednesday, however, as he will take a .219 ISO against righties into a matchup with Matt Wisler, who has been hammered by lefty hitters to the tune of a .580 slugging percentage in 13.2 frames. It is important to note here that Wisler will only serve as an opener in the contest, which could limit the number of swings Odor gets against him.
It's safe to say that Pablo Sandoval ($4,200) is in the post-hype phase of his career but he needs to be in our player pools at Citizens Bank Park, as he has logged a .244 ISO in 242 at-bats this year. This is particularly true for the matchup against Velazquez, who has allowed a .514 slugging percentage to lefty hitters.
Miles Mikolas has thrown the ball well at home but it's tough to ignore the .498 slugging percentage he has allowed to lefty hitters in 50.2 innings. Meanwhile, Jason Heyward ($3,800) has logged a .203 ISO against right-handed pitchers.
Stacks
Mets against Lucas Giolito (White Sox)
Pete Alonso (1B - $4,600) Jeff McNeil (2B/OF - $4,300) Amed Rosario (SS - $3,700)
It may seem a bit odd to try and stack against Giolito but his reputation allows us to get hitters at reasonable prices. Rosario will likely go overlooked in this group but he has been on a tear this month, logging a .411 wOBA in 76 at-bats.
A's against Jordan Lyles (Pirates)
Matt Olson (1B - $4,300) Matt Chapman (3B - $4,300) Robbie Grossman (OF - $3,400)
Lyles will carry all of his deficiencies into his first start as a Brewer, including the .603 slugging percentage he has allowed against lefty hitters in 31.1 innings. This allows us to grab hitters like Grossman cheaply in order to load up on big bats.
