This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's eight-game main slate features a nice mix of hurlers, including two sneaky options below $7,000 that we can toss into our player pools. On the offensive side, I offer what figures to be an incredibly popular stack along with another that should fly under the radar.
Pitching Overview
It seems like ages ago that DFS players were concerned about Clayton Kershaw ($11,800), who now boasts a 2.77 ERA in 130 innings. He has allowed just seven earned runs and notched 48 strikeouts in his last 38 innings dating back to August 1. He will take on a Marlins team that has kept a bottom-3 wOBA against left-handed pitching this year.
Aaron Nola ($10,200) has a big enough strikeout rate and throws enough grounders to be worthy of consideration against any offense but he will have an uphill battle against the Cubs, who have notched a .334 wOBA and .201 ISO against right-handed pitching this year.
Cole Hamels ($9,300) would seem to have a decent matchup against the Phillies at first glance but it must be noted that the veteran left-hander's ERA is about a point and a half higher on the road, where he carries a 4.43 xFIP in 50.1 innings. He will take on a Phillies team that has logged a .193 ISO in the hitter-friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park.
The name Marco Gonzales ($8,700) isn't likely to turn many heads from a DFS perspective but he is solid enough to garner consideration on a shorter slate thanks to his low walk and home run totals. He will face a Tigers team that has kept a bottom-5 wOBA and a 25 percent strikeout rate against southpaws in 2019.
It will be difficult to find a pitcher with more drastic splits than Dallas Keuchel ($6,800), as his ERA at SunTrust Park (2.96) is more than three and a half points lower than it is on the road. The Mets are a tough test for any lefty pitcher but it may be worth throwing Keuchel into player pools at this price thanks to his dominance in the environment.
It may surprise some to learn that the Pirates have the distinction of holding the lowest wOBA in the league against left-handed pitching this season. This opens the door to select Dillon Peters ($6,300) as a low-cost value play. Peters hasn't set the world on fire with the big club this season but has logged a solid 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings since August 1.
Key Values
Elieser Hernandez has been torched by left-handed hitters in 2019, as evidenced by the .611 slugging percentage he has allowed in 18.2 innings. Joc Pederson ($4,500) represents a power bat who won't break the bank, as he has logged a .282 ISO against his opposite hand in 308 at-bats.
You have to admire the resilience of Edwin Jackson who not only managed to find another team but also threw six-innings of one-run ball in his Tigers debut against the Royals. Unfortunately, it is once again unlikely to end well for Jackson, who has kept a 9.35 ERA in 34.2 innings Meanwhile, Daniel Vogelbach ($4,300) has kept an impressive .282 ISO against righty pitching in 2019.
Paul Goldschmidt ($4,300) has been an absolute powerhouse since the All-Star break, logging a .318 ISO and a .370 wOBA in 107 at-bats. Brad Keller has thrown the ball reasonably well against righties this year but has kept a 4.73 xFIP to go along with a 38 percent hard contact rate.
I have talked about the fact that Kole Calhoun ($4,000) seems to be mispriced a number of times in this article series, and Wednesday is no exception, as he will take a .237 ISO against right-handers into a matchup against Chris Archer. Archer has struggled to keep the ball in the yard against left-handed hitting in 2019, allowing 12 homers in 48.2 innings.
Stacks
Phillies against Cole Hamels (Cubs)
Jean Segura (SS - $3,900) Scott Kingery (3B/OF - $4,500) J.T. Realmuto (C - $4,200)
Philadelphia may not be a popular stack against a hurler like Hamels but we detailed his struggles on the road above, and each hitter in this stack has logged an ISO north of .200 against left-handed pitching.
Mariners against Edwin Jackson (Tigers)
Daniel Vogelbach (1B - $4,500) Kyle Seager (3B - $4,000) Omar Narvaez (C - $4,200)
It will take more than one start to convince me that Jackson has righted the ship. Until then we can use an assortment of bats against the right-hander, including low-cost options in order to help us manage costs.
